STROLEY INTERNATIONAL - ORIGINAL TRACK PLAN
This is how I originally envisaged my layout to be ... on the back of several beer mats!
Here is the original version, prior to the rebuild during April '09.
This is the updated version, rebuilt in April '09.
For the story behind this, please visit the Work-in-Progress pages from the Navigation Bar.
Drawn in "Microsoft Office Excel" on my PC; covering nine sheets of A4 paper; these are the statistics for the updated Control Panel.
The panel size is 32" wide by 24" tall. Each of the nine sheets that make up the Panel have been glued onto a 4mm thick sheet of hardboard. Covering that, I have screwed a sheet of 2mm perspex (from B & Q) and all cut to size. Holes have been drilled through the appropriate "rectangles" on the plan. Be very careful when drilling through perspex as this can crack and splinter around the holes (as happened with the original) if suitable support and force is not used.
Each coloured rectangle (yellow, purple, black and blue) houses a miniature toggle switch complete with a coloured "lever jacket" the details of which follow.
POINT SWITCHES:- YELLOW (yellow switch jacket on blue rectangle)
(BLUE / GREEN rectangles represent two simultaneously switched points).
ELECTRICAL SECTIONS:- RED (red switch jacket on black rectangle).
ISOLATING SECTIONS:- WHITE (white switch jacket on purple rectangle).
SIGNALS:- BLUE (blue switch jackets on yellow rectangles).
In my opinion, the ready assembled BERKO colour light signals are the most realistic available. CRAVENMODELS.COM is an excellent website from which to purchase these and has full information and plenty of images to see before you buy.
Miniature toggle switches and wire etc I've purchased from both HEATHCOTE-ELECTRONICS.CO.UK & EXPOTOOLS.COM both giving excellent service and minimal postage costs.
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Total Yellow (including joint Green / Blue) switches:- 117
Total RED switches:- 46
Total WHITE switches:- 83
Total BLUE switches:- 23
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NB:- In addition to the quantity above there will be two 4-aspect signals. These will be situated on the Up Main & Up Relief lines prior to the motorway bridge scenic break. These will be automated via MAS-SEQUENCERS available from HEATHCOTE-ELECTRONICS.CO.UK . Not needing switches, the passing of a train over the "MAS" unit (fixed below the baseboard alongside the signal) starts the (adjustable) sequence from green via red, double yellow, single yellow then finally back to green.
All wires from all switches have now been connected to the solder tags and colour coded for ease.
I have used the same colour codes as for the original layout and listed below for information.
BLACK - FEEDS to SECTIONS
WHITE - COMMON RETURN (Feeds)
BLUE - POINT (TURNOUT) SWITCHES
GREEN - COMMON RETURN (Points)
PURPLE - ISOLATION BREAKS
RED - CONTROLLER (1)
GREY - CONTROLLER (2)
YELLOW - SIGNALS (and LIGHTING) SWITCH (12v Positive)
ORANGE - SIGNALS (and LIGHTING) COMMON RETURN
BLUE / GREEN - POINT SWITCHES (from PANEL) to CDU
BLUE / GREY - CONTROLLER to CDU only
GREEN / RED - CDU (Return) to CONTROLLER only
There are 28 individual connectors per Solder Tag and I have used eighteen labelled "A" to "R". That is circa 500 individual wires that are connected up from the switches to these Tags and then to the Points / Isolation Sections / Feeds & Signals to the layout (when sited). That doesn't include all the Common Returns!
You may notice some BROWN wire. I ran out of purple and blue wire towards the end of refurbishing the Control Panel. Rather than waste time and money, I used a couple of surplus BROWN reels of wire instead of the "correct" coloured wire.
Again, if you are interested (or confused!!), I can e-mail you a copy of the panel if you contact me.