happyChappy

Ok thanks. It's just that the chassis looks like it may be very useful for a multitude of applications depending on the dimensions. Guess we'll just have to be patient until 'Rusty' arrives.

Hello Kelly, This maybe a (very) long shot as your original post was so long ago, but did you, (or anyone else out there for that matter?), ever get any further with this search for a reasonably close representation of a Ruston 44/48HP loco? Like you, I'm hoping to create a reasonable 009 model of 'Trumpton', the Ruston 44/48HP loco used as the fire loco at Chilmark /Dinton. HC

Sounds like you must have some idea of the chassis dimensions involved if you're planning a 3D printed conversion for an approximate 'Midlander'. Any information available on these dimensions?

Looks interesting and would make a great basis for conversion to the 'fire' engine loco that operated at MOD Chilmark/Dinton. I wonder what the price will be by the time it makes it's way across the Atlantic. Thanks for the link. HC

What I love about narrow gauge is the need to use our creativity to produce the 'atmosphere' of our chosen theme, (whatever that might be). Some folk prefer an exact prototype to work towards, and that's absolutely fine by me, but I prefer to work with my own vision of what looks and feels 'right'. Who could not be enchanted by Nile's 'Scarside' elsewhere on this forum yet no prototype exists? Narrow gauge provides an ideal near blank canvas to use our imagination. HC

Thanks for the images which, I agree, look great. Although I'm really a diesel man I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze in a 'heritage day operation' as an excuse for one of these. I'm hoping the chassis, (minus connecting rods etc.), will also provide great scope as a diesel chassis - if I can bring myself to sacrifice such a good looking loco. Lets hope it runs as good as it looks. HC

Hi Nile. You certainly inspire. Having seen you use the Peco riverscape backscenes so effectively on Scarside. Like you, I've adapted them to represent wooded hills. I'm still undecided on the choice of board to glue them to as it needs to curve in a lazy 'S' shape. I'm now after yet more info - this time regarding what you use for ballast. It looks quite fine but to my eye it seems to fit with scale of the track perfectly. H

A superb fleet and a real credit to you. On a personal note no. 2 is my personal favourite but all 4 are really stunning examples of the best of 009. Cant' wait to see what you manage to achieve with the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet when they're available. HC

That backscene looks just right and really sets the scene. My Wiltshire based RAF bomb store plan needs wooded hills as the backdrop but I wasn't aware Peco had introduced a new backscene range which should fit the my needs perfectly. Thanks for your update. HC

I couldn't decide where to put uncoupling magnets prior to tracklaying so still need to install them now that track is down and I've worked out where they should be. I've been concerned how this will look but your retro-fitted magnet is completely invisible so I'm more encouraged having seen it. Is it a Greenwich magnet or an alternative? Regards HC

Thanks for yet another idea - just shows the value of this forum for lateral thinking! Unfortunately, removing the existing Roco coupling leaves a vacant space in the buffer beam so there is nothing to glue the long bar onto. I've ordered the CPL3 couplings so when they arrive will try filling the gap with an NEM pocket and then use the CPL3. In the past I've had fun fitting Kadee couplings to 00 rolling stock which were not NEM compatible so it feels like 'here we go again'.

Thanks for your reply cnw6847. I didn't realise that there are different types of Greenwich couplings available so I'll order some and give them a try. Still struggling with the Roco chassis though. I've tried prising open the coupling retaining metal 'tabs' and removing the whole coupling assembly but this results in a rather large void which makes fitting the replacement Greenwich coupling difficult /impossible. Now I'm aware of the NEM compatible Greenwich coupling I'll investigate if it's possible to fit a Peco NEM pocket into the void and then fit the NEM Greenwich variant into this. Any help or comments will be appreciated. HappyC

Having recently returned to 009 I am impressed by the Greenwich couplings which seem to operate very well. I've managed to fit Greenwich couplings very successfully to my Minitrains diesels but am interested to understand how to fit them to the Roco diesel chassis (non-NEM ) and also what to do to fit them into the NEM sockets on Peco stock. Any help would be greatly appreciated. HappyC

