rue_d_etropal

Maybe we should be pushing for some British HO models. Gaugemaster have just announced they are doing a TT120 class 31 loco, with possibly some others including an Austerity tank loco. If there is perceived enough interest in this scale, which has little support in UK, then there is an even bigger case for British HO. The Electrotren model is of a 5ft 6in gauge loco, running on what s too narrow gauge in HO. This is why it looks Ok for OO scale, but cylinders are too wide for British Ho. Odd thing is that 3mm /ft would make 5ft6in spot on for 16.5mm gauge.

There are a lot of CAD software packages out there. Some are free, others may have downloads so you can try them out before buying them. Everyone is different and what suits one person might not suit another. If you do download a trial version, better if it has some type of training package as well, then make sure you have the time to go though it. Still will only get you started. Another thing to remember that is if you intend to sell models printed then you will need software that is licensed to do commercial work. Something many just ignore, but if you don't something might happen in future and you either end up in court or lose rights to all your work. It might also make it more difficult to prove ownership of designs if someone else gets hold of them.

the payment system looks ok. they use paypal which suits me, and they just take a commission on sales. I would have to look into some of the legal/insurance issues as it looks like it is in effect a platform for designers, so it is their responsibility in same way anyone writing IT systems independently. There are ways to get round some issues, but still needs looking into. I know many just ignore this, which is fine up to the point somethng goes wrong. I like the tools they have, especially as tools such as 360 degree spinnuing seem to work very well(even on my smartphone). It woud be a lot easier if it was possible to sell downloads on Shapeways, but then I suspect a few issues would be opened up.

With number of people getting their own 3D printer, started to wonder if future is to sell stl files as well as offring prints via platforms like Shapeways. I can hear the groans, but based on many years experience in the hobby, a good distribution and payment stystem is as important, possibly more important than specific quality issues. As modellrers we should be able to remove the odd blemish,but sorting out where a package has disappeared to payments going missing can cause real problems. So a quick search online and I found Sketch fab which has been going for a while so should be trustworthy. My main issue is to make it clear that designs are for personal use , only. Just wondering if anyone has used them and any issues,. Noticed their commission has been reduced since last year, which sounds positive.

the ND was fitted with a Unic D 120ch

Ian, what is your question please? Just found my copy.

fixed link, not sure how it got set to incorrect link, as I entered it correctly first time I am pretty certain I checked it worked OK first time.

Helsinki has a very comprehensive tram sysstem. My son lives there and I visited a couple of years ago. He just sent me this link, which I think might be of interest, as it does show some of the problems faced with tram systems in old cities and howthey solved some of the problems. Helsinki tram-video

It would be interesting to compare this range with the Marklin system, as they look very similar, despite what has officially been said. I tried one of the Marklin sets a couple of years ago. Amazingly it happily ran round our club latyout, which has handbuilt finescale track(minus chairs!), built back in the 80s. It was not so happy on standard pointwork, but my main disappointment was high lowest speed as I had thought of using it for a larger scale narrow gauge model.

The catalogue online is dated 2015. Is there an updated version, or is there no change? I tried emailing Mike King using am email address I found on another website but the email bounced. I want to order one drawing(rebuilt ex Pantry brake 1st), which unfortunately is not in any of his books and would prefer to send correct payment.

I have read that warming up(possibly in water) distorted models can allow you to straighten up warped plastic,but it is one reason I always have roof as part of designs I do. I also try to add a strengthing strip along base of body, which not only helps stop warping, but also makes ir=t easier to fit chassis in some cases in particular coachesand wagons.

on checking what I had found, I noticed there was an article in Le Train 245/246 2008, with another drawing. This time it was a buffet car, but sde view looks identical to standard 2nd class coach(ten windows). Will need to look carefully at plan view to determine if windows are different on other side behind buffet couter. Only seen photos of second class end coach.Had not realised one window was actually in baggage section. Would seem odd to have same windos/compartments in first class version, as that would mean less leg room for 1st class passengers! Having said that I think 3rd class and 2nd class had same sized compartments. I did find this yesterday http://old-modeles.mozello.com/store/category/echelle-n-1160eme/voitures-voyageurs--wagons/ I am now wondering about 1st class baggage coach, as I think the version here is the 1st class one, as it looks like 8 windows minus 1. Other models seen online seem to have 9 windows, ie 10 minus 1.

this has got me interested again. still can't find any more drawings, but this page suggests more than 3 types of coach, although bodies might have been used for different types. The drawing is for a 1st class with 8 comartments, The 2nd class I thinkhas 10, so assuming windos aree same size it should b possible to work that out, otherwise needs more workusing photos. The end/brake is a mixed(composite) but windows look eveny spaced suggesting compartments are all same size. info page The designs would not be that diffcult to do(famous last words!!), as they are basically a tube with flat ends. The end /brake coach would be only one which would be tricky, getting those curves to combine OK. Given that the end profile for the coaches is in drawing, I am surprised there are no side drawings for the other coaches.

minimum diameter would be 12mm, and that would mean motor might just touch ground.That is with motor horozontal. Having motor verical might be possible. Axle to end of motor is 30mm, so would need minimum height of roof above rail of 35mm, using 10mm wheels, which might be viable. Obviously would ned 10m wheels with removable centre, as I don't think replacing axle in motor/gearbox is viable, unless yo are very good and very brave. The smallest wheels I have found with removable centre are the old Hornby Pacer unit ones.I would probably not go below OO wagon wheel size, using the old Hornby ones with metal tyres. Some used to have square axles, moulded to wheel centres and they used to have all sorts of back to back issues, . I recently bought some as spares but they now have round axles, so were no use for what I was wanting them, but still could use them with these motor/gearboxes. HO is only one of the scales I am interesed in, and this motor/gearbox might allow me to explore some other scales/gauges which don't have r2r stock or track, in effect any gauge as I can use and add to my 3D printed track system.

for a railbus, I think one motor would be enough. I chose a couple(different ratios) which even at 12v would move very slowly so better for a shunting loco. Only issue might be wheel size, as minimim diameter would be more than most railbus wheels. A small steam engine, eg GWR 14xx might be possible. It is not something I am specifically looking at, but might be something for someone with their own 3D printer to design and print wheels to fit metal tyres.

