woodyfox

I got fed up waiting for a new peak and...... As good as that 44 looks it might be a while before we get a 45 or 46. Plus, this is a great project with a decent learning experience! I must admit there was a large amount of metal dust and a hot mini-drill when i'd finished. Once i've done this one it might spur me on to do another couple if it works out well. I wouldn't mind a go at a 45/1 with markers and a 46.... Cheers Stu

The speaker comes with a rear case plus 2 shallow and 1 deep mid section parts on a sprue to make up the back box. The ideal is to get as deep a box as possible. This is 2mm scale though! On my HST power cars i managed 1x shallow plus 1x deep and got decent Paxman growls. I measured the speaker and decoder against the peak chassis: And here it is above. I wanted to lay the speaker length ways but it would not squeeze between the roof of the shell and the drive shaft below. My only option is to stand it upright with enough room for the box back, 1x shallow section and the speaker itself. I removed enough chassis material to get this arrangement in. Here's one side done with the other side to compare. A disappointment was the loss of one securing hole out of two so i'll have to make up a spacer for thid end to keep the chassis sides electrically isolated frim each other. On a better note, metal removal was minimal to accommodate the decoder on the other side of the motor housing. And finally here it is done bar the tidying with the speaker box sat in place: One caution i took was to keep the decoder and speaker sealed in the box while grinding and filing as the dust generated would likely play havoc via shorting if i tried to pass current through it all. Next up is reassembly with a meter to check for any short circuits as we go! Cheers Stu

Here's the 45 chassis with enough metal ground out to make sure the brass motor brush holders/contacts are clear from possible shorts: I'm mindful that metal removed = weight lost to the model. Extra weight will be tricky to add back. Here's a before view to show how much has to be hacked away: Space is critical with this conversion and i want to get in as much 'box' as possible for decent sound. Cheers Stu

Hi, I'm currently busy with a few bits in N Gauge that might be interesting to others thinking of modifying RTR and kit type stuff. The main focus at the moment is a conversion of a Farish class 46 in GSYP livery on DC with split live chassis into a class 45 fitted with DCC sound. The subject will be Holbeck based 45038. Sound is via a loksound 5 micro with Legomanbiffo class 45 sound projected through a sugar cube speaker. Here's the de-glazed body shell already re-sprayed in BR blue. This was soaked in a bath of IPA for 24 hours to strip off the old transfers and paint. This is the two sides of the chassis. Some marks have been made for proposed material removal to fit the DCC chip and speaker plus the removal of metal around the motor terminals. Also in view are the slightly modified and repainted bogies and rebuilt battery boxes with added class 45 crosses and lower tanks. The trickiest task will be getting the two chassis halves back together without shorts. There are two securing screws, and two insulating bushes that ideally need to be retained. Also under modification is a rake of 12 Peco tank wagon kits that are being turned into LPG tanks. Lots of moulded material has been removed with some filler needed. I've also added representations of slide doors end ephemera. Cheers Stu

I have achieved decent rough ground results using tiling grout mixed with watery acrylic paint.

Sorry to hear of your woes! I have just gone to DCC in N gauge and I have fitted sound into tiny spaces etc.... with varying success. You shoukd expect some failures on your journey but all you can do is mitigate against it by laying good quality track laid on a solid flat foundation, over engineer the wiring and check and recheck for solid connections, be prepared to spend upfront on quality items - buy the best decoders you can afford and a decent quality DCC system likewise. Run in motor units on DC if possible before converting. Take your time with DCC fitting and research each project prior to starting to build up your confidence. DCC is more vulnerable to 'rough' current supply to microchips with tiny circuits so it's important to try to do everything from the ground upwards to maintain as higher quality of current supply as possible. Good luck and persevere. Cheers Stu

Hi, In June 2022 I purchased a pair of DCC sound chips from DC Kits for an HST project. Due to other issues and priorities, I didn't fit them until around March 2023. One power-car would only move in one direction. I requested guidence from Charlie at DC Kits which was followed with still no joy. I sent the defective chip back without a request for replacement due to me fitting it and the lapsed time to fitting. To my surprise, i received a replacement without question. Excellent service! I'll now be ordering a class 45 chip for my next project. Thanks to DC Kits. I'm just a customer with no other connection. The positive service message needs to be circulated. Regards Stu

I agree with Cypherman. Less is nearly always more. If you look at all the finest layouts in the publuc sphere they have a common thread, the railway just part of the environment. The only time a lot of track appears to be successful in application is where the display has multiple, justifiable levels (Hornsey Broadway springs to mind). But remember it's your work, your hobby and enjoy it as you want to...

Today's YouGov daily poll had two questions. One was 'How much do you enjoy watching model railways running'. Only around 50% responded negatively. Around 35% gave a thumbs up! Random and very positive really! They usually pose deeper questions about politics and current affairs.

