Jump to content
 

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 19/03/24 in all areas

  1. A view of the LM station from the road
    19 points
  2. They can. Looking left to right, they start in the town, out of sight. Behind the church on the backscene below. There are two entrance/exits , one just above the Atlantic and the other above the 6 wheeler behind it. From there they can loop under the bridge, stop in front of the engine works and then back round the back, or they can go up to the station and loop round behind the buildings at the main entrance. To get to the other end of the layout, they turn left under the bridge and into the garage building you can see on the right here. This was taken in 2017 before it was fully operational, so the entrance is blocked off with perspex. From there they run along thre length of the engine shed out of sight before emerging onto Springfield Road and immediately left to pass under the bridge. Where the horses and carts have been posed below. This is where it gets really clever - Andrew has devised and installed working traffic lights as it's only a single track road under the bridge. You can see it working here - it's a thing of wonder. Vehicles stop at the red light and wait for traffic coming from the factory side, then proceed when it clears to green. Traffic from the Great North Road waits out of sight about half way along the factory building, just in front of Paul. Without all the bits and bobs, the video also shows how vehicles then climb up the Great North Road bridge, turn and wait out of sight until they're released by the next one passing behind the Ruston Hornsby factory. They then start the circuit again. It's not totally flawless.... ... but on the whole it works really well and provides another slice of entertainment for the punters.
    10 points
  3. The last couple of weeks has seen progress on a number of loose ends. These included, platform edging and retaining walls (Bay loading platform), much acrylic filler used to fill out the various levels all around the station precinct and some late fine tuning to uncoupler installs. None of the above is particularly photo-worthy (yet) but I have now started on something more substantive, the Agricultural Merchant premises. Seen on a regular basis in the background, lurking as a cardboard cutout, now the build is happening. There was no question about the design, my prototype resource is a lovely building and as I found when I drew it up from the photo, proportioned perfectly. So, what's to change? Like the buildings along the North side of my layout they will be modelled in half relief as they back onto Stafford Hill, the road leading through town and out to the NE. A solid frame was cut from 6.5mm sq Powlonia craft wood, aided with some 3mm thick white softwood strips A simple card support to carry the Slater's Dressed Stone sheet And some windows cobbled together from the glazing remnants of The Metcalfe Double Engine shed and a couple of LCut loose frames. Nothing they had matched the dimensions for my build. Once istalled, you wouldn't know the difference (TBC.....)
    6 points
  4. Good morning John, From the days of the great cricket commentators; along with Brian Johnston, there were the likes of John Arlott, Peter West and Jim Swanton to entertain and educate us about the gentlemen's game. Last night, I watched a 20-20 final on telly from Pakistan; certainly entertaining and exciting (though being non-partisan, I cared not who won), but some of the commentary was akin to being excoriated! Good (even great) cricketers the commentators might have been, but there their talents ceased (this is even more so with football commentators). What about the other great cricket quotes, such as 'The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey' or 'He's just got his leg over' or 'Botham has just clipped one of Thompson's balls all the way to the boundary'? At least one is attributed to the 'master'. Regards, Tony.
