Wright writes.....

[Methuselah]

19 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

 Found it!:

 

 

Put the kettle on and listen from 11:37 - steam sound magic.

 

     I'm a returnee to model railways after decades away. DCC sound is a huge advancement, however, whilst the diesels - in which I have absolutely zero interest - sound quite realistic, annoyingly, all the steam models I have heard sound like someone striking a match on a Bryant & May matchbox...! Very tinny and crappy - all treble and no base at all. Bearing in mind some of the speakers used are identical to those in smart-phones,  it seems crazy that my phone can play a YT video of a steam train and it sounds way WAY better than the rubbish we are being served-up for DCC sound. For example, listen to this magnificent GWR King on your smart-phone  ;-   

 

                 

Something seems to be seriously wrong.....!

 

Edited November 23, 2023 by Methuselah

[Tony Wright]

B1 bodywork complete today.............

 

 

Just the valve gear/motion to erect (a job I always leave 'til last). 

 

One thing I wish etched-brass kit manufactures would supply are spare bits on their frets. Spares like those little fold-up step treads, for instance. Ten are needed for the loco, all very similar in size. Naturally, on folding one up, it pinged into oblivion. There are masses of spare spaces on the etches. In making a new one, I used up most of the words in my dictionary of profanity!

 

Will this be better than a Hornby RTR B1? Of course not. Other than in haulage capacity (it's already packed with lead) and a Geoff Haynes paint job, it won't be as good. But, so what? It's the making which is more important, not the acquisition..........

 

 

[polybear]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

One thing I wish etched-brass kit manufactures would supply are spare bits on their frets. Spares like those little fold-up step treads, for instance. Ten are needed for the loco, all very similar in size. Naturally, on folding one up, it pinged into oblivion. There are masses of spare spaces on the etches. In making a new one, I used up most of the words in my dictionary of profanity!

 

Whilst building an etched brass wagon kit at Missenden Abbey earlier this year I really struggled to fit something like eighteen identical parts that represented the brackets that secure a steel capping to the top edge of the planked sides.  Small?  Oh yes - certainly no longer than 3mm max; the fun bit was each one then has to be folded into a U-shape before soldering over the top edge of the planking.  The carpet gods were particularly unkind as numerous attempts disappeared into oblivion....

The Guy sitting next to me expressed amazement that the Designer somehow expected the builder to be able to fit the parts in the first place, and then asked  "Did the Designer give you any spares?" - and after checking I was able to confirm he had, and a fair few as well.  The Guy then said "So he wasn't a complete b'sterd then......." 🤣

 

I later discovered (from the Designer) that the kit was originally intended for 7mm (and those parts are difficult enough in that scale) and subsequently "shot down" to 4mm; he seemed to recall that a few were also produced in 3mm as well.

 

I got there in the end (but without those spares would've been in real bother) and learned a lot in the process, so all ended well.

Edited November 23, 2023 by polybear

[Chas Levin]

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

One thing I wish etched-brass kit manufactures would supply are spare bits on their frets. Spares like those little fold-up step treads, for instance. Ten are needed for the loco, all very similar in size. Naturally, on folding one up, it pinged into oblivion. There are masses of spare spaces on the etches. In making a new one, I used up most of the words in my dictionary of profanity!

 

Good evening Tony, fully agree there; some do provide spares though - I'm currently building a Masokits Esso Class B Tanker underframe and the etches have quite a lot of spares for things like the brake rigging. The disadvantage of that though is the amount of time I then spend wondering whether some of them aren't spares at all, but are meant to be used...!

[Jol Wilkinson]

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

 

One thing I wish etched-brass kit manufactures would supply are spare bits on their frets. Spares like those little fold-up step treads, for instance. Ten are needed for the loco, all very similar in size. Naturally, on folding one up, it pinged into oblivion. There are masses of spare spaces on the etches. In making a new one, I used up most of the words in my dictionary of profanity!

 

Something I have done on the kits I designed, provided space was available within the constraints of making most efficient use of the area of the etch sheet. Modern CAD software (I use CorelDraw) makes it very easy to copy/duplicate items and move them to spare space on the artwork. With older kits with hand drawn artwork it wasn't so easy.

 

As Chas points out, sometimes it can be confusing if you think you have bits left over.So a part listing in the instructions identifying how many items are needed and how many spares are also supplied can help.

[Chamby]

7 hours ago, Methuselah said:

 

     I'm a returnee to model railways after decades away. DCC sound is a huge advancement, however, whilst the diesels - in which I have absolutely zero interest - sound quite realistic, annoyingly, all the steam models I have heard sound like someone striking a match on a Bryant & May matchbox...! Very tinny and crappy - all treble and no base at all. Bearing in mind some of the speakers used are identical to those in smart-phones,  it seems crazy that my phone can play a YT video of a steam train and it sounds way WAY better than the rubbish we are being served-up for DCC sound. For example, listen to this magnificent GWR King on your smart-phone  ;-   

                 

Something seems to be seriously wrong.....!