You could try a bespoke colour spray paint provider. I found one in the UK that supplied me with BR blue in a rattle can. All they needed was the RAL paint code. IIRC the code for the blue used by BR from 65 to 85 is RAL 5001 or 5010? It cost about 18 UKBP including postage and the spray quality and redition is very good: Here's a close up of an O Gauge 111 dmu i sprayed: Cheers Stu

33s were KA for 33/0 and 33/2 and were standard blue star. 33/1 were KB and had an additional highlevel multiple working jumper for JA workings

Yes there are two powered cars. These have no lighting. They are modified Tomytec chassis with a modified Farish body. I have an issue away from programming! I placed each car on the programming track in turn and gave them an address and set cv 2 to 5 without an issue. As soon as a power car was put on the main track - a 3ft single length of flexible, it showed an overload and was removed. So i've emailed DCKits for advice. The decoder(s) has two red wires and two black wires, and these have been wired to the pickups. A single orange to one motor terminal and the grey to the other. I assumed, in the absense of any instructions, that was what was required and all other coloured wires were for lights (except the pre-wired brown speaker wires...) Hopefully they'll give me some guidance. Thanks for all the advice Cheers Stu

That make sense. Thank you Iain

Hi, I'm just installing Loksound nano decoders into two n gauge HST power cars that will form a complete train. Am i right to believe i can program both decoders at the same time with the same address etc.. on the programming track as they'll always work in tandem together? Cheers Stu

Hi, Here's an off-topic short video of the 124 DMU on test. It's negotiating my minimum 15in radius curves. DCC fitted. The power is under the TSO. Plenty of room for a speaker........ Cheers Stu

Hi, After a brief break to concentrate on building some more stock, it's back to completing Malton. I've built some stock for future and present stuff that (with mild streching of the imagination) looks at home in a 70s Malton station: Here's a class 104 DMU just pulling out of the station on a late morning Scarborough to York train. Rumours are circulating that Midland area crews are getting some summer diagrams to cover holiday trains to the Yorkshire coast. This is reinforced with a sighting of a class 103 DMU on a route learning trip! Another unusual visitor to the line is a 6 car class 124 Transpennine unit. This must be a diversion working from Hull to Liverpool Lime St! Not many buffet services pass through Malton following the withdrawal of the Scarborough Flyer... The rear of the 124 suggests it worked in as the 0910 ex Liverpool Lime St based upon the 1E06 headcode.. The above area of the station will be tackled next. This is the construction of the train shed over the old Whitby bay platform. One more usual visitor is a 3 car Calder Valley 110 DMU on the 2L59 Leeds - Scarborough stopper: Cheers Stu

Try a 3mm bead designed for card crafting. They can also be used as roof vents on other projects.

Hi, Does anyone have any information on the bullion trains that used to run from Southampton Docks into London? Fellas at my old depot used to talk of working them with police escorts in the cab and on bridges. The signals en route apparently had to be cleared well in advance barring an emergency to avoid stops. I can remember two mk1 bullion coaches sat in Clapham Yd in the late 80s. Did the trains run from any other ports? I think they finished running in the early to mid 80s but as it was a pretty secretive operation i assume there's little information or images available? Oh by the way, the train conveyed gold bars into the Bank of England i believe. Cheers Stu

I remember a scrap metal operation at Willesden (upside near Mitre Bridge. I'm sure there was an oil terminal at Upper Holloway too.

Barkeepers Friend scouring powder will bring it back. Use a dab of water on a toothbrush after dusting the model with the powder. Just rinse off and paint. It leaves no residue. Cheers

Hi, The ground area around the station approach is progressing well. The Scarborough end now has greenery and the whole area has been textured and painted using the tile grout, water and paint mix. The plant life is a mix of 2mm winter static grass, 7mm autumn static grass and some pulverised leaves out of the garden. The Scarborough end was particularly 'industrially grotty' prior to demolition and its reproduction continues. The final image shows the smoother and neater tarmac area in front of the station entrance. This was achieved using a grout mix with a much runnier texture. Cheers Stu

Hi, Work is continuing on the frontage with some groundwork preparation of the approach area being done. I've also added a small garden area to the York side of the SM's house. I have a couple of images from the 70s which intimates a garden was here with a low wall and some substantial fir trees. I have no other angles showing this view from the yard side so this is a guesstimate. The station approach was pretty much a mixed expanse of tarmac, compacted ash and gravel with odd concrete patches. The various squares of foam and card have been stuck down approximately where they are shown on a couple of images. This area has been completely reworked since the mid 80s. The ground will now be built up with applications of a paste mixed from grey paint, water and grout and overlaid with grits where appropriate. The whole thing will then be airbrushed with varying shades of grey with botanical stuff added lastly. Cheers Stu

Hi, The overall roof is now complete bar a bit of weathering and is ready to place once some end girder supports are fitted and some other paint related jobs that will be impossible once the roof is on. I also have to consider how to keep the down line clean under the roof area. Once the roof is all done, the board will be turned and the station front and approach will be completed. Cheers Stu

When i scrarchbuilt Malton Station in 2mm i colllected images and used known measures for scaling using the adage that if it looks right it is right. Try to use stuff like doors, cycles, people, brick counting, seats and cars. I estimated the height of Malton Stn cafe by finding out how high the roof was on a Talbot Horizon car as i had a square on image with the car right in front of the building. Cheers Stu

Gunpowder