Tomytec Bus & Tram Layout Build

[gerryo]

This is the NEW phase for this layout. It has been in the build phase for some time but I didn't know that different phases were in different places. I guess I should post pics as I go from here.

 

Planning phase stuff is here:

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/11206-gerrys-tomytec-bus-and-tram-module/

 

Gerry

Edited June 8, 2016 by cteno4

[gerryo]

I received the BRT-A set along with the missing track and a LARGE bunch of trees for this layout.  Still short 4 pieces of 33mm curves for one loop, but I expected this kind of problem because of not being able to accurately depict the bus set with this program.

 

Yes katoftw, I found something to complain about, but it's in my nature.

 

With the loops set up for the bus, there will need to be a few changes made.  Now to figure out just what to do.

 

Gerry

[valkyriepm]

Cool! Waiting for some pics!

[gerryo]

Here is a couple.

 

On the box and the info pics of the BRT-A, they indicate that the bus stop can be operated on 3 - 70mm pieces.  In fact they can only be operated on 4 - 70mm pieces.  This puts a bit of a kink on my plan.  The bus stop at the castle barely fits between the tram loop.

 

Gerry

[gerryo]

I got the final pieces for both the tram and bus roads today.  They are installed and everything works as expected.  There certainly will be a need for cheap batteries for the buses.

 

There seems to be a way for the newest buses to have rechargeable systems.  Again, because of my not being able to read Japanese, I can't quite get the meaning of some of the remarks.  Maybe someone here could translate for us less Japan oriented.

 

I also hope that, if this is correct, it can be applied to the existing bus system.

 

Gerry

[JR 500系]

 

There seems to be a way for the newest buses to have rechargeable systems.  Again, because of my not being able to read Japanese, I can't quite get the meaning of some of the remarks.  Maybe someone here could translate for us less Japan oriented.

 

I also hope that, if this is correct, it can be applied to the existing bus system.

 

Gerry

 

Hi Gerry:

 

Are you referring to the newest Re-chargeable battery that is featured in the articulated bus? If it's so, the chassis is too long to be fitted to the normal current Tomytec buses. Otherwise, please advise on the re-chargeable system that you have heard of. It might be interesting to find out how to re-charge our current systems...   

[gerryo]

I am referring to the descriptions given for the 2 articulated buses in the HS lineup.  That's all the info I have and even that is not very clear in English.

 

Gerry

[kvp]

The info i have seen so far: There will be a new articulated chassis with a lithium ion/polymer battery (same as in phones, just smaller) that could be recharged through a USB cable (5V) plugged into the bottom of the bus. These batteries are usually around 3.7V.

 

Also i've received email about some modern outline european Tomytec buses that will be available soon (both single and articulated) but no info on the matching powered chassis.

 

It would be rather hard to retrofit these lithium batteries into the existing chassis, so new ones are more likely. The lipo is also very bad at storage, so if someone doesn't use a bus regularly (and charge it to full at least weekly), then battery damage could happen. Personally i find the approach of Lego a good middle of the road solution, where both the regular battey compartement and lipo versions are available. (in case of Lego, they are easily swappable within vehicles as the size and the connecion points are the same)

[cteno4]

The us Tomytec bus that they did with walthers has a rechargeable, built in battery pack. It uses a USB 5v to recharge.

 

https://www.walthers.com/catalog/product/view/id/894847/s/north-american-operating-gmc-tdh-4512-bus-power-chassis-wmb-l01-fits-1-160-n-scale-gmc-tdh-4512-bus-bodies-includes-usb-cable/

 

Jeff

[gerryo]

I spent some time today fiddling with the bus road again.  I had ended up with al lopsided loop on the right end because of limitations made necessary by the tram road.  This left only a 3 - 70mm straight at the very end, and everything I read said that I had to have 4 to put in a bus stop.  Guess what - you don't.  On one of my chance changes I placed the 4th piece in the 3rd position.  When I noticed this error, I had been running the bus for about 15 loops and it stopped and started on all counts.  Eureka!!!

 

I now have space for one more bus stop.  That will be 1 stop on each loop and 2 in the center where the track is doubled.

 

I also worked on some small buildings by Tomytec  A pair of apartment houses, and a smaller trio.  A Butcher, a Baker, and a Bar. 

 

I don't see how I could have managed with Z scale.

 

Gerry

Edited June 22, 2016 by gerryo

[brill27mcb]

I got the final pieces for both the tram and bus roads today.  They are installed and everything works as expected.  There certainly will be a need for cheap batteries for the buses.

 

[...]

 

Gerry

Hi Gerry,

 

Check out dollar stores. One of our members found 10-packs there, and they did very well. There are several battery designation types in that same size, and these were not the higher-spec ones the instructions called for, but again they did very well and were very affordable.

 

Rich K.

[cteno4]

also ebay, ive gotten some pretty good button batteries in 50 packs cheap.

 

jeff

[gerryo]

I got some more batteries at dollar store yesterday.  5 for $1.25, much better than $5.95 each the last time at CTC.

 

Gerry

Edited June 24, 2016 by gerryo

[gerryo]

The tram and bus roads are about 5 1/2 mm thick.  I would like them to be even with the top of the ground.  Is there anything that is used to bring the ground up?  Like foam board or something like that?

 

All the buildings have a thin base but very few come close to thick enough.

