Wright writes.....

[drmditch]

I beg Mr Wright's pardon, but I would be very grateful if followers of this thread who happen to live in the NE could take note of the following:

 

From next Friday, 60103 will be at Locomotion for a few weeks.

I'm presenting an illustrated  tour/talk on the said locomotive and how it got to be so famous.

The link is here .... this link should work......

 

I operate as a volunteer tour guide at Locomotion (usually on Fridays), which is quite fun even if it does take me away from my own railway.

 

If you can come do please book a ticket and make yourself known!

(The tickets are free, but there is a limit of 12 for each tour/talk so if you would like to come please do book.)

Of course, I'm sure that many of you will know more on this subject than I do, but even  If you don't wan't to come to the tour/talk but are coming to Shildon anyway, do please make yourself known!

I am hopeful that it will be interesting at several different levels, and perhaps attempt to overcome some of the less helpful myths about this locomotive!

 

My normal thread on RMweb is  ... here... - plus other posts I may make from time to time!

 

Caroline

'drmditch'

 

(PS please excuse this self-publicity, the the SMG/Locomotion advertising can be a bit erratic at times!)

 

Edited July 22, 2019 by drmditch

[Jol Wilkinson]

6 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Brian,

 

Firstly, my apologies for not mentioning your most-generous donation to CRUK yesterday. I was tired last evening! 

 

Out of interest, this morning I've now thoroughly-tested that new DJH motor/gearbox I fitted in the Nu-Cast K1, having made enough of the tender for it to haul a 45-wagon, fully-loaded coal train........................

 

 

I got up early (5.00 am), having to take our younger son's dog for a walk, but it gave me time to put the tender together this morning.

 

I've run it for just about an hour, with complete success! 

 

Also out of general interest.............. Yesterday, I was given a piece of C&L's new track to photograph and report on. This is so detailed that it's supplied (in bullhead) in two types - main line (with the chairs all facing the same direction) and single line (yes I know some main lines were single), with chairs facing alternate directions, every third one! It'll need some very close-up photography to show the difference. It's in pairs of 60' sections as well, with closer-together and wider sleepers at the joints. Wow! 

 

I'd foolishly run short of low-melt solder yesterday, so casually bought some of C&L. Wow, for another reason! 

 

 

3 cms of the stuff cost me £7.20! Is it 'precious metal? 

 

I've no wish to appear critical of any supplier (it must be hard enough as it is), but last year I bought some low-melt from Duncan Models, and I got at least twice as much for half as much respectively. Similarly so from Hobby Holidays. Comet's low-melt isn't that price as far as I know. 

 

Does anyone know the prices for solder out there, or am I being unfair? 

 

The moral? Don't run low, and shop around! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

 

 

I did a "survey" of solder prices at the beginning of the year for John Redrup at LRM for his triennial price update.

 

Carrs were the dearest at £7.20 (25gm), the same as you paid for C&L. John decided on £4.00 for 43gm (an odd weight, but that what comes out of the mould in which he casts it from a 1kg ingot). 

[Barry Ten]

I've been adding some more point rodding to the layout.

 

I don't know how Tony does it but just this little run of 8 rods is taking me about 4 fours per length of MSE rod ... and I reckon

I've got another 12 hours worth before I get to the signal box:

 

 

 

This is as far as it gets for now as I need to buy some new components from Wizard/MSE, who I hope will be attending Railwells.

 

Here is where the rodding will get to eventually, a new type 27 signal box built from the Ratio kit:

 

Once it gets to the box, a 4-rod run will continue across the level crossing, so there's lot's more to be done!

 

Al

[Chamby]

1 hour ago, Barry Ten said:

I've been adding some more point rodding to the layout.

 

I don't know how Tony does it but just this little run of 8 rods is taking me about 4 fours per length of MSE rod ... and I reckon

I've got another 12 hours worth before I get to the signal box:

 

 

 

This is as far as it gets for now as I need to buy some new components from Wizard/MSE, who I hope will be attending Railwells.

