JSModels

It seems it's possible, but very difficult. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/8356-soldering-die-cast-metal/

The car's all loaded, we should be there for 3:30 😁

Thanks @martin_wynne, that's really helpful & having duplicates creating the odd heads makes perfect sense!

Further to James' excellent videos on his Bexhill West channel, I've downloaded Templot & am attempting to learn how to use it (for some reason, it doesn't like running on my laptop, but on my desktop it seems to function correctly!). I think plug-track is an amazing concept, and will probably be regarded in the future as a fundamental shift in the art of track building. Anyway, I'm trying to create an STL file for some O gauge bridge chairs (to suit Peco code 124 rail). I've succeeded in getting this far, but have a couple of issues: Firstly, I can't seem to find out to generate the loose outer jaws. In the 'chair jaw export options' dialog box, I assumed it was this option: but that still only outputs the chairs with the slots as pictured above, not the loose jaws. Even clicking on 'export all chairs with solid outer jaws and keys', I still get exactly the same result. Can @hayfield or @martin_wynne advise me on this? Also, the screw heads seem to be very odd, with varying shapes from square to 8-pointed star: I'm assuming this is some kind of glitch, and that they're not supposed to look like this? I'm really at the very early stages of using this, so apologies if I'm making some fundamental errors (I'm amazed I've got this far, TBH!). Lastly, for another project I'd like to laser-engrave the track drawing onto the board; is there a way to output the outline of the rails & sleepers in a DXF file (as vector lines)? The only DXF output I've managed so far is for laser-cutting the sleeper bases. Nevermind, found it! Regards, Jonathan

Phew, I'm glad someone else remembers it, a part of me wondered if it was all some kind of fever dream! 🤣

Prompted by the discussions on the Warley thread about the new 'general' model show at the NEC next year, and a conversation with someone only yesterday about my very vague memories of this event, I thought I'd ask on here. Can anyone share any info about a very large model show I remember being taken to by my dad as a kid (or possibly young teenager) at the NEC? It would have been sometime in the late 1980s I think? It seemingly had every discipline of modelmaking on display; model railways ( my dad's main interest) but also plastic modelling (military/tanks, aircraft, boats, sci-fi etc) and model engineering, along with radio controlled cars, trucks, boats, submarines, tanks, and helicopters. I seem to remember it was spread across at least 2 or 3 halls. One hall had an RC car racing circuit set up, with some kind of race meeting happening there, as well as another with a fairly sizeable above-ground pool in which they were demonstrating RC submarines and boats. There were more RC boat demos outside on the NEC's Pendigo Lake. There were RC helicopters flying near the lake too - the first time I'd ever seen any in person (and was the catalyst/inspiration for me getting into them in my late teens a few years later). I recall it being quite warm outside, so whilst it may not have been in the height of summer, it certainly wasn't wintertime. Does anyone remember it? I suspect it was a one-off, but may have happened more than once? Who organised it? Looking back on it now, it seems like organising something like that would be a herculean effort, particularly in pre-internet days! As I mentioned at the beginning, my memory works in what seems to me at least to be a very odd way. I have forgotten probably 80-90% of my childhood; the memories I do still have can be quite vivid and detailed*, but I have no idea of what order they occurred in, so I find pinning down things like this very difficult! *One of the most detailed memories I have of this show was coming across a crushed Evian water bottle in a display cabinet; it turned out it wasn't a crushed Evian water bottle at all but a 1:1 scale model of a crushed Evian water bottle - carved, sanded, and polished from a solid block of perspex! It totally blew my mind that someone would take the time to do something like that...

If I remember correctly from my physics lessons, it doesn't matter in so much that it will still run either way around - but if the magnet is the wrong way round then it'll run in the opposite direction.

I'll be at Warley this coming weekend. You can find me on stand B6A: And if you do find me, you'll be able to see (and buy!) not only my usual range of kits, but also my NEW range of N gauge kits!!! For those that aren't heading for the NEC, or just can't wait, the kits are also on my website (there will be stock of the N gauge range for sale; orders placed via the website will be shipped over the next couple of weeks). As usual, if you're there please pop by & say hello. Regards, Jonathan JSModels

Nick, Thank you, I did wonder if MERG would do something suitable, but not being a member, I don't know what they offer - they look perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. I guess I'll be joining at some point.... Jonathan

Yes, I've seen the servo testers (in fact I already own a few of them) but they're no good for what I need.