 

Gerry.

Edited June 24, 2016 by gerryo

[cteno4]

Gerry,

 

Good old 3/16" foamcore will get you 5mm. It's cheap and readily available at craft and art stores. Covered on both sides with paper (usually white or black). Only down side is that it can warp if there are large changes in humidity especially if one side gets more moisture than the other and not glued down. Same goes with painting one side, can cause warping unless glued down.

 

If you want something that lays really flat and does not warp then there is PVC foamed board (basically PVC foamcore with FPV faces) at usually 6mm or gatorboard at 3/16". PVC foamed board is totally impervious to water and can be thermoformed with a hair dryer if you need to bend it or hump it over something. Gatorboard is foamcore but it has plasticized wood fiber at the outer coating so is very water resistant to warping. No bending the Gatorboard. Both of these can be cut with a matte knife at this thickness or get a small inexpensive hand electric saber saw if you have a lot of curves.

 

Anything you use you do need to test it painting one side without it being fastened down as the paint can shrink when drying and make the board warp. I've seen this happen with totally sealed pieces of plywood even framed as the paint shrunk it pulled the whole piece into a pucker! Smaller chunks help minimize this effect overall and any piece has a much smaller bit of deformation. Of course gluing it down to your layout top prevents all this!

 

Various chipboards (cardboard) will work, but harder to cut and much more prone to warping with time and any moisture if not glued down.

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

Edited June 24, 2016 by cteno4

[JR 500系]

Good ideas by Jeff. I also use after-market foam boards to bring up the pavement to the thickness of the tram and moving bus tracks. But there are also original Tomytec ones if you like:  

 

 

 

 

 

I've got a pack of these. They are of really good quality, thick and hard. And of perfect thickness to blend in with the moving bus tracks...

 

 

 

Also i've received email about some modern outline european Tomytec buses that will be available soon (both single and articulated) but no info on the matching powered chassis.

 

 

Yap I saw them too, but trying to find their pictures now but to no avail... I did find a really interesting bus set though: http://www.1999.co.jp/10396452

[cteno4]

Jr500

 

Ohh is it all foam? Precolored helps with the painting issues!

 

There is also fun foam, it's about 2mm and usually comes in 8"x10" pieces (sometimes larger) at craft stores. It's cheap and easily cut and a tad squishy. Could build it up. No paper so little issue of warping. Could glue in overlapping patches to creat a bigger piece.

 

Gerry,

 

What is the base for the layout? Can you glue to it?

 

Jeff

[tossedman]

Good ideas by Jeff. I also use after-market foam boards to bring up the pavement to the thickness of the tram and moving bus tracks. But there are also original Tomytec ones if you like:  

 

 

 

 

 

I've got a pack of these. They are of really good quality, thick and hard. And of perfect thickness to blend in with the moving bus tracks...

 

 

 

 

Yap I saw them too, but trying to find their pictures now but to no avail... I did find a really interesting bus set though: http://www.1999.co.jp/10396452

Pretty sure that the Tomytec stuff is just grey 5mm foamcore that they've repackaged. Gerry, I've found the same stuff at Michael's here in Calgary.

 

Todd

[gerryo]

JR500.

 

The buses are the first 2 items on the page when you go to Hobby Search "The Moving Buses"

 

Todd.

 

I'll check out Michael's here.

 

Thanx Guys

Gerry

[gerryo]

Just got enough GREEN, 5mm foam core to cover the whole layout, if necessary.

 

Gerry

Edited June 24, 2016 by gerryo

[gerryo]

I have ordered 2 of the Noch layout stands, which will go into and around a corner of a room.  Not sure of the dimensions yet.  Will find out on Monday.

 

Gerry.

[gerryo]

The tables are each 1 meter long by 69 (don't ask me why) cm wide.  Will be attached in an L shape to go around an inside corner.  This will give a little bit wider and a little bit longer layout, and the castle will be on the inside back corner. 

 

No new plans drawn yet but I have to eat sometime !!  OK, I'm on it.

 

Gerry

Edited June 27, 2016 by gerryo

[gerryo]

 

Needless to say, but the plan has changed somewhat.  There are now three tables, each 1000mm by 690mm.  This is because of what was available to "play" with. 

 

The layout will now be1/3 larger.  And much different.  The pic will give some idea of where my thinking is going.

 

It has larger curves on the bus route so that it can handle the new articulated buses, but will still use wide set from Tomytec.

It has the largest "Compact" Kato Unitrack curves, to make the trams work easier, over the layout.

 

Ideas welcome, Please.

Gerry

[gerryo]

This layout will not be going any further than this.  Circumstances have made it so that we will not be moving this year after all, and this makes the layout redundant.

 

All the supplies which have been ordered for this one will be used for the Baden - Baden layout in the future.

 

All parts for this have been already packed away in boxes, and clearly labelled so that they are readily available when needed.

 

Gerry.

[gerryo]

 

So, it makes an appearance again.  Some obvious changes.  Some good, some bad.

 

First change is the size.  This is due to the train room being smaller, but a corner makes this one larger.

 

Second change.  The double track for Trams.  I wanted this before but it seemed to take up too much space.

 

Third change.  I will not be able to use the articulated Buses because of the small curves on the bus road.

 

So be it.  I can't have everything.  Fate knows, I've tried.

 

gerryo