BRealistic

The news I've been longing to hear! Thanks Dave... I'll be phoning my local shop tomorrow to remind them my name's on one of them. Yipppeee!!!!

While you're there, Dave, any idea when the maroons will be arriving at a shop near me... where my name's on one!

Cheers Brian, and thanks yet again for your help. I especially like the Laira one, with exactly the right wagon and it's loco sand as well! Never heard of Margam so will do a google to find out more. Must find out whether I can get some 'return to' transfers! There are none on the 3 wagons I've got.

Interesting 'snippits' there, Brian. The sand getting everywhere... covering the sleepers, and the idea of using that insulation board for the loads. I'll be needing some of that to 'insulate' my metal up'n'over garage door so I'll more than likely give it a try.

Three great replies, guys! Thanks everso. I now know all I need to know to sort my 3 out... but it could be quite a challenge creating realistic-looking heaps of sand!

I should have asked... can you recall what colour the sand was? and the colour of loco sand, if anyone can recall seeing some back in the days of steam. Silver -grey, maybe... or yellow or golden???

Thankyou John. Sounds easy peasy... but is it??!!

What set me back a little, John, was that the chap called Bruce had to 'do something' to the PSX (as delivered) to make it 'work properly'. Not just adding a manual reset button (how he did it, I don't know!) but recommending, too, that a couple of pins are 'jumpered' to activate the 'low power booster programme'. Double Dutch to me, I'm afraid!

You think you've got it sussed, feel good inside, have a little surf to 'double check' (not that I disbelieve anything said here!), and find some info that causes confusion! What do you (experienced) guys think of this 'statement'made only a month or so ago on a US site... http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/nce/101.htm How about a circuit protector for my PowerCab? NCE designed the CP-6 set of bulbs as a way to isolate sections of your layout with the PowerCab. This works, but lacks elegance. Bruce tried the PSx series of circuit breakers and found that they would NOT work as delivered, even with the jumpers set (as discussed above) for 1.27 amps. The PSx tripped before the PowerCab, but then when it auto reset, the PowerCab shut down. SO, Bruce tried adding the manual reset push button (a normally closed push button across J7 pin 1 and J7 pin 2). IT WORKS! A short on the layout trips the PSx. Clearing the short and pressing the button caused Bruce's Tsunami equipped loco to pick up where it left off motion, sound and light wise! Bruce recommends jumpering J7 Pin 3 to J7 Pin 4 to activate the low power booster program within the PSx. Feb 2013

That's so helpful, Ian. Thanks everso. Not sure I'll be splitting the layout into sections as I reckon I'll be the only one ever to use it... with just the one powercab! I take it the circuit breaker should be 'inserted' between the powercab and the 'bus wires'(2, in T formation)? Oh, Chris's comment is telling me what I should be doing... reading the NCE instructionns!!!! Now isn't that a good idea! I only read as much as I needed to get started with the test track! Cheers guys. At least one PSX-1 is on my shopping list!

I'd be so obliged if someone could explain why/when and how circuit breakers are needed to protect a powercab? Don't think I've come across this requirement in all I've been reading about starting with DCC. Just to explain, I'm an 'electrical illiterate'... and have a powercab which, for the moment, I use only to feed an oval test track (OO code 75). In time, my 'proper(continuous, in the garage)layout' will come. It'll have 19 turnouts (to be switched manually, with those juicers being used to sort polarity) on the scenic side and doubtless half a dozen or so in a fiddle yard, and it's not occurred to me that I should be introducing circuit breakers somewhere 'along the line'! Ignorance can be bliss... but I'd hate to think I could put my powercab at risk!! To say the least, any guidance would be most gratefully received!

Hi Clive So diesels and electrics have sand boxes too... I'm learning new stuff every day! Me, I'm an old-timer addicted to WR steam circa 1960, although having said that, I've not been able to resist getting a Dapol Western! Cheers for bringing me up to date!