 

Here is where the rodding will get to eventually, a new type 27 signal box built from the Ratio kit:

 

Once it gets to the box, a 4-rod run will continue across the level crossing, so there's lot's more to be done!

 

Al

 

Nice to see the telephone wires modelled.  And sensibly running behind the trackwork, too.  

 

That’s a lesson I learned the hard way!

[micklner]

8 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Brian,

 

Firstly, my apologies for not mentioning your most-generous donation to CRUK yesterday. I was tired last evening! 

 

Out of interest, this morning I've now thoroughly-tested that new DJH motor/gearbox I fitted in the Nu-Cast K1, having made enough of the tender for it to haul a 45-wagon, fully-loaded coal train........................

 

 

I got up early (5.00 am), having to take our younger son's dog for a walk, but it gave me time to put the tender together this morning.

 

I've run it for just about an hour, with complete success! 

 

Also out of general interest.............. Yesterday, I was given a piece of C&L's new track to photograph and report on. This is so detailed that it's supplied (in bullhead) in two types - main line (with the chairs all facing the same direction) and single line (yes I know some main lines were single), with chairs facing alternate directions, every third one! It'll need some very close-up photography to show the difference. It's in pairs of 60' sections as well, with closer-together and wider sleepers at the joints. Wow! 

 

I'd foolishly run short of low-melt solder yesterday, so casually bought some of C&L. Wow, for another reason! 

 

 

3 cms of the stuff cost me £7.20! Is it 'precious metal? 

 

I've no wish to appear critical of any supplier (it must be hard enough as it is), but last year I bought some low-melt from Duncan Models, and I got at least twice as much for half as much respectively. Similarly so from Hobby Holidays. Comet's low-melt isn't that price as far as I know. 

 

Does anyone know the prices for solder out there, or am I being unfair? 

 

The moral? Don't run low, and shop around! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

 

 

 I recommend the Flux no nasty smell and works very well , you get double the amount of low melt solder for £3.75 !!!

 

http://www.7mmlocomotives.co.uk//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=1&Itemid=52

[jwealleans]

Forgive my tardiness, but I'm replying to this post from the 13th when we were discussing the BEC J17.

 

I may have done it a disservice; having recovered the body I use for weathering demos, i find it's not too far from the Crownline after all.

 

 

I believe this is a BEC body: it was presented to me by Sir himself with the suggestion I melt it down for ballast weights.  It doesn't have the usual telltale tab and screw hole for attaching to a Triang chassis, but it does seem to have been detailed up a little from the standard.  I know nothing of its provenance beyond its coming to me.  The Crownline kit has slightly overlarge cab windows but other than that is pretty accurate from what I recall.  The running plate of the Crownline is 2mm longer than the BEC.

 

[thegreenhowards]

9 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

Forgive my tardiness, but I'm replying to this post from the 13th when we were discussing the BEC J17.

 

I may have done it a disservice; having recovered the body I use for weathering demos, i find it's not too far from the Crownline after all.

 

 

I believe this is a BEC body: it was presented to me by Sir himself with the suggestion I melt it down for ballast weights.  It doesn't have the usual telltale tab and screw hole for attaching to a Triang chassis, but it does seem to have been detailed up a little from the standard.  I know nothing of its provenance beyond its coming to me.  The Crownline kit has slightly overlarge cab windows but other than that is pretty accurate from what I recall.  The running plate of the Crownline is 2mm longer than the BEC.

 

Thanks for that Jonathan, I’m relieved it’s not too far out. I’ve more or less decided that could could spend a long time on this getting it more accurate but at the end of the day that would be like polishing a t..d! So I’m going to finish it off as it came and it will make for a bit of variety on my layout even if it’s not completely accurate.

 

I have found a picture of one at what looks like a GN location. Can anyone identify where this is?https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/680536193663746788/

 

 

Andy

 

[stewartingram]

Is this the bridge at Peterborough North station, north side with the train heading south on the Midland lines? The road today is I believe Mayor's Walk, but may have been changed over the years.

