This time around, our intrepid host lets anxious viewers see all the progress he’s made to prepare the O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout for the next big step! From backdrop to tabletop to trackwork to scenery, David shares the extent of his off-camera efforts — all to get things into place for wiring the underside of the railroad.
Follow along to see all of the useful tips, tricks, and insights our host has to share. And be sure to explore this model railroad’s initial path to resurgence upon landing in David’s basement!
Your layout looks fantastic. Since I also mess with airplanes, it seems that the push-pull rods need nuts on the end clamps to provide a double nut effect to prevent cable rotation and losing alignment. Since you are not needing to worry about radio control interference, you could use the good old “choke” cable approach and have solid wire for the push rod.
Bob Neill
Haven’t made a comment for a while, so here are a few all at once.
1. Wonder if the waterfall wouldn’t look more realistic if there was some slope between each level of falls?
2. If you use multi-core solder, you wouldn’t need to use the flux. And try 63/37 solder, it melts at a slightly lower temperature then 60/40 and flows better with multi-core. (5 cores of rosin inside the solder).
3. When using the blue point (choke cables) and need a U turn, hook up a bell-crank to change directions. Both leads run moderately straight. Can also use bell-cranks with Tortoise motors if you can’t fit the controls in the space you have.
Good show, looking good, will be great to see the final episodes of the series!
Wow, you keep the clamp companies in business as you build up the risers! I noted you did not screw but glued them all in place. Has there ever been an issue with the glue failing on you loosening up a riser?
Nice to do such simple wiring while standing up too. Good point to do it in the stages you have demonstrated to us. I have a two-level shelf layout and am building a helix for a minimum 17″ rise. It is just SO MUCH fun climbing down, under and back up as I build and wire it all into place.
Maybe a bit of dumb question but how did you know which was the hot black and which was the no-hot wire for that power supply? I like the installed power plugs built in since your layout is somewhat portable. I had extra wall sockets installed for mine – really wish power supply plugs were not so bulky.
Looking forward to the next stages. Nice work as always.
I like the tip about flattening the wires for the feeders. What liquid flux are you using?
I use shower curtain hoops to secure the wires. They open up, making it easy to remove the wires as required for connecting feeders.
David,
Loving it. Looking forward to less timbered, yet still rural railroading. A bit worried about reaching into and below foreground track to work the quarry, but I trust the process. The multi-level river/falls should be an amazing project too.
~Mike