Ray H

I primarily model in 4mm but have made a few 7mm purchases recently so that I have something to run on our club 7mm layout. The latest purchase is a Derby Lightweight railcar with one piece aluminium roof and body sides. It has cast white metal ends and had been assembled using what looks like a 9mm thick piece of MDF as the floor. The model, probably of some vintage, had been assembled using contact adhesive and what appeared to be numerous coats of paint. The bogies had seen better days. The brass framework is damaged on the unpowered bogie. The motor is hanging loose on the powered bogie, the casting assembly was not square and at least one casting appears to be missing. I'm not a rivet counter but presume there should be some evidence of brake gear which there isn't. I'm reasonably certain that I need to replace the bogies - Easy Build? I'm tempted to replace the cast buffers with spring ones. A few of the underfloor castings appear to damaged. I've stripped the whole thing down and am about to try to rebuild it. It has been suggested that this may be a Westdale model but I can't find their website. Another post on RMweb implies that it may be possible to enhance the model using parts from other suppliers. Can anyone confirm the most likely source of the kit and loan or supply a copy of the build instructions? Without going too mad, what options do I have to improve the kit? I'm not technically minded so almost certainly will not recognise the correct terminology for the parts the kit may need but we can give it a try. Any help/guidance/assistance will be gratefully received. Thanks

I can but echo the other sentiments about your modelling skills Gordon. There are so many layout threads on RMweb and it is impossible to follow everyone - I simply couldn't find the time to do that even if I didn't have a layout that I'm supposed to be building! I've tended to hit on a few threads and regularly read the associated posts partly for the banter but mostly for the excellent modelling that one becomes privileged to see by doing so. Eastwood Town has always been high on the list of "is there an update today" each time I switch the computer on. I truly hope that you've found the formula this time as it must be heartbreaking to get so far advanced in a layout only to decide it isn't going to work. I for one will be with you all the way (via RMweb).

I've still not made up my mind whether I shall be going tomorrow or not but if I do which one of you will be wearing the red carnation so that I can spot you again? This time I may be running light engine so we may get an opportunity to exchange more than the few words we did at Coventry. On the other hand I'm still hoping to get to Peterborough next weekend and I'm not sure whether I can get a pass out for both of them! Enjoy the show if I don't see you there.

I suspect the fact that the layout was a bit good helped towards making the pictures of it stunning!

Glaring omission if I might say so - no optics and no hand pump! How else do you plan to entertain your guests (or aren't you expecting any)? Are you planning to operate points and signals from the throttle control or will there be a small "frame"/switch bank?

I'm a bit concerned about responding to that lest it seems as though we're moaning (nicely) when all we're really trying to show is our support and trust he doesn't over do things. I've been there and done it but like most I doubt it would necessary stop me doing it again even with all the best will in the world. I can see how the health improvement might be related. I suppose it is a bit like when interest in an ongoing project wanes until suddenly something incites a revival and we're off like a Class 1 express train again. Like others I'm a little concerned that Andy's enthusiasm may run away with him and he'll lay himself up again. That said from comments he's made recently he may still not be fully recovered although that could simply be that he needs to rebuild his stamina after his period of inactivity. I'm sure we can all share the frustration he must be feeling. On the brighter side he does seem to recognise when he needs to stop and is so far managing to curtail his enthusiasm. What I think he really needs is a recently finished layout where he can sit and watch trains roll by in between spells of working on another one!

Andy Will you be fitting a CO alarm as well? I wonder if there's any risk of triggering either type of alarm when you're airbrushing and whether the alarms that you can put into quiet mode for a short period - I think they beep at regular intervals to remind you that they're in quiet mode - would be better if you experience problems like that. One observation passed to me when we fitted powder extinguishers to our (now sold) narrowboat. Give them a good shake every few months to stop the powder congealing (or whatever it does when left standing for long periods of time).

Not Andy, when he gets going he's like a rocket propelled dervish. We may be 80 but he'll be double that age even though he's only taken the same time as we have to get to our respective ages. I'm still amazed he hasn't at least put some grass down somewhere in the potting shed. After all, he kept moaning at Mike for not grassing bits of Dent quick enough. He hasn't even weathered the inside of the shed yet and then wasn't the slightest trace of sleeper grime on the drive. He really is slipping.

So will the rest of us especially if it is before page . . . . .(insert number of choice and smiley as required.)

I think you'll find that the static grass applicator is similar to this as I provided Dave with a link thereto a while back. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GJ05-Mini-Flocking-Static-Grass-Applicator-SCENIC-MODELLING-NEW-/111352738515?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item19ed23f2d3

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Any chance you can slow things down just a fraction otherwise there's that risk of you running trains before we reach page 100 in this thread and we can't have that no matter what that Poshname bloke says about his troops wanting holiday.

I was going to ask why you didn't paint it white but then decided against it! Specsavers? Me? T'is sure looking good. I see the weather's going to turn cooler at the weekend so you'll be able to test how good the insulation is.

I bet that filed used a lot of static grass to look like that!

Andy. Thanks for that. I've been thinking about the larger layout space after seeing one of the layouts at Aylesbury yesterday where they could get two VERY long trains one behind the other in the fiddle yard - not that I could do that but I could get another coach or several wagons on quite a few trains. I could also get rid of the 3rd radius curves so I can go for handbuilt track and have proper sidings rather than a traverser which I'm sure is what's bugging my sub conscious and why I'm hardly using the layout - coupled with somehow finding work almost continuously on my colleagues O gauge loco and stock. The track plan would remain more or less as now save that the main line would become double track. But I do plan to take the present layout further forward in the short term. Another reason for thinking about moving is that I gradually seem to be taking over more and more room in the house! The garage is integral to the house and has a radiator with the up & over door both insulated and all but impossible to open.