Just received a couple of motor/gearbox units from China. Very nice and although I got them for 32mm/45mm gauge they are narrow enough to fit within frames for 16.5mm gauge. Clearnce above raili only issue.with motor horozontal, minimum wheel diameter of 14-15mm . If motor vertical(space allowing), then 10-12mm maybe. Axles(3mm diameter?) have a flat edge so driving wheels could be created witha flat internal edge, making quartering easier. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263470202962?var=564998450253 I have done 3D printed wheels for larger gauges to fit metal tyre rims of Faller O gauge loco wheels, so would do something similar to these. I think it might be possible for someone to do 3D printed wheel centres to fit larger driving wheels for HO scale, possibly someone with their own 3D printer.

odd, looked there and only 23 files, latest being last year and no journals just spotted it

just joined the io group, but can't see any of the back issues

I would say that the goods shed is nearer to 4mm/ft as it looks OK with OO scale wagons, having used it in OO many yearsago. The Teignmouth station buildings are I think actually nearer to 3mm/ft, something I checked as I thought they might be suitable for an Irish modelling project(1/96 scale 16.5mm gauge). I am not sure about the Mortimer station building. I had one of the Pola kits a few years ago. Probably nearer to HO than OO scale, but I do wish they had done brickwork correctly.

the open cab is interesting None of the photos of the locos when they arrived at the CF du Tarn show them with open cabs. For more info about the locos I would suggest contacting the CF du Tarn. When I first did my 3D print the presesident contacted me concerning a small error in my model, which I fixed. Also I seem to emember Sarah Wright publishing something about these locos, after the book she published about the railway itself.

Over the past 2 years there have not been many deals. I think online trade has been up compared to pre pandemic times so there has been less need to introduce deals. They are essentially marketing tricks to increase business.There tends to be one around the time of Cyber Monday, I suspect because many other online companes have deals.

When e-books started to grow in popularity, it was suggested that the printed book would become less popular, but in fact the reverse has happened. There is room for both, andmaybe e-books have been a convenant entry point or many, and from there they want printed books. I think ther could be something similar with magazines, but with magazines there is a shelf life, so for shops a problem as out of date magazines don't sell. For newsagents not so much a problem, as most publications are on sale or return, but not so for oher shops such as model shops. My suggestion for magazines in future as has happening with some books(one well known modeller publishs this way) is to only print on demand. Maybe 'newsagents' in future could print and loosely bind magazines. This would require magazine format to change, and page size to be set at a standard print size, eg A4. Order magazine(online), visit newsagent, supply order code, and get magazine printed. Personally I find advertising on internet far more frustrating than in printed magazines. Adverts in printed magazines are not only what actually pays for the magazine to be published, and provide a doorway into the trading and maufacturing side to the hobby, without which the hobby would not exist, but also provide a very good historical record of the hobby. I use old magazines as a reference for my 3D design work, but often find old adverts a useful source of inpiration. Those small , often one person companies who for a short time produced some models or bits for modelling, now forgotten about, but maybe still useful, especially as now with 3D printing it is easier to 'manufacture' of a request basis. What I have noticed more recently with magazines has been a shift to articles on mainly modelling rather than prototype, and I find these modelling artilcles either don't interest or inspire me, or are repeating what can be found in old magazines. There is also a tendency to focus on a narrow band of scales and gauges, and not enogh basic information on actual scales and gauges, resulting in less knowledge about these within newer entrants to the hobby. This can result in models being based on models, and incorporate design faults which are obvious when you look at the real world.

looks good, presume they have just resized their 3mm scale design. Only thing about their website, it does not have their address, just a message contact page.

On a similar note, I have recently bought some reed swtches through ebay, from a trader who had a location specified as London so believe I should not pay any extra charges such as VAT. I did not notice it on first purchase but when I had to reorder some more from same trader, I noticed VAT had been added by eBay. Oddly the packaging shows different return addresses, which backs up the idea talked about above. I have no problem in the way traders are selling, just as long as I only pay what is advertised. I have put in a request to eBay for a refund. The fact that eBay have a page to do this suggests to me they know there is a problem in their system, and rather than fix it properly, hae a bodge where the customer has to request a refund, with evidence, and I wonder how many people actually realise or bother todo so, especially on low cost items where the BVAT may be very little. All those pennies add up.

for this, the aim was to try and keep it to one design for all 16.5mm gauge locos, any scale. I actually want one for my Irish 3.14mm scale model. For tender locos I would probably use tender drive, which is something Mark at Locos n Stuff might be able to do as already has some units which are close. I am now also working on similar units to hold wheels under non bogie coaches and wagons, based on a 2mm thick axle,which I tink is pretty common in 16.5mm gauge wheels. I might then be possible to combine the idea to create something for non driving wheels on locos.