 

The sound recording, the chip and the speakers used all make a huge difference, but with care you can get some evocative steam sounds these days.  The quality of recordings available has improved a lot of late, along with the improvements in chip capability, whereas earlier programmes (and chips) were a lot of less sophisticated - but they are still out there being sold, so you really do need to hear the product before you buy.  When starting out, I naively bought a chip loaded with what was sold as an A3 sound file, only to find it was the chip manufacturers old library recording of a 3-cylinder German locomotive, complete with a very wrong whistle.  It can all be very hit-and-miss if you don’t do your homework.
 

My recommended starting point would be a specialist sound programme such as Locoman, on an ESU Loksound v5 chip, with 2x YouChoos 8ohm 18x13x10 Ice Cube speakers wired in parallel to give a combined 4ohm installation.  These speakers are a massive improvement on the single standard sugar-cube supplied by ESU.  It will be a bit more expensive than some other suppliers but I find this usually gives a well balanced set-up and can fit inside most RTR tenders.  You’ll probably find other modellers out there lauding the merits of Zimo chips too, it very much comes down to personal preference and whose programmes are available for which manufacturers chips.  There are other good programmes out there from a number of other specialist suppliers: You-Tube demo video’s are a useful guide.
 

For a tender installation in an RTR model, you’ll usually have to cut away the moulded coal bunker to create enough room, but externally it doesn’t show if you retain the plastic coal load to cover the resulting hole.  And a layering of crushed real coal on top, of course!

[thegreenhowards]

8 hours ago, Chamby said:

The sound recording, the chip and the speakers used all make a huge difference, but with care you can get some evocative steam sounds these days.  The quality of recordings available has improved a lot of late, along with the improvements in chip capability, whereas earlier programmes (and chips) were a lot of less sophisticated - but they are still out there being sold, so you really do need to hear the product before you buy.  When starting out, I naively bought a chip loaded with what was sold as an A3 sound file, only to find it was the chip manufacturers old library recording of a 3-cylinder German locomotive, complete with a very wrong whistle.  It can all be very hit-and-miss if you don’t do your homework.
 

My recommended starting point would be a specialist sound programme such as Locoman, on an ESU Loksound v5 chip, with 2x YouChoos 8ohm 18x13x10 Ice Cube speakers wired in parallel to give a combined 4ohm installation.  These speakers are a massive improvement on the single standard sugar-cube supplied by ESU.  It will be a bit more expensive than some other suppliers but I find this usually gives a well balanced set-up and can fit inside most RTR tenders.  You’ll probably find other modellers out there lauding the merits of Zimo chips too, it very much comes down to personal preference and whose programmes are available for which manufacturers chips.  There are other good programmes out there from a number of other specialist suppliers: You-Tube demo video’s are a useful guide.
 

For a tender installation in an RTR model, you’ll usually have to cut away the moulded coal bunker to create enough room, but externally it doesn’t show if you retain the plastic coal load to cover the resulting hole.  And a layering of crushed real coal on top, of course!

I agree with all that for 4mm, although I choose a Zimo decoder  and Youchoos sound file as my personal preference. I find it best to standardise so that the functions are all on the same keys on each loco without having to play around reprogramming the chip.

 

For 7mm, I try to fit in either a YLR453520 (dimensions in mm)  

 

or YLR603010 from Youchoos, both of which have fantastic base.

 

Andy

 

 

[Tony Wright]

I mentioned a collection of kits I'll have for sale; well, they're here now.

 

Graham Nicholas is going to post a list on here, and we'll then take it from there.

 

Not only are there a large number of unbuilt kits, there are also over 100 completed locos from the collection which will be up for sale soon (watch this space). Graham brought two over with him............

 

 

A DJH Austerity.

 

 

 

And a DJH Standard 82XXX.

 

 

And both together. 

 

Both of these ran exceptionally well. Once the collection is fully-tested, the locos will be put up for sale.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by Tony Wright

[Tony Wright]

With the Pro-Scale B1's body completed, thorough testing this morning (with Graham Nicholas as a witness) resulted in the loco performing admirably...........

 

 

On 13 heavy bogies..............

 

 

And on 12...........

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Further to above posts, the list of loco kits n bits for sale is attached.

 

Prices are suggested - in certain cases I've posted the current price alongside where the item is currently available.

[Graham]

Peter Lawson Kits (2023_for TW sale 16.11.23) (1).xls

[MJI]

Some interesting ones there.

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Further to above posts, the list of loco kits n bits for sale is attached.

 

Prices are suggested - in certain cases I've posted the current price alongside where the item is currently available.

[Graham]

Peter Lawson Kits (2023_for TW sale 16.11.23) (1).xls 24.5 kB · 72 downloads

 

Hello Tony,

 

Can you put me down for item 145 please (Comet G2 Loco Chassis & wheels).