Good luck today and hope you enjoy your holiday. I'm not sure whether I want you to press on with this or not. I could spend many an hour simply keeping up with your progress at the expense of advancing my layout. There again I might see what a good job (I know) you'll make of it and feel the need to do something about disposing of a load of now unused woodturning kit lying rejected in my garage so that I can emulate you and head for a far bigger space than the 7ft sq. I have for a layout at present.

Isn't there a very thin insulation that looks like bubble wrap between two layers of silver foil? Don't suppose you could have an inner door with an air barrier for insulation?

Before everyone gets too carried away (by the nurse in her . . . . . ) here's a couple of pictures of my access flap. The one above shows the hinge arrangement. Nothing too special except that the hinges are raised off the baseboard level by about 15mm because I made (just short of) the hinge point the end of the scenic section. The flap either needs to be held in the open position or lean slightly back from the vertical. I chose the latter as I have nothing realistic to secure the open flap to. The second shows the underside of the other end of the flap. It sits on the ledge that is screwed to the "fixed" part of the baseboard - it isn't actually fixed in my case but the layout is such a tight fit in the room that it is as good as wedged in place. Please note that the flap is not fully down in the picture above. The lower edge of the vertical face of the aluminium angle mentioned below is resting on the (wooden) ledge that the underside of the flap normally rests on. I've screwed a piece of aluminium angle to the underside of the flap, the vertical part of which is all but in contact with the face of the aforesaid ledge. I then added a couple of side pieces (of aluminium) to the face of the ledge so that the aluminium angle is a cosy fit between them. The track is aligned by virtue of gravity to stop the track on the flap being lower than that on the baseboard. The aluminium angle and side pieces prevent sideways movements. I can always shave the top of the ledge if the track on the flap ever routinely becomes higher than that on the baseboard. The flap is such a tight fit when closed (because the layout as a whole is a tight fit between the walls of the room) that I don't need to be concerned about the gap between the track ends becoming too wide. There are no electrical connections across the flap opening, all the wiring for the track and signals on the flap is at the hinge end. Hope this is of use.

Andy You have to accept that you're not a fraud (even if we all know you are:-)). You are recovering from a medical condition that could have had much worse consequences. I had seven weeks off being a fraud after my heart attack over nine years ago. I'd been working 12+ hour days for several years but I've since learned to accept that even if the risk of a repeat is (hopefully) less now that I have routine checks and am on more pills than you've built layouts, I might not be so lucky next time. I'm amazed that I have found that it is possible to slow down. Take your time now and you (and the rest of us) will be able to get the full amount of enjoyment out of Bitton that only you can deliver. Please.

Could you stand on your head and use your feet to support the ceiling panels. That way you can keep your hands on the deck so they'll be lower than your heart. Only joking of course. We made up a couple of props when we fitted the ceiling to our narrowboat. The were something like pieces of 2x2 with a cross piece of similar cross section but about 2ft long fixed at the top. The cross pieces had a piece of foam atop so that they didn't mark the roof panels - veneered plywood. We were using 9mm ply and the roof had a curve to it. At least yours is flat and the ply only two thirds the weight. Put the props against the wall within arm's reach. Push one edge of the ceiling panel simultaneously against the wall and the roof trusses whilst supporting the opposite edge (but not as high). Get a prop and push it against the underside of the ceiling panel towards the edge that is against the trusses. Hoist the other end upwards and prop that with the second prop facing the opposite way to the first prop. Use a mallet and a block of wood to tease the panel into the corner if required. Screw the panel in place, remove props and repeat as required. You can be the person who has hold of the loose end of the panel which means you can keep your hands lower than you would do if you were supporting the panel direct against the ceiling. Presumably you'll have to have an access point so you can add the last lot of insulation once the rest of the ceiling panels are in place. Do you need to lay the mains wiring in for the lights as you go, even if you don't connect it up. It'll save you having to surface mount the wire on the underside of the panels unless you're planning to have the lights around the edge of the ceiling at the top of the walls whereby running the cabling in trunking at the top of the walls won't look so odd.

Are multiple RCDs a good thing? I'm associated with a boatyard which because of the nearby water element has to be hyper sensitive about the possibility of electricity related problems. There are breakers of all sorts all over the place and in most cases more than one in each circuit installed by the previous owner. We've been told that there should generally only be one breaker on each circuit because although the ratings are the same, each will practically have a different value, even if only minutely so. I forget the reason but this in itself causes a potential problem albeit that it may be more of a nuisance issue than danger related although in the back of mind I think there was a hazard related argument as well.

Is it finished yet?

Only one?

And you frequent the web? A thought on the windows Andy. I believe you're having opening windows. Can you fit a removable (plastic) glazed panel over the whole window frame in the winter but have it either hinged or removable so that you can have some air in the summer? Presumably you'll still be able to reach over any backscene to open the windows. I'd also consider having some form of net screening to go over the door opening to allow you to have the door open and yet keep the insects out during the warmer weather when you may not want the windows open. It will also add a little security because it will be harder for people to see what's going on in the shed when looking down the drive. I like the idea of the flat ceiling. Add a trap door and you could possibly use that area to store you empty stock boxes.

Mike I've done it at last. You were up to page 52 when I started reading through this thread - I'm not a fast reader! It soon went to 53 pages and I've been pacing myself against that number for several days only to find this morning that you'd filled another but I've finally made it so will be watching more routinely henceforth. I have to say that it has been a brilliant story and thread - the layout's not bad either. Thanks.

Look at that driveway, just right for an extension! Bet you've already thought about that. I've got a lot of space outside my railway room. Trouble is it's 8ft off the deck!