D1037

I think they were a development of an English Electric type, usually fitted with a Dorman 6 pot?

A few shots from the work in progress that is a small industrial shunting puzzle. At current rate of progress it may be finished one of these days.

This is a very interesting thread. Can't believe I've only just coe across it! A few years ago, I had a go at making a pair of Tokenless instruments, and 3 pairs of block bells. There no where near as nicely engineered as some of the other instruments shown in the thread, but they work. I had a go at a pair of Electric Key Token machines too, but never quite got around to finishing them, and there were plans to make two pairs of GW 43 patern(ish) Absolute Block instruments too. Really must get around to finishing them all.

As there’s been a fair amount of discussion over the surface finish of 3D printed models, can I offer up my experiences? Below is a shot of a project I’m currently on with (Recreation21 O gauge GT3). The print as delivered had the same finish as Billy’s 503 (I’ve quoted it for reference, hope you don’t mind Billy). For starters ignore everything below soulbar level, we’re looking purely at the body. The tender has had three coats of halfords primer, rubbed down with 400 grit paper between coats, and two coats of Plastikote gloss rubbed down with 1000 grit paper between coats. This has produced a finish that is fair. It’s worth noting that I didn’t flat back the corridor connection on the back of the tender. This gives an idea of the difference the effort has made on the rest of the model. On the loco a third coat of gloss has produced a good flat finish (You’ll have to take my word for it at the moment, the weather hasn’t been kind enough for me to get a photo in natural daylight yet!). In short as supplied by shapeways, the prints require a fair amount of time and effort. But good results can be had! I’ll admit though that trying to get a good finish on window frames is at best a challenge, so coaching stock will test the builders patience to breaking point! Jonny Ward

It's a Hornby Control Rail for control fitted clockwork locos. The centre section can slide side to side and when in the appropriate position make contact with a sprung loaded arm under the loco bringing to a stand. When the rail is slide across it releases the mechanism of the loco and off on its way it goes. The best bit though is that it formed part of the Hornby control system (Mechanically worked signals and points from an actual lever frame, just like the real thing!), and could be fitted between a frame and a signal. If arranged correctly, it could bring an engine to a stand at a signal at danger, and when the operator clears the signal, the engine starts off.

I have my Dad's Triang collection in the loft, including quite a sizeable Transcontinental fleet. But neither of us where really bitten by the Battlespace bug. Although I did on several occasions nag ask if we could have turbocar, we never did get hold of one. Perhaps I should make amends and purchase one.... And a snipper car to go with the giraffe car. And a search light car, oh and the rocket launcher.......

What you didn't see in the demonstration for New London, after the passenger train arrived it uncoupled and ran round it's train, all without the aid of the hand from the sky. I'll admit we did chicken out trying to shunt the freight in the goods yard (Ran out of time to fit and set up the uncoupling ramps!), but it does work as small shunting layout. Albeit one on a different planet! Jonny, team M&GN

Yes, yes it did.

Not going to mention the bit where you borrowed a loco and broke it then? In fairness, it wasn't all your fault, after three days, the controller on Empress gave in to the rain, and the plugcoupler came undone (I should really have told you about that!). I don't think the Brake Van had been running on seized axle's for the wholes 5-6 years it has been there though. Shame someone turned the wheels up over night, it would have been much more authentic hearing the occasional flat spot! Another fantastic weekend though. Here's to many more to come!

The lever frame is a Westinghouse Miniature lever frame, but I can't remember where it came from. At the end of the branch there is also a terminus (The single line section worked via the BR standard Block Instruments), complete with overall train shed, based on the structure of Bath Green Park Station. Cracking day over there on Saturday, work preventing me from spending the weekend there. Next time though....

And not a single shot of the best looking engine there (A green Western), how disapointing. Those Met coach's do look lovely though. Off down to London for a few nights work now,earn the penny's to buy bits and finish the wagons I've been threating to finish for the last two years! Jonny.