hayfield

Another useful item on the printer which is also very useful to non plug track builders Part two of 3 jigs to easily and quickly form switch rails. The first jig was for switch rail backs, this second one is for the front of the left hand switch rail. This is a very clever design which maintains the foot of the rail but allows the head to be correctly formed

Thanks, on my to do/buy/obtain list is a large jar for this purpose. I have been warned

Another rail filing jig being printed and in my opinion the best/most useful in the range This is an A switch front left side, which easily allows the user to form the inside part of the left hand switch rail. Takes 5.75 hours to print and only costs about a £ in filament, the bonus is its reusable

Perfect check list/ introduction / instructions to resin printing Thank you

Keith Perhaps a greenhouse seed tray heat map might help, they are cheap to both buy and run. But this time of year the garage is not the best of environments for resin printing

Phase 2 of 3D track building about to commence The printer is now unpacked and the basic set up has been completed, a couple of things to do and get before I start printing. But thankfully I have been supplied with a test file to get me going by Martin, then its simply learn how the print process works Then understand better how to make the print files, unlike the FDM printing the print time is only half an hour or so, but it needs both rigorous cleaning and then fixing under UV light

I thought I set it up via Facebook, but in the past they have sent emails, then just stopped sending them. How do they expect people to take part in them when they don't tell anyone ?

Chas You are spot on, you can save time listing by being both organized and reusing previous selling templates or saved templates. Also don't be greedy both with prices or numbers of items being sold as packing takes up time. Best of all recycling unwanted items both helps others out and generates funds. Little and often may be better all round

I went to the Post office on Monday at our local CooP, my wife had been in the shop earlier and stated I would be in there for hours as there was a large queue. Well there was a large queue and only 2 serving probably 6 others in front of me, thankfully there was no one with lots of parcels or banking large sums. In and out within 10 mins, I have waited very much longer with fewer people in front of me, luck of the draw

I was out and missed it and had no notifications from Octopus

Tofufi I tried the service during lockdown, I went into the Post Office and was told I had to take it myself to the sorting office, I went the 5 miles to the sorting office only to find the part which accepts parcels was closed. I then asked several Royal Mail staff what I could do and none of them were interested in giving me any information. In short 10 wasted miles of travelling and the good part of a morning wasted in repackaging and going back to the Post Office In short the post Office is a five minute walk away, they decide which weight category and service required according to the value (I always use first class). No customers will face a postage penalty owing to my mistakes on size and weight I can understand the attraction of buying direct with the Royal Mail and I may try it again for high value items, but I clearly state I charge for post and packing and try and post within 24 hours/ next working day of payment. Quality of service over cheapness

Chas Whilst I only sell via auction (no other methods offers etc) and list for 7 days (much the same as most private sellers) I have with 1 exception received 80% discount on every sale, the one I did not get discounted rates, was where I let an item automatically relist. My fault for not following the rules. I now only list on discount weekends, which seems about every other weekend. I am not a big seller just reducing my collection by selling a few items a month. I usually only sell model railway items so had no issues, but recently sold 2 very old cameras (my daughters farther in law's items) which also got the discount. In my experience very few restrictions.

November started brightly but was a wash out at the end. We suffer from shading during the worst 3 months, which we were warned about, this year we ended up midway between last years poor performance and the previous years slightly better return, the only benefit is that shading has no effect on cloudy days so has little effect on the years overall production Whilst we are 12 ish days from the shortest daylight day apparently whilst morning daylight hours carry on reducing till then, the afternoon daylight hours will start increasing in a few days. The other thing that happened recently is that Octopus had four new days when they paid you for the electricity you did not use. We missed two but other than only using the family room for 90 mins (turning lights off and computers in other rooms. One of the days we were using gas to cook our meal the other day we had our meal a hour later, we benefitted by £6.35 knocked off our bill (about 3 days electricity costs). Well worth putting ourselves out (with others) in reducing peak time usage and very high costs to the network,

I have just had an email from Octopus outlining the new charges for the next 3 months, as forecasted energy prices will be rising for the next quarter. Standing charges are the same after rounding up Electricity going up 1.283p per KWH and gas up 0.524p per kwh. My annual forecast forecasts my annual cost will go up by £93 However the same forecasts assume price reductions for the following 3 quarters, using last years usage my additional costs will raise against last quarters rate by £38 However against last years subsidized prices Electricity is 4.157p per KWH cheaper Gas is 2.511p per KWH cheaper Against last years January discounted rates this year using the same figures will be £63.98 cheaper and slightly smaller amounts for Feb and March. As I said the same forecasts which predicted this increase also predicts the next 3 quarters energy prices will be lower than the corresponding quarters. Whilst not perfect for most the outlook on energy pricing is far better this year than last, certainly Octopus's forecast of an annual increase of £93 is inaccurate as its based on this quarters rates, if anything looking at industry forecasts on the energy price its more likely to be nearer to £90 less over the next 12 months as rates are predicted to be less next year than this year

