andi4x4

Have you considered the possibility of self adhesive vinyl ? May be able to get some offcuts from a local sign maker. If you get some of the thinner variety your Cricut should be able to cope with it just fine. Regards, Andi

Hi Ian, Be careful using these. I have used them in the past for similar purposes only to find the adhesive dries out over time and they start falling off.

They all seem to be building High Body cars - probably to make room underneath for those ridiculous battery things ! Who invented electricity anyway ?! Ridiculous stuff ! 😅 I have been looking for another car myself - I currently have a Vauxhall Zaffira VXR (240hp) - cracking tool, but it is now 18 years old and needs some parts that are now obsolete. No body makes an equivalent vehicle today - nearest thing is a Mercedes B200d AMG line (160hp), but those are well out of my price range and they are due to stop making them shortly !

You could always pick up some cheap bodies on eBay to use as testbeds rather ending up with a loco you are not happy with ......

More of a Potty Shed than a Potting Shed....... I'll get my coat ...

I can see why that technique works, but, I prefer to watch others squirm under their promises, personally ! 😄

and another !

Looking good ! Wish I could find the time and mojo to get on with mine ! Still browsing the forums daily looking for mojo

Clearly a prime location for the spotters to gather, cameras in hand ! Looking good Andy, the bridge makes a big difference and breaks up the 'flatland' brilliantly... Andi.

Looking good, sir. More progress made at your house than mine in the last 6 months ! Happy New Year to you ! Regards Andi

In that case, I would change both the worm and the axle gear - Ultrascale stuff is good quality - you will see the difference if you swap both ! Regards ! Andi

You can get the same off-centre problem with a grub screw if the gear is too loose a fit on the axle as well as the slight wobble it can introduce. Back in the days when I smoked, I used a Rizla (other cigarette papers are available !) to shim a gear on an axle with slight success. Regards ! Andi

I understand the budget constraints, been there myself in the past. The nylon worm is a must, I feel, and will go a long way to reducing noise. Silence from the cheap, fold up gearboxes seems to be something of a unicorn, the best one can hope for, in my experience, is quiet - with a nylon worm and some careful set-up. Order yourself some nylon pinions - if you have no joy getting any, PM me your details, and I will get some for you and forward them on 👍 Regards ! Andi

You need to get rid of that visible sideplay in the axle - that will definitely be causing some of the noise. I think Roxey or Slaters sell frets of thin brass washers/shims in various fine thicknesses specifically for shimming axles and gearboxes. Failing that, you could make your own from thin card. Shim to remove all discernible sideplay in the axle but avoid adding resistance. Once refitted into the loco chassis, shim the axle between the gearbox sides and the chassis frames to ensure the assembly cannot move around in the chassis and insulate/isolate the motor body from the chassis, too, to prevent the transmission of vibrations into the structure of the loco - don't forget it is an empty metal box - it will amplify any noise being produced just like the body of a guitar does. I don't remember, Are you using a flywheel ? They can help smooth things out quite a bit, if you have space (and a double shafted motor) All that aside, it looks lovely and appears to run smoothly, Good job so far ! Regards ! Andi

No hassle - You can buy them like that as a commercial item! As Compound2632 suggested, cheap, efficient and easy to install. Lots to be found on that well known auction site !

How many connections do you need to make at each board joint ? Are you just needing to carry 3r track power or do you have accessory power/isolating switches to consider too ? Lucas style automotive connectors, like the D-type, come in a variety of 'ways' and usually with the connectors not fitted to the plastic housing, so, omissions can be made if required.... They also require no soldering ! I am aware of other RMWebbers who use the chocolate-block connectors with great success .... Regards ! Andi

You could try a search for these on that "Famous Auction Site" .... 10 x 10mm Worm Gear 6mm long Plastic Cog Gear for 2mm Motor Shaft Pack of 10 New They look about the right size and pitch, unless your gears are fine pitch. Check the motor shaft size first though ! Another thing to do is make sure your axle gear is dead centre on the axle and dead in line with the motor shaft - even the smallest of offset will create noise, usually more in one direction than the other.....

Amanda, is the worm gear metal ? looks to be in the picture you posted. I have found the nylon/plastic worm and brass axle gear to be a quiet combination with a Mashima motor. The metal gears rely on being absolutely square to each other - I have usually just set up the mesh/backlash by feel to the point where there is almost none. In a thread on another forum relating to vintage and modern 'vintage style' tinplate trains, a short 'running in' period using toothpaste as a fine grinding compound has been suggested for a noisy gearbox - toothpaste to be washed out after running in period, of course ! Andi

Long time since I have posted in this thread. I have, this evening, been going through some of my threads and posts to replace the missing images lost in the server crash. I have to be honest, this project has stalled over the last four years since the house move, partly due to working on the house, restoring one motorcycle and custom building another, focusing on some on-line motor racing and my other train interest in O gauge Tin Plate and its modern cousins. It has not been forgotten though - part of it was set up recently to test out a collection of 00 gauge locos I purchased for Grandchild Number One, (who is still interested, thankfully !) and I just had to get a couple of my sound fitted locos out for a play ! I keep tabs on the forum, and it is so scary to see the rate at which a certain Mr Peters continues to churn out stunning layouts and his Budoc Bridge TMD has given me ideas for a small dcc project !

Fair weather problems, Eh ? ! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just been through and replaced all the missing photos lost due to the server crash. Not been much, if any, progress on this loco, however, it has seen some use in the Permanent Way works that have been ongoing by hauling supplies and testing newly laid rails ! I'm afraid not much happens in railwayland in this house during the summer months due to motorcycle interests taking up much of my spare time outside of work 😟 Things do still, however, creep along slowly, New locos and rolling stock have been acquired, a small amount of P/Way work has gone on, 12v 3 rail power units acquired for clockwork loco conversions, etc. And, of course, the brain cells keep ticking !

Been a good while since there has been any update, but, today I have been through the thread and replaced the missing photos that were lost in the server crash. There has been a little movement on the layout, some swapping out of the remaining longer points with the shorter replacements and laying of some track, but, still a long way to go. The acquisition of rolling stock and locos has continued with a number of bargain purchases over the last 12 months, including a clockwork B/L George V, minus tender and what looks like a clockwork Marklin Precurser (not yet verified!) for the grand sum of £60 each from a local antique/second hand trader, both in need of some mechanical TLC, but fair/good bodies considering age. Also a rather nice 3-rail (probably 1950's) either Leeds, Millbro or kit-built Stanier type 2-6-4 tank loco which runs beautifully and pulls strongly for a well-spent £230. It's heavy brass construction, quality cast iron wheels and powerful motor give it enormous traction ! Very pleased with it ! Photos when I get chance ...... Andi

My Grandfather, (Brummie, Born and Bred) called it a "Tipton Spanner" Andi

Blimey, that would be impressive in 7mm scale ! Regards Andi

I sent them an email a couple of months ago asking if it would be possible to add Maldon to the track list and included a link to the website. Looks like they took me seriously ! Lots of interesting track plans appearing here ! Regards ! Andi