[March 2023 - Lima Class 156 Super Sprinter Part 1 - Bogie Frame Mods]

I started doing the same modification to the bogies, but found - as you've noted - that it can cause problems. For some reason, most units are fine, but one in particular (my Regional Railways 'Express' one) seems to be particularly bad. The bogies on the non-powered car both seem very keen to let the axles drop out, and the ones on the power bogie seem equally keen to flex, which occasionally causes running issues. 

 

I can't remember off the top of my head whether I did the full mod to all of them or whether I left some with the inner end web still in place (it's slightly less visible at least). Incidentally, once you've removed the end frame, you might as well remove the bit that goes over the axle as well, as it does nothing - obviously don't remove it from bogies which still need a coupling attaching though!

[A Duet Of Limas]

I've used one of the Strathpeffer Junction remotor kits on a 4-car class 156, which works fine. I'm not sure I'd mix them with sound though, before or after conversion, as they're never going to be the quietest so the noise of one will always be fighting the noise of the other. Nice to see someone doing things with Lima locos though - I still have quite a few, and considering what a 'modern' replacement would cost, will happily keep them for now. With a bit of work, especially remotoring, they'll stand up well for many people's needs, even if not quite as high-fidelity as more up to date stuff.

[Propelling Control Vehicle]

Looks good. I might be interested in a pair, if you are still able to produce extra prints, could you message me and let me know the cost. Thanks.

[Ditch the Like Button - RANT!]

On 10/07/2019 at 17:27, Compound2632 said:

It is entirely consistent with the historic sense of a forum to wish to be able to give assent to points made by non-verbal means, without the obligation to make a further point in the debate oneself.

 

I'l be looking forward to a round of postings saying simply "hear, hear" in response!

 

I agree

[Ditch the Like Button - RANT!]

6 hours ago, Ruston said:

My experience is that my threads never get a great deal of conversation. I don't know if that's because the subject matter isn't mainstream, or because my posting style is boring.

It's most likely the latter because I can look around various layout or workbench threads here on rmweb and find some that have dozens of replies each week but contain very little actual modelling by their originators.

 

 

 

I agree. My own thread isn't that popular, and I only post sporadically. I get occasional "Likes", I see it as a "thumbs up" when someone has found something useful or interesting in what I've said. I'd rather that than pointless posts filling every thread with "that's nice", "that's good", "that's real nice", ... ad nauseam. If you have something to add, to bring to the conversation, then do so, just like in real life. But in real life, people can generally see your reactions to something - a nod of agreement, a smile - but without that visual element, an "agree" works well. It conveys interest, without adding needless text. Imagine how dry and irritating a thread like Jim's GBRf one would be if the 20 or 30 people who often "like" his posts showed their appreciation by all posting "wow".  We'd either just not bother wading through it, or if no one posted their "wow" Jim would have no idea how popular it is, and maybe stop bothering sharing his story (Sorry, just using you as an example Jim, hope you don't mind).

If there's good conversation to be had, then I'm sure it will be. If someone has a pertinent point to make, they will. But making conversation for the sake of making conversation, when there's nothing that really needs to be said, is pointless. Especially on a forum where it just clutters up the site and makes it hard to read, it benefits no one. 

[Done]

Wow, that's some excellent modelling there, the Beetle looks fantastic despite your reservations about the paint.  Is it a real car colour you used?  I'm no fan of the looks of the Alpine Renault, but your model looks great.  Both of them have a "weight" and realism about them.  The Lego mini is brilliant, what a coincidence!

[Just Pictures]

Hi, 

 

That's a lot of work you've put into the humble 142 there. It prompted me to have a look what needs doing on mine still.

I've attached a couple of pictures, on my early DCC conversions I had the same problem as you, as the decoders were too big so are visible inside, though at least partly hidden by the toilet window - to which I added a white sticky label on the inside to make it more opaque. 

 

I ran the wires between the cars below the floor, as can be seen in the first pic. To some I've added gangways, which are just pieces of thin black plastic scored vertically and curved to fit in the gangway space. They more or less hold themselves in place as they try to spring flat again, but are secured with a dab of glue. They aren't perfect but fill the gap, I wonder if you might be able to use something similar with the wires passing through the coach end, down inside the gangway, and back up inside the other.

 

 

 

(The middle unit above was bought second hand, I think it's a non-runner, but I still need to do something about the red decoder sleeve visible, it'll probably be made unpowered to make a permanent 4-car set)

 

I also opened up the rectangular hole under the coupling on the cab ends, and to some have fitted BSI couplings and NRN aerials from class 153s that were used as donors for another project.

 

I only noticed the cobweb on the Regional Railways unit after I uploaded the pictures....!  I think next I need to look at sorting out the livery on that one, as the excessive yellow has always bugged me, it shouldn't wrap around the sides but I assume was a compromise to match the mouldings.

 

 

 

[Lima Shunter to Class 13 Conversion]

Very good solution for the coupling rods too - I noticed they looked much finer than the originals, but would never have figured it out if I hadn't read what you'd done!