Simon Curnock

Hi all. So I was fortunate enough for Santa to bring me my first Easybuild MK1 coach kit and I’ve been reviewing the kits, the instructions and also viewed the cd with pics on that accompanied the kit. I’m no expert but I can put a kit together but this coach kit has left me feeling uncertain as to how to start. I’m not a fan of instructions that assume you know the name of every part of the kit without corresponding pictures of the parts. Also, having to trim bits to make bits fit seems unnecessary. The roof/coach ends profile do not match and the Easybuild site even shows this on their built examples. Do I paint sides / roof before I put together? Anyone with any hints, tips, advice would be welcome. I’m surprised that the internet seems not to have any videos showing these kits being completed simon

I think these look brilliant and better than the Prose offerings. Thanks for the nudge in this direction

Thanks, a very useful thing to consider there. I’d be gutted if I ended up causing a problem for the sake of trying to run a loco in.

Hi, just wondering if anyone has one of these and are they worth the money? Or what else does anyone recommend for O gauge rolling roads? Thanks, Si

Many thanks for this. It seems really clear but my issue is I just don’t understand it. Am I right in saying you attach the + and - power feed to the outside rails in the middle section as a start? Then do I need insulated joiners and if so on every rail end or just the two inner rails? Then as I am not fitting point motors is there anything else I must do?

Hi, looking for help on what I need to do bare minimum to fit this double slip into my railway which will be DCC controlled. I’m not going to fit any point motors so just need to know if I need to fit insulated rail joiners, do I need to do any mods to the underneath??? I’m not at all technically minded on this but wish to run power to the slip so I’m not relying on the point blades to run power through it. Anyway help in a simple easy to understand way would be hugely appreciated

Thank you for all the help. I’ve managed to progress well but these photos have been a great help

Hi, has anyone built the O gauge Parkside Models PS21 BR trestle wagon? Having successfully cut my teeth on several other kits including the 20 ton hopper, I genuinely thought this Trestle Wagon would be a breeze but the under frame detail stumps me as well as a few elements on top. If anyone has I number of decent up close photos show the model would be really appreciated. I’ve not got too far as per the attached photo . The instructions are frankly rubbish so any help off anyone would be welcomed

So I’m thinking about dipping my toe into easybuild kits as a way of building a less expensive rake of MK1 coaches and am being put off by people who all speak of the same issue being that of the gap you get between the end of the coach and the roof. See attached photo which I found from someone else having the same issue. Has anyone had much experience with these? Any tips on how to avoid this issue? Thanks Si

Hi, I bought a superb model, received it in one piece, after 30 secs of backwards and forwards on a straight test track the gears have given up the ghost which I understand is common with Heljan. It’s bought from a private seller and I have the option for return but I want the model. Does anyone know of trustworthy repairers out there who can take on this repair at reasonable cost? I’ve rang a few model shops I know of but with no luck. Any help welcome. Simon

I was hoping someone may have experienced similar condensation issues as I have. I’m in a 1 yr old new build and have managed to sort out a baseboard ready for a new O Gauge layout. I just get to the bit where I’m going to lay track and see what fits where and I enter the attic to find it’s been raining in there. Clearly a condensation issue. I get that I’ve probably allowed warm moist air into the attic and allowed it to condense on the underside of the cold roof but has anyone any ideas on what I might be able to retro fit that will prevent the condensation dripping onto the baseboards? I get that as we enter warmer times this will resolve itself but for the cold spells I cannot risk this issue from damaging my expensive fleet. Any suggestions are welcome, thanks Simon

Thanks Adrian. I’m not overly clued up with this kind of thing. What is the purpose of the spring then and why would it be fine on the A4 yet an issue on the A3?

So I recently bought an O Gauge Hattons Originals A3 and A4 as they were in the sale. Both safely arrived and both run beautifully right out of the box. I only have a 20ft length of test track currently which has a Y point at the mid point. The A4 operates faultlessly. The A3 does except over the point where no matter how you travel across it the Trailing truck under the cab details every single time. I disconnected the tender to try the tender on its own across the point and it navigates it without fault. The engine has no issues until the trailing truck hits the point. I’ve compared the A3 with the A4 and I see no difference at all in the way the trailing truck is built or operates yet one stays on the point every time and the other derails every time????? please can anyone advise what’s happening? thanks Simon

Hi, so the most basic beginners question of all time. Slowly building up a fleet of O Gauge locos but have yet to buy track. Im looking to keep it simple. Peco set and flexi track i get, but whats the significance of the different types of rails? Which is most common, can they easily be combined? Hopefully someone can be helpful?

Hi, be been modelling OO for years but just in the process of selling up on all that and restarting in O gauge. I’m pretending I know nothing to get as much advice as is possible. Clearly the cost of O gauge looks scary but I recognise less is more in O gauge. My first challenge, what is the best and most cost efficient way of doing track? Ready made? Make your own? Can someone give me the simplest beginners advice for getting started on types of track etc.