bob hughes60

The above advice is good.I have done a few Triang locos and first get it working well under DC. So dismantle clean/replace contacts, then clean commutator, replace brushes if required. I always ditched the old ferrite magnet and replaced with a neomagnet this can be done for X03/X04 as well as ringfield types. When running well on DC I hardwired an appropriate decoder. I used mainly Zimo decoders and sometimes Lenz as both handle short circuits and can sustain the higher current draw of the motors. I have done Britannias, Halls, Hymeks, Jintys etc. Check that the motor cover has its plastic lugs intact so it grips the chassis and holds motor etc firmly in place. You can find replacement motor covers. I have service sheets for X03/X04 and Triang models, as well as the Ringfield motor in its various guises. Looking at these before starting is a good idea. Some Ringfields are easier than others. For example where the brush contacts are bent over are easy, if screw on contacts you need to isolate one of the screws from the motor chassis. Use either a plastic bolt/screw cut to length or a plastic washer. These are readily available if you need to know the supplier. I also replaced any 3 pole armatures with 5 pole armatures but the movement to loco rather than tender drive means these are hard to get hold of. Also you need to sheath the armature spindle to get a 5 pole armature to fit in a 3 pole motor chassis. I used brass tube to do this. Feel free to contact me if you need any other details. Hope this is some use.

I must have been 3 or 4 so 1953/4. A holiday at Borth in Wales. Not in a caravan but our accomodation was a converted double decker bus. As a little lad I could not quite believe it, our own bus and trains as well as the journey from Wolves and back on a WR train. I watched the trains go through the "camp site" on sunny days that seemed to last forever, drivers and fireman would wave back.

Interesting I was under the impression that the weedkiller Glyphosphate ="Roundup" etc. etc. has been implicated as a carcinogen after successful cases for damages in the USA?

Wanted to complete a project one previously cherised loco chassis. This is the china built extra detail series, not Margate or Railroad. Anyone got one lying around? TIA

Would you mind giving more details about the Brassmasters front Patriot steps? i could do with altering some of my Patriots. Any problems on curve restrictions with the play of the bogie? Thanks Bob Hughes

I fitted the TCS DP2X-UK decoder, works fine. unfortunately I lost one of the middle body screws. So sent an email to Bachmann. I got a next day reply screws now on their way and notes from a Bachmann technician on re-attaching the bogie are :- "If you are looking at the underneath of the chassis, there would be the thick washer, followed by the spring and then the thin washer, then the bogie, and then the screw." Hope this is useful if anybody else is mad enough to detach the bogie. Bob Hughes

By removing the five screws plus the screw holding the speedometer in place the body separates from the chassis but not completely. I haven't cut the pipework as you can get at the decoder and I am awaiting feedback on fitting a TCS 8 pin direct so not having to faff about with wires etc. Will update further, thanks for the info from fellow modellers.

Thanks for the article direction; good to know it is not just me that has difficulty. Will report back when I have managed to reassemble the bogie with components in correct order. Cheers bob Hughes

So I decided to remove the body to check the size of the 8 pin decoder I could fit. On the exploded diagram 5 body fixing screws are shown. Removed all of these. The front of the chassis will now pull down and away from the body but sticks at the rear half, under the cab. I have not resorted to brute force as I was wondering if there was something else I need to detach to enable the body to drop clear. I removed the rear 4 wheel bogie to get a better look at under the cab. There is a bolt, brass washer, plastic washer and a spring. There is a nut in a little compartment under cab. It is a nightmare trying to reassemble the bogie as the diagram enclosed doesn't show all the parts!! Nor are there any instructions about detaching the body. So if anybody can enlighten me on detaching the body and or re-attaching the bogie (i.e order of the washers etc. I would be eternally grateful. TIA Bob Hughes

Do use your option to go to the Ombudsperson(s) Send a recorded letter to the utility company complaints dept saying that you are doing this and expect them to comply whilst you wish to escalate to the final stage of their complaints procedure. (they must outline their complaints procedure(s) on website or in writing). They then have a fixed time to sort it. This tends to focus their attention markedly as it costs them £400+ a time to go to the ombudsperson. From what you said I think you can take them to 2 different ombudspersons As there is a service issue but also a financial issue.(financial ombudsperson) This would double the cost for them and make it prohibitive to not resolve your issues speedily. Hope this is useful.

"OnTheBranchline, on 20 Jan 2018 - 11:34, said: You think so, tovarisch? Мы знаем, где вы живете, товарищ!

