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JDaniels

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Posts posted by JDaniels

  1. I acquired via eBay, one of the revised S E Finecast kits for the GWR Metro Tank, the one with the etched nickle silver chassis. Unfortunately, the diagramme refered to in the instructions for folding up the chassis components is sadly missing and one of the more complicated parts needs a few folds. I've identified the parts I don't need for the other gauges and think I've more or less figured how to get the frames together, but would be most grateful if some tidy modeller still had a copy of the chassis drawing which they could post, so I could identify and put everything in the right place, including some of the smaller parts.

     

    What is the consensus regarding a ridged or sprung set up? I've not built a compensated, or indeed etched chassis before, this being only my second loco build in 35 years, but I'm reasonable competent, so will appreciate some advice on the subject.

     

    Many thanks, fingers crossed and Happy New Year to all. 

     

     

    Chassis etch pic attached

    I built a Wills (as it was then) Metro tank many years ago and updated it with the etched chassis. I like the prototype, a pleasant change from the 0-4-2T and they were, in their latter years, widely spread throughout the system. I also like the kit and it's nice to build a model that didn't have as many variations as the 517's.

     

    I wouldn't be too frightened about a compensated chassis. I have one loco using the CSB system, one sprung and all the others compensated.My Metro has the rear axle fixed with the compensating beam resting on the front driving axle and pony truck (not sure if that's the correct term). Kits that have provision for compensation are easier as they're designed with this in mind. The important thing is to ensure that the floating driving axle has no play within the hornblocks, time spent on ensuring this is well spent. Ignore anything you read about filing the bearing, I use grinding paste and moving the bearing up and down within the hornblock using the handle of a needle file. Also useful to scratch a "T" on one face of the bearing to ensure it goes into the hornblock the same way each time ("T" = top). The aim is to have the bearing sliding freely within the hornblock without any play.

     

    The rear bearings are of course fixed, the usual 1/8th inch bore top hat variety. It's also important to have the axle spacing jigs, these look like an extended 1/8th axle with the ends turned down. Put one of these through the fixed rear bearing, the other through the bearing and hornblock assembly (a spring is provided which goes over the axle in the middle of the frame to ensure the two hornblocks are firmly located against the chassis sides). Once you have done this, it can be a bit fiddly, fit the coupling rods over the extended axles on both sides and this will automatically ensure the bearings are in the correct position. Once this has been achieved simply solder the hornblocks to the chassis. This very simple jig ensures that the axle centres are exactly the same distance apart as the ccoupling rods. The compensating beam is simply a reasonably solid brass rod. The chassis should have holes showing where the fulcrum of the beam is located. I use a fine bore tube (Mercontrol point control tubing is ideal) and solder the compensating beam to this. The wire through the two holes in the chassis is threaded through the tube which therefore allows the compensating beam to pivot even though the wire may be soldered to the chassis sides.

     

    One final point, the holes in the coupling rods need to be slightly larger than normal to allow for the slight variation in the distance between the axles arising from the deflection.

     

    That in a nutshell is the way I compensate my locos. In many respects it's actually easier than a fixed chassis where the axles all have to be exactly in line. To my mind the improvement in running is worth the extra time.

     

    One point I forgot to mention, driving on the rear axle may mean the motor intrudes into the cab. I used a Portescap 1219 with the adapter (can't remember who did them) which pushes the motor farther back into the boiler.

     

    If you're confident with a soldering iron and have the few tools required an etched compensated chassis isn't too difficult.

    • Like 1
  2.  

    Well, not much to report of late, except to say the Coronation set is packed up ready for its 5500 mile journey to be repatriated on Friday. Hopefully, at some stage it will appear on Grantham; it'll be an honour if it does, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing that excellent layout. Amazing, I found, how much time it has taken to fine tune the running of the carriage set. I must have spent several hours ironing out little niggles that seemed to appear. I hope they are all sorted, and that they won't fall off the rails too much.

     

     

    On another unrelated note, I must mention customer service from suppliers in our hobby, which is rapidly becoming a bug bear of mine. I have recently been acquiring (at no small cost) parts and tools for my forthcoming projects from at least half a dozen suppliers. I don't want to turn this into a slanging match, my intention is to call for improvements in how smaller suppliers market and sell their goods, ultimately so that we buy more of their goods, in turn making them more successful.  

     

     

    First, let me mention by name those who I felt gave excellent customer service, and the reasons why I feel their service was excellent. Dave Ellis at South Eastern Finecast was absolutely first class. He responded to my initial order promptly, processed it quickly and from initial ordering to delivery in Hong Kong took about a working week. Very impressive. I also had a couple of questions regarding the kit, and a missing part on the chassis of the W1. Dave made me up a replacement part and sent it out that afternoon. To me, his approach to customer service is the model to where this hobby needs to go, polite, courteous, and knowledgeable, Dave made sure I will be a returning customer. Good for his business and good for me as I have a supplier I can trust. The only point I would make, and this is a recurring theme, is the website. Unfortunately, it is rather basic, and could easily be improved, the ultimate being to add full online shopping, but more of that later.