    6 points
  5. Even better than lined black? A candidate for another Accurascale exclusive........
    6 points
  6. I totally agree with the way DCC is often overplayed/oversold when as said it’s the simple basic aspects that for most can have the biggest benefit. And this applies as much, more really, for small/micro layouts as larger ones. Not having to have sections and being able to run one loco right up to another if required is a prime example. DCC is very flexible in that you can pick/mix how to arrange it but the seemingly constant concentration on full automation does hide the many benefits. Bob
    5 points
  7. Morning all, Good to see more healthy debate and comments about DCC. As I've said before, my involvement is relatively recent though my large loft layout built in the early 2000s was DCC, powered usung a Bachmann Dynamis. These days of course, my projects are much smaller but my "demands" regarding controlability have even more focus than before. Frankly, I've always been a fussy bu@@er when it comes to slow speed running (with the associated starting and stopping) but I accept I'm worse niw tgan before. DCC caters for that. Smooth loco on DC + GOOD QUALITY decoder + clean track = Happy Sheep. When you add the dimension of sound then it really is Cameo fun. Just one loco shuffling about plus a bit of bucolic background noise is where I want to be. Ewe will hopefully get there later this year with Rapido's intention to make sound kits available to retro fit to earlier J70s such as mine. Project W won't initially be sound orientated but may go that way eventually. But, aside from the smallest of dioramas, I can't now envisage building a layout which isn't DCC powered. Rob
    5 points
  8. My personal favourite layout exhibit was the one based on the RTC test track - with literally dozens of classic RTC items of rolling stock faithfully modelled.
    5 points
  9. Should be like Singapore. Everybody gets the main Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist religious holidays off, regardless of whether you are an adherent.
    5 points
  10. I had (have) an MTK 18000 and Athearn chassis, which never got built and now never will. My previous 18100 was an ancient Q Kit, which, as I've mentioned before, Mike Cole sold to me at a very low price when I was a student, as the body moulding was defective. This has had a succession of RTR chassis, currently an 80s-vintage Hornby 47, but has never run properly, so it's now been relegated to my "heritage" collection of models that have no use on the MCL but have some personal significance to me.
    5 points
  11. Thanks George. Still waiting for all the paperwork to go through, and hoping that the sharks solicitors don’t uncover any snurglies…
    5 points
  12. Back to one again tonight, as today's light went elsewhere. 60010 is at rest,and with ten on doesn't quite obstruct the barrow crossing. Just an attempt at something a bit different again.
    5 points
  13. This is a rant! TfW has stated that they cannot run a Wellington to Shrewsbury shuttle service because there is no way of changing from the up line to the down line at Wellington. What do they think this track formation does then? Wellington also has up and down loops and a bay platform. (Although it does face in this direction.) Behind the photographer is a facing crossing that leads into the Donnington freight terminal. Surely a DMU could run past the crossover and reverse, or if TfW are worried about the train running on up the line and reaching the collapsed embankment, then have the branch as the route set passed the crossover. It would also remove the train from the main line, whilst the crew change ends, although there's no through traffic to contend with. The station is just out of sight around the bend. I can only presume that this decision and statement was made by a suit and not the railway operations staff, because this was the sort of situation they used to revel in and show a lot of pride in continuing to operate a service under the most trying of circumstances. Now it's close it down and hire in a bus! Crewe on Saturday, by car! Unranted🤣
    5 points
  14. I've said it before and will continue to advise, DCC is as complicated as you want to make it. I simply want things to move well and where suitably fitted, make a noise/noises. @Gilbert and his henchmen gave me good advice when I was looking to dip a hoof into it and I've not had any issue in following said advice since. As it is with our mobile phones, most of us don't use more than 15-20% of their capabilities, because we don't need to and so it is with DCC systems. Rob
    4 points
  15. 64XX Pannier shunting
    4 points
  16. I have ordered more supplies of coarse turf which should have arrived by the time we return home from a short break. Before leaving I managed to prepare the smaller lochan in anticipation of trialing epoxy resin as water. Having read that epoxy resin is good at escaping I have attempt to make the lochan a securely sealed environment. As a base layer on the polystyrene landscape is cling film on top of which I laid more plaster cloth and painted it using several coats of Woodland Scenics water undercoat of differing colours. I hope that the colour scheme will create the murky water effect that I seek, by the time we are back home the paint should be dry and ready to receive the epoxy. Cling film and extra plaster cloth added First coat of Woodland Scenics yellow silt applied. After several coats of Yellow Silt, Hunter Green undercoat was added liberally to the base of the lochan.
    4 points
  17. I'm awaiting the howls of anguish when electric car drivers finally have to pay road tax and the government works out a way to impose excise duty on electric car charging....
