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Ravenser

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Ravenser last won the day on January 5 2011

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  1. To DCC or not?
    To DCC or not?
    4 hours ago, Neil said:

     Last night by sheer coincidence my mate Trev had his Bachmann Ivatt 4MT, lovely model which he's run on my DC layout, it runs as good as it looks. However plugging in a chip to run on his DCC layout and it shorts the layout out.

    Possibly the same fault I had on Standard 4 Mogul - the pick up and motor circuits on that use copper strips on the inside of the plastic baseplate with wires soldered to it to form the rest of the circuit. One wired soldered joint was contacting two of the copper strips so forming a direct connection between one set of pick ups and the motor but having no adverse effect on dc. 


  2. To DCC or not?
    To DCC or not?

    Ravenser,

     

    This might be slightly more useful: https://learn.adafruit.com/multimeters/overview

     

     


  3. 31 power
    Corbs & Chris' Clinic - Taking Stock

    Nice, a good bit of recycling which is what this is all about, after all.

     

    'Eagle' has had the body refitted for now until it goes into the detailing phase.

    post-898-0-65955600-1538522278_thumb.jpg 

    As it's on the Lima chassis frame it all mounts up as normal, unlike the previous Limby 50.

     

    HORNFIX TYPE 2

     

    2086876564_hornfixtype21.jpg.db09d8b008d444cbed9847478342b93d.jpg

     

     

    When I did the first Hornfix Class 31/Brush Type 2, the donor chassis came with a BR green body which, notwithstanding the errors around the cab windows, is a very nice model.

    I managed to pick up 2 mazak rotted chassis (although one arrived with P4 wheels...) quite cheaply. It felt like a good match to give the body another chance.

     

    I'm using an Airfix chassis frame bought as a spare part. This is because it's vastly cheaper than the Lima equivalent, I've done it before so am only repeating it, and I can't be bothered to build one from styrene.

    This has been trimmed to fit around the inside bits and bobs on the Hornby body, like the door hinges.

    post-898-0-08860700-1538522668_thumb.jpeg

     

    Didn't take long to start scrapping the first chassis.

    post-898-0-68302800-1538522748_thumb.jpeg

     

    Leaving the important bits.

    post-898-0-91528900-1538522784_thumb.jpg

     

    The bufferbeams will be rebuilt from styrene and the detail salvaged from the rotten chassis.

    post-898-0-05298100-1538522805_thumb.jpg

     


  4. 31 power 2
    Corbs & Chris' Clinic - Taking Stock

    The 2nd Hornfix Type 2 has made good progress today.

     

    (please don't hate me CheesySmith! I opted to use the same bogie mounting method as before to maintain commonality between the members of the fleet  :pardon: )

     

    The underslung boxes were packed with lead sheet, roughly the same weight as the big Airfix weight I took out. The cracks were given some poly cement and clamped.

    post-898-0-98763900-1538687803_thumb.jpeg

     

    A view showing the motor mount plate and the L sections for preventing fore and aft movement of the motor.

    post-898-0-09267800-1538687823_thumb.jpg

     

    The rubber pads are glued to the chassis frame. Wires are possibly too long currently, could do with tidying up. But it runs!

    post-898-0-65230900-1538687850_thumb.jpeg

     

    Body on chassis now, looks quite smart, and for about half the price of a new one, I'm pleased.

    post-898-0-63856700-1538687873_thumb.jpeg


  5. NSWGR
    Modelling the New South Wales Railways

    G'day James,

     

    Even though I've worked for the railway in NSW since 1975 in its various incarnations, I've never modelled it. But I can still help you with your search for information. A useful source of information for modelling perway and structures is here:

     

    http://grapevine.com.au/~datashet/set_ldscat.html

     

    More general information about the NSWGR can be sourced from the Australian Railway Historical Society here:

     

    https://arhsnsw.com.au/resource-centre/

     

    And I might as well mention my own club's NSWGR layout, based on Waterfall. That happens to be where I live, and also my home depot. Apart from them being a friendly bunch of people and a short drive down the road from my place, I figured I'd join because I was already qualified for the road! :)

     

    http://imra.org.au/waterfall_.html

     

    As you'll see, we used Peco Code 83 track on Waterall as its a fairly close match to the appearance and geometry of NSWGR track of the period we modelled.