 

Stewart

[Tony Wright]

47 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

Is this the bridge at Peterborough North station, north side with the train heading south on the Midland lines? The road today is I believe Mayor's Walk, but may have been changed over the years.

 

Stewart

Looking at the signals, it looks like the next bridge north after Spital Bridge at Peterborough North, Stewart,

 

I think you're right in saying it's on the Midland lines, heading south. If so it's come from the Stamford direction, or, dependent on the date, from the M&GNR. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

[Tony Wright]

51 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

 

I've just spent a truly wonderful day in the company of good friends Sandra Orpen, Robert Carroll and Mark Jenkins, talking trains and operating LB. The layout worked fine, they did, but it's a pity I'm such a dud operator!

 

Sandra brought some goodies to run.....................

 

 

She built this DJH Claughton.

 

 

She bought this DJH DoG from Hattons' second-hand dept, for £60.00!

 

 

And she bought this Mallard 517 Class off a second-hand stall at one Scaleforum or Expo (I've forgotten the price). 

 

All three ran beautifully. Robert took some moving footage which he says he'll post on here, including a spectacular derailment (an RTR loco, so that doesn't count!). 

 

Thank you all; to Robert and Mark for their generous monetary donations to CRUK, and to Sandra for her fantastic donation of kits to be sold on behalf or the charity and for her hospitality. 

 

What more could one ask for from a day? Wonderful friends, operating a model railway and enjoying every minute, a super lunch provided by Mo, and a pub meal in the evening!

 

 

[uax6]

3 hours ago, Chamby said:

 

Nice to see the telephone wires modelled.  And sensibly running behind the trackwork, too.  

 

That’s a lesson I learned the hard way!

Shame they are run as piano wires, open span wires need to droop, otherwise they can't expand and contract properly.

 

Sometimes I think its better to leave the wires to the imagination...

 

Andy G

[polybear]

11 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Brian,

 

Firstly, my apologies for not mentioning your most-generous donation to CRUK yesterday. I was tired last evening! 

 

I'd foolishly run short of low-melt solder yesterday, so casually bought some of C&L. Wow, for another reason! 

3 cms of the stuff cost me £7.20! Is it 'precious metal? 

I've no wish to appear critical of any supplier (it must be hard enough as it is), but last year I bought some low-melt from Duncan Models, and I got at least twice as much for half as much respectively. Similarly so from Hobby Holidays. Comet's low-melt isn't that price as far as I know. 

Does anyone know the prices for solder out there, or am I being unfair? 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

I did a "survey" of solder prices at the beginning of the year for John Redrup at LRM for his triennial price update.

Carrs were the dearest at £7.20 (25gm), the same as you paid for C&L. John decided on £4.00 for 43gm (an odd weight, but that what comes out of the mould in which he casts it from a 1kg ingot). 

 

3 hours ago, micklner said:

 I recommend the Flux no nasty smell and works very well , you get double the amount of low melt solder for £3.75 !!!

http://www.7mmlocomotives.co.uk//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=1&Itemid=52

 

Hi Tony,

Thank you - you're most welcome.

It never ceases to amaze me that (as of June 2018) the residents of Herts (where I live) and Beds (estimated total combined population of almost 2million) have no Radiotherapy Provision; instead anyone requiring treatment has to travel outside the area, to places such as Mount Vernon in Middlesex and North Middlesex Hospital  in Edmonton (Middlesex).

I've seen first-hand the very worst side of Cancer (my Mum), as well as at least five close friends lost;  there are some on RMWeb affected in one way or another at present, with some who have sadly gone far too soon.  It's a very sad but real fact of life that if you haven't been affected directly (either yourself or a family member, or close friend) then sooner or later you most likely will be. 

So thank you Tony, for raising money for Cancer Research so that perhaps one day it might just become a thing of the past....

 

And over to Low Melt Solder:

C&L:  £7.20 - query weight?

Hobby Holidays:  £6.00 for a 100mm stick - query weight?

