hayfield Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 11 hours ago, Captain Kernow said: Well, I may calculate the percentage of 'good 'uns' verses 'bad 'uns' at some stage, but I have had my fair share of poor runners. And it's not as if I haven't given them plenty of time running in, either. I am a self confessed kit builder but cannot do anything but admire the quality of both the detail and livery finish of modern locos, but if I were parting with £90 or £100 on a new loco I would expect it to run faultlessly, lets face it when we opened up the box of our Hornby Dublo or Triang loco they both ran and took a lot of child play abuse and still worked. Even my old Airfix GMR locos ran well out of the box and continued to do so (I had grown out of throwing them across the room by then). None of these were expensive locos 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 9, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 9, 2020 Perhaps I should qualify what I mean by a 'poor runner'. My layouts are not very large and consequently, speeds need to be slow. I also like shunting. This needs good controlability and smooth running at slow speeds, from a really slow crawl up to (say) a scale 10 to 15 mph or so. Locos also need to have good pick-up and not to stall. Some of the best running RTR locos that I've acquired recently include: - Heljan 05 - Dapol B4 - 1 of my Hornby Pecketts, the other two have tight spots - Hattons 'P' 0-6-0T Unfortunately, Bachmann steam locos are some of the most inconsistent runners I have come across. I've seen examples of the same type (eg. 64XX) running really sweetly and another is a pig. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd be happy to pay more for locos that have really good, quality mechanisms that will run slowly and smoothly consistently. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 19, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2020 I have now started to build the High Level chassis for the 74XX. Early days yet and no photos so far, but the bits that I have soldered yesterday went together really well. In the meantime, here's a photo of Peckett 'Plantagenet' resting at Bethesda yard, having worked down the light railway from Llanddewi: Due to the gradients up the light railway from Capel Bethesda, all locos operate up the valley with the chimney 'facing north'. Similarly, the gradients on the BR line from Leominster and Kington mean that BR locos should arrive in Bethesda yard 'chimney leading'. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted March 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2020 Blimey...it's a long way from Engine Wood! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 35 minutes ago, Re6/6 said: Blimey...it's a long way from Engine Wood! I thought they were in the same room ? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 19, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2020 2 hours ago, bgman said: I thought they were in the same room ? No longer. 'Engine Wood' now resides in the Republic of Ireland. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 28 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said: No longer. 'Engine Wood' now resides in the Republic of Ireland. Doh ! Senior moment !!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 22, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2020 Some progress with the High Level 74XX chassis: There is still more detailing work to be done on the body at the moment. 10 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Looking good CK, purely out of curiosity who's horn blocks do you / will you use ? G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 22, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2020 44 minutes ago, bgman said: Looking good CK, purely out of curiosity who's horn blocks do you / will you use ? Well, Chris Gibbon actually provides his own High Level hornblocks as part of the kit, so I will be using those. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 I will be watching with interest as I have just bought a set from Chris. Had a failed attempt using a set of Alan Gibson hornblocks, I was advised to try a set of Chris's brand, they do look good 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 25, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 25, 2020 The hills behind Plantagenet give some idea of the gradients all locos working back up the light railway face, when they leave Bethesda yard: 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 28, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 28, 2020 (edited) Further progress on the 74XX chassis as of yesterday: Today I fitted the twin-beam compensation and finally had the wheels and axles sitting on the compensation system, as they are designed to do: I cannot praise the High Level product enough. Virtually all the parts fitted together 'right first time'. Edited March 28, 2020 by Captain Kernow 14 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2020 The crew of 2538 are probably in the shunters' cabin, having a brew and a round of cards: 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravy Train Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 Hi, I have really enjoyed watching this come together, it’s a lovely little layout and looks very convincing to me and nice to see some kit building here too. Pete 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said: The crew of 2538 are probably in the shunters' cabin, having a brew and a round of cards: Would that be Brooke Bond tea and are they trading swops from their card collections ? 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted March 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2020 39 minutes ago, bgman said: Would that be Brooke Bond tea and are they trading swops from their card collections ? Knowing the Captain it will be herbal tea. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welchester Posted March 31, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31, 2020 33 minutes ago, gwrrob said: Knowing the Captain it will be herbal tea. Because he's a Marxist and believes proper tea is theft? 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted March 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2020 1 minute ago, Bishop of Welchester said: Because he's a Marxist and believes proper tea is theft? Let's keep religion out of this. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted April 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2020 19 hours ago, gwrrob said: Knowing the Captain it will be herbal tea. ...and it smells just awful. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted April 1, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2020 5 minutes ago, Re6/6 said: ...and it smells just awful. Beauty is in the taste buds of the beholder! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 9 minutes ago, Re6/6 said: ...and it smells just awful. Before or after ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted April 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2020 Both! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted April 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2020 Chai. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted April 3, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 3, 2020 On 01/04/2020 at 11:45, NHY 581 said: Chai. Taiping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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