     

    A lot of NSWGR stations and yards were on large, sprawling sites. If you're not of a mind to build something big, you might consider one of the suburban goods yards or industrial sidings for ideas or inspiration. Sydney had a network of segregated goods-only lines that were very busy in the period you're interested in. Many of these sidings were in fairly restricted locations, verging on cramped. They were served by what we called "trip trains", which would call at various locations to deliver or collect traffic as required.

     

    The ARHS recently published a book by John Oakes that covers all the yards and sidings in the Metropolitan area, containing many photos and track diagrams.

     

    https://arhsnsw.com.au/product/sydneys-forgotten-sidings/

     

    I still have my 1989 edition of the Sydney Metropolitan sidings handbook, which contains track diagrams, shunting instructions and load tables for the various classes of locos in use then. I can scan pages from that for you if you're interested.

     

    During the steam era Sydney suburban trip trains would typically be hauled by 50 or 53 class 2-8-0s, or 36 and 59 class locos towards the end of the era. Early diesel era working was with 41 class locos, later on replaced by 48, 49 or 73 class units. All of these loco types have been produced commercially in HO.

     

    There was also a small parcel service provide by dedicated electric parcel vans. These were operated out of the former Mortuary station in Sydney Yard. Larger suburban stations had separate parcel offices, often with their own sidings. Sydney EMU trains have also been produced commercially in HO.

     

    Anyway, there's a lot of information available, as well as a good selection of models to choose from. Good luck with your project, feel free to ask me for help if you need it.

     

    All the best,

     

    Mark.


  6. Modelling the New South Wales Railways
    Modelling the New South Wales Railways

    There are a few threads kicking about James and quite a few Aussies who are modelling the UK scene, these are some of the Australian threads I know of.

     

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/126122-ross-creek-south-australian-railways-in-the-early-80s/

     

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/120355-skipton-station-victorian-railways-in-ho-scale/

     

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/32450-australian-modelling/

     

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97916-the-great-australian-outdoors/

     

    All worth a read if nothing else, some have been updated others a little dusty!


  7. Lima Diesel Replacement Wheelsets
    Lima Diesel Replacement Wheelsets
    4 hours ago, Ray M said:

    Looks like they all have differant inside faces ?

    IE not all smooth (For pick ups).

    Hi there, I uploaded the first samples picture which weren't approved so here's the new versions (they still need tweaking). Thanks Peter 

    IMG_8266.JPG


  8. Signaller69's projects
    Signaller69's projects

    I have a mix of Lilliput/Bachmann and Lima 46t GLW "Whiskey" Grain Hopper wagons for use on Crinan and, shortly, Dunnington. The Lilliput model dates from the 1970s (revamped by Bachmann in the 1990s with better wheels and tension lock couplings) and the Lima version appeared in the 1990s (one of their better models with some nice underframe detail for the time). They represent different batches with different suspension and body rib layouts. As always Paul Bartlett's site is full of Prototype info: https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtgraincovhop

     

    My biggest issue with using both in a rake is the ride height of the Lima version, which is about 1.5 - 2mm taller than the Lilliput/Bachmann when fitted with scale wheels, as seen here:

    20190410_205304.jpg.b92df7965f9689680f363e03459bdaa7.jpg

     

    The problem being the depth of the Lima suspension, as with their CCT. I purchased a Cambrian kit (kit C40 - 1 pair of Compensation Units with choice of spring types including the Pedestal version) to see if this could be used. Having assembled the kit parts it became clear a fair amount of chopping Lima plastic would be required but nothing ventured, nothing gained.....