    4 points
  18. Night Owl from the Piedmont.
    4 points
  19. As shown in a Channel Five programme last year. Link to Army News and TV below https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/08/military-justice-on-the-small-screen/ https://www.channel5.com/show/court-martial-soldiers-behind-bars .
    4 points
  20. A few photos of the 44xx EP on the Carterton layout at Ally Pally on Sunday.
    4 points
  21. There is a bay platform in Wellington that is used for a somewhere in the Black Country to Wellington shuttle. This is the crossover used by trains returning towards Wolverhampton to regain the up main. (So quite a few of the local passenger drivers will have signed it if required). The loops are used for freight locos to run around their trains when they access the Donnington freight terminal branch. West of Wellington station (beyond Aldi) there is a Limit of Shunt sign on the up side that is the furthest point that any loco can run 'wrong line' when using the up loop to run around.
    4 points
  22. Since the train is turning round without passengers, surely you can employ a pilotman who HAS signed the crossover ("Ooh no, I've never driven that 20 yards!") to supervise the reversal, who once the train returns to the departure platform, crosses back to the arrival platform to await the next service and to repeat the process. Of course this would require one or more people to take their thumb out of their <ahem>. So much easier to hide behind process as an excuse to do nothing and yet continue to draw your full salary.
    4 points
  23. For me, that is one of the best ever images to appear on this thread.
    4 points
  24. The crossover is fitted with Clamplock equipment so is fit for use by passenger trains. The most plausible reason for not using it, would be that the Driver and Senior Conductor, (Guard), don’t sign the route through the crossover! Once upon a time!, train crew signed whole areas, but about 20 years ago, I became aware of situations of drivers stating they didn’t sign this crossover or this loop? Caused lots of fun!!!!!!!!! Another reason the TOC will be pulling, as it’s a Landslip, NR have to cover all the costs of the disruption. Happy days as far as the TOC is concerned. Paul
    4 points
  25. 4 points
  26. A green 06 with TOPS number York back in the day before Sprinterisation
    4 points
  27. Summer 1990-1992 was a fun time in Manchester as a teenager, summer holidays going where butter wouldnt. Whilst I recall 25’s, 40’s, even a 24, 44 and 76’s those day were gone. But life wasnt always boring, the summer would send the South’s finest to the North West… 47573, 579, 47821,835 and 47484/500 were all noteable visitors. 47821 at Wilmslow heading towards Manchester and Here is 47596 at a Station time has forgotten… Clifton, on the Bolton line, today served by 1 each way a day… 47596 on the twice weekly Bolton GUS parcels points to note here, it hasnt yet got a sparrow, and its eth socket is on the buffer beam, as the step is in the way.. its also not got the white lining around the windows. so naturally Heljans announcement of 47596 peaked my interest. I thought i’d compare against two favourites… Heljan 47596 vs 47484 [new] and 47628 [old] 47’s from Bachmann So how does it weigh in…. 567g (New Bachmann is 585g / old Bachmann was 537g). So its there. first the roof… 47596/484/628 Roof shape is very similar, this new Heljan is brought much closer to the Bachmann and Hornby/Lima shape than the old Tubby Heljan 47. Note the panels are different, is this right ? 47628 47596/47484 Theres not much to pick between the roof grills, the fans are not powered. so how does it measure up ? the overall shape, inc the nose profile is pretty good… Heres my measures Heljan 47596 / New 47711 Length over buffer: 254mm / 253 mm (1mm) Length over buffer beam 242mm / 240mm (2mm) Width centre bodyside 35.42 / 35.42 (0mm) Height centre wheel to roof 51.02 / 52.08 (-1.06mm) * note this height as its interesting.. A real 47 is 3.9m / 12’ 9.5” which at 1:76.2 suggests 5.1mm or at 1.76 suggests 5.13mm The Bachmann 47 has two switch's for cab lights, the Heljan 47 does not. The Heljan 47 is powered off the outer and inner wheel, the centre wheen has no gearing, so its in effect an A1A-A1A drive. Heljan has done some under pipe detailing, it maybe fuel tank specific, but Bachmann has done more.. 47596 on top of 47484 on top of 47711 (also new Bachmann) now lets look inside… note the fans arent interior mounted, they were put in from the roof exterior. This isnt what were used to seeing inside a Heljan loco, this boards had some serious attention… The cab lights are plugged in with a tiny jst which has been located opposite ends of the (top corners of the) board but simply reverse socketed (Black/Red one end, Red/Black at the other)… unplugging these turns those cab lights on/off. The roof fans are a separate piece glued in. Theres some definite lineage of Heljan history inside.. Its the same motor as the good old 26/27/33 using the same driveshaft / gearbox clip and tower arrangement. Sound space under the board apparently. On power this thing is a beast… 0.2 amp startup, 0.36amp on full power… the house lights flickered when it started.. its running fine, top speed is good, its responsive but man that thing is hungry. It didnt come down after 10 minutes either. comparisons.. 