Carrs:  £0.29/gram (based on 25 grams)

Gaugemaster: £0.23 (based on 20 grams)

Wizard:  £0.22/gram (based on 20 grams)

LRM:  £0.093/gram (based on 43 grams)

7mmLoco:  £0.075  (based on 50 grams)

KWTrams:  £0.04/gram (based on 50 grams)  http://www.kwtrams.co.uk/productdisplay/solder70-70-degree-low-melt-solder

 

It looks as though John Redrup may well get the Gold Star Award ; the two cheaper suppliers don't appear to have any exhibition presence so postage would need to be factored in to the price.  I've a feeling John may need to stock up just prior to the next exhibition....

 

HTH

Brian

 

 

Edited July 21, 2019 by polybear

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, uax6 said:

Shame they are run as piano wires, open span wires need to droop, otherwise they can't expand and contract properly.

 

Sometimes I think its better to leave the wires to the imagination...

 

Andy G

 

Point well taken. I don't think there's any way to model the droop consistently, unfortunately. Personally I like the airy element that wires add to a layout but i can well understand them not being to everyone's taste.

[Coach bogie]

9 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

Once it gets to the box, a 4-rod run will continue across the level crossing, so there's lot's more to be done!

 

Al

 

I salute you as I have chosen not to include the rods. There is a lot of ironwork to go into that box. I look forward to seeing it complete.
 

 

And the level crossing adds even more ironwork

 

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

[45568]

9 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Thanks for that Jonathan, I’m relieved it’s not too far out. I’ve more or less decided that could could spend a long time on this getting it more accurate but at the end of the day that would be like polishing a t..d! So I’m going to finish it off as it came and it will make for a bit of variety on my layout even if it’s not completely accurate.

 

I have found a picture of one at what looks like a GN location. Can anyone identify where this is?https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/680536193663746788/

 

 

Andy

 

Andy, I do not normally post my work here but you may be interested in this Bec J17 I built around 20 years ago.

It has a Wills chassis, the replacement for the Tri-ang 0.6.0, and I think a DS10? Looking at her now, there is still room for a few finishing touches, but I think she catches the look of the real thing.

 I can remember the Bec kit being announced, 1960 I think it was, and the front cover of the ' M R Constructor' having one in a snow scene!

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

[jamie92208]

7 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

 

Point well taken. I don't think there's any way to model the droop consistently, unfortunately. Personally I like the airy element that wires add to a layout but i can well understand them not being to everyone's taste.

It can be done. There is a US product called EZline or something similar. It's thin elastic and comes in different co,ours and sizes. I used it on Long Preston and we even managed to make it removable and re erected it ar each show. In 7mm the poles and cross arms had to be scratchbuilt.  However the effect was wortwhile. I did do an article in the Modeller a few years ago but can't remember the reference. I'll try and dig some details out.  

 

Jamie

[thegreenhowards]

36 minutes ago, 45568 said:

Andy, I do not normally post my work here but you may be interested in this Bec J17 I built around 20 years ago.

It has a Wills chassis, the replacement for the Tri-ang 0.6.0, and I think a DS10? Looking at her now, there is still room for a few finishing touches, but I think she catches the look of the real thing.

 I can remember the Bec kit being announced, 1960 I think it was, and the front cover of the ' M R Constructor' having one in a snow scene!

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

Thanks,

 

It looks the part to my eyes. I numbered mine last night, 65580.

 

Andy

[jamie92208]

I've found a not very good photo of a short part of the telephone wires on Long Preston that survives on the piece of the layout that is on display in the village hall.

 

The piece that you can see is where the wires were rising to cross a road.   The wires were in the copper green colour and I never did complete the full run of 40 wires.   I think I ran out of time after 33.  No one ever noticed, however I have now noticed the unlettered brake van.  Next time I go over I will probably take them a lettered version and do them a swap..