    The units consist of a fold up set of "W" irons to which your choice of included suspension is added; standard brass bearings and Hornby wheels were fitted....

    20190413_081753.jpg.c179e838ddc7ca435bf8b8f44ffd6652.jpg

     

    The Lima underframe being perused.......20190413_082031.jpg.6aeac9da4df2a664af939736bf48b920.jpg

     

    and drastic surgery underway; the new units are designed to sit inside the chassis channel which is impossible on this chassis, as the width precludes it, so I removed plastic slowly until the new units dropped into the correct position .......20190413_111702.jpg.3d2951f0b3d3f2afa0ac53b27f34b33e.jpg

     

    and success! I did not bother making the units compensated and after checking everything sat squarely, simply glued the new units in place with Plastic Weld which seems to take well to the Lima chassis. A little Green Stuff filler has been used to blend the new parts in, and some small chassis fillets require adding above the suspension to replace those lost during cutting and filing.20190413_134102.jpg.a54c33495ed91a3df61291eb09aad291.jpg

     

    New brake levers also need adding along with brake shoes next.


  9. DJ Models Announcement 01/05/19
    DJ Models Announcement 01/05/19
    10 hours ago, GWR-fan said:

    Conceivably there may not be anything for a third party to rescue,  however, as I stated in my initial posting in this thread I believe that Dave may be doing a stocktake of potential assets to make the business more attractive for a sale.  His May 1st press release was a total PR disaster but there must have been some reasoning behind it other than a total meltdown of frustration.  I understand that Dave may believe that he is being cheated (for whatever reason)  but then again the accusations simply follow a line of maladies and disruptions to his business effecting product development. 

     

     


    I presume that DJM's press release was in part intended to frighten off/kill rival projects, especially Accurascale/RevolutioN on the 92, by announcing that he had created a legal obstruction to their projects . This would then clear the field for his own 92s , and frighten customers away from the rival projects back to DJM - allowing the DJM models to proceed. It seems to have had precisely the opposite effect.

     

    It was also clearly intended to serve notice on Kernow and Hattons that DJM had established some kind of legal claim against them in respect of joint projects/collaborations. 

     

    It seems also to have been intended to reassure crowd-funders that their money was safe because the lawyers would make sure that rival projects were blocked. In that respect it's been a total 180 degree failure, as evidenced by the number of posters saying that they are now essentially writing- off their crowd-funding as lost money

     

    It may or may not also be aimed at Hornby Hobbies and Heljan . I would be surprised if scaling up CAD from N to O would be a sensible approach to Class 17  but who knows at this point what Dave Jones may suspect one of his factories to be capable of?

     

    And finally it is clearly meant as a warning to any European party who may be in contact with a Chinese party offering to make anything that DJM has announced from some CAD they can supply - "Don't even try it. My lawyers will be in touch . You will not be allowed to proceed."

     

    In summary the intended message to a large slice of the hobby was "Enough. DJM will no longer tolerate this. We have taken legal steps against you"

     

    But I repeat - we've probably reached the point where speculation about the state of Dave Jones' head, his business , it's future , and the state of certain posters heads is no longer productive.

     

    What we can do is list everything promised  but undelivered , as a first step to assessing the impact on other people:

     

    So:

     

    OO:

     

    - Class 74 .                     Follow up to Cl 71. Collaboration with Kernow??  Crowd-funded. Cancelled - crowd-funders refunded by Kernow 

    - Class 92                       DJM own brand . Crowd-funded . Pending - some CAD shown? 

    - APT-P                           DJM own brand . Crowd funded . Pending - some CAD shown 

    - Hudswell Clarke  ? 0-6-0T  - DJM own brand?- status unclear

    - King                             Collaboration with Hattons  ? Dropped after Hornby produced theirs. Still theoretically a possible future project by Hattons??

