Gilbert

Nice one Simon - simple ale will suffice Chris

I needs something substantial - they suggest a 4 axle US diesel in the instructions but even they struggle...we used one at the weekend and an Atlas C425 just about coped but did stall occasionally Chris

I think post #34 may allay our concerns - a Rat expert of my acquaintance has pointed out to me that the chassis photo shows a great big tension lock plugged in to something! Chris

I know I'm playing with fire here but will the model have an NEM or other way of attaching a Kadee wthout butchery - at least at one end? - not everyone's bag I know but I use KDs on my exhibiton layout and would love to have one of these locos. Chris

This Connection is Untrusted You have asked Firefox to connect securely to www.sulzertype2.com, but we can't confirm that your connection is secure. Anybody else had this? Just being cautious...

Can someone post both the Facebook link and a current website - I couldn't find any mention on the link provided above? Thanks in advance..

Great news on the 14 - I have DJH one but that's not going to stop me having another one! Chris

I completely agree - my 40 was a nightmare til a stay alive fit by Digitrains

I hope cleaning does the trick but also check the spring contacts between loco and speaker. I don''t want to be a prophet of doom but I ended up putting a stay alive in mine as none of the above cured the problems I experienced.. Chris

I think this means you have to deal with the metal work on the weight on the chassis for the cables to run through - I have a similar Zimo 03 project which I was going to fit in my 05 but had hoped would be a quick job so was abandoned to the "to do" pile when I came across this problem Chris

I solved the NEM movement problem by friction fitting some appropriately sized strip wood about 7mm long next each side of the pocket - fitted and then removed for a quick coat of matt black before re-fitting. I've attached an end on photo but as it's all black it's pretty useless and the cab obviously came adrift during the photo shoot!

I successfully installed a Lenz Silver plug in Chris

Rob - thanks - It's the Tower/DJH whitemetal starter kit with a few extra hand rails and lamp irons - then painted etc by me with weathering by Fred Lewis. Chris

Almost inevitable I would say....

Few mates over today so we played trains....

Looks like a "rare" item for ebay...

Repairs look impractical - and not a good use of time - I fear a replacement may be due...that is a superb kit so maybe a Mark 2 should emerge...options include the newish Ratio GWR box but the proportions don't look quite right to me. A new build could at least re-use some of the bits I can salvage.. Thanks Chris

Some lessons learnt Don't store 4x2s in the roof of your garage unless the racking is very secure... Don't leave your layout in the garage after a show rather than put it back where it lives with it's lid on... This used to be a rather nice Churchward/Modelex Brass etched Signal Box...on the up side - nothing else appears to be damaged... Chris

Hi Andy My first layout was called Gilbert Junction (USA HO Boston and Maine) hence Gilbert as a name - confusingly I am not Chris Gilbert who also models USA HO...!

Andy Wherever possible I use the 17-20 range in the NEM pockets (particularly locos as you then don't mess with the loco itself should it ever get sold on) - I try to get the face of coupling level with buffer heads - that seems to work and 18s and 19s do for most locos . Stock likewise but one or two of the Bachmann and older Hornby wagons have had the NEM sockets removed and standard KD box couplings added - the clp togther boxes and whisker couplers meet 99% of my needs. Where operation is critical I do remove the NEM pockets and use proper KDs in the boxes - the Presflows are a case in point as the cement terminal is an area of intensive shunting - I've done all 8 of them along with a couple of vans marked up for cement. Dapol stuff has less reliable NEMS and often need a shim of strip styrene inserted along with the coupling to remove any droop. The class 22 needs attention most shows to get the couplers reliable. All kit built stock - Parkside, Chivers etc has boxed KDs planned in during the construction. Chris

Thanks Martin Good question We tend to adjust what we do based on the type and amount of watchers. No sequence but some basic principles. We can operate the Cement works independently most of the time (and believe it or not those two sidings do entertain) but we can exchange Presflos or vans as required with the "mainline" for a bit of interest (except for the last 90 mins on Saturday at Exmoor Rail when the point blade failed) - it's amazing how many younger viewers don't realise the two halves of the layout are directly linked! The layout proper is mainly operated using the good yard - coal, opens, vans etc - we do remove loads when the opportunity allows - and the Squaregrip siding with the loads of steel removed after delivery of the bolsters. The rear siding - the paper mill - should have lots of vans going in and out but the long off stage shunt means we tend to avoid it. The loco etc disappearing under the road bridge and shunting works OK for the other lines but that is just a bit to much of a gap for the paper mill. Through traffic includes a DMU; 64xx with a coach and vans pending arrival of an autocoach; engineering trains including various hoppers I am building for the next 4mm project; a Berry Wiggins tank train for the same project; light engines etc. I obviously take far more stock than I need but hey...it's my trainset... We also try to interact with viewers - I now take a basic Kadee test track and height gauge as we frequently get asked about KDs and one of the team always seems to end up running some sort of DCC advice clinic - so we tend to always go for 3 operators as a minimum as with two "layouts" to operate plus two fiddle yards to manage and the ad hoc clinics we keep quite busy! Chris

Not the best but they give a flavour!

A picture of the whole thing..

A bit of Prestwin action on Pixash at Exmoor Rail yesterday

No reason why not - its completely fictitious anyway! (and Rule 1 applies whatever - it's your trainset...)