Nelevation - an automatic smart fiddle yard

[Thorpe Parva]

Very interesting David. I haven't had much feedback to say I guessed the right length first time! Either too long or too short. Leave it with me.

Perhaps people like myself who saw the prototype at TINGS assumed that this would be the dimensions of the production model so didn't really need to comment.

[Ditape]

The original prototype would be fine for me  but if 6 ft is to be the final production size I would probably not be able to fit one into my available space and the shorter length of 3 ft would be to short for me as a full HST set would not fit.

You got it just about right straight out of the gate

[MJKERR]

I don't see the need for the length of the unit to match the track
Provided the measurements are known then the purchaser can cut the track as required, plus the additional pieces will all be the same length

One standard piece and one cut piece can then be inserted and if the cut piece is to long trimmed down
The advice would be to cut one piece too long and trim down
A rough measurement could be provided, but flexitrack isn't always the same length

Equally, some people may prefer to use setrack, and again as these lengths are known it may be easier
Furthermore, there would be no need to worry about interfact between Code 80 and Code 55 as the refining mode would only have to deal with track height

As previous, I suspect a survey should be carried out to find out the length of trains expect to be stored

The main advantage is the tracks are all the same length, whilst a fiddle yard typically has varying lengths
As an example on mine I can store two full length HST, but the furthest tracks can only store a loco and 6 coaches

[georgehgv]

Very interesting David. I haven't had much feedback to say I guessed the right length first time! Either too long or too short. Leave it with me.

Perhaps people like myself who saw the prototype at TINGS assumed that this would be the dimensions of the production model so didn't really need to comment.

The nail has been hit on the head there.

[Ian Morton]

I would suspect that 3' will be too short for most people and 9' way too long.

6' would be good for me - 1.3m is too short.

Perhaps 3', 4'6" and 6' would cover most bases.

[Thorpe Parva]

I would suspect that 3' will be too short for most people and 9' way too long.

6' would be good for me - 1.3m is too short.

Perhaps 3', 4'6" and 6' would cover most bases.

If commercially viable then that would seem to make a lot of sense.

[georgehgv]

I would suspect that 3' will be too short for most people and 9' way too long.

6' would be good for me - 1.3m is too short.

Perhaps 3', 4'6" and 6' would cover most bases.

If commercially viable then that would seem to make a lot of sense.

By being in modules with approximately 450mm increments then perhaps some of the components could be shared between three sizes? Thereby enabling bulk buying of certain sized pieces?

[Nelevation]

Very good point. The trouble with democracy. Ask 3 people what they want and you'll get 4 different answers

[georgehgv]

Very good point. The trouble with democracy. Ask 3 people what they want and you'll get 4 different answers

And in this case sizes ! Decisions decisions ?

[Northern Git]

If you run prototypical trains anything shorter than 3m is no good. Don't forget that on any exhibition layout that runs a reasonable amount of stock, the layout will be between 18ft to 25ft long. Most of the rear space will be taken over by the fiddle yard to hold the stock. if big enough it will be sectioned to hold more than one train on each track. A HST will take up 6tf to 7ft of space, then there re all the other trains that are longer than this. I think that the Nelevation is an excellent idea for the simple reason of how much space you will save in having 20 trains stacked vertically instead of horizontally a the rear of your layout, and you will still have room to put in a small fiddle yard to hold all the short stock that doesn't need a lot of space. So as I said it earlier it has to be 3m for me otherwise the cost of £600 to hold 20 loco's with a couple of trucks each in 3ft against 20 loco's with block trains in 9ft is far more advantageous. seeing how it is constructed out of a one piece alloy extrusion it wouldn't make a vast difference to the cost. most metals these days are supplied in 3m and 6m lengths, anything shorter than that needs to be cut so you can end up paying more for less.

[georgehgv]

If you run prototypical trains anything shorter than 3m is no good. Don't forget that on any exhibition layout that runs a reasonable amount of stock, the layout will be between 18ft to 25ft long. Most of the rear space will be taken over by the fiddle yard to hold the stock. if big enough it will be sectioned to hold more than one train on each track. A HST will take up 6tf to 7ft of space, then there re all the other trains that are longer than this. I think that the Nelevation is an excellent idea for the simple reason of how much space you will save in having 20 trains stacked vertically instead of horizontally a the rear of your layout, and you will still have room to put in a small fiddle yard to hold all the short stock that doesn't need a lot of space. So as I said it earlier it has to be 3m for me otherwise the cost of £600 to hold 20 loco's with a couple of trucks each in 3ft against 20 loco's with block trains in 9ft is far more advantageous. seeing how it is constructed out of a one piece alloy extrusion it wouldn't make a vast difference to the cost. most metals these days are supplied in 3m and 6m lengths, anything shorter than that needs to be cut so you can end up paying more for less.

As the saying goes "you cant please all the people all the time " .

[Sprintex]

A HST will take up 6tf to 7ft of space,

A prototypical 2+8 HST is five feet and half an inch long




Paul

[georgehgv]

A HST will take up 6tf to 7ft of space,

A prototypical 2+8 HST is five feet and half an inch long




Paul

Haha Paul, real ruler not a Fishermans.

Oops forgot must stay on topic, no funnies. 

[G_N_E_R]

I would suspect that 3' will be too short for most people and 9' way too long.

6' would be good for me - 1.3m is too short.

Perhaps 3', 4'6" and 6' would cover most bases.

For me 6" 6' or 2m would be optimum too, nice long container train there! 

[Newportnobby]

Is there any chance the Nelevation could be in connectable 3ft modules with the electrical gubbins being fitted at the furthermost end such that folks could build whatever size they need?