    - Q6                                DJM own brand . Dropped after Hornby announcement

    - HUO                            DJM own brand . Crowd-funded. Dropped??? after Accurascale announcement

    - F5 2-4-2T                    DJM/ F5 trust commission . Dropped? 2015

    - Class 59                      DJM own brand - how funded? in abeyance' at end of 2015 although earlier reported as dropped in July 2015. A model announced by Dapol in 2015 - now expected June/July 19.

    - Irish cement bubble  Collaboration/commission with Accurascale - Accurascale subsequently dealt direct with factory

    - GW Steam Railmotor  Commission from Kernow - Kernow subsequently went direct to a different? factory. Still pending from Kernow

    - LSWR road van              DJM commission from Kernow. Kernow went direct - project live but pending from Kernow

     

    N:

    - Class 92                      DJM own brand . Crowd -funded. Pending - has CAD been shown? April 2019 - tooling said to be imminent

    - Shark brake van      DJM own brand. Self-funded???  Pending - CAD shown + EP. Said to be awaiting tooling 2015. April 2019 - intended dely Nov 19

    - King                            DJM in collaboration with Digitrains . Pending - any crowd-funding? . CAD shown - claimed ready to tool. 3D impression shown

    - APT-P                          DJM with Durham Trains of Stanley. Crowd-funded . Pending - 119 of 400 expressions of interest received at April 2019

    - J94                               DJM own brand . Crowd-funded. Expressions of interest  - 112 of 800 expressions of interest needed at April 2019

    - 63xx                             DJM own brand . Expressions of interest . 236 of 1000 needed received at April 2019. How funded?

    - Class 17                       DJM own brand - reached EP - stopped by dispute with factory . Registered design

    - Class 23                       DJM own brand . Will follow Class 17

    - HUO                             DJM own brand . Crowd funded . Pending???. Dropped??? "I don't think this is a go-er" - Sept 2018

    - Hudswell Clarke         0-6-0T , DJM own brand. status unclear

    - Class 59                       DJM own brand - how funded?in abeyance' at end of 2015 although earlier reported as dropped in July 2015. Possible livery licence issue?

    - Turbot                          DJM own brand - self-funded - pending -  CAM/CAM said to to be final 2015

    - LSWR Road van         DJM -own brand - self-funded pending  - said to be awaiting tooling 2015

    - Bogie Bolster E          DJM own brand - self funded -  pending -  CAM/CAM said to to be final 2015

    - Mk5 Coaches             DJM own brand - cancelled

    - Q6                                 DJM own brand - status unknown

     

    - Pendolino                  Kickstarter with RevolutioN - RevolutioN later switched to Rapido as lower production run required

    - GW Flying Banana    Kickstarter as DJM - failed to reach target, dropped Nov 2014

     

    O:

    - J94                             DJM own brand?? Dropped???

    - Class 23                    DJM own brand? Self-funded? No reference since 2014

     

     

     

    Quite a long list

     

     


  10. Darling Harbour Goods 1977
    Sheffield Exchange, Toy trains, music and fun!

    Then there's Aussie "Fly" shunting !!!

     

     

    Wonder if these lads are still with us - brave or daft (or both) I don't know - but they certainly got the job done sharp.

     

    Brit15


  11. Darling Harbour steam
    Sheffield Exchange, Toy trains, music and fun!

    Then there's Aussie "Fly" shunting !!!

     

     

    Wonder if these lads are still with us - brave or daft (or both) I don't know - but they certainly got the job done sharp.

     

    Brit15

     

    As near as I can place it of an old map this is a photo of a small part of that area which I took when I was working out in Sydney in 2004 - as you can see it had changed a lot!  (The monorail has since gone as well)

     

    post-6859-0-11978700-1526386009_thumb.jpg

     

    This film goes back to the steam age, very interesting

     


  12. "Unclassifying" a coach.
    "Unclassifying" a coach.

    Examples of a official declassification without much alteration include mk1 FO to SO and various mk2-2c FK and BFK to SK/CK and BSK,  from the early '80s into the '90s. These had the yellow stripe and door '1' marking removed but stayed pretty much intact, so you would be getting 1st class seating for a 2nd class ticket.

