Columbia & Western Virtual Layout Tour Tomorrow (Sat Dec 12th)

[MK]

Thanks Mark.  I'll keep an eye out on this thread.

[mark dance]

Just posted on the 4th Div - PNR Youtube Channel...reposting here 'cause I promised...

The Zoom sound is honestly awful but the video, though low res, should give you a feel for the layout.  Too bad about the sound as all those witty anecdotes and blazingly insightful nuggets of wisdom (WABINW's™) that I spouted out during the tour were lost!

md

[narrowminded]

Just... WOW!!!  Beautiful, Mark.

[NtheBasement]

Fantastic layout!  Reminds me very much of Libby MT.  Mark's youtube if anyone is interested: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSBKwDynjb0ZyfZHSlTcDg

Is there any info about how the transfer table was built?  Specifically the pulley arrangement, what drawer slides (I assume) you used, and what you used for detents?  I'd love to build one but wouldn't know where to start.

[CRL]

Try this:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3f/31/8d/3f318dc32d3351a8b7eec21a03befa26.jpg

It’s basically a drafting table pulley system for the traveling straightedge.

[CRL]

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[mark dance]

Yeah, that is basically it.  I wanted to keep the area beneath the table clear so I ran the cables round the periphery like this...



The table attaches at A and B.  The pulleys are attached to the fixed framing. For pulleys I used these cheap casters from Home Depot ...



... and grooved the plastic wheels with a file as they were chucked up in a drill.

Both ends of the table are also ball detente'd with these



They face upwards below the table and run on lightly lubricated 1/8" thick aluminum barstock fastened to the underside of the table which have small diameter holes on 2" centers (accurately drilled on a drill press with a digital read out on its table). You can hear the ball latches click into these holes in the video...very satisfying!

The slides are non-soft closing ball drawer slides...24" travel I think.

Its worked like a charm with no adjustment for 15 years.

Hope that helps

md

[NtheBasement]

Perfect, thanks for the info!

[MK]

Just posted on the 4th Div - PNR Youtube Channel...reposting here 'cause I promised...

The Zoom sound is honestly awful but the video, though low res, should give you a feel for the layout.  Too bad about the sound as all those witty anecdotes and blazingly insightful nuggets of wisdom (WABINW's™) that I spouted out during the tour were lost!

md

Just finished watching the tour and I AM SPEECHLESS!      That is insane that you built that by yourself!

What I would give to run on your layout, let alone try an op session!  Two questions immediately come to mind:

1.  How do you heat the garage?  Did you put in a heating system before building your layout?
2.  How do you keep such a massive layout dust free?  I can imagine keeping it cob web free is a task in itself.

I have relatives in Vancouver (not Island).  I might knock on your door when I'm visit them next time!   

[mark dance]

Two questions immediately come to mind:

1.  How do you heat the garage?  Did you put in a heating system before building your layout?
2.  How do you keep such a massive layout dust free?  I can imagine keeping it cob web free is a task in itself.

thank you for the kind words

1. the garage was finished when we bought the house.  Two 1500 W baseboard radiators (rarely on), insulated, walls and ceiling are 1/2" plywood
2. the layout is just over 300 sq ft so it isn't really massive...kinda medium sized. all surfaces including concrete floor are painted

I have relatives in Vancouver (not Island).  I might knock on your door when I'm visit them next time!   

All are welcome for a visit with some advance notice (like a month or so)

md