bmthtrains - David Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 Having had no time for any modelling in the last month or so I decided to get the layout out for a run this evening. Cursing my newer Dapol stock and remembering Dapol stands for Decouples At Points and On Lines, I finally got things running smoothly. David 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold AndrueC Posted August 2, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 2, 2022 (edited) Very nice running. I'm getting closer to track complete myself although I then have a couple of dozen turnout motors to install and routes to program so won't actually be in full running until Christmas I think. I had a set of those yellow JNA wagons. They refused to run at all on my first layout. The problem with the JNA wagons appeared to be a perverse coupler design. On mine the coupler sat in a V shaped groove so that when the wagon went round a curve the coupler moved out along one of the arms of the V. There was a spring (thin bit of wire) that was probably supposed to re-centre the coupler but it was far to weak and funnily enough the result was that the wagon got dragged off at the end of the curve. That layout used R2 curves but they are the only wagons that caused me that kind of grief. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vPaVJKF4H8VNkmbQ7 I also struggled with those green wagons as well. Their couplers weren't very clever either and several suffered from droop which meant they didn't like a slightly bumpy part of my track. Edited August 2, 2022 by AndrueC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold scottystitch Posted August 2, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 2, 2022 11 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said: Having had no time for any modelling in the last month or so I decided to get the layout out for a run this evening. Cursing my newer Dapol stock and remembering Dapol stands for Decouples At Points and On Lines, I finally got things running smoothly. David Very nice indeed, and shaping up nicely. The POV of your first video there lends itself to a Railcam view. Thanks for sharing. Best Scott. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 My coupling woes continued today, this time running my Revolution 321 on the layout for the first time. Having been an utter disaster before it was sent back for repair, it ran well on my Kato test track on its return but now one of the couplings has completely disintegrated, with a covering flap constantly dropping off whenever it goes round a corner and jamming between the sleepers, stopping the unit from moving and then derailing. I will have to superglue this part on as otherwise it only runs in the opposite direction without catching. Thankfully that’s the also the only direction in which both the front and rear lights work, so perhaps that is a bonus? I also need to figure out what’s going on with the ride heights of each coach as they’re all over the place: This model continues to be an expensive source of constant frustration. David 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 With the 321 pointing the right way so it doesn’t catch and derail, a bit of WCML passenger stock running: David 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackB95 Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 37 minutes ago, bmthtrains - David said: This model continues to be an expensive source of constant frustration. Ahhh, just like the real thing then 🤪 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamphillip Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 On 02/08/2022 at 20:31, bmthtrains - David said: My coupling woes continued today, this time running my Revolution 321 on the layout for the first time. Having been an utter disaster before it was sent back for repair, it ran well on my Kato test track on its return but now one of the couplings has completely disintegrated, with a covering flap constantly dropping off whenever it goes round a corner and jamming between the sleepers, stopping the unit from moving and then derailing. I will have to superglue this part on as otherwise it only runs in the opposite direction without catching. Thankfully that’s the also the only direction in which both the front and rear lights work, so perhaps that is a bonus? I also need to figure out what’s going on with the ride heights of each coach as they’re all over the place: This model continues to be an expensive source of constant frustration. David I’ve blacktacced the cover on the coupling, haven’t ran across any height differences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 I’ve started work on the block of flats that will go at the right hand corner of the layout. At the moment it’s just the basic laser cut parts primed white. These need individually painting before assembly, then window frames, doors, and possibly gutters can be added but this will be a low detail model due to its position. David 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 9, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 9, 2022 Hi David, Great to catch up on the layout build, it's looking great! And congratulations on the book!! Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 20, 2022 Author Share Posted August 20, 2022 The first coats of paint have now gone onto the apartment building. The next step is to mask off the render and spray the base brick colour. David 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 20, 2022 Author Share Posted August 20, 2022 A little further on now. David 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackB95 Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 Coming on really well! Really like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 20, 2022 Author Share Posted August 20, 2022 And here is the basic assembly completed. Next steps are some paint tidying on a few edges, then when my etches arrive on Monday I can add the doors and windows. Weathering and embedding it into the layout will come later - there will be little shrub borders in the recessed spaces. David 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 20, 2022 Author Share Posted August 20, 2022 Finally for today, a quick test on the scenic section. Once the window etches are added this should look just right I think. David 16 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 22, 2022 Author Share Posted August 22, 2022 My etch has arrived! Looking forward to adding the window frames to the apartment building now but this also has parts for all the other buildings I’ve planned, and OHLE components to match the N Brass ones but in the more modern styles. David 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 22, 2022 Author Share Posted August 22, 2022 Lots more to do but a quick test: David 12 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 All the windows are in place now so this building is pretty much finished. Next job is to add the window etches to the ROC and finally add the missing letters to one end! David 15 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted August 25, 2022 Author Share Posted August 25, 2022 Barely visible, but I’ve added the window frame etches to the ROC, and finally replaced the missing T and O on the north end sign. David 9 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted September 1, 2022 Author Share Posted September 1, 2022 (edited) As this week is my last week off until Christmas, I finally overcame my apathy and completed the wiring on the right hand board. All lines now run smoothly, and it means I can get on with more enjoyable, smaller jobs in the evenings through the autumn. Here the NR class 37 pulls out of one of the sidings and onto the up slow. Next jobs will be to paint the rails on the right board, then ballasting. David Edited September 1, 2022 by bmthtrains - David 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted September 1, 2022 Author Share Posted September 1, 2022 I can now do shunting! What I have realised doing all this hideous wiring is that in future I can probably get away with dummy sidings. The way I run my layouts is to sit back and watch trains go by. It never occurred to me that the yard didn’t actually have to move to suit my needs! The next layout in about 10 years time will be much simpler in terms of electrics I think! David 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold AndrueC Posted September 1, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 1, 2022 (edited) How long did it take you to get your 08 running? I spent quite a while trying to run mine in and eventually needed to run it on my wheel cleaner to sort it out. I have no intention of ever doing any shunting but I had to have an 08 anyway :) Edited September 1, 2022 by AndrueC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted September 1, 2022 Author Share Posted September 1, 2022 The 08 is about 15 years old so I couldn’t tell you. I don’t remember any issues with it at all and running it today for the first time in probably a year it’s been fine. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold AndrueC Posted September 1, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 1, 2022 2 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said: The 08 is about 15 years old so I couldn’t tell you. I don’t remember any issues with it at all and running it today for the first time in probably a year it’s been fine. David Ah! I thought it was one of the new Farish ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted September 4, 2022 Author Share Posted September 4, 2022 In between painting rails (will the boring bits of layout building never end?!), I am making a start on the OHLE equipment. First job today has been to test my new etches and to establish the right portal heights. This is an old N Brass portal just sprayed with primer so not the right colour yet, with an N Brass register arm and my own etch for the support arm above on the left. To the right is my own etch of the combined equipment. As is fairly obvious, portals with these need to be higher, and thankfully I have some spare N Brass portals of the older design which had taller legs with marks to cut down to normal rail side or platform heights. I have cut these to a height 6mm taller than the the normal legs for the two portals that will have the combined etch on. David 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted September 4, 2022 Author Share Posted September 4, 2022 Another handy set of etches I designed are these sign templates. Having found it impossible to cut 6mm circles out of the Sankey Scenics speed sign sheet I’ve now got etched circles that I can stick to the rear and then cut round. A much neater circle than I could have managed freehand! David 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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