O-Gauge-Phil

Thanks Ade, I think I’m just about there, just the couplings, probably tomorrow now. I would love to know how many of these existed in reality and how many Hornby Dublo and how many models of it have been made over the years. Lovely kit, nice castings, would highly recommend. It’s been an interesting experience, now I know how long each wagon takes I can try to estimate how many lifetimes I’m going to need to get all these kits I’ve stashed away over the years done during lockdown. Thanks for looking. Phil

So sorry for not responding sooner. The wagon in question is a Perseverance Mica B. The instructions said that sometimes they removed the fittings and sometimes just the chain. The hooks are included but not the chain, I have 4 couplings , well that’s what they look like but not something smaller? If you follow my link below and forwards to the end you will see it almost finished, with 4 holes in the headstock. In the pictures below what appears to be the only couplings supplied. Thanks for your help. As a p.s.would it have the tie-bars between axles? Just finished it and the holes don’t show, In hindsight the safety chain brackets would hardly show. I think I have seen a photo ages ago but I didn’t find anything on Google. Thanks again. Phil.

I got the rattle cans out today.

Just have to keep your nose to the ground. The same D1 came up some time ago on a well known auction web site, 4 letters beginning E ending in a y, other auctions are also available (gosh been watching to much BBC). Also O gauge guild events. Good luck Phil

Marc, they do some kits in 7mm. Looking at this 4 mm build I’m rather looking forward to making a start on this one.

The Buffers arrived yesterday, so I popped them on this morning. Blackened the wheels and added the brake pipes. Normally I don’t like whitemetal pipes but now I have too many wagons really, so it’s not going to get a lot of use and I’m hoping that the long coach buffers will afford some protection. ATB. Phil

And so it should, it’s a marvellous piece of modelling.

I’m not sure about the ties, I normally forget to add them but I think this didn’t have any? I ordered some buffers, partly because I don’t fancy drilling them out ( I know I’m a bit lazy) and partly because of the lack of space behind the headstock. Opting for self contained. Not many bits on the frets now. Little bit of weight to add, pop the two bits together and add the casting. I think I have made a few mistakes please feel free to comment. Then it’s what colour to paint it , it’s nice to have something white-ish, but brown would have been used for fruit I believe and much more likely to be seen. Hey Ho, decisions, decisions. ATB Phil

Obviously a blown up 4 mm kit but still very good. Nice to get stuck into a new build. I’m sure I’m not doing it justice but I’m happy.

I’m building a brown vehicle, in 7 mm. Although I’m not fitting the chains I was going to fit the hooks on the van. I’ve tried Googling but cannot see anything so would be pleased if someone could describe what they look like. Was it just an eye bolt? Many thanks Phil

Must’ve been ok then, for a carrot topped kettle. You never forget the pigs but Slaters are a good make, so I wouldn’t expect anything else. You don’t see many Saints about. Perhaps they are a bit big for most people’s layouts. Thanks again Phil

Hi, how was the Slaters Saint? Did it all go together without to much grief? Did all the bits fit? It's on my lockdown list. Thanks Phil

When I was building the Hall l showed the kit to my daughter and her boyfriend, my wife later remarked that it would be interesting to see how the model evolved from a two dimensional etching and I should take pictures of all the bits reducing as the model progressed. So here we go. Well, everyone should have a grey Mica, from your first Hornby Dublo to a preserved railway.