I see it, Brian, and have used Google maps to get a closer view. I've also discovered you can buy kits of Sand Houses 'with chimney attached'... not that I'll be doing that, but now I have an idea of what a small one would look like, if I decide to do something freelance. I presume the chimney at Canton was taken down after it became redundant? Oh, and thanks Signal Engineer for that observation. Can you recall whether or not they were sheeted over?

That's so, so, helpful Brian and Brian. Just before starting the topic, I visited Paul Bartlett's site but I have to admit I missed the sheeted example... and there's clearly 3 heaps hidden beneath... which I think adds a little interest to a load compared to a single, 'levelling-off' mound. Great, too, to have a 'siting' close to a shed... and if there was an oven for drying, where would it have located, inside or out? Might be some modelling potential, here, although I haven't the faintest idea what they would look like! Thanks again, guys. Yet again RMwebbers come up trumps!! PS. A bit on the large size for my layout, but just found this example at Bourneville! (about two thirds down the page) http://www.photobydjnorton.com/BournvilleShed.html

I can’t resist a bargain, and at £4.25 each, I couldn’t stop myself from buying the last 3 Bachmann 13t low-sided Sand Wagons from my local shop. That was easy, but finding out about their usage has been the opposite! Haven’t been able to find a single pic showing one that’s loaded… as that’s what I want to do… create authentic-looking loads. I’m guessing chutes were used at source, and that, maybe, this would result in at least 2 (merging) heaps?? I’ve come across pix of longer wheelbase wagons with 3 heaps… but that’s all (I'm modelling early 60s). Also, even though I understand they’re ‘tipplers’, could such wagons have been used to transport loco sand, as I fancy the idea of ‘posing’ a half-empty one near my loco shed! In this scenario, would the sand have been a particular type/colour?

Thanks for that, Andy. One to consider, I think, although I stiil want to find out more about the Lenz make and am hoping to gather a bit more info!

Is that the 36-554 one, Andy? Just looked it up, and the description reminded me... I do want to be able to 'double-head'! I think the word that's used is 'consisting'?? Seemed from the description, this wasn't possible with 36-554.

When my maroon one arrives I shall be venturing into the 'unknown' (as far as I'm concerned) and fitting my first loco decoder! It wouldn't have to have all the bells and whistles as I'm not interested in sound or pc/laptop operation... just nice smooth starts and stops! I've gained the impression that Lenz decoders are excellent and reasonably priced... so could one of theirs fit the bill?... and if so, which one? The standard+ maybe? I have a powercab if that makes a difference. Thanks, as always, for ANY advice!

My name's on a maroon one that my local shop is getting. I'm worried they might forget to call me and sell it to someone elase (well, you would be wouldn't you!) so It would be nice to know when arrival's likely so I can give them a timely reminder. Any ideas Dave??

I haven't been following this thread for a while, but has there been any news of the maroon's arrival date?

Is there a particular reason why tenders of all sorts AREN'T sold as separate models? I simply don't like the look of the double-chimney, so I'm waiting for a single chimney, late crest variation before I buy. Might not live long enough!!! (I wasn't modelling when the Steam version was around)

Michael I knew I’d come across this before… and found it on page 21 of Modern Railways Pictorial.. Profile 12 The ‘Warships’ ... a photo of that same engine (D845 Sprightly - taken on 26 June 1963) with that very same warning panel. The description reads “Before the decision to apply yellow warning panels to all locomotives, a number of experiments were carried out on BR Regions. In 1962, the WR outshopped No. D845 Sprightly with a small yellow surround to its headcode box and a grey cab roof” The Profile 12 edition came out Feb-Apr 1986… and cost £1.25! Cheers

Great stuff, Gwiwer, and thanks for giving me the confidence to 'have a go' myself (on an engine, I mean)... which I will do once I've finished another batch of 16t rust buckets, using enamels first, then powders. Must add, though, I do like the way you treat your track and ballast. Personally can't stand the 'spray the lot' approach which merges everything together leaving little variation.

Know what you mean about Newton... and it's not 'in the bowels of the earth' either. I'm a Brummie, but live near Newton now, and I could do all the 'popping down the road' for you!!!!

My wife asked "Why on earth did they paint it beige?" !!!!!!!