Hi Kelly. Long time maybe since this was posted but I'm interested in the arrangements at Dinton, (next door to Chilmark), and wondered if you have any further info, (perhaps photos), regarding the transhipment arrangements at either site. Hope you can help. HappyC

Very nice. So where did you get the 'Bombs' from?. They're just what I'm looking for. Also interested in what chassis your Ruston body is sitting upon? HC

I may be wrong - only Joe can answer your question for sure but I think the book in question is 'Disasters Underground' by N J McCamley. Certainly the above photos appear in this book and the Fauld disaster is covered in great detail.

Thanks to both of you for your replies - 1) not yet a member of the 009 society but seriously considering it with what you say, 009 micro modeller 2) have looked at Shapeways site previously but most 'bombs' seem to be significantly smaller scale than '00'. Can you identify the actual items you've found useful, Joe?

Hi Joe, Good luck with your plans. All this 009 stuff coming along in the not too distant future has triggered my interest in a MOD supply depot too. I'm planning to base a micro layout on the RAF Dinton (Wiltshire) depot which was used for RAF bomb storage until as late as 1992 and had an extensive narrow gauge system. I've already built a couple of bogie flat-bed wagons utilising Peco 009 wagon bogies as these appear to be the main rolling stock type used in later years but will need to load them with some sort of 'bombs' like those in your photos. I've got hold of an Airfix RAF bomber re-supply kit which has a number of useful-looking 'bombs' included but, unfortunately, not that many. I wondered if anyone on here knows of a source of 00 scale 'bombs' which might be suitable and are not too expensive? Happy C

Hi bigherb, That's a totally new reference that I've not heard of before so thanks for that. When you say in your post RAF Denton do you mean Dinton? Anyway a new avenue to explore methinks! Regards, HC

Layout's looking excellent especially with the Sentinel in residence. On that note - there's nothing inherently wrong with the Sentinels, I've got 5 all operating on DC which are now all excellent, slow-speed, performers. However, only 2 were perfect when new (coincidently both are the Balfour Beatty version). The others all needed the pick-ups tweaking to ensure full 4 wheel contact. The outside cranked version needed the wheelsets reset to set the quartering correctly and a 'sticky starter' NCB version was rectified by clearing all the thick grease out of the gears just like Chris found. I'd persevere with your MSC Sentinel or, if it's fairly new, return it to the supplier for replacement. Regards, HC

Hello Natalie, If you can cast your mind back to 2012 I'd very much appreciate it. You mention in your post on the Dinton MoD site topic that you have obtained plans of the military land from the National Archives at Kew which show the narrow gauge systems. I'm researching the old Dinton site (now called the Dinton Business Park) and applied to the National Archives at Kew for any plans etc. The reply has been negative in that they say no plans exist so I'm intrigued by your reference in 2012 to the plans being obtained. Any chance of seeing what info you have available? Thanks in anticipation. HappyChappy

I would say white spirit is definitely a good option for removing any of the fine printed detail, including the number and the blue diagonal lines, on the cab-side of the BSC Janus. Maybe because the background colour is white the background appears unaffected by the 'white' spirit. I didn't rub the surface at all - just got a bit of white spirit on the printed detail by mistake. Try using a white spirit soaked cotton bud on the number you want to change. Hope this helps. HC

A note of caution regarding the fine printing on the BSC version. I picked mine up by the cab sides but, unfortunately, with a small amount of white spirit on my thumb. Within seconds the fine print details had started to dissolve and come off the surface. So beware and keep any solvents or cleaners well away from this model. I'm somewhat surprised as I know only too well how difficult it can be to remove logos etc. from Hornby models. PS. Anyone have a spare BSC version cab for sale? HC

So there are variants with twin flywheels? Previous posts suggested only ever one flywheel. I wonder if some of these random variations will be sorted in future versions?