I have converted old Hornby(i.e. ringfield ) and Triang X03/X04 motors from ferrite magnets to neomagnets and for the ringfields from 3 pole to 5 pole. Once I checked they performed ok on DC (I strongly advise use of this check) I then converted to DCC. I have used Zimo and Lenz chips with no problems to the decoder caused by the stronger neomagnet. Bob Hughes

I am after S9681 plastic bogie frames to drop either the ringfield motor or dummy chassis in. Hopefully somebody has some in their spares box? Service sheet 93A & 933B has pictures. Thanks Bob Hughes

Thanks for the suggestion guess which set of parts is "temporarily out of stock" have emailed them. Bob Hughes

I have been resurrecting one of these with a green body. Unfortunately one of the moulded horns at one cab end has been broken off. Does anybody know if suitable diesel horns are availble as replacements plastic/castings. TIA Bob Hughes

I had a similar problem with the Hornby (ex Dapol) castle model) The best way was to lever up using a wide screwdriver blade a bit at a time, and also rotate the pin so pressure is not applied in one area. To get it moving I used a small jeweller's set. then with the pin raised up a touch used a thicker screwdriver blade. Hope this is some use. Cheers Bob Hughes

I admire your patience and public spirit in telling other people about possible problems. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (replaces 1979 Sale of Goods Act) if within 30 days goods are found to be faulty,unsatisfactory or misdescribed you have a legal right to reject them and obtain a full refund. If you discover the fault after the initial 30 days but within 6 months the retailer has the option of repairing or replacing the goods. If this does not work you can then claim a full refund from the retailer. Class 31 and Virgin TTS no action ? Merchant Navy TTS lost bits = no repair. Notice retailer not manufacturer. I know what I would be doing. Hope this is useful

My experience was to place an order on 5-10-2017 for a decoder +hattons DJM 14xx. Got email confirmation and a picking list email same day then nothing. Queried it by email and was told the 14xx (H1406) was at "our secondary warehouse" should receive order by end of week(last DPD despatch is thursday no weekend delivery) Waited till today 10-10-2017 and rang up "still not received from secondary warehouse". As I will not be in to receive deliveries next week I cancelled order and received an email advising me of a refund. to my card. So in stock on website may mean at secondary warehouse so expect a long delay? I compare this with the order I placed at Derails when I received a phone call saying not all items in stock would it be okay to send a part order and remainder next week? Received another Derails phone call yesterday advising me of despatch. To me Hattons seem to have taken their eye off the ball in terms of logistics and keeping customers informed? I cannot fault the speed of Hatton's email reply or the employee who handled the cancellation. Hmmmmm.... Bob Hughes

I don't backup using windows systems. I clone (that is make an exact copy of my harddisc) so my current OS and files are saved. At an early age (the1970s) I had it drummed into me that you should always have 3 generations i.e. grandfather,father,son backup at least. To backup I use Easeus Todo backup 10.5.There is a free version but I bought a single user which was not expensive. It runs from my windows 10 desktop and takes about an hour or less to do a 500gGB disc. It will also clone Hard disc to solid state disc. In the event of a problem I simply reach for the last clone and replace my disc. Last problem was the hacked version of CCleaner. I moved back to a clean disc. This assumes you are happy swapping hardiscs that is swapping 2 connectors. You do need to clone frequently! Bob Hughes

(also the very sad tale of King Richard III killing his nephews). Remember history is written by the winners in this case Henry the Tydder (Tudor) if you research this you may find the "tale" is exactly that. We re-buried Richard the Third recently after finding him buried under a car park over an old chapel following his death at Bosworth. Don't believe everything you get told at historic monuments (this includes the local pub) Hope you enjoyed your visit. Bob hughes

Bearing in mind the time of year and no earth about it is a bit early for earthworms and leaves so 2 best guesses are grey squirrels burying goodies (mine are doing just this with peanuts from the nut holders) or starlings looking for leatherjackets (crane fly larvae) by probing with their beaks. Of course it you draw a grid and triangulate you'll probably find they are in line with the nearest standing stones and (other weird theories....)

The answer is yes at least it was for the Crosti 9F I bought off Rails.Had to lengthen the wires to the speaker though. Bob hughes

I read but haven't posted. Just a bit staggered by the geese made me think a bit. (damn early) We often get large skeins (I live under a flyway=migration route) but geese honking to keep formation is a very haunting sound for autumn, just like bumblebees and swallows twittering is summer? Anyway cracking morning here in sunny Golborne makes you feel good. Bob

Earlier walked garden and opened greenhouse doors to minimise potential mould problems after chilly night. Now sat here looking out of window and browsing all things modelling related on forums. I thought to myself it is quite warm this morning and then lots of honking and the first skein of geese flies over southwards! Autumn is here already?? Bob Hughes

I would like to endorse the previous comments. kevin's prices on Zimo decoders are damn good. He has also fitted sound to my Hornby Black 5 and done a decoder fit on a Bachmann split chassis. He is also generous with advice and help - thoroughly recommend Coastal DCC. Anything from wire, decoders to NCE hardware -great prices and first class customer service. Bob Hughes