Also item 8 (A.G. LMS Black 5 Kit)  No - I mustn't, I mustn't........

 

Many thanks

Brian

[Buhar]

Hi Tony,

 

I hope you've prepared your PM folder for a hail of incoming!  One already sent.

 

Alan

[Staffordshire]

Two already sent !!

 

[MJI]

What is in the Brassmasters 040T kit for the dock shunter?

[Tony Teague]

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Further to above posts, the list of loco kits n bits for sale is attached.

 

Prices are suggested - in certain cases I've posted the current price alongside where the item is currently available.

[Graham]

Peter Lawson Kits (2023_for TW sale 16.11.23) (1 24.5 kB · 130 downloads

 

It was a great relief (to my wallet) to find that there was nothing whatever on the list for those of a Southern persuasion!

Nevertheless I am sure they will all go quickly.

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

 

It was a great relief (to my wallet) to find that there was nothing whatever on the list for those of a Southern persuasion!

Nevertheless I am sure they will all go quickly.

Good evening Tony,

 

The chap's interest was in the NW, so not much SR stuff there.............

 

Lots of stuff has already sold (three items I could have sold twice!).

 

Using my response to you as a conduit, may I make a plea, please? Firstly, thanks to all who are buying the kits, but when a PM arrives, will the sender please include is/her whole name. It will make it easier for Mo and me. Secondly, please forgive any slight delay in corresponding back. Not only are PMs coming in, but also emails and phone calls (plus personal visits to come!). I desperately try to follow the chronology because that's important where two (or thee) parties request the same thing. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

Not wanting to appear to much of a 'snowflake', such has been the response to the list of items for sale that I'm now shutting down my computer for today. Please, carry on sending PMs but I won't respond until tomorrow.

 

Thanks. 

[LNER4479]

15 hours ago, MJI said:

What is in the Brassmasters 040T kit for the dock shunter?

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/deeley.htm

 

No wheels or motor/gears included with this one.

 

For info generally:

 

Peter habitually sourced wheels and motor/gears when buying a kit, and this is indicated on the list accordingly (most kits, as bought, would not have had these included, the exception being the likes of Alan Gibson). Unless stated, wheels are the older Romford type.

 

Where the kit is currently available, I've quoted the current price and the suggested price is based on approx 50%, with adjustment if wheels & motor/gears have been sourced additionally. There's nothing much wrong with any of them(!) other than the fact many of them were bought 20-30 years ago (you can tell by the price label on the box!)

[Tony Wright]

11 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/deeley.htm

 

No wheels or motor/gears included with this one.

 

For info generally:

 

Peter habitually sourced wheels and motor/gears when buying a kit, and this is indicated on the list accordingly (most kits, as bought, would not have had these included, the exception being the likes of Alan Gibson). Unless stated, wheels are the older Romford type.

 

Where the kit is currently available, I've quoted the current price and the suggested price is based on approx 50%, with adjustment if wheels & motor/gears have been sourced additionally. There's nothing much wrong with any of them(!) other than the fact many of them were bought 20-30 years ago (you can tell by the price label on the box!)

Good morning Graham,

 

I hope Warley goes well.

 

Having already sold several of the kits in question, on checking as they're sold, I can confirm there is nothing wrong with any at all. Most have the parts still wrapped up carefully in the tissue paper. 

 

The prices you've suggested are incredibly fair in my view (some purchasers have added more, knowing that 10% of all sales goes to CRUK - my most-grateful thanks for that). 

 

We'll be a long time in our local Post Office next week!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Tony Wright

[Tony Wright]

Just one thing, please.

 

For those buying kits by bank transfer; will you please indicate your name on the transfer payment? It's difficult to make sense (well, it is for me) if two transfers are for exactly the same amount - it does happen!

 

Many thanks.

[Tony Wright]

Sorting kits for despatch will take place tomorrow, because today is a running session on Little Bytham with three good friends.

 

In getting things ready this morning, the sun streaming on to the fiddleyard caught my eye..............

 

 

 

All ready to go!

[MJI]

2 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/deeley.htm

 

No wheels or motor/gears included with this one.

 

For info generally:

 

Peter habitually sourced wheels and motor/gears when buying a kit, and this is indicated on the list accordingly (most kits, as bought, would not have had these included, the exception being the likes of Alan Gibson). Unless stated, wheels are the older Romford type.

 

Where the kit is currently available, I've quoted the current price and the suggested price is based on approx 50%, with adjustment if wheels & motor/gears have been sourced additionally. There's nothing much wrong with any of them(!) other than the fact many of them were bought 20-30 years ago (you can tell by the price label on the box!)

Was already sold, was wavering due to valve gear.

[46243]

HI TONY. I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF THE MASHIMA 1620 'S PLEASE,

[46243]

Sorry, didn't mean to shout!