    When, later, more 1st class mk2d-f coaches became surplus they went further by putting in 2+2 seating, albeit to the original 1st class seat pitch. Once into sectorisation, seating was put in at 2nd class seat pitch, hence the start of seats not all lining up with windows. (Which eventually led to the airline style seating where there were only about 4 sets of seats with a table, the rest being pairs of seats with a drop-down tray in front of you)


  13. GE 52' cut+shut
    Sheffield Exchange, Toy trains, music and fun!
    2 hours ago, Ravenser said:

     

     

    Just out of interest are there any other sensible 52' GE Section possibilities?   

     

    I have far too many other unfinished/unstarted projects , including about 10 coaches - but my platforms are short, a 52' corridor coach with Pullman gangways would be useful - and I really can't justify an FK in a world of 2 car sets. The idea of making authentic Gresleys out of the old Hornby coaches is satisfying - and I somehow don't think we will ever see a route to 52' GE stock that doesn't involve £90 and a GCSE in soldering now that Kirk's kits have been swallowed by a sinkhole in Somerset

    Hi

     

    The old Hornby shoties with a bit of thinking around them can be made into all the types of the 52 ft gangwayed stock. The CK could be made into a diagram 25 or 141 TK or a diagram 9 CK. I have made a BTK diagram 146, the diagrams 41 and 42 can also be made they didn't have a ducket.

     

    The open coaches would be a tad harder and use up only the corridor side of the coach. My 61 ft opens needed some infills from the compartment side so I have loads of bits of compartment that are not useful ....yet. 


  14. NSWGR goods
    Modelling the New South Wales Railways

    Here’s a few track diagrams for small suburban yards and sidings.

     

    large.C02461FC-F96E-44B1-9FCD-99AC6E0A56

     

    large.6B95F049-F89D-46D9-B9AC-AD2E98BE71

     

    large.9191EE59-11AB-4A25-90C1-31D938B515

     

    large.CA843E78-5B44-47B8-BC43-E3E666ACEB

     

    large.1DE22216-8098-476A-B27D-1B6D843BD1

     

    large.4004D067-99DD-4854-894D-D8B9C563CE

     

    large.EDE59D79-5DB0-465A-AFFC-B0A7AC48B4

     

    large.A77C1F76-D7CA-417F-84B4-1E1F7B5893

     

    Cheers,

     

    Mark.

     


  15. Ragtag's (Nodding) Donkey Sanctuary
    Ragtag's (Nodding) Donkey Sanctuary

    Hi all,

     

    currently working on some stock for my Ashington, Blyth & Tyne layout. Some of these pacers were originally started several years ago for a layout based on a modern take on the Border Counties line at Kielder, but life got in the way and they were never finished. A key focus with these models has been to represent some of the many detail differences found within the class. If I can get the hang of fitting the DCC lighting then more Northern Rail units may follow (after, perhaps, the 2 Northern Spirit ones get sorted)

     

    This page will be an overview of the current status and will be updated as projects progress. I'll add additional posts underneath to document the work being undertaken.

     

    Currently in the Donkey Sanctuary are:

     

    142020 Northern Rail - detailing on the bodyshell for this one is almost complete, but there's still plenty to do to get a finished model from it.

    Work done already:

    • modifications to the roof heaters
    • doors modified to 2-leaf
    • NRN radio pods fitted
    • improved exhausts scratchbuilt and fitted
    • moulded handrails removed and wire replacements fitted to cab fronts
    • wire handrails added to side of passenger doors
    • chassis replaced with DCC-ready version

     

    Still to do:

    • replace unit interior with correct layout and seat type (ex-ATN) - 1 car done
    • fit DCC lighting - 1 car done
    • repaint into Northern Rail livery
    • transfers
    • corridor connection

     

    142026 Northern Rail - This one is as-released by Hornby. It needs quite a lot of work to bring it up to standard but I'm hoping to preserve most of the original finish and therefore avoid a full repaint.