     

     

    Fox Transfers do have a fully automated shopping website, enabling users to click and add items to a cart. I have used Fox a few times now, and they have delivered orders very quickly with no fuss whatsoever. Their website is really the template that others should follow. Simply sitting at home, browsing items and adding them to a shopping basket surely encourages more sales. Customers are in a relaxed environment and can add as much as they like to their basket probably including things they wouldn’t have ordered if they had to place orders in the old fashioned way. Eileen’s Emporium have a similar setup, and I received my goods very quickly, again all processed automatically from the comfort of my own home. Chris at High Level kits is a another example of a trader who wants his customers to be satisfied, sadly, again the website doesn’t offer online shopping, but on the phone he is as helpful as they come.

     

     

    Now for an example of what I think summarises what’s bad about this hobby. I placed an order for some sundry parts, a small order but my first with this particular company, the name of which is unimportant as the problem has been resolved. The order was placed by email, as instructed on their PDF catalogue. I listed the part numbers and quantities, and simply asked for a total price, which once known to me, I would call up and give my card details. The response I received left me baffled, particularly as a first time customer. Essentially, I was told that they don’t offer invoices, and that I should follow the instructions for ordering. Now where on earth did that leave me? My response having grown tired of chasing other suppliers went along the lines of ‘fine, if you don’t want my business, I’ll shop elsewhere’. A few back and forth emails ensued, and I deduced that I had to place the order and give my card details and wait to be charged whatever the seller deemed necessary. I found this odd because when I go to the newsagent and buy a mars bar and a newspaper, of course I can work out the total cost, but the vendor always confirms that cost to me before I pay. So, a very strange way of doing business in my opinion, and the nature and tone of the emailed responses indicated to me that my business wasn’t particularly valued. Now, the company in question do sell a wide variety of products, so actually my choice to go elsewhere is limited, but this is not an excuse for poor service.

     

     

    With other companies, I have found myself chasing them to finalise sales. I send emails, and rarely get replies, for example three emails to one supplier and no response, yet from calling them I know they have received them. Companies who do not acknowledge emails when orders are placed or do not communicate if an item is out of stock is both frustrating and a waste of time, as I feel obliged to find out what is happening. Surely if I am spending my money they should be keen to finalise the sale, not the other way round!

     

     

    Overall, having come into contact with quite a few different suppliers, I can say in summary that customer service is patchy at best. Some are no doubt very good, but many leave a lot to be desired, and I wonder if they operated in more mainstream sectors if they would survive at all.

     

     

    One element that crops up time and time again is the issue of websites. I read on these forums people bemoaning the fact that companies do not have websites that offer online ordering, or simply do not have websites. We also hear that the average age of modellers is increasing and that in order to continue to grow the hobby we need to encourage younger modellers into the fold. How do we think younger people go about things? Their first port of call is a Google search. They will look for suppliers online, they will look for suppliers with websites that contain relevant information and that offer easy online shopping. Hattons offers just such a service, easy convenient online shopping, but their main focus is RTR. What of kit manufacturers? Where are their websites? Even more of a minefield is the little bits and pieces we need for making models. When I first started out in model railway kit building, I found it almost impossible to find what I needed. It seems many companies are still firmly rooted in the past where magazine advertising and sending off for a catalogue was the normal way of doing business.

     

     

    My reason for posting all of this is not to slam down our smaller suppliers. Quite the opposite in fact, and thank you, by the way, for reading this far. I want to encourage our smaller suppliers to sell more of their often excellent products, and to increase their presence on the net. Internet shopping and browsing are now huge parts of our society, very few of my peers (25-35 years of age) would consider phoning an order through, or filling out an order form and sending it off. They would simply expect to do it all online. Some websites prove it can be done, I believe DJH have a fully operational internet shopping enabled site (though have not used it). Good for them. However many do not, and those that do often contain out of date information.

     

     

    On the flip side I do understand that these businesses are often ‘one man bands’ and simply sell a few items as a hobby, but if they are selling goods to the public then surely they have some sort of moral duty to offer decent customer service. One way to improve this would be to have the online shopping I refer to. Although there is an initial cost to setting up such a website, orders would essentially be processed automatically, the seller would simply haver to pick and send the goods, therefore improving efficiency, and probably improving sales.  

     

     

    So my plea is simple, get online, get people buying off your websites and remember that we, as customers are giving you our hard earned money in return for the goods or services you supply. Email is the medium many of us communicate with, so please, respond promptly to them or answer your phone. Good customer service, good communications and reasonable delivery would ensure customer satisfaction, and hopefully encourage repeat business and recommendations. Personally, I want to buy the products that are out there but recently have felt quite a lot of resistance in doing so. Complete newcomers to the hobby could easily be put off by this poor approach, so I hope some of my observations will be taken on board. 

