AJon30

Yes that's a DC board for servo's with all the gongs & whistles. a DCC board would be much simpler for the same track layout. On Questa we fitted (as it uses Peco points and solenoids) matching pairs of push-buttons on the front and back so that it can be operated from the rear when at shows and from the front when its up in the club room. As all the switches are on the 2 centre boards its not a great distance to move to operate. Each switch is labelled F = Front & B = Back as that is the easiest way to determine routing. Rgds Andrew

I used perspex as well but mounted the diagram on the back, which stops it getting stained etc. I worked out the position of switches, lights and wiring, by printing a copy out, then looking at the size of switches etc I moved the holes around until everything fitted neatly, then used a sacrificial copy of the print-out to get the correct positions for the holes. Then attached the paper copy and it was a simple matter the cut out the holes through the paper to mount the switches etc. Obviously this one is much more complex than I think you are looking at. Rgds Andrew

Just thinking off the top of my head, seeing as you have a quantity of relays, would it not be possible to have both options - a local point switch and also a control panel. using momentary switches? As I said I have both types and the downside of a single control panel is you have to keep going back to it when you are involved in switching, yet you have to walk round the room setting switches if you wish to run a train a distance? Rgds Andrew PS you have probably answered that with small groups of switch controls

PS Of course that then begs the question, are you going to have a central control panel, or individual switches by the points? Both have there good and bad points. Rgds Andrew

Personally I think the separation of point control from the DCC handset is the way to go. I'm never very impressed when I see layouts being operated with everything through a DCC handset or Iphone etc. There seems to be a considerable amount of button pushing for a simple exercise like changing a point (switch). The Frog juicers problem was one I I had thought about as potentially causing more problems than it solved. I think the maxim KISS comes in here. Happy Christmas Chaz Rgds Andrew

Hello John. Who supplied the Zimo decode with Paul Chetters sound files? Thanks Rgds Andrew

I have a couple of Tortoises that are spare you can have, as I am standardising on servo's for future projects. Send me a PM Rgds Andrew

Chaz, looking forward to seeing all those kits built! Rgds Andrew

Hi. Majestic models did a white metal kit of the original brake van. Must admit i did like the picture of the rebuilt version. Good luck with the build

I used some plastic kits from Ameri-towne, ideal for kit bashing Rgds Andrew

Thanks Chas When I was looking at the buildings for Questa I kept thinking they were too large when compared with rolling stock. I had to keep bringing out the standard gauge wagons to get the right size. As it is I think some of the buildings are on the small size but they feel better in the limited space of the layout. The warehouse was a K-line clip together kit that was butchered into something more useful. These kits appear to be to a slightly smaller 1:50? scale. Looking at it now I wish I had gone for a taller building. Rgds Andrew

If I can hijack the thread for a mo, on Questa I have a short section of standard gauge track (old Triang Big Big track which is a good representation of spiked track) with a tank & stock car on it. It is useful for explaining to visitors that this is a narrow gauge railroad and show them the difference between standard gauge and narrow gauge, otherwise I am sure they are not certain what they are looking at (judging from the comments I hear). Obviously this is not important on the Furness Valley as being a home layout anyone lucky enough to visit will know exactly what they are seeing. Rgds Andrew

Ref the Austerity with the "incorrect" air pump. I am a member of the Luton group that was at Gifford Street on Sunday for our final outing (thanks John) The Austerity mentioned is a club "heirloom" having been passed down from modellers sadly no longer with us. It ran in its original style as a WD liveried loco (which would be correct with the pump). However once the layout that it ran on no longer exists it was just packed away. The Group thought long and hard about repainting into BR livery but felt that as we could run it on our new Club layout "Central Works" and give pleasure to visitors to model railway shows we would accept any minor inconsistency. The loco was duly painted by Dave Coasby and David L.O. Smith passed his magic fingers over it to make it run smoothly and we are very pleased with it. So that is our position and we make no apologies for that. Rgds Andrew Jones / Luton MRC