    Still to do:

    • NRN radio pods fitted
    • improved exhausts scratchbuilt and fitted
    • moulded handrails removed and wire replacements fitted to cab fronts
    • wire handrails added to side of passenger doors
    • doors modified to 2-leaf
    • replace unit interior with correct layout and seat type (ex-ATN)
    • fit DCC lighting (ironically will require removal of the DCC socket
    • paint headlight housings black
    • extend yellow warning panel around cab sides
    • corridor connection

     

    142058 Northern Rail - This unit originally came from my very first trainset in TWPTE colours. Detailing on the bodyshell has been started, but it still has a long way to go.

    Work done already:

    • modifications to the roof heaters
    • doors modified to 2-leaf
    • moulded handrails removed and wire replacements fitted to cab fronts
    • roof ribs removed and correct-pattern replacement roof ribs added using styrene strip
    • improved exhausts scratchbuilt and fitted

     

    Still to do:

    • NRN radio pods fitted
    • wire handrails added to side of passenger doors
    • replace unit interior with correct layout and seat type (ex-Merseyrail)
    • hardwire for DCC (a few options being considered here: either run as 2 powered cars as it is now; or remove one motor and through-wire as per modern Hornby versions; or replace with a DCC-ready chassis; or remove motors altogether and form a dummy unit)
    • fit DCC lighting
    • repaint into Northern Rail livery
    • transfers
    • corridor connection

     

    Also stabled, needing the same work as those above but yet to be started:

    142025 Northern Spirit

    142050 Northern Spirit

     

    Also stabled:

    144012 Northern Rail


  16. Locos in odd/rare corners of the network.
    Locos in odd/rare corners of the network.

    D5377 & D5390 near pass Gloucester, Horton Road depot during May 1968.

    .

    Photographer unknown

    .

    I was a spotter in South Wales at this time, and have never heard of any Cl.26 or Cl.27 working further west than Gloucester, and into the Principality .

    .

    That's not to say none ever reached Severn Tunnel Junction, which, due to operating strictures was something of a boundary point for many years.

    .

    There is an exception to every rule, and in this case it's 26038, purchased for preservation by the former Valley Lines supremo, the late Tom Clift and which was stored initially at Cardiff Cathays C&W then when that closed, it was moved to Canton

    5377,5390-Gloucester-xx0568-1.jpg


  17. Lynton & Lynmouth 4mm scale, 8mm gauge
    Lynton & Lynmouth 4mm scale, 8mm gauge

    It’s a scorching hot day at Lynton, but the engine shed is a few degrees cooler in the shade. 
    F0E086D2_6137_4D8B_9FAE_9B79A15CCF77.jpe
    Come the evening, the new electric light installed by the Southern Railway, gives a bit of help to see repairs. 
    B6FA60D3_9BDD_453D_829B_972CBA364147.jpe

    I’d like as many fivers as the number of times my hand has been caught in the Tommy bar on the blacksmiths vice, when I was a kid. 
    8828B012_BFCD_4F80_8333_8B52B632A424.jpe

    Tim


  18. DMU Detailing
    DMU Detailing

    I have struggled to find detailing kits for my DMU stock for some time. I had underestimated how hard it would be to make simple updates to affordable models (those were teh days it seems).  I recall using Howes bufferbeam details to upgrade my Lima locos as a teenager back in the 90s. Anyway, it seems craftsman kits and the like are well out of business and being unable to find Heljan sprues from the DPU 128  model i set about making my own.

     

    20200502_160534.jpg.a11b58c10c5d5de5983e6477481359da.jpg 

     

    I used .8 and .5mm brass wire for the vac pipes etc. The jumper cables were fuse wire as it is more malleable, easier to create the hanging look. The sockets and plugs are made from plastikard rod. 