 

Jamie

 

[Chamby]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

It can be done. There is a US product called EZline or something similar. It's thin elastic and comes in different co,ours and sizes. I used it on Long Preston and we even managed to make it removable and re erected it ar each show. In 7mm the poles and cross arms had to be scratchbuilt.  However the effect was wortwhile. I did do an article in the Modeller a few years ago but can't remember the reference. I'll try and dig some details out.  

 

Jamie

 

Yes, EZ line is what I have used in the past, available from Model Junction in Slough and other American model specialists.  It is a rubberised thread that stretches if you accidentally snag it, so is less likely to break.  It comes in 100 foot spools and different weights/colours.

 

https://www.modeljunction.info/scenery-detail-parts/15284-ez-line-heavy-rust-100-foot-spool.html?search_query=Telephone&results=25

 

Phil

Edited July 22, 2019 by Chamby

[jamie92208]

3 minutes ago, Chamby said:

 

Yes, EZ line is what I have used in the past, available from Model Junction in Slough and other American model specialists.  It is a rubberised thread that stretches if you accidentally snag it, so is less likely to break.  It comes in 100 foot spools and different weights/colours.

 

https://www.modeljunction.info/scenery-detail-parts/15284-ez-line-heavy-rust-100-foot-spool.html?search_query=Telephone&results=25

 

Phil

If I remember correctly it's available in 7mm or 4mm sizes and in green, rust brown, or natural rubber.  I also remember that it never stuck with itself but tangled badly with anything else it came into contact with. It was possible to produce a characteristic  sag.

 

Jamie

[Anglian]

Does the EZ line last or being rubber does it eventually break down?

[Clive Mortimore]

In my recent spate of cutting and shutting BR Mk1 coaches and DMUs I found myself short of a couple of roofs and underframes. I needed some cheap secondhand coaches so purchased two Tri-ang/Hornby Thompson coaches just for the roofs and underframes. The cut and shut bug has really caught me and I thought "What can I do with these coach sides?" "A Thompson Second (Third) Open" was the answer. I realise the limitations of the Tri-ang/Hornby sides as they are to a Mk1 profile but I still think it is worth having a go. I believed in my stash was a MJT coach roof, sadly it is a Comet so the wrong profile. As I will be having to make a new underframe, a new roof shouldn't be a problem.

 

The other day I had a play with some of the off cuts to try and improve the look of the sides. I have tried to reprofile the lower part so it looks more like an LNER profile than a BR one. What do the LNER experts think with it compared to the Tri-ang/Hornby off cut on the left.

 

Ignore the roof and underframe.....they will be going to used with a Mk1 Griddle Car I have put together from left over bits from other cut and shut exercises.

 

[Tony Wright]

3 hours ago, 45568 said:

Andy, I do not normally post my work here but you may be interested in this Bec J17 I built around 20 years ago.

It has a Wills chassis, the replacement for the Tri-ang 0.6.0, and I think a DS10? Looking at her now, there is still room for a few finishing touches, but I think she catches the look of the real thing.

 I can remember the Bec kit being announced, 1960 I think it was, and the front cover of the ' M R Constructor' having one in a snow scene!

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

It certainly looks the part, Peter,

 

Thanks for posting the images on here. 

 

I've never made a J17 myself (though I helped complete one for a friend), largely because I never saw one in real life and it would be very unlikely (if not impossible?) for them to have run over Stoke Summit or through Little Bytham. However, who knows?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Barry Ten]

3 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

It can be done. There is a US product called EZline or something similar. It's thin elastic and comes in different co,ours and sizes. I used it on Long Preston and we even managed to make it removable and re erected it ar each show. In 7mm the poles and cross arms had to be scratchbuilt.  However the effect was wortwhile. I did do an article in the Modeller a few years ago but can't remember the reference. I'll try and dig some details out.  

 

Jamie

 

That's what I used but in my limited experimentation I couldn't get it to sag consistently, perhaps because I was stringing it in situ.

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, Anglian said:

Does the EZ line last or being rubber does it eventually break down?

 

It lasts so long as it doesn't come into contact with anything glue-like. Even a tiny drop of PVA is disaster.

 

I use it on aircraft aerials as well.