Jack O Lantern

Many thanks Noob. Lots of info to follow up! Cheers, Jack

Should have said 20 hp Simplex. D'oh!

Hi Noob. What a fantastic layout this is and it can only get better. I am attempting to build something similar, but have little hope of producing anything half as good. Would you mind posting a bit of info. about where you have got some of your items from? It looks as though the marquees might be freelance, but I would really appreciate knowing where the bell-tents come from. Also the Nissen huts. I wonder if the difference between the locos (00?) and the Roco vans is very noticeable? If you haven’t already come across him, there is a guy doing 3D printing under the trading name rue-d’etropal who produces both the 10 and 40 hp Simplex. The 10 is too small to fit any kind of motor, but the 40, of which there are a number of variants, will fit a motorised bogie. I cannot at the moment remember details of that, but I have one, so if you’re interested, I can dig out the packaging and let you know. Keep going and keep posting. You’ve got one devoted fan, at least. Jack

Very best wishes to you both for a long and happy retirement. Had been hoping to order some kits this year - looks like I have missed the boat. Jack

Not sure, Scott. I can't find the image you refer to. Here is an image that came off Google Jack

PS: Should have looked it up first. “Crewe Tractor WW1” on Google should produce the result. There are a good few pictures on Google images. Jack

Thanks Kylestrome and 5050. I was fairly sure that I had seen a reference to hot water somewhere, but I couldn't remember where. I guess I should really have posted on the NGRM website, as the 'loco' in question is a tractor unit on the War Department Light Railway. However, it can't do any harm to air the subject on here. If you REALLY want to know, put Ford T tractor wdlr or something like that into Google and you will see what I mean! Cheers, Jack

Sorry if this has been asked before, but l want to try building a chassis in 4mm. The front has an angled part. I can only describe it as "a curve with corners in it". I know that sounds ridiculous, but that is the best way l can describe it without being able to draw it. Does anyone please have any ideas or suggestions how to bend styrene permanently? Thanks, Jack

Thank you Simon @ rue d’etropal for your advice. I will chase up a Tomytec chassis as you suggest and will get back to you regarding bodies. It is just such a shame that there is nothing to fit your 20 hp cables! Regards, Jack

Thank you all for your suggestions. AdeMoore: I think the Lawton kit is far beyond me. Apart from the bodywork, as I said in my original post, I do not feel competent to build the motor, especially as it is notoriously difficult to get it to go. Decauville: Thank you. I will try again to gain access to this group's website. It was playing hard to get last night. James: Yes, I was looking at Simon Dawson's work, but unfortunately his 20 HP Simplex is, by his own admission, impossible to motorize unless someone out there has been very clever. He also produces the most stunning - looking 40 HP Tin Turtles and the prices for all these are more than reasonable. I was just hoping that someone more skilled than me had managed to create a complete runner. Regards, Jack

I know this is probably in the wrong forum but Narrow Gauge is blocked by some advertisement for Narrow Gauge World which I cannot get rid of. Has anybody tried any of the 3D printed Simplexes in 009? I am building a wdlr layout but am very clueless about working in brass and I have never soldered. I certainly would not be happy trying to build a motor. Does anyone please know of any RTR bogies that would fit? Modelwright on Shapeways has a 20 HP Simplex which will take the EB4111 bogie but his Simplex is post war and someone has suggested the Tomytec HM - 01 chassis for a 40 HP "Tin Turtle". Any advice would be very gratefully received. Regards Jack

Steven B/Bill Thanks for your thoughts. It is over fifty years since I last had a model railway and I had/have no idea how hot these things can get. You have reassured me! Jack

Royaloak, Many thanks for the helpful reply. The width of the motor is 12 mm and I have 21mm overall to play with. I hope that if I curve some thin plastikard over the motor and leave a 2mm space all round that will be OK. I had better get in touch with Geoff at the Foundry for his views. The amount of work that the engine would do is minimal. In many ways it could be a static model but as far as I am concerned it HAS to move! Thanks again. Jack

Thanks Bill. I would like to try and avoid that option as well! Will enclosing the motor blow it? I hoped that it there was a gap (however small) I could avoid that. Are you saying that I can't? Jack

Can anybody help, please? I have a project in mind which means working in a very confined space. If I use a Bullant motorised bogie, I have calculated that I can build a tram engine body to fit but the whole structure is very open. If I get a Bullant and run it in, is it possible to "wrap" it in a modelled boiler? There would be very little, if any, space between the motor and the boiler. I don't know how hot a motor gets and I don't want to set fire to anything! Any advice would be gratefully received. Regards, Jack