    20200502_173620.jpg.dac961b14f18bd43ee6e24ab3cf82cdf.jpg

    Here i used Lanarkshire vac pipes and Smiths screw link coupling. 

    20200502_202617.jpg.220254dd78a2d2ba7711befdfb46f39d.jpg20200502_202638.jpg.37f4664ee7e4aff14d462b7a67afc940.jpg

    I am pleased with the overall effect but mourn the passing of the days when upgrading seemed so much easier!! 

     

    cheers for now.

     

     


  19. E/1 Trams - Tower mods
    Brixton Hill tram depot and its Trams

    Tower E/1 kit - part 1 - the start.   When I open a box I sort out just what parts I need.   As I will motorise, out goes the lower deck floor.   To help with weight and finish, I replace the plastic stair parts by a white-metal 90 degree direct stair.   The attached view shows just those parts needed - some come in duplicate.   The existence of the lower deck seat backs is purely to provide material to form into any other parts such as 'used ticket boxes'.   The redundant parts go straight into the plastic recycle bin.

     

    In the bottom left hand corner is a sprue that you may not find in the box.   When Brian Robinson acquired the Tower Trams range from David Boyle, he produced for me this sprue containing the reversed conductor's window part to balance that in the kit (which only faces one way) plus different types of plough carrier and headlamps.   Also included are platform fittings and a low height dash.   There is a three code designation box and a East Ham service number box as well.   With Brian not due back into the UK until next month he may face quarantine or delay, so if you are unable to purchase the sprue, KW Trams do have many of these items (but not that conductor's window) in white-metal.

     

    The following parts in this series will take individual kit parts and show how I go about accepting or modifying them.   All comments on my writings are welcome especially if there are easier ways to improve them!!!

    Saved parts.jpg


  20. Rectangular tanks
    Rectangular Tank Wagons

    While sorting out my loft I came across a couple of kits of a rectangular tank wagon [similar to the Dapol model].

     

    Does anybody know how late such wagons survived in mainline service. I model BR late 50's so could such wagons be seen that late? One reference states the last two such wagons were built around 1940.

     

    Jeremy

    They worked well into the late 1960s - plenty here with the yellow loading labels which were not introduced until the mid 1960s

    Yorkshire Tar Distillers tanks" (C#1080767) - 75 photographs

    http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/c1080767.html

     

    And here are two, there was an EE class 3 hauling the train.

     

    Paul

    York

    post-387-12647219331999_thumb.jpg


  21. Indian Diorama
    THE INDIAN RAILWAYS IN MINIATURE!

    Check out this amazing video by Kaustav Chatterjee... He's done amazing job on this HO scale diorama that we had commissioned him to build for us to display our model trains....

     

    Talent and skill like this isn't easy to find in our neck of the woods...show him some love. Please do LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to his channel and check out his amazing work.

     

     

     


  22. LMS GUV
    Upgrading a Lima LMS GUV

    This is something I've been meaning to do for some while (along with a triplet of Bachmann LMS BGs).  Ben Jones' article in the last BRM was the catalyst to look closely at this model and decide what to do.  My reference is Historic Carriage Drawings, Vol 3, NPCS, by Peter Tatlow.

     

    The model:

     

    P1010005.JPG.8804c2b17d9661223059a58b943485c3.JPG

     

    Quite attractive really and the body is accurate:

     

    P1010005-001.JPG.93725cae1d169c3914e8350cdb012e6c.JPG

     

    Stripped to its' component parts:

     

    372495001_P1010006-001-Copy.JPG.e3e165aadf89b5d76a479d6ed6095269.JPG

     

    Those bogies are actually from the short Hornby LMS Stanier coach and have a wheelbase of 8'6".  The wheels are Bachmann split axle - they went in the bin.  You might guess I've had this model for a long time.  It's time to convert to EM.