Thanks Ian that’s much appreciated. Turned out as a nice build and so far not too many “in hindsights”. Maybe could have used a large scale decoder as there was the space but that would have set it apart from my other Locos. The three watt audio output is okay for normal use but when I took my layout to an exhibition the sound was a bit lost in the crowd. Ade - yep, when the safety valve lifts it does make you jump. Years ago before YouTube, when people had hi-fi , one of the most important things was to get the speakers right. So as there was plenty of space I concentrated on the speakers. The decoder has a three watt output so that should drive them. 2 x 23 dia @ 4 ohms plus 2x EM2, 4 ohms series/ paralleled up, plus a tweeter in series with a 0.1 micro F capacitor. The coal in the Tender sits on some brass plates that are spaced apart so sound emanates from above and below, although it appears to be forced forward and hits the inside of the cab, producing a very nice sound. I’m just doing another 57xx , not a lot of space, so after reading your thread I’m trying out a boom box. Pickups are on the drivers, tender and the leading bogie and with stay alive capacitors I’m hoping for good things. I haven’t tried it in anger yet but it negotiates a four ft radius ok. Next is some Modelu lamps but it looks nice on the sideboard and can sit there until the end of lockdown, all nice and clean. Then it’s in for some weathering. I took a few more pictures outside today but in the bright sunlight and thanks again. Ps. Does anybody have a Collet brake van kit from Castle Models they would be willing to sell? I had a pair but they were destroyed a long time ago. Like this but a brake.

The Hall is painted. Dcc fitted. This is my biggest engine and as I probably won’t have another biggey I wanted it to have the 4000 gal Tender. Managed to fit five speakers, one under the chimney, one inside the boiler, two in the Tender and a tweeter in the firebox. Bit of touching up to do on the edges but more or less done. Really enjoyed building it . Layout still stored away, no idea when I’l see it again , as I’m not allowed out except to go to the seaside to check my eyesight is okay. I do like the Hall next to the dean goods, just such a difference in the size of the boilers. Both are from Finney kits.

Please can anyone help identify this kit. The etches were signed 1995. I think I have seen this before but I seem to have a mental block. Thanks for looking. Phill

Also don't forget O has about 8 times the material of oo. Twice the length, twice the width and twice the height.

Your doing a grand job on this and I think it will be a lot nicer than anything available rtr. Try half a clothes peg to save your fingers, the little cutout for the spring is just right to hold the edge of a small etch part. You can rock it until the part is vertical. Phil

I do like the sight glasses, are they covered in clear plastic or something? They do look likethe real thing. The light seams to be reflected from them. Phil

So sorry to hear that, all our best wishes. Phil

Why not do an end to end but have the fiddle yard end with a 5 road traverser, then go diagonally across to the platform end ending up at say 3' 6" or more, then you have some depth to the layout. It then gives more space behind the platform for the goods stuff and longer run round. Good luck.

It’s a shame that you had to go back to word, a wort, a worm, worse, no sorry just can’t get that four letter word out! Could be getting on with the coaches. I’m a bit slow, but you commented on Crimson livery “ Been looking at my reference book again. I am starting to get tempted by Crimson Lake. The branch set was still wearing this in 1931. Now, if I could afford the cost and the build time I would buy another set.......“ Well, I was on YouTube and I saw a rake of four wheelers in Crimson Lake snaking out of the bay platform and onto the main line, 4 mm, very nice, really looked good. Maybe after the summer when the nights are getting darker, well then another two would be nice and then there’s Christmas and an early Christmas present. Your street party sounds really good, we’ll raise a glass, Cheers, Phil

Looks like you are really getting a lick on with those coaches. Coming along very nice.

Next on the work bench - well, the dining room table - is a Finney Hall. Been waiting for a bit of spare time to finish the loco, I bought the Tender at the spring convention so I was all set to get started. Build as per instructions, it was a very nice build. No challenges and very enjoyable. Couple of mods - I drilled an oil way into the rocking beam, installed an insulated spacer to make the leading bogie live picking up from one pair of un-insulated wheels, installed plunger pick-ups in the Tender, flattening off the coal hole so as to take speakers. The Tender will be coaled up so the hopper wouldn’t have been seen anyway. These were taken this morning prior to a general clean up, it’s amazing when you take a picture, it seems to show up all your faults. This was taken just now. Hope to get some green on tomorrow.

Marvelous. Simply marvelous.