cravensdmufan

Collected my saved copy yesterday from my local independent newsagent, who I like to support. Another excellent reference volume - I have the previous three - and definitely ones to keep. Printed on good quality paper - no waving! Great prototype articles and loads of modelling too - I really like the articles on modifying models. Keep up the good work Simon, and all the other contributors. Looking forward to more volumes please!

Okay Chris - have sent you a PM.

Hi Folks, Just having a clear out of old magazines - before I take them to the recycling centre I thought I'd just offer them here as it seems a shame to just dump them as they could be good reference material for someone. I'll keep them for a month on here before disposal. Approx. 55 Rail Express magazine modelling supplements. Can be collected from me in Spalding, South Lincolnshire, or can possibly deliver or meet up within 25 miles or so radius of the town. Cheers, Vivian

Hi Folks, Just having a clear out of old magazines - before I take them to the recycling centre I thought I'd just offer them here as it seems a shame to just dump them as they could be good reference material for someone. I'll keep them for a month on here before disposal. 1990 - 12 issues full year of MPM. Can be collected from me in Spalding, South Lincolnshire, or can possibly deliver or meet up within 25 miles or so radius of the town. Cheers, Vivian

Last Saturday I took my first journey by rail for three years (prior to Covid I was full time carer to my late wife who since passed away with MND in June 2020). In fact it was my first proper day out in three years. I thought I'd attend the model railway exhibition at North Road Darlington, held in the Head of Steam museum. 07.48 Peterborough - Darlington : LNER Azuma, first class carriage less than 20% occupied. No mask wearers except staff. (Walked 1.2 miles to North Road). Attended exhibition - not many visitors and hardly anyone wearing mask, though I chose to. 11.48 North Road - Darlington : Northern Class 158, crowded - I would estimate 95% occupied. Not many mask wearers. I sat in the empty vestibule on a fold down seat for the 5 minute journey. 12.02 Darlington - Peterborough : LNER Azuma, first class carriage 80% occupied as far as York then emptied out to around 20%. Some mask wearers, though not many. (As an aside I was hugely disappointed by my first ever journeys on the Azumas. Couldn't get comfortable even in first class. Not nearly as nice as the Mk4s and Mk3s that were on the route previously).

Well done Andy and team - all working fine now.

Tiny bit of black tac, which is stronger than blue or white tac.

Thanks Mick, I'll check that. The only reason I used the chuck was because I didn't have a suitable collet. But I have now ordered a collet set along with better mandrels. I'm determined to get it sorted because I know the tool itself is a good bit of kit. Thanks everyone for advice.

Thanks Ian, Yes the mandrels have been central in the chuck and the discs themselves look as if the holes are central. I was pushing the shaft of the mandrel in about half way - plenty for the chuck to grip onto I thought. Will report back again as per above post. Vivian

Thanks very much Ian, Mick and Mark for your responses. I have ordered a pack of mandrels the same as the ones Mick has suggested. I am obviously very wary of using this tool with a cutting disc. However, a friend of mine of has come up with the suggestion that I may be powering it up too suddenly at maximum speed. The Dremel is very fierce. I will try out the new mandrels when they arrive (wearing a safety visor I think!) and report back. Thanks again for the comments. Vivian

Hi everyone, I just started trying to use my Dremel (given to me as a present a couple of years ago by my late wife) for the first time ever with a cutting disc. I have only used the tool a few times in the past for drilling holes and it's been good. As soon as I switch the power on the mandrel immediately bends severely! Before even applying the disc to the item to be cut! Happened twice now! Before I go off to the model shop to purchase a third mandrel, could anyone be kind enough to advise me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

Now corrected - Thanks!

Just bought a half tank of BP Ultimate this morning - £1.559 per litre as opposed to £1.329 for E10. I hadn't realised it would be that much more! Bit of profiteering going on as drivers of older cars maybe bit wary of using E10 I think!

I replaced the traction tyred wheels with normal ones on two of my early Class 50s a few years ago. From memory I acquired four new wheelsets from Peter's Spares which gave me the eight non tyred wheels I needed. I removed original tyred wheels from their axles by placing the wheelset in a mini vice (wheel backs on top of the jaws of the vice) and used a light hammer and punch to tap them off. New wheel goes back tight on the axle, use a back to back gauge to get the correct distance. You also need to make sure the cogs on the axle are properly lined up (they are off set) as it's easy to get them the wrong way round. Both of my locos still run superbly. It was a lot cheaper than buying complete new motor bogies.

