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Chris Higgs

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Everything posted by Chris Higgs

  1. Given the bogie centre wheels on a real 31 are a different diameter to the outer 4, you would struggle to power all six. Gearing that would be tricky. Chris
  2. Thank you for your kind words Nigel. I'd like to say that I took the spacing of the grab handles off a works drawing, but it really is so long ago now since I designed them, so I don't remember! EDIT: I remember now. The works drawing I had was of a Period 1 panelled coach (LMS Journal preview issue), and the grab handle bolt holes are in the middle of the panelling, as are the door stops. I made the assumption they were in the same position for the P2 and P3 coaches with no panelling. Photos seem to bear this out. Those with an intimate knowledge of LMS grab handles will know it's not as simple as that, as the bolts sit above and below the actual grab handle part, so the handle is shorter than the bolt spacing. Chris
  3. I prefer the masking tape approach for the simple reason that I seldom get all the ribs straight and even first time, and it's a whole lot easier to remove the tape and try again. Chris
  4. A tip I have seen for soldering whitemetal to nickel silver is to tin the metal with normal solder, then solder the part on with the low-melt stuff. But to be honest in 2mm I would glue, probably with a gel cyano. Chris
  5. BTW, if you just wanted to experiment with your Peco points, you could use slivers of plastikard to narrow the flangeway gaps to match those of the Finetrax. Then you will see whether that reduces your waggling or dropping into the frog. It won't look that great, but will give you some feel as to what will solve the problem. It could just be that you 03 has dodgy BtoB settings. Chris
  6. you might also want to read this: Explains why if you have a flangeway gap of 0.85mm and a wheel tread (not flange) width of 1.7mm or greater your wheels will not drop into the gap at the frog. Chris
  7. As I understand it, the Finetrax N gauge range uses asymetric flangeways: " 0.85mm flangeways through the crossing frog/wing rails. 1mm flangeways at the check rails." (quote from Wayne Kinney himself on another forum). As I think that is quite a bit finer than the Peco equivalent, the theory says better running should be expected, and is compatible with 7.4mm BtoB. A 7.15mm flangeway gap with 7.4mm BtoB doesn;t give much scope for 'waggling'. If as a test you build a FInetrax point and find it isn't any better, I expect you can just sell it on on ebay to get most of your money back. Asymetric flangeways might be a more complex issue on a slip than a plain point. If you don't like the asymetric flangeways, you could always slice the checkrail chairs off and reposition them with a finer value. Chris
  8. As mentioned its not just the flangeways on the points, its the relationship between those and the back-to-back your wheelsets are set to. So you would be wise to 1. build a test plank using Finetrax. 2. try adjusting the Back-to-back on your stock. Be warned though, the Finetrax is gong to make your Peco track look c**p (especially the points), regardless of relative running qualities. Chris
  9. Taking a closer look at the Steel Gresleys, the only non-articulated types were Full third, Brake Third(4 compartment) and Composite Lavatory. That has a rectangular toilet windowm, the brake third has a recessed baggage section. So only the full third is difficult to tell apart from a Thompson.
  10. The earliest Thompson lots also had square cornered windows. The end profile is one way to tell, the Thompsons sloped in quite significantly more then the Gresleys. Chris
  11. Things only become a permanent shop item if people are buying them. If you really still want some of these I have a very few left, would have to get some ends etched though. Chris
  12. As I think I have another bag of these lurking somewhere I think WSL in this case might be for rather a long time. The etch got somewhat supersede by first the NGS plastic kit and then the Farish RTR version. Sadly none of the three options came with with either opening doors or plastic horse. Chris https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235302016923?_ul=GB&abcId=9300867&campaignid=17218284410&chn=ps&device=c&googleloc=1006622&itemid=235302016923&merchantid=115018954&mkcid=2&mkevt=1&mkgroupid=142217514411&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkscid=101&mktype=pla&norover=1&poi=&rlsatarget=pla-1405537545018&targetid=1405537545018
  13. Personally I think you ned the drone's eye view for CF. The fact most of it runs basically in a cutting and it is a scenic masterpiece of considerable depth means you would miss a lot if it were at eye level. Years ago my then young children were with me at Wells are were greatly impressed by CF as a layout they could actually see. Chris
  14. I would check if I were you. I seem to recall the Mk4 and Commonwealth bogies might have been different lengths. But mine are also packed away. Chris
  15. Very good news on the Ultima castings now available in Shop 4: 4-301 - Coach Roof & Ends: GWR Hawksworth: Plastic 4-340 - Coach Gangway: Scissor Type: Whitemetal 4-341 - Coach Gangway: Suspended Type: Whitemetal 4-347 - Gas Cylinders: LMS/BR: Whitemetal 4-348 - Vacuum Cylinders: LMS/BR: Whitemetal 4-350 - Voltage Regulators: LMS/BR: Whitemetal 4-452 - Coach Dynamo: LNER: Whitemetal 4-453 - Coach Dynamo: SR Bullied: Whitemetal 4-460 - Coach Duckets: LMS: Whitemetal 4-461 - Coach Duckets: LNER: Whitemetal These are typically exactly the ones needed to finish off my kits. Chris
  16. As seen here, LNER tenders had disc wheels which means a significant saving on the price of the wheels you have to buy. Chris
  17. Yes, Andrew arranged many years ago for a group purchase of very expensive Swiss files. I'm glad I decided to go for it as they have served me well over decades. You have of course to be disciplined and only ever use them on the brass/nickel silver. Chris
  18. Not me. I did build up a large stock, but by visiting Colin at home at one point. Chris
  19. Well I have a lot of pre-Mk5 wheels which I have probably not got crankpins for. Fortunately 0.5mm brass wire will do the job. Unlike the new wheels where it seems you will have to buy the crankpins as they are in effect shouldered? Chris
  20. Well, sort of. Etched Pixels = Ulitima items originally created by Colin Albright, plus other things added later. Perhaps I should have said Albright era Ultima. Chris
  21. So by the EP white metal moulds is meant the former Ultima items? If the moulds are still in good conditions those are excellent quality. I do hope P&D Marsh take up the option to produce them. Very good news that the plastic roofs will be made available again. Chris
  22. Scale wheelbase would be 10.81mm and 11.84mm. So spot on. Can you see through under the boiler on these models? Chris
  23. Err, no it isn't. The 08 uses 14:18 tooth gear ratios, but the Class 11 uses 14:16. Looks like the instructions are wrong, and the accompanying chassis diagrams which showed the correct ratios have vanished. An 18 tooth will not only not mesh, but will also foul the track as it has a larger diameter than the 8mm wheels the class 11 uses. Not convinced by the VR F class. Looks like management decreed it needed cow catchers on ends and sides, and the shed staff found an old station bench that they could use the timbers off to achieve that. 🙂 Chris
  24. Currently in a train stopped at Didcot Parkway looking across I can see one the 1:1 scale versions Chris
  25. I await them with excitement. I do hope pictures means they are absolutely coming. We are still waiting for the Dapol WCs (11 years and counting - almost as long as the real things lasted in service). Chris
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