47596/47711/47628 Amps full 0.36 / 0.18 / 0.13 Amps start up 0.20 / 0.02 / 0.04 Cab interior comparisons… ( The Bachmann cab is inside the body, the Heljan cab is on the chassis)… They do seem a bit different.. Heljan 47596 on the left Theres two quite different interior renditions of the engine room… Bachmanns is different on all 4 window positions, Heljan has two identical pipe runs, and 2 different engine bay renditions. The bogies really brings the difference out, Heljans bogie (47596’ is much less relief, more like older Bachmann or even Lima, where as Bachmanns new 47 (47484) has more relief and separate piping… It looks fine at a glance though. Heres the front of a 47.. 47635 at Doncaster in 2003. Heres Heljans 47..side by side What stands out here is on first glance, the window sill is lower, the windows larger, the frame between the two windows is narrower, the roof arc is shallower… But… The buffer beam is lower ! indeed the whole chassis is… All is not what it seems.. So how about an alignment… yep the Heljan 47 is set lower.. Bachmanns old 47s and new align (47628 and 47484) so how about 47711 and Heljans 47596.. yes 47596 is lower.. look at the bogie / chassis gap on both models but 47596 bufferbeam is a perfect height match to an Accurascale mk2b… Also note the buffer beam step, ive not seen this modelled on a 47 before. To be certain heres 47004 to an Accurascale mk2b and 47004 is higher. I also checked a Hornby 87, Bachmann 37, Hattons 66… the Bachmann 47 is higher… between 1mm and 1.5mm depending how tightly youve screwed the body to the chassis, but its higher. fascinated i put both bodies on the deck, theres not much between then.. Now I will shout out some detail points here.. The glazing of the lights lenses on the Bachmann 47 is top notch, Heljans is more average. The aerial mounts are imo better, the cab window frame width imo looks wrong on both.. to thick on Bachmann too thin on Heljan. You can see the difference in footstep positioning (i think Heljans is too close, but I prefer it to be moulded on, as ive lost dozens of Bachmann front steps over the years !). The curvature of the bufferbbeam at the cab corners on Heljan is a bit rough too. Finally the parts bag has a set of screws to mount the snow ploughs which look very good renditions.. on my one there seemed to be a bit of flash around a headlight, and a bit of over spray around a window frame, but its nothing I cant resolve and no worse than others, I think these were foibles Unique to mine..but hey ho. so my conclusions…. Its good but not great. 1. Its a huge improvement on the old Heljan 47, its much closer to the accept shape of a 47 established by Lima and close to Bachmanns. 2. The ride height imo is looking much better on Heljans 47 than Bachmanns, finding the buffers so high on Bachmann was a surprise i checked against several.. 47004/484/628/711.. they are all around 1mm-1.5mm high. When I put it against several other models like the 37/50/87/mk2b they aligned to Heljans 47… now I see that better ride height I cant miss it, this wasnt expected, and I do like the lower height on Heljans / reduced gap between body and bogie. 3. The lighting is good, shape nice. 4. The front steps in front of the bogies is a nice touch. 5. It has separate handrails on the roof vents. What could be better.. Three words.. The Front end… 1. The headlights lenses 2. The moulding of the bufferbeam/cab corners looks sloppy, you can see a mould line for a cut cab. 3. The cab windows feel a fraction too large 4. I’m not a fan of the A1A -A1A drive arrangement, its a CO-CO, whether its technically better its imo not quite realistic. I’d personally put it in second place behind the latest Bachmann 47, and ahead of the previous Bachmann one. Will I buy more, yes I will, it’s good enough, but I may seek after market lenses if someone makes them that good. Is the roof panels right ? I am concious of its price, and that Bachmanns ended up discounted, so I may wait on the same…. Theres not enough in either new 47 to make me want to trade in my older ones, but theres still gaps out there… For me 47’s is about who makes which livery first, heres a hint… and I still need a 47500 to complete the GW150 line up.
