Dominion

Thanks for showing that. That looks good. Do you see any reason it wouldn’t work for bullhead rail instead of flat bottomed, and would you think it would need any design tweaks for bullhead ? I guess the aluminium rod sits in the web of the rail, and so the diameter of the rod is important and needs to be right to sit in the web and create a 1mm flange way gap. Do I understand correctly ?

That looks like it could be the nice simple metal draw bar held by a shouldered screw at each end, like their previous detailed B17 models. I like those as it is relatively easy to make a shorter replacement.

Thanks (Please ignore - mistake)

I went to the show this morning. It seemed well attended. There were lots of layouts running and traders displaying their items. There were also some interesting demonstration stands. I particularly enjoyed talking with the team on the Rapido UK stand. Thank you to the Platelayers for organizing the show again and to all the exhibitors and stall owners for setting it all up. Tom

Andy, Mohan and Mark had lots of production models, decorated samples, and EPs on display. Well worth a visit if you are in range. I will definitely keep the preorders I already have in place and may have to add 1 or 2 ! The rest of the show was good too. Thank you to the Platelayers for organizing it again. Tom

Excellent, also hope to see you at the show. Don’t let Jason talk you into sending any spare money back to Canada to buy buses ! Tom

The Oxford Rail LNER cattle wagon is dimensionally correct, and looks right on either side, just not both sides at the same time (which is very hard to see). One side should be a mirror image of the other. I changed one van to have a mirrored side but left the rest as they look fine which ever way you put them on the track ! Having designed much of the long wheelbase LNER fish van I hope Rapido will tool one in the next release … pretty please with a cherry on top ???

I have had 5 Tam Valley hex frog boards in use for several years. They are all still working fine luckily. I hope you can figure out what caused your issue. I did not get them from coastal DCC as I am in Canada so could get them closer but I have sourced lots of other things from them and I find Kevin to be very knowledgable and very helpful.

Sorry Martin, Templot is a wonderful resource. Tom

Big locos certainly look good and run well through the Finetrax 1:7 slips. I believe in Templot t for a double slip the blade tips start one further timber towards the centre to allow space and clearance for soldering to the tie bar arrangement and for flange clearance. Single slips could be one timber closer to the V crossings, and that maybe the default for a single in Templot. Wayne’s singles use the same spacing as the doubles. Initially I was wondering if it was worth extending the blades on the singles somehow, but the only solution would have been to do a lot of butchery or start from scratch and Wayne’s just are too good for that :-)

Mmm, you have me wondering now. Like many things on the layout I did it so long ago I am struggling to remember the specifics of why I did something a certain way. I agree you certainly need to protect DC locos from DCC power. Also I did not want any stationary stock to accidentally be able to bridge the two power sources, as I do sometimes run a DC loco on its loop while the rest of the layout is DCC powered and operating. But I agree you can set CV29 in the decoders to not respond to DC, which I routinely do when I first configure them. I am now definitely scratching my head as to why I have been removing the DCC locos from that loop and why I thought it was best to separate the storage loops from the DC switchable running lines where I could. Perhaps it has just become an old habit ! Paul are you saying some old decoders were not happy on DC ? I do have some locos I fitted a very long time ago so perhaps that was the issue.

I notice you mentioned earlier you planned to have the ability to run DC for Mark’s unchipped locos. I do that too. I would suggest making it one loop only and not even the associated storage loops. Otherwise it means all the DCC locos on sections that might become DC should be removed and it becomes a bit of a faff if you have lots of locos in loops. In turn that would mean adding insulation gaps at the end of the stock rails of turnouts in fans that might otherwise bridge the DC switchable and DCC permanent loops. I mention this as in normal DC or DCC wiring you would not have to insulate outer rails of fans, and I missed it when first laying my storage loops. It may be too late as it looks like you have laid several of those turnouts already but may still be easier to do sooner rather than later. Having the switchable loop is also very useful for running-in locos before fitting a decoder. Tom

Photos of coal trains in the grouping period are a glorious mix of different sizes of wagons. I have many Bachmann and Oxford Rail RCH 1923 wagons and I am grateful that they have made several appropriate livery and operator names for my area, but the trains look too uniform. I am delighted Rapido have made these earlier wagons and look forward to any more colliery and factor wagon liveries they may do in the future. I am supporting the project by buying as many names in the current releases as I can justify running on my lines :-)

The Notts & Derby Pinxton wagon is a joint commission I think between TTC Diecast and Malcs models. The Malc's website shows it as being sold out already but perhaps TTC Diecast have some left. https://www.ttcdiecast.com/rapido---notts--derby-7-plank-wagon---ttcdiecast-x-malcs-models-exclusive-oo-gauge-172694-p.asp Tom

I just paid for 4 special commission wagons from Malc's models, and they will be on their way to Canada tomorrow. The photos of the actual products on their website look really excellent. https://malcsmodels.co.uk/collections/rapido-wagons That link should show all 5 they have done. Here is one example. Malc's has commissioned some very useful colliery wagons in the mix. I hope they do well for them and I am very excited to receive mine. Tom