Great photos, thanks for posting. Being an ex BR(GE) man, I particularly liked the 306 on Platform 5 at Shenfield. Unusual, in that they were normally run as 3x3 car units, even off peak. The 309 in it's original maroon livery passing through Stratford looks stunning - real quality trains, built properly.

Reminds me of when I worked at Paddington in BR(W) days. If the minibus to OOC wasn't available they used a light loco, usually a 47 or 50 - I well remember seeing the lads piling in both cabs!

Thanks for highlighting that article - foolishly I had actually skipped past it thinking it was simply another re-numbering tutorial. In the past I've seen reference to the "oily rag" finish particularly on steam loco models and seen photos, but wondered how it was achieved. Now I know!

Thanks Jonny. Just strips of tin foil stuck on with PVA. For the antimacassars on the 1st class seats I used white paint, but I have since changed my method - I now cut small squares out of white self-adhesive label. Neater and even quicker!

I just painted the seats as well. Plus small strips of tin foil for the mirrors, and a splash of paint inside the glazing for the curtains! Really does make a difference.

It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Peter Buck of Spalding, Lincolnshire, following a short illness. Peter was always an avid railway enthusiast. One of his earliest childhood memories was lying in bed hearing (and feeling!) the heavy steam hauled coal trains passing in the night, his family home being right by the GN/GE joint line at Welland Bridge in Spalding. During school holidays he cycled to Tallington level crossing on the ECML for trainspotting, and took delight in watching the A4s (always his favourite loco class) thundering past. After leaving school Peter joined Brush Traction at Loughborough where he was involved in the construction of Type 2 (Class 31) locomotives for British Railways. All his working life was spent in the machine tool industry at various locations culminating in employment with Delphi Industries, Gloucestershire. On retirement, Peter moved back “home” to Spalding with Esther who sadly predeceased him in 2014. Retirement meant he was at last able to spend much more time enjoying his great passion for railway modelling. Like many other boys of his generation he started with Hornby tinplate, then modelled in 4mm for many years until discovering the wealth of detail achievable in 7mm O gauge. He was a member of both the Gauge O Guild and Spalding Model Railway Club where he was involved with the refurbishment of the Club's O gauge layout. He also enjoyed visits to as many model railway exhibitions as possible! Peter will be much missed by his many friends in the model railway community. Sincere condolences to his son Richard and family, and to his sister Christine and niece Katie. Peter Buck, 19th October 1938 - 22nd July 2021. May he rest in peace.

Maybe try a decoder reset CV8 to 8? You will then need to re address the loco as it will revert it to 3. (Sorry that's teaching you to suck eggs!).

I really enjoyed your video. Very useful. Thanks for posting.

I also enjoy digging out old models from the "forgotten about" drawer which sometimes make nice projects to experiment on. Here's an example of where I was practicing my dry brush weathering techniques on an old Lima DMU chassis/engine block - just a chunk of moulded plastic which although was well detailed for it's day really didn't look great alongside more modern models. A combination of a few different Citadel GW acrylics along with touches of Tamiya powders to pick out the different components has produced an almost 3D effect! The DMU is now proudly back on the layout after 25 years in the drawer! And, after a good service and extra pick ups fitted it runs sweetly too! Almost no money spent - the satisfaction of the end result, invaluable! Best wishes to all. Vivian

Excellent! Thanks for posting. I have a Lima 121 in my drawer and think I may do likewise.

I use pre-wired micro plugs/sockets from Squires Tools. They are really small and almost unnoticeable especially when painted matt dark grey. Most importantly the wire used is extremely flexible for use between the vehicles. Here's an example of where I have used one to connect an additional speaker to the unpowered car of a Bachmann Class 150. It is barely noticeable even though I haven't painted it it yet. The plug/socket itself tucks nicely inside the corridor connection. Through experience I have found it better to site the wire higher up on the model as illustrated here. At first I tried locating it down nearer the couplings but this caused a few derailments especially when propelling.