    4 points
  28. Saw this rather nice GWR Loriot complete with a plough load at the weekend. Very well tied down and inspiring.
    4 points
  29. Some photos in Nottingham on the Midland. Nottingham Class 45 to Manchester Nov 70 C421 Nottingham London Road Junction May 73 J3189 Nottingham London Road Class 120 Class 46 Class 105 Oct 73 J3477 Nottingham Carriage sidings 4472 Flying Scotsman Class 47 Class 20 March 74 C1511 I had permission to be there. Nottingham Class 31 down grain and Class 45 up ecs March 75 J4184 Nottingham Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln and Class 47 Aug 75 J4677 David
    4 points
  30. Today I fitted a dummy coupling, vacuum pipe and steam pipe at No 1 end, and a dummy coupling at No 2 end of 18100. I didn't fit any pipes at No 2 end, as I've left the tension lock coupling in place so that the loco can haul the occasional train. I was very impressed with the ease of adding the etched stainless steel running numbers, with the "double adhesive tape" doing its job perfectly. I haven't come across that method before but it worked very well. All that's left are the bogie end steps, which were missing from my package. I've emailed Rails to ask whether they can send me a set. I'm not quite convinced by the "grease patches" on the buffers though...
    4 points
  31. The fireman of B1, No. 61373, trudges along by the tracks with head lamps for their scheduled departure from shed
    4 points
  32. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in staging this event. This was the first exhibition I’ve been to in the UK for many years and it was only due to a last minute change of plans that I was able to attend at all. The venue is, of course, superb and even on the Saturday morning I found it busy, but not too crowded. I was very impressed with the whole thing and it was very useful to be able to speak directly with several manufacturers (Accurascale, Revolution Trains, Bachmann and The N Gauge Society). It was also good to find some small enterprises who had, until now, slipped under my radar and I was able to pick up some useful bits and pieces. I thought the layout variety was good with my favourite being City Basin Goods; high quality modelling with trains being operated at realistic speeds and faultless operation (at least when I was watching). I was hoping to be able to personally thank @AY Mod for his contributions to the hobby but he was nowhere to be seen, and the same for @Phil Parker but he was busy every time I passed by. Many thanks to both gentlemen. And I only got bumped by rucksacks twice 😆
    3 points
  33. It just shows they are using the opportunity to claim as much lost revenue as possible from NR. The Government won’t be worried. It forces more people onto the roads paying fuel duty and road tax. That’s all it ever seems to be about! Paul
    3 points
  34. Hello chums and chumesses, No photos today as it was a bit of a mixed bag overall. After posting up yesterday, I decided I'd tackle the ribbing (come to think of it, I think they're stiffeners) and I did the central one on the inner face by cutting some 0.5mm thick 'card (I didn't have any 0.3mm) into strips 3mm wide and re-cutting the one piece at the length required. I also cut a piece of my remaining angle to an appropriate length and then glued it alongside the pencil mark on the side girder. The rib was then placed against the angle and glued, followed by a second piece of angle on the other side of the rib forming a sandwich. Then the fun started cutting out some ever-so-tiny pieces of angle at an angle and then glueing them at an angle and horizontally against the top and bottom webs. I think a photo would have been more useful here - I'll do one tomorrow as it would have avoided all the 'angles'! This one rib took an hour! Most of the time was spent glueing the tiny bits in place. I was however reasonably happy with the result. This morning, as I still had just enough angle to do one more rib, I did the central