Large Scale Central

John Allen Timesaver questions

Modeling
#1

I plan to construct a John Allen Timesaver in Large Scale. It is intended to sit alongside our club modules. While we don’t want kids to touch our modules, I will invite kids to play with the timesaver being monitored by a club member.

I have plans already in Large Scale for the timesaver …but to make the timesaver module shorter… I’m planning to operate it with the little Mack switcher and related tanker cars.

My question is how many cars does each siding on the time saver need to accommodate?

Does the engine need to clear the turnout too or is space only needed to stack a car or cars?

Tom

#2

Take a look at this. http://www.gdlines.com/Timesaver.html

THe rules are at the bottom of the page.

SteveF

#3
Steve Featherkile said:
Take a look at this. http://www.gdlines.com/Timesaver.html

THe rules are at the bottom of the page.

SteveF


Thanks Steve… That’s just what I needed…

The website states that each siding needs to be long enough to stack 2 cars or 1 car and 1 loco.

#4

Tom,

What you need to keep in mind is what size equipment are you going to use. A big USA engine will take a lot more space than 2 axle European cars. You need to set your siding lenghts to accomodate the size of cars you plan to use. One of the games we play at the shows is the difference of what can be done with a tiny two axle switcher as opposed to a Bachmann Heisler. With a small engine a siding can hold the car and the engine. With a large engine you may just have the room to get it clear of the points for a “run around”

#5

Thanks Ric,

I’m planning to use the H-L-W Mack unit with the mating tanker cars. Using these exclusively I’ll be able to shorten the Large Scale dimensions to a single module, maybe 6 feet in length. Plus since my objective is to let small kids do the shunting with adult oversight, the toy like units will appeal to them.

Some of the club members think this would be a simple module setup in a mall to recruit for the club.

Tom

#6

Even with smaller equipment, I would not use the smallest radius turnouts ( in LGB - the 1200’s). It is not the turnout that is the problem, but the tight radius of the “S” curve.

“Using these exclusively I’ll be able to shorten the Large Scale dimensions to a single module, maybe 6 feet in length.”

You might get 8 feet, 6 feet seems extremely small. Our “Timesaver” with LGB 1600 turnouts and set up for 40 foot rolling stock is 13 ft long by 31 inches wide.

You could lay it out on a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood before you did any cutting. Just to see if it would fit.

#7

Tom,

I agree with Ric, the 6 foot dimension is a bit ambitious. The various HO modules run in the 60 inches by 12 inches range, +/- one or two inches. Scaled up to 1:29, that would be 180 inches by 36 inches or 15 ft by 3 ft. Squishing it down to 6 ft will be interesting, to say the least.

You might consider making the Timesaver usable by more than just the H-L-W Mack. It would not be much more costly to do that, and it will increase the interest factor by a large margin(adults using 1:29 or 1:32 rolling stock).

Just my 2 cents.

Let us know how it works out.

SteveF

Don’t forget to have a governor on the power supply to reduce the “smash factor.” Even when they don’t mean to smash things, kids and even adults can forget which way is “off” when all four sweat pumps are on line and the pucker factor is pegged on 10/10. :lol: Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

#8
Steve Featherkile said:
Tom,

I agree with Ric, the 6 foot dimension is a bit ambitious. The various HO modules run in the 60 inches by 12 inches range, +/- one or two inches. Scaled up to 1:29, that would be 180 inches by 36 inches or 15 ft by 3 ft. Squishing it down to 6 ft will be interesting, to say the least.

You might consider making the Timesaver usable by more than just the H-L-W Mack. It would not be much more costly to do that, and it will increase the interest factor by a large margin(adults using 1:29 or 1:32 rolling stock).

Just my 2 cents.

Let us know how it works out.

SteveF

Don’t forget to have a governor on the power supply to reduce the “smash factor.” Even when they don’t mean to smash things, kids and even adults can forget which way is “off” when all four sweat pumps are on line and the pucker factor is pegged on 10/10. :lol: Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.


Steve,

I plan to lock the transformer to one speed (Slow) and have a DPDT momentary contact switch reversing the polarity and actuating the direction. The switch is the only control that the folks will have access to.

I’ve got a lot of spare track and will lay it out on the garage floor to check functionality before the build commences.

Won’t start building on it, til after the convention is done, but I’ll let you all know how it turns out.

Tom