I've got a potential project rolling round in my head, for which I'll need a basic servo controller. It only needs to control a single servo, but have the ability to set both end stops, as well as the speed of travel. Control could be via either a push button (to toggle between start and end points) or a toggle switch. Power could be USB (5vdc) or 12vdc. I need it to be as simple as possible to both set up and use. Ideally I see it having the following: Power in (either by usb, jack plug, or screw terminals) 3 adjustable pots (one to set start position, one to set end position, and one to set speed of travel) 2/3 screw terminals to connect either a push button, on-off switch, or on-on switch 3 pin connector for servo to plug into. Anyone know of such a beast? I've looked online, and ones I've found are either too basic (ability to set both start and end points but not speed, or speed but only one end point) or are too complex. Nothing in between :-( Thanks in advance, Jonathan

That's how I got started - nobody made 'proper' sized industrial buildings, so I made my own. I try not to compress anything, everything is done true to scale (though they are generally freelance & not based on any particular prototypes) and I hope I have achieved the 'proportional realism' and integrity mentioned. Quite often people look at my 4mm scale kits (particularly the lock kit) and think they're O gauge, and are quite taken aback when I tell them they're OO... And as for price, if you want a basic undecorated shell for cladding in whatever scratchbuilding material takes your fancy, then that is very quick (and therefore cheap) to produce; there are a number of companies producing very good 'scratch aid' kits like these as has been mentioned previously. And they are very good value for money. But if you're after a large building with a lot more detail and full brickwork, that can often take multiple hours to cut - especially when you have 4 or 5 different materials/thicknesses in the kit - and a lot more time invested in designing/drawing it up. That does increase the cost, and whilst my kits cost more, I do believe they also offer good value for money. Regards, Jonathan JSModels

@MarkSG I was oringinally down as being C02, but it seems I have since been moved to D06A - I was on your list in both locations, so I've deleted my info from the C02 position.

I managed to book in, got the confirmation email and everything, but when I try to download the parking permit (that must be displayed in your vehicle) it appears to download fully, but just won't open as there's something wrong with the file 😟

That's for the NEC show, not MK - they're going to extend it by another 70 feet or so (and that was from Mr Waterman directly). With an additional 70', it wouldn't fit in the MK venue!

I'm all set up on balcony 1, and I've got quite a good view:

Have any traders (or exhibitors) received a list of stand numbers and/or a copy of the plan? I know I'm going to be on the balcony, but other than that I've not got a clue. I suppose I should have thought about it before now & emailed them, but it's been a busy week... Jonathan JSModels

I'll be there all weekend, up on the balcony (so should have a great view of the rest of the show!). Looks like it should be a great weekend. I was a little surprised however when I saw the layout list that there isn't a single O gauge layout there...

I'll be there with my kits again, but this time, and for the first time anywhere, I'll also have a table demonstrating building & painting them too! Jonathan JSModels

It's tomorrow... I'm set up already... More info on our club's Facebook page (the website isn't working at the moment, I don't think).

A few little updates: PayDay Sale - NOW ON!!! Summer is traditionally a quiet time for indoor hobbies, and model railways are no exception! To help you get back into the swing of things, or simply to add to your kit 'stash' for the autumn, I'm holding a payday sale this weekend: For orders over £20, use code 'PAYDAY10' at checkout to receive 10% discount off all items. Or, spend over £60 and use code 'PAYDAYPLUS' to receive 10% discount PLUS free UK shipping!!! This promotion will run until midnight on Monday 31st July 2023. Exhibitions I've recently been sorting & booking shows for the first half of next year, and I'm really excited to announce that I will be attending Model Rail Scotland in 2024! This will be my first exhibition north of the border, and probably the only one (at least, the only one next year). Model Rail Scotland is a big, 3-day event, with visitors coming from all over Scotland (and a lot from elsewhere, too!). It's on at the SEC in the heart of Glasgow, and open Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th February 2024. Further details can be found on the Model Rail Scotland website. A full list of upcoming exhibitions, now including the first half of 2024, can be found on the website here, as well as on the JSModels' Facebook page. Breaking News - I've just received word that unfortunately this year's Leeds exhibition, due to be held on 28th & 29th October, has been cancelled. This is due to building work at the Grammar School causing more disruption than was initially anticipated. A Quick Note on Postage I've recently changed the UK postage options available on the website - I've deleted the 1st & 2nd class 'Signed For' options that I used to use, and replaced them with Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 services. These services are much better, in that they can be tracked in transit (which the 'Signed For' services can't). The prices for the Tracked services are comparable, and in many instances slightly cheaper! Lastly, Adam from RAILstuff recently built one of my kits - see how he got on and hear his thoughts on it in this video: Jonathan JSModels

As a fellow small manufacturer, I would say (and I am guessing here*) that the cost probably isn't the deciding factor. Putting longer rails in is fine in principle, but in practice there's a limit to the lengths that will fit in the packaging. You can't just redesign packaging to be slightly bigger, you have to use what's available. *Based on my own experience, "designing stuff" is easy compared to "designing stuff that will fit in a commonly available box size"! Jonathan JSModels

'nuf said. 🤣

Agreed! 😁

I've just added this little add-on kit for my (or for that matter, anyone else's) 7mm scale buildings - 6" square section downspouts & rainwater hoppers Jonathan JSModels