It was pay-day on Friday, so Saturday morning brought a trip to B&Q (other DIY megastores are available) to buy supplies for the jobs to be done on Widnes Road.
First off is the new fiddle yard; I've struggled with the various iterations of traverser that Widnes Road has had. The first was too small and kept sticking; this was solved on the second version by making it a) longer; and b) putting the traverser on furniture drawer runners. However, the layout grew, and the wood which formed the traverser base warped. I tried to reinforce the base with ply strips along the edges, but this was a bit futile. Wandering round B&Q on Saturday I hit upon a solution; extruded aluminium L-channel.
As can be seen in the photo above this has been cut to form a pocket for the traverser bed to sit in; and once drilled and screwed to the 'bed' it forms a very rigid and flat base for the fiddle yard. I'm just waiting for the new runners from Station Road Baseboards and then I can get the track laid.
I've taken the opportunity whilst rebuilding the fiddle yard of lengthening it to 4', long enough for a loco and a reasonable rake of wagons; such as a Cl.47 and 6 LWB vans, or a Cl.25 or 33 and 8 ballast hoppers and a 'Shark'.
First off is the new fiddle yard; I've struggled with the various iterations of traverser that Widnes Road has had. The first was too small and kept sticking; this was solved on the second version by making it a) longer; and b) putting the traverser on furniture drawer runners. However, the layout grew, and the wood which formed the traverser base warped. I tried to reinforce the base with ply strips along the edges, but this was a bit futile. Wandering round B&Q on Saturday I hit upon a solution; extruded aluminium L-channel.
As can be seen in the photo above this has been cut to form a pocket for the traverser bed to sit in; and once drilled and screwed to the 'bed' it forms a very rigid and flat base for the fiddle yard. I'm just waiting for the new runners from Station Road Baseboards and then I can get the track laid.
I've taken the opportunity whilst rebuilding the fiddle yard of lengthening it to 4', long enough for a loco and a reasonable rake of wagons; such as a Cl.47 and 6 LWB vans, or a Cl.25 or 33 and 8 ballast hoppers and a 'Shark'.
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