Gilbert

Modelu are now located not too far from the Forest..maybe we could look forward to some authentic sheep and even a few wild boar?

https://sdjr.co.uk/

23 hours ago, Dagworth said:

To add to this I'm also getting failures around the frog area where the original frog wire is now only making contact with one of the frog rails, leaving the rest of the frog dead. More jump wires...

 

Andi  

Funnily enough a friend had exactly the same issue with a Code 83 turnout and we added a new dropper...

I've had good communications and service both warranty and paid for. Certainly better than some others.

Chris

8 hours ago, Dagworth said:

I’ve been having a lot of trouble with the points on Ravensclyffe when I finally put the whole layout together after a long period. I should say initially that the layout lives in its transport cases in the garage. Normally I bring individual boards into the house to work on. All the points are electrofrog and have the normally recommended mods done to bond stock rails to switch rails, with frogs then switched by either the Tortoise inbuilt switches, Peco switches under point motors or by the relay that throws the Peco motors in some places. I’ve had issues with frogs switching correctly but I’ve had massive issues with dead switch blades. I don’t expect the little tongue contacts below the switch blades to be reliable but I didn’t expect the hinges to lose contact entirely.  I’m getting the same problem on both code 75 and code 100. I’m now starting a rolling program of fitting jump wires from the hinged blade to the fixed part of the switch rail. The wire I’m using is plain copper 7/0.2 stripped out of the insulation. (I may switch to a thinner wire in some places that are more visible) I’m leaving three or four centimetres of wire between the solder points to allow plenty of length for the minimal flex that is needed. Once painted track grot colour the wires disappear at “normal viewing distance”. On the scenic parts I’m making sure that the wires are as close to the sleepers as I can but in the fiddle yard I’m not too worried. Likewise in the fiddle yard the stock rail bonding is above the sleepers as it was a later addition! 
 

 

Has anyone else experienced this problem and if so how have you dealt with it? 
 

Andi

I'm part of a group with an HO layout where we use this type of Peco point in the Fiddle yard and we've been modifying below the track prior to installation. I had the same issue on 7mm points on Bakewell Street which being one sided viewing was easy to fix using your method.

Chris

34 minutes ago, meatloaf said:

Ive rechecked and they do seem to be metal, sorry for any confusion

Phew!

Have we established if the wheels are actually the ones fitted by Bachmann?

Strange things happen... a new in box wagon I looked at a for sale at a local show a few years ago had Kadee couplers fitted in the NEM pockets....

1 minute ago, andyman7 said:

Hey, they're all toys. The super detail Hornby and Bachmann ones are the best detailed and running but you will struggle to get one at under £50 secondhand, and be prepared for footsteps or bits to have been broken off. The Lima and Wrenn (ex Hornby Dublo) ones are cruder, but it is possible to glaze the windows and make decent models (which is after all what we did before box-opening perfection served on a plate became the norm...!). Of the two, the Wrenn has the better engineered mechanism but both can be had for £30 or less with a bit of searching.

From my experience I would suggest the Bachmann version is more "robust"..

2 minutes ago, 9C85 said:

I wasn't quite happy with the light as I thought it didn't look quite right and had a few 'light leaks '.

So this evening I contacted traintech and asked for some advice.  I tried refitting the front plate  ( with the apertures for the lights) but my clumsy gluing resulted in me melting the plastic of the plate.  I contacted Traintech to ask if I could get some more plates, and within half an hour I got this response...

 Absolutely fantastic customer service.  I will get the remainder of my signalsfrom Traintech 

Great stuff - and what a contrast with some suppliers....across the whole hobby - I have little experience of signal suppliers but poor experience of the highest order from some....but also great help from others.

Chris

Cheers again - rang up and was all very easy.

Chris

3 hours ago, rockershovel said:

There are now at least two threads about lockdown-specific projects, and am I alone in feeling that the names show a certain lack of sparkle?

 

 

I thought "Lockdown Fen" had quite a nice ring to it...J70s will actually be the main roster but J72 and J15 plus some early green diesels will also appear. Apart from the panorama they are all "work in progress".

After a long and inconclusive web search I wondered if anyone here can help.

Is anyone familiar with current car parking and access at Bristol Temple Meads.

Its not what I normally do but I need to park  in the long stay.

Is the entrance  still through the gateway via Station approach and are there any roadworks on Temple Gate limiting access?

Grateful for any advice or information.

Chris

Worth keeping an eye on these as well.

http://www.contikits.com/US HO.htm

5 minutes ago, Giles said:

A slight deviation....... my layout live in my house - I'm not sure how I would feel about returning a layout breathed and sneezed on (I exaggerate!) by several thousand people after an exhibition into my front room if Covid was still prevalent . It doesn't seem awfully sensible. (And no, I don't have options of quarantining it anywhere.) 

 

But likewise, working an exhibition of masked-up exhibitors and punters with social distancing doesn't sound fun in the first place.

I completely agree and it sadly illustrates that the more this is thought through the more concerns or risks are identified...

Chris

1 hour ago, 009 micro modeller said:

 

Wasn’t this featured in the G0G Gazette?

 

On a slightly related note, how do people in G0G generally view micro/small layouts?

They have published a number of books on the subject - one very recently and the old one used to be a free download IIRC

They are on number 3

Chris

5 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

Funny how folks come out of the woodwork and start arguing, nothing else better to do or just a typical RMweb trait?

 

If we are going to drag chums into the issue in order to prove a point, Neil K* found the problem of anodised aluminium and as I bought it from B&Q, then it is safe to call it as such.

 

So let's have a little less negativity and a little more understanding that there may be some background to the problem, OK?

 

*He also replaced the duff cassettes with brass versions, is that OK with you?

 

Cheers and Stay Safe

 

 

 

 

Not negativity and not worthy of your response. Your statement was unequivocal and wrong.

13 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

Sorry but B&Q Aluminium is anodised and does not conduct.
 

 

No one has told my aluminium....all from B&Q and used for 4mm and 7mm...

I've just had this back from Digitrains - no details or weathering yet.

Renumbered as 70022 for the day! Diesel is for the power on the Mk2s - I'm told...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/646778685374576/

Some inspiration for you...

Just now, Graham456 said:

 

You could also make everyone buy a box of Peco streamline track as they enter, to be swung around your head as you walk around.this will ensure distancing along with the stink and bags and also help a British supplier in these difficult times

I get the impression Peco will do just fine....rumour has it they are using every available space at Beer to meet the demand for their projects

I can't say what they've done is an improvement. The original gate and posts were iconic...and I'm sure could have been retained and achieved the necessary paths etc.

Not a preserved line but a rail tour earlier today. Royal Scot heads from Bristol to Kingswear.