Firstly, size matters. Although the dimensions for these exist elsewhere in the internet, sometimes I find a local comparison helps. Here's my contribution to helping you work out if you can fit one in your layout:
I managed over the last few days to get one installed on the co-op siding, and one on the coal road. I've secured them temporarily with blu-tak while I work out the best orientation for each siding, and I'll secure them in place with liquid nails once settled.
Although the coal road is on a curve like most of the trackwork in the Mt Wilson yard, the CH's have no trouble uncoupling, however the 85 just doesn't want to let go. I've offset the next one on the main to be slightly further out under the curve to compensate for the swing of the couplers, so we'll see how that goes. The shunting manouevres to get a coal train off the main and into the siding under the loader is the main feature of the layout, so I hope the final result comes together.
I prefer to work in creative processes than scientific ones (which probably explains my preference for making scenery), but I've worked out the wiring schematic enough to be able to have an LED illuminate on the control panel.
And yes, that mess of wires will eventually be tidier once the control panel fascia goes on.
I find that with being under the layout and then testing it all my patience is only good enough for one a day, which is still better than nothing. I hope to have the rest installed by the end this month.
Other updates
I've also been working on building up a Rail Central Pc2 station, adding a brick chimney and fireplace to it as per Rob Nesbitt's 'Building Wagga' blog post on constructing a similar structure for Tumbarumba, here.
I'll do a separate post detailing all of that in future, as it's worth seeing it from beginning to end rather than as a footnote to the progress updates.
Still on track to get the basic scenery done before the end of the year!
Until next time,
Cheers.