one on the outer face. This time, having cut and fashioned the rib to length, I cut the angle slightly over-length allowing enough to do the 45° bends and horizontal bits. This was followed by cutting tiny bits out of the one part of the angle to allow it to bend. The long vertical part was glued to the rib and once set (it takes quite a few minutes) the 45° bends top and bottom were secured in place. It bent, but not quite as planned as the MEK weakened the angle where the cut had been made, leaving me with a tiny bit - the horizontal part - in my hand. I then had to glue that separately. Rinse and repeat at the bottom and then for the other side. Once all had 'gone off', the completed rib was then glued to the side plate. This rib only took 45mins! I have another 62 to do and I don't want to be doing them for the next 62 hours. Now I've started of course I'll finish it but I must find away of speeding up the process. This afternoon, I carried on with the other two plate girders. As I made mention above, they were slightly too short (why I have no idea as I'd already lengthened the card jigs - oh well!) and rather than re-cut two new ones, I decided to split them both and splice a new piece 20mm wide in each. I was really chuffed at the result as I had cut them slightly higher than the originals and then sanded them to size (on a curve) once set. I also lightly sanded down the surfaces along the glue joints and you could hardly see where the parts had been stitched together. Any marks will disappear once sprayed and painted. I then spent what daylight time was left 'framing' the girders with the webs. I have the top web to finish tomorrow in good light and they too will be ready for their angles and ribs. I was on a roll and a bit disappointed that bad light stopped play - it was time to eat anyway. Not sure what progress I can make tomorrow as I may be out earning my woodsman's badge if the weather is dry. Photos tomorrow and stay safe, Cheers, Philip
    3 points
  35. I remember a looong time back, the company I was working for had a religious observance calendar. There must have been a good half dozen different religions on there, showing all the religious holidays and I remember sitting with colleagues working out the best faith to convert to in order to get the most days off. 😂 It was however too long ago for me to remember which one it was.
    3 points
  36. Is the cost of parking ag Glasgow really relevant to this topic?
    3 points
  37. These were wagons involved in a derailment on the Scottish ECML, so clearing & repairing the line would be the first priority. Also probably unfit for removal by rail, certainly not without full inspection & repair. © Ian Addison on Flickr
    3 points
  38. The Government's 'Kids for Coal' trade-in scheme exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts.
    3 points
  39. 60010 is still at the far end of the canopy, but some judicious cropping brings it closer. I quite like this. Shortly it emerges, and passes our nice lady, who has remarkable staying power.
    3 points
  40. Correct on both counts. Surely it is good enough to be exhibited as a layout? It currently has no fiddle yard (I am sure these can easily be built). David does not consider himself a good modeller but, on the evidence of what he has built, I disagree. I would rather be able to see it properly, not as part of a society stand.
    2 points
  41. Ignorance I suppose, but I learn quickly. I wouldn’t deliberately drown the plants.
    2 points
  42. Don't need to bribe them as they look on 'solchal media' as more often than not the 'peoples representatives' have either posted themselves or been caught by someone else.
    2 points
  43. You cannot bribe or twist / thank God, the British journalist / but seeing what the man will do / unbribed, there's no occasion to
    2 points
  44. It's half a mile away, though. Far Away. Small. It's the same thing, really, isn't it Dougal?
    2 points
×
×
  • Create New...