The ejector & pipes come off quite easily, you are left with mouldings on the boiler side and smokebox that will need removing with a sharp scaple and then wet 7 dry to get the shape back. The operating rod has a bracket half way along needs to come out. There are 2 small holes, one in the tank top and one in the boiler that will need filling. Then you will need new handrail knobs and and rod, the 2 existing holes in the smoke box could be re-used (depending on the size of handrail knobs you can get it may be better to replace both sides).. Also looking at the sandbox filler moulding. Once the body is separated from the chassis there are 2 small U shaped covers inside the tank that come of quite easily. If you CAREFULLY drill through the bottom of the footplate (metal), there will some edges of the moulding left VERY CAREFULLY with a small file you can remove the remnants of the moulding going through the keyhole, but be careful as it is easily to clip the edge (plastic) of the tank. Once the footplate is smooth the U shaped cover can be glued back. There are 2 locating lugs on the bottom of the cover, I found that, in the limited space available I could not get the lugs back in, so I removed them and glued the covers to the tank sides. If you have nicked the side tanks, then this cover will give you the shape to use to add a little bit of filler to get the shape back If I get chance to move this on I will post some photo's later.

I suppose one way would be to drill up through the footplate and try and take out all of the moulding leaving a round hole? What we need is a close-up picture of the "keyhole" and the inner footplate. Rgds Andrew

Its a shame it a rather obvious (in the right light) hole Not sure you can get into that part of the body to do anything about it Rgds Andrew

Mine is on its way for Monday Having been slightly caught out by buying a DCC/Sound factory fitted version of the 08 I have elected to go for the DC version. Who would be best for the sound decoder for the Jinty? Thanks Andrew

This suggestion from a Model Railroader discussion site. Don't know of a prototype Rgds Andrew

Have you got space for this? (Runs for cover.......) Rgds Andrew

EDM produce a brass kit for switcher/stepboard pilot front for BLI C16 & the Bachmann 2-6-0 which included a working Kadee coupling. Currently shown as sold out on his web page but might produce some more if asked? http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/EDM_Models/edm_details.htm Rgds Andrew

Hello Nigel. As you well know Dockslands in a DCC East end docks layout that I am building. How's the garden rallway coming along? Rgds Andrew

Hello all. Just some minor touching up since SW Herts show. Off the Isle of Wight this weekend for the Sandown Railway Enthusiasts Club show. Rgds Andrew

Hello John Thanks for your nice comment on my layout. I passed your regards on to Mick and the rest of the guy's down the club on Tuesday night. If you don't mind me hijacking the thread slightly, as you mentioned in the beginning your plan was based on the one drawn up by Alistair George (sadly no longer with us). His layout did feature in BRM and i have a copy of the original track diagram that appeared in that article, which I hope you don't mind I will post below. Swansea Riverside now lives in the West Country but made an welcome appearance at our O gauge show we held in Hitchin last weekend. Rgds Andrew Jones / Luon MRC

Thanks Jetmorgan That was the 19ft version (shame with all their space they could easily have had the long one!) Glad you liked it. Part of the joy of exhibiting is the exchange of idea's and different ways of doing things - I spent a long time looking before starting the SHLR - not everything has worked out but I am pleased how it has turned out. Other projects - don't get me started on my list! Rgds Andrew

Gosh, where does the time go? Last time I posted was after the GOG show at Kettering. the next few weekends were helping ot with other layouts at the East Anglain show, Nottingham and Ally Pally. Unfortunately at Ally Pally I started to develope a very painful ankle. I struggled on as I was showing at Beacon Rail, Pitstone, but then ended up in hospital, which meant I had to cancel my showing at TrainWest, which I was really annoyed about. On the mend now, showed the short version at our O gauge show in Hitchin (filling in for a layout taht dropped out) and yesteday in Farnham. So not a lot done to the layout (or other modelling activities) however I have fitted a lock to the sector plate which makes it easier to align. Here are some shots from yesterday, with Ruth - the irish 0-4-2T - the Tram engine - re-motored LIMA power bogie - and Queen Mary shunting the coal yard. This weekend out at South West Herts show in Watford. Rgds Andrew