     

    Yes I can understand your frustrations and some model railway suppliers do not perform as well as they should. I have had excellent service from Fox Transfers who kindly made up a GWR numberplate with a red background at no extra cost. High Level Gearboxes are another example of great service. With the demise of "proper" model shops we have to rely on the internet but some of the "one man bands" probably do not have the knowledge to set up a website, I know I certainly couldn't. Perhaps we're asking to much of older people who may be very good at making patterns for casting or etches but don't have the knowledge of the internet. Is it any coincidence that the companies with the best websites appear to be those with better marketing ideas and, I assume, younger staff more used to today's world.

     

    I am quite grateful though that for all the minor problems that we experience there are still people around who are prepared to go to the effort of supplying us with those parts we require, it must be a thankless task that is never going to make anyone a millionaire. Sometimes I think these small manufacturers take on too much and provide a wider range of products than they can cope with and the price we have to pay for a more comprehensive range is slower delivery times than we would like.

     

    The concern I have is that with the advent of incredibly accurate RTR models that the hobby is changing direction from scratch and kit building to buying items off the shelf. Any number of kits that were freely available maybe 10 or 15 years ago are now discontinued and I can see this trend continuing.  We can still build from kits prototypes that no RTR manufacturer would take on due to the lack of demand. I often cite the example of the Peter K, superb etched kits of the most outlandish prototypes and still (just) available. How long will this continue though, can a manufacturer afford to produce a kit with sales of maybe 200 or less? Will we still be able to model in EM (as I do) or P4? Why bother to change from OO when the Bachman locos as an example have such superb chassis detail? I'm writing here as someone who has been modelling (on and off) since the early 1970's.

     

    It would be very interesting to hear from some of the small manufacturers and also maybe those younger modellers. Do those currently buying "off the shelf" see a time when they will be making kits with all the additional time that entails and would they consider changing to a more accurate track gauge?

     

    Grob1234, you have raised some important issues and I hope others will respond.

     

    John Daniels

    • Like 1
  3. Sorry bit late on this but I just spotted this in the GWR section.

     

    I have the Wills kit with their etched chassis and like others I am very pleased with it. It captures the look very well which I think is more important than any minor dimensional inaccuracies. You do need to be careful though in which prototype you model as like the 517's they changed a lot over their lifetime. The smokebox door, the part that to me makes or breaks a model, did vary according, I suppose, to which boiler was fitted.

     

    I have done a couple of etched kits and there's no doubt that sheet metal can (should?) look more convincing than any cast or moulded material looks. However I find that an etched kit takes an inordinate time to build and can be more expensive. I think you'd be hard pressed though to differentiate between the etched Metro and the SEF kit which I rate as one of the best while metal kits made. Even in the early 1970's when I started more serious modelling Wills kits (as they were then) always had a cachet that their main competitor never had.

     

    Mine is fitted with a Portescap RG1219 motor (purchased when those motors were a vaguely reasonable price) with the MJT (?) gearbox modification and it runs superbly. Of course the chassis should be compensated as the layout does not lend itself to fixed axles. One thing I do if I can is to mount the collectors on the top of the chassis. With the SEF chassis this is quite simple, a piece of angled brass soldered to each of the frames between the wheels and a length of copper clad sleeper superglued to the brass makes a convenient base for either phosper bronze strip or wire to bear against the rims. The great advantage here is that the collectors are completely hidden.

     

    Writing this makes me want to go out and get another one!

     

    John

    • Like 1
  4. Has anyone any suggestions on what constituted the Presteigne branch train in the 1920's and 30's? There doesn't seem to be a proper book on the line, and I've found pre-WW1 and 1950's pictures on line but nothing in between.

     

    (just an idea I'm tempted by for a few reasons, a little more information would help decide whether to pursue it further).

    The New Radnor branch book that you mention has several photos of B sets, quite modern stock for a very rural backwater but then these photos were taken in the 1940's.

    There was an article about Presteigne station in a very old Model Railway Constructor but this gives little information on the rolling stock used. However the Oakwood Press book, Great Western Branch Lines, does have two photographs taken at Presteigne and whilst earlier than the dates you are looking at these show four wheel coaches. It is quite reasonable to assume that four wheel coaches would still have been used well into the 20's. I do have a vague recollection that an old GW Journal may have further infornmation on the carriages used. The same photos show the inevitable 517 0-4-2T but also, and more unusually, a 1701 0-6-0ST. In later years (mid 1930's on) a fair clutch of 58xx 0-4-2T's were allocated to Leominster with a couple outstationed at Kington and these worked all the branches from Kington. The 3571 0-4-2T's did appear on the New Radnor trains but I think these were through trains from Worcester (via Bromyard) and were more associated with the Bromyard branch rather than New Radnor as understand they were shedded at Worcester.  The service timetable I have seems to show that the Kington and Eardisley branches were worked by the same loco and coaches throughout the day. The goods traffic was worked by an 0-6-0T.

    I've always liked the more rural backwaters of the GWR and Presteigne, a very attractive station, is one well worth modelling. I hope that temptation turns into reality.

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