tender

You forgot to say 'I want one'

Hi Gordon. The track work as always looks superb. Can I ask if you buy the cork precut to the sizes mentioned or do you cut it down from a sheet? Does the 22mm width allow you to 'pull' it around the shallow curves? Ray.

Hattons showing them as in stock (more than 10) for all (oo scale) versions.

Beware of that continuos loop, you could find production grinds to a halt as you sit there watching the trains go by!

Hi Gordon. I think the reason may be explained in this picture http://www.brilliant-baseboards.co.uk/images/38_BoardJoin03.jpg The longitudinal frames seem to be equally spaced. If the cross members were equally spaced as well only one would line up with the longitudinal frames when joined at 90 degrees. The way they have been spaced ensures 3 of the cross frames line up when joined at 90 degrees ensuring accurate alignment. Ray.

Hi Gordon. I bought some BB's just before the sad loss of Ray Regan, unfortunately I didn't buy enough at the time to complete what i required so they have been sheleved for a time. I've now received a new 1200x600board from the new owner and can confirm that dimensionally they are exactly the same. The only difference is the slotted holes in the cross members. When Ray was providing these they came in a kit complete with 6 MDF joining pads, 2 joining bolts and a tube of 'tightbond' adhesive. You only get the frames now for the price i paid for the kit 2 years ago, so not quite so good value. Ray.

Thanks Martin. Will give this a try later on tonight. Apologies for not posting this question on the Templot forum, but when you see the end result you're after here on RMWeb it's so tempting to take the easy route and ask directly. Ray.

Hi Gordon, Been following your thread with interest over the last year and admire your resolve to get the layout to just how you want it. A quick question, what are you using to generate your track plans in your last few posts. Are these from within Templot? I've been fiddling around with Templot recently to generate a complete layout and would like to post it at some point for comment but when i view the full layout its a mash of track and timbers. You cant really see the flow of the track. Its there a way to trim out the detail so you just get left with a simple line drawing? Ray.

Hi Peter. Just done a quick search for Linka Their website is here: http://www.linkaworld.com/ UK suppliers here: http://www.linkaworld.com/Where%20to%20Buy.htm Don't know how up to date the website is but theirs a 2012 copyright on the webpage so i guess it's not far out. Ray.

Here's a photo of Class 121 (Bubblecar) we picked up at Porthmadog 2012 earlier this year. Fitted a DCC Decoder and played around with the DCC decoder settings to get it to run nicely before fitting the Head/Tail/Interior lighting unit from Black Cat Technology. Polly set it up on 'Avago' for a photo shoot when we noticed a problem, where's 2A80 SOUTHHALL? May be someone reading this can shed (excuse the pun) light on it, or is it just a typo? Ray. Edit: Out of interest the coach number is W55028

Actually it was a Canon 230sx, the 14x relates to the zoom range. The flash doesn't work well close-up neither powerful enough for anything further than a few feet. Other than that it's not a bad camera and small enough to allow you to get in close (with macro focusing). Downloaded the 'hack' firmware for it to give you all the expensive camera options (like focus/exposure stacking )but not had time to really play with it yet. Ray.

Taking shape nicely Peter. I'm tied up with work this weekend so wont be able to get over for a bit to check your progress and pick up some more tips. Been working on my layout plan yesterday but it's become a case of too much track and not enough baseboard. In need of a rethink! Ray.

Hi Peter Been a very useful two evenings watching you get the cork, track and ballast down, you make it look to easy but i'm sure there's more to it than first meets the eye. Got templot up and running on my PC at home now so will transfer my ideas for the new layout to that over the next few evenings so i can get started with the track building. I noticed your using SMP track, is that in preferance to C&L or are they much the same? Maybe see you at the weekend. Ray.

Hi Peter, Wouldn't worry about this length too much. Just got back from Midland Railex where we saw a layout 150 feet long, and that wasn't all of it, N gauge too! But that said, it was in one of the sheds, so you could be right. It's going to need a few operators too with fiddle yards at both ends so could get expensive for some exhibitions.

I bet Wendy is pleased to see you taking over the dining table again!!!!!

Hi Jamie. Thanks for the comments, this and that of others at the exhibition have given me the encouragement to make a start on a new larger layout. New thread to follow when I've thought of a name. I was approached by another club regarding exhibiting AVAGO but he forgot to leave his calling card. Hopefully he will make contact 'here' or via Colwyn MRC.

A few more pictures taken at Colwyn Bay MRE today. Layout received some encouraging comments. The Sentinel performed faultlessly as did the Kadee couplings. Hope some of you can make it tomorrow (Jamie). Ray.

Thanks Peter. Here's the latest picture complete with new lighting unit (and the barge boards that i forgot to fit to the building) Ray.

Hi Michael. Many thanks for your kind comments. I will admit DCC could be considered a bit of an overkill for such a simple layout, but this layout, as well as developing my modelling skills (this is my first layout), is a test bed for a much more complex layout utilising the same NCE mini-panel concept. Been adding a few details to the Metcalfe buldings in the way of gutters, downpipes and ridge tiles piror to it's second exhibiton at Colwyn MRE (nr Llandudno) on the 28/29th. Ray

I tried a few decodes in my brown version before settling on a Lenz Silver+ even then I had to fiddle with the cv's before I got acceptable results. I removed the capacitor (mounted on the side of the motor) but it didn't make any difference. Not tried a sound decoder. Ray.

No. Virtually anything can be fitted with a kadee with a bit ingenuity. I've modified a few pre NEM socket rolling stock to take kadee's without too much trouble.

Hi Jamie. If the wagon/coach has a nem socket I generally use a kadee no. 18 or 19 (mostly 18). If it hasn't then it's' usually a no. 5 plus a bit of fettling and super glue although I've used others if I've seen a relevant post on the net. Look forward to seeing some of your pics. Ray.

Thanks Jamie. Glad you liked it, Kadee's may not be a british prototypical coupling (neither is a Hornby tension lock) but they do work very well and reliable. Next outing is the Colwyn model railway exhibition on the 28/29 July. If you're in the area pop in and say hello.

From the pictures shown on the kernow site it appears that K2105 Dapol 0-4-4 Class O2 Steam Locomotive number 225 in Southern Black livery has the same equipment on the left side (viewed from behind) as K2103 Dapol 0-4-4 Class O2 Steam Locomotive number 30182 in BR Black livery with early emblem and push-pull equipment. Is this the Push/pull equipment and if so does this mean that K2105 (225 in Southern black) will also have push-pull equipment?

Yep, took the body off my class Kernow ltd ed 22 to fit a decoder, you guessed it, the windows fell out. Will phone Kernow in the morning for a replacement. Managed to get the cab out using a fine scalpel blade between the body and the cab so now have the option of adding a crew. Any suggestions for a suitable supplier? What's the best glue for sticking the window back in?