Silcon Valley Free-MoN: A new yard has begun

[RBrodzinsky]

For many many years, the Silicon Valley FreeMoN group has been using MC Fujiwara's Effet yard as our main operations yard on our setups at different shows. I "inherited" custody of the yard when life took MC in a different direction.





Unfortunately, it has become a bit long-of-tooth and cramped, as more folks have been running on our layouts, with longer trains (Not that we won't be able to continue to use it!). (Photos are from 2018 NSE Convention in SLC)

But, it has always been my plan to build a much larger yard, and this summer that activity has begun. Here is the plan for the new Silicon Valley FreeMoN yard (still to be officially named)

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Grid size = 3 inches. Each of the colored sections are a 2-foot by 4-foot section, while the two curved sections are approx 39" along the outer curve. Each is a 22.5 degree arc. To make my build life miserable, I plan to have the two curved and the green section be completely reversible and interchangeable. This will require a high degree of precision for placing the tracks at all the end plates (more on that in later posts).

All parallel tracks will be at 1.125" spacing; the central 8 yard tracks will be "at grade", while the outer mains will be on roadbed. The left hand interface (blue) is a single track, while the right side (light yellow) supports dual track (or, if necessary, a single can be aligned). There are a couple of industries at the lower far right, and a shopping center (with Dairy Queen Grill & Chill) in upper far right, with backs to the track. Engine service at lower left.

There are 33 switches on this module, with almost 7 scale miles of track!

Since I started cutting rail to build the switches yesterday morning, I decided to start the thread documenting the build. Lots to show. The goal is to have this fully operational by the fall (hopefully, we will have train shows by then, again), and full scenery in time for the National Train Show in Santa Clara, CA (summer of 2021).

[RBrodzinsky]

This morning’s progress, frog points have begun to be soldered, so this module is truly happening!

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[RBrodzinsky]

The biggest concerns on this module will be getting all those 12-track end plates to align perfectly no matter how we set the three inner sections up. Over the years, we've had quite a few different methods to secure track to the end plates, both at grade level and on roadbed. Everything comes down to securing PCB ties, or using GapMasters . Unfortunately, the latter would be an expensive solution with 107 needed for just the end-plate crossings!

So, with my new Anycubic Photon-S I decided to try a new solution: First image is for grade level, second is matching up with roadbed

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

These can be attached to the end plate with glue and a #2 wood screw The platform for the ties raises the PCB ties to the same height as the plastic "wood" ties on Atlas or ME code 55 track. The little platforms between the ties delineate where to align the track, while the little cleats at the end of the ties help keep them properly aligned (they will be covered with ballast once module is completed)

Of course, the real question was how well will resin-printed items like this work? So, I built a small miniature to test (earlier version of holder). Both the holder and the track stood up to severe abuse (the type which happens during module setup/takedown and transit). Used JB Weld Steel Epoxy to attach the ties to the guide

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Some of the first "finished" units

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Philip H]

Wanna raise some money by selling those as kits in 5 and 10 Packs?  I'd be in for a 10 pack at some point . . . .

[C855B]

Ambitious. Is your plan wood-frame construction? Even given the relatively consistent Bay Area climate, in my experience with married yard modules you will have difficulty maintaining tolerances across the entire width of the module set. How did MC do it with Effett?

[RBrodzinsky]

Wanna raise some money by selling those as kits in 5 and 10 Packs?  I'd be in for a 10 pack at some point . . . .

Definitely something I am considering.

[RBrodzinsky]

Ambitious. Is your plan wood-frame construction? Even given the relatively consistent Bay Area climate, in my experience with married yard modules you will have difficulty maintaining tolerances across the entire width of the module set. How did MC do it with Effett?

The Free-MoN standard calls for 3/4" birch plywood (furniture grade) for the end plates.  My modules (including those built by MC) are stored in a non-controlled self storage unit, year round, and we've never had any issues with our multi-track modules (Effet, SV Station, Yard-of-Necessity, etc) due to warping, shrinkage, etc. (physical abuse, sure). We do use locator pins for multi-track modules, and then final manual alignment before clamping during set up.  And, Mark Watson ( @Mark W ) has many modules with multi-tracks, and by following the standards, no problems with the wood. 

If I didn't want to be able to reverse the modules, this would be simple:  build the two yard-ladder ends first, ensuring they meet perfectly (in their one and only orientation), then build each intermediate in between them.  But, the need/desire to reverse the three inner sections leads to extra precision required:  All track centers will need to be measured and set from the center of each end-plate (don't use outer edges); and ensure absolute symmetry along the central plane (the plans are drawn that way). The locator pins will also need to use the center line and top edge of the end plate for their fiducials.

[Nick Lorusso]

Rick,
Looking forward to the progress. I'm just jumping back into N-scale myself.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Definitely looking forward to seeing this yard come to life and being able to run on it in the future!

[amato1969]

Whoa, that's an ambitious project!  So much capacity...

  Frank

[jdcolombo]

Naming the Yard:

Back in the late 1990's, I built a setup yard for the Midwest Central RR Club's Ntrak layout.  It is 18' long (three 6' modules), with 12 tracks (4 tracks for each of the outside main, inside main and branch line) with double crossovers to move from one of the 4-track sections to another.  Since the yard was built prior to the MWC adopting DCC, it was controlled by a main panel that had SPST switches to turn power on and off from each yard track, as well as feed power from different DC throttles as necessary.  The wiring used 24-position Molex connectors between modules and from the main panel to the yard so that the panel could be easily disconnected for transport.

When we first set it up, I christened it "Big F---ing Yard".   And it has been known as "BF Yard" ever since.  Some things you can't plan.

 

John C.

[glakedylan]

just wondering out loud with my fingers


why not print and end unit that secures the tracks, multiple units being the same, providing equidistant spacing controlled by the single unit.
or, if that would be too large of a print in terms of spanning all tracks, perhaps printing some kind of connector for connecting two tracks together,
multiple ones making the same equidistant spacing on both ends of each module.


of course, i am not familiar with how to design and print 3D, nor the tolerances of materials involved.

again, just thinking out loud


it is certainly going to be a super build and looking forward to following, as if i ever move beyond a test oval,
i will need to go modular is design and wanting multi-tracks and on different grades.


thanks for sharing


sincerely
Gary

[RBrodzinsky]

Naming the Yard:

Back in the late 1990's, I built a setup yard for the Midwest Central RR Club's Ntrak layout.  It is 18' long (three 6' modules), with 12 tracks (4 tracks for each of the outside main, inside main and branch line) with double crossovers to move from one of the 4-track sections to another.  Since the yard was built prior to the MWC adopting DCC, it was controlled by a main panel that had SPST switches to turn power on and off from each yard track, as well as feed power from different DC throttles as necessary.  The wiring used 24-position Molex connectors between modules and from the main panel to the yard so that the panel could be easily disconnected for transport.

When we first set it up, I christened it "Big F---ing Yard".   And it has been known as "BF Yard" ever since.  Some things you can't plan.

 

John C.

John, there is a reason the current existing yard is called Effet.  Started out as “F@#$ it, we need a yard, now!”

[CodyO]

If you`d be willing to share the file or sell some I`d love to try those out. I`ve been using gap masters but these look great!

[RBrodzinsky]

Finally, finally, got back to working on the module. Got distracted with a whole lot of other stuff. About a quarter of the way through switch building

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Will need a total of 33!

For anyone who wishes the STL file for the end plate tie holders, please send me a message. I haven’t decided whether to start posting on thingiverse, yet. I will, also, consider printing these at very reasonable costs for folks, AFTER I get beyond the stage where I need to use them on the module.