     

    Working from the ground up, I started with the bogies:

     

    P1010005-002.JPG.0f7480898fefa23c66cb7161580e1663.JPG

     

    Wheels are Bachmann reworked to EM spec.  (...yes, yes, I've ordered some EM wheels).  The etch is, to state the obvious, one of Bill Bedford's from Eileen's Emporium.  I do like Bill's kits.

     

    Here's the first bogie assembled:

     

    P1010005-003.JPG.9096f6a049bbc3ff99853e178d93a624.JPG

     

    This rolls very nicely with nary a twitch through the 36" rad. test turnout.

     

    Making up the second bogie and modifying the underframe to accept them:

     

    P1010005-004.JPG.7552d587541485647affa44096853a9a.JPG

     

    This assembly whizzes very nicely along the track.

     

    Next, I wanted to deal with couplings.  I use scale head Kadee, which in the past have been attached to the bogie.  This time I wanted the coupling on the body - under the bufferbeam alas - so that the bogie can do its' job without interference.

     

    This involved fitting buffers, coupling and modifying the bogie:

     

    P1010010.JPG.f142c56011821f2a0beb58379c4d72f1.JPG

     

    You can see I've cut away the front beam of the bogie and added some extra struts.  This worked great on the test track.  So I did the other.  Testing showed a good result.

     

    I then added cosmetic sides to the bogies.  These are from Bachmann bogies:

     

    P1010012.JPG.0f4539262ef3b5f76ed8c4abe76b81db.JPG

     

    Tacked with cyano and reinforced with epoxy.  Anyone know of good solderable cosmetic bogie sides?  Comet don't list them separately on the site.

     

    I spent a fair bit of time gouging plastic out of the bearing cavity to get the sprung bearing carriers operating freely.

     

    Next I turned to the underframe.  A lot has been done, but now I need to detail the center bit.  First I removed some of the floor to give me more room to attach my gubbins.

     

    P1010013.JPG.baa5e00e46970fc3b4616ba44f288830.JPG

     

    I had planned to reuse the plastic trussing (there's some nice bolt detail) but as I was filing, it failed.   I decided to do something in brass.

     

    The 4mm drawing in the book gave me all the info I needed and I used some 1mm square tube and 2mm scrap strip:

     

    P1010014.JPG.49149f456886117137d8ad6d7214eae2.JPG

     

    The center trusses come from a PC coach that disintegrated (actually the whole rake did).  These were modified to suit the GUV.

     

    Trussing assembled and trial fitted.  I don't know about you, but I'm impressed.   Brass is such a wonderful material:

     

    P1010015.JPG.b02214f438f68a5fad304182a17d6278.JPG

     

    By the way, does anyone know how the brake handwheel is rigged to the brakes?

     

    Now on to the brake detailing.

     

    John

     

    Edit:  Forget about the solderable bogies.  I just found a load of whitemetal bogies with those PC coaches I mentioned.   :senile:


  23. Ipswich quay
    Siddals Road Quay - Back to the Scalescenes Warehouse low relief style!

    Hi

     

    I like the width you have around the front tracks to allow room for unloading, especially if inset into the quayside surface.  Might I suggest that the back siding could serve a warehouse built over it, to keep the cramped, busy feel to the dockside.  I am sure you are aware of it already, but here's a photo of Ipswich docks (from the website Transports of Delight) to show what I mean.  

     

    IMG_0877.JPG

     

     

    IMG_0877.JPG


  24. Elipses and curves
    Sheffield Exchange, Toy trains, music and fun!
    5 minutes ago, Peter Eaton said:

     

    Thanks Gentlemen.

    Hoping someone  saying ''Templot '' would help ?

    only bit understanding is running into the respectable 3 foot curve.

    will have to scratch my head more.

    my A level result this week was not respectable in current maths.

    was though in 1972.

    An ex Railway draughtsman I should be able to plot a curve.

    Peter

    Hi Peter,

     

    Templot ?!?!

     

    Trammel:

     

     

    Or string and loci:

     

     

     

    Batteries not included.

     

    Gibbo.


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