70E

Hi, I thought I would have a go a making a small shunting puzzle (wrapping paper box) layout to give the family something to challenge their minds with over Christmas. Larger trees will be removable to allow it to fit into the box. Im awaiting a laser cut platform to be delivered for the platform canopies.

I have just changed from a Lenz 100 system to a white Z21. With the Lenz system I could tell from the arrows on the LH100 or switch location on the LH90 throttles which way was forward and reverse with steam locomotives but not so easy with the Z21. it possible to set up that the left directional arrow is always forward and the right directional arrow is always reverse and if so how do it?

my copy arrived in Saturdays post, very interesting read, 4 pages on Hither Green

I was thinking of ordering and EWS one, they seem to have got it right on the N gauge version , you would think it wouldn't take much to replicate the same in OO?

OK, thanks, I guess the drawback is when sounding the horn it will sound at both ends at the same time.

Just installing these with upgraded speakers. Im not familiar with the sound set up on double headed diesels. If I set them up with separate addresses and double head can I still control the sounds separately especially starting or shutting down the engines independently or will they work as if they both had the same address? Hope that makes sense? Many Thanks

interesting, will it be powerful enough for the motor

It didn't take long to get side tracked this post is about expressing interest in a desert sand version not CMC maroon version and what colour pillars it has!

Possibly due to Dapols delay in delivering last years class 52 announcements some retailer out there may be waiting in the wings to announce a special commission of OO - Western Enterprise in desert sand livery with SYP? I missed the STEAM issue with plain ends and would prefer the SYP so was wondering if sufficient interest was shown on the forum to produce one then may be Dapol or retailer might be inclined to produce/commission one? Any other members wanting the same?

I'm very pleased with my locomotive, slow smooth running, well done Model Rail and Rapido

They were etched brass Doors and windows - DAW07 (OO scale) from www.peediemodels.com

Hi Steve, Thanks, no plan just scratch built to suit the space available using some reference photos like the attached on RMWEB under sectional buildings, also the one shown that can be found in old Hither Green depot photos. I've attached a picture of a similar example that was on eBay a few months ago which used a couple of Wills Provender Store kits which I thought was quite a good idea. Mark

thank you for the kind compliments Signaller69 much appreciated. Im hoping to post some more pictures in the near future but due to straining some muscles I am unable to lift it into the house from the shed to take some photos! The trials of getting old!

Such a cool and inspirational layout, all round realistic viewing.

Just got back from my local Wyevale garden centre, 50% off of all their Christmas stock. I picked up a bag of 21 assorted conifers for £7.50.

I thought I would post an update of further progress on the layout. I have now installed an overhead LED warm lighting strip with a dimmer switch, not sure if I need a cool light to balance it out a bit? All the buildings have lights as well as the workshop have an arc light simulator. I have used mini plugs for the buildings so that they can be un-plugged easily and swapped around to suit steam/diesel era's. I looked at various options for water some seem to be quite expensive and two pack so I decided upon and used Vallejo still water for the stream, its an acrylic base and flows quite well although it needs little encouragement to spread out. My first attempt was a disaster as I applied it too thickly and it shrunk back and started to peel away so I had to pull it all up and start again. Thin layers is key. For £8 for 200ml its quite good value and worked ok for me 2nd time around! Reeds etc are WW scenics swamp grass and some Noch bulrushes. I still need to construct a canopy for the coaling stage as well as other minor detailing and some people. All in all I've enjoyed the build with quite a few 2 steps forward one step back scenarios but a great learning experience , first time scratch build buildings and use of lighting, water etc. Next time I'll add some locos!

Opened mine today to find, both sets of wheels dislodged, one set of brake gear broken off, one set of glazing on the floor of the van along with a lamp iron! More to do I suspect with rough handling by the Royal Mail rather than Dapol but nevertheless disappointing as Im moving to O gauge from OO due to increasing poor eyesight and being fed up with fiddly bits either dropping off or having to be attached to locos etc. Even with careful handling these models are still delicate! Fortunately, all the bits in this case could be glued back although the brake gear took some doing.

Nero, many thanks for the compliment,

Some further progress made. I have now finished the frame and casing to the layout. All the buildings now have lights with either a 'contact' power supply or mini plug as per the locomotive servicing buildings. The large workshop building also has an arc welding simulator. Still plenty to do, install yard lights, detail the road and finish off the stream , build a canopy for the coaling stage and other minor detailing. I am pleased with how the chainlink fence turned out. The posts are laser cut from Scale Model Scenery (no connection) and mist sprayed with various shades as per the Chris Nevard method. I have to make a small control panel for the lighting switches and also the locomotive (off scene) base so they can enter the layout stage right as it were! Whilst constructing the layout I have been giving some thought to the back scene and still somewhat stumped as to what to do? I was thinking less is more but now its put together the back scene is too blue and the water tower although it needs weathering some more as it blends in a bit. I would like the layout to be in the landscape if possible rather than surrounded, by which I mean viaduct arches, warehouses etc. Maybe, I should have started with the back scene first? The backscene is removable so I can still add to it. I had been thinking of a photo of a carriage sidings or make it look part of a station etc, but can find anything on the web ready made thats suitable? Any thoughts or ideas appreciated. The pictures that follow are of the layout in its two guises steam and diesel. Water cranes can be replaced with oil drums and a tarpaulined load, Buildings lift out and can be replaced as well as the coal stage and fuelling point.

I thought I would post a few pictures of progress to date.

I am building a small micro layout (see servicing depot 2 in 1 under micro layouts) Before ballasting the track I installed Kadee magnets under the track in the locations I wanted them. `having ballasted the track I thought I would test them and found out all 4 do not work, I dont know if they have lost their magnetism or too deep although they are just under the sleepers. The Kadee couples have been adjusted to about as low as they can go without fouling points etc. I'm not going to be able to get the magnets out and so I'm thinking of installing neodymium magnets along side them but they will have to be on the outside of the rails rather than the inside as the Kadeee magnets fill the width and can't be drilled. Could anyone advise if this will work and whether there might be any issues with leaving the Kadee ones in place? Thinking of polarity etc. Also, what magnets/size etc would be best to use? Thanks

I have been making some progress concentrating on the steam era part, so a few pictures to show recent changes. I have attempted to use the Chris Nevard method of recreating cinders using DAS clay which doesn't look too bad once it had been painted etc. Needs a few oily deposits between the rails. The coaling stage is made from coffee stirrers and balsa wood. Note to self - I need to paint the ash pit steps!

Thank you for the reply, kind of what I thought but wanted to double check. I had made one at footplate level and it just didn't look right so has now been reduced. Thanks agin

what height should the 'platform' of a timber coaling stage be? Level with a locomotive footplate or to a height that allows a wagon door to be horizontal? or anything in between? Thanks

Can anyone tell me what size the hexagonal screws that hold the con rods on are? They are smaller than 12BA Hornby size, one needs securing with some loctite but I need a correct size spanner if such a thing exists . Thanks