Don Gauges are only used to check the work, and certainly for 00 gauge un-necessary Martin and others use printers in house, modern printers keep the odor within the case and it only escapes when the case is opened. Use water washable resin, but I don't advise printing in the kitchen, dining room or lounge. FDM printers are small, quiet and odorless. The shed temperature for resin must be above a certain figure, the extra is a UV light box, James suggest small light boxes used for gel nails, I brought one for about £16 You print your own stock of sleeper/timber bases with the FDM (filament) printer . Chairs are printed with a resin printer. You must plan in advance to print the items you require for the build, which you would have to do using traditional methods by ordering in advance Watch James's videos as its much better to see what's involved

In one way yes, but most railway modelers for one reason or another do not join clubs, so find one or more people who are either railway modelers or 3D print users who are willing to collaborate / share costs with each other Not all clubs are interested in either finescale modeling or members into 3D printing

Keith For some strange reason I have been working out my costs based on £21 a 1k reel, I actually paid £16.50, so my figures can be reduced by an appropriate amount, it was still very cheap at the inflated price. When I first ordered resin it was £32 a litre, its now dropped to £25. I printed out a B6 template and it took 22g of filament 36.3p A big BUT, don't look at the bottom line Firstly the ease of build is far more important, no need for expensive jigs or gauges. No need for specialist tools or the ability to fabricate subassemblies accurately Secondly you get a level of detail not seen in RTR or many hand built turnouts Thirdly total flexibility of the geometry For the more experienced user flexibility of output Rail is a different story, you need approximately 1.5 m for a standard turnout, you now have to pay up to £2.10 per meter. As retailers restock rail, the price has really jumped up Still plug track has really shaken up track building. Its got to the point that I have quite a lot of old SMP & C&L used flexi track which I re-railed with new yard lengths of HiNi rail, that I am thinking of binning the track bases to reuse the rail Plug track is not for everyone, but then I guess finescale modelling is not for everyone. For those wanting track up to the same standards of the stock they are able to buy, it is one of the answers. For those who do not have the skills to build scale trackwork using traditional methods, it is the answer Likewise it will allow 00 gauge modelers an easy route to migrate to EM or P4 gauges Cost in obtaining the printers may be an issue for many, so share the expense with others, perhaps join a club where the club or members use these machines, where there is a will there is always a way

Sorry but as you had not quoted a post I incorrectly linked it to another, post now edited

You are very correct. there are far more complaints about Everi's service standards than most other couriers just on this site Everi has been criticized many times it was so bad it had to change its name. Rather than meaning nothing it means many of us have suffered problems with Everi and its previous existence The Royal Mail does have a few areas where there are massive issues, usually where the unions are in dispute with the management. And I can understand those customers are being treated very badly Even the better companies have issues I was expecting a DHL overnight delivery from Germany, a breakdown at the Paris airport meant the container was stuck there for 3 days. Next day delivery turned into next week delivery

I totally agree with a few postal exceptions I send all 1st class and judging by the feedback, messages and tracking data, the majority arrive the next day The village Everi delivery driver is very good, though when he is away there are issues. The biggest problem is Everi's attitude to customer service. Just try and speak to a person easily. And when it is delivered to the wrong address their BOT does not understand "its not my house where the item has been delivered to" Everi has sent me two photos of what they claim is my house, and will not accept neither is my address. in fact they do have a third photo which is my house. So much for intelligent answering service

If its guaranteed to be delivered by 1pm the next day and did not, claim your rightful compensation

I assume the Post office offered you special delivery by 1pm, these other rates are only from Royal Mail direct. But I think if you pay a little extra they will both come and pick it up and bring a postage label if asked Last weekend eBay offered me 80% off fees, which seems to come round every other week

I think I read that the Royal Mail can bring a sticker if you get the package picked up Evri is still far too variable in the delivery quality, even worst try and contact their customer service department. They make it so difficult many just give up, I would rather pay more for a better total offer

Jol Sorry for my rushed answer, but along with British finescale kits Templot Plug Track system is bringing a whole new choice to the average railway modeler. Track building is seen by some as a black art needing specialized skills, expensive tools and costly parts. Even finescale RTR turnouts cost a kings ransom Now Joe public who models alone has access to finescale products which are relatively easy to build and can be very inexpensive For the modeler who wants finer flangeways British Finescale produce easy to build 00SF kits, for the more adventurous EM and P4 kits are available Templot plug trach takes it much further as you can have bespoke trackwork with an easy to build track building method Yes you are right to bring up costs and for most buying two printers may be out of the question, but why not find a group of like minder modelers and spread the cost between you With a C&L classic kit costing £48 ( no preformed crossings or switch blades) or a Peco bullhead turnout between £30 and £40 anyone building a layout is in for a few hundred £'s. Excluding the rail using the plug track system for a standard turnout uses about a £1 worth of resin and filament. The end product as I have said is up with the quality you would expect from top builders, But the system is far more flexible than that, the builder can use it in many ways. I have just printed a 0-16.5 track base for about 50p I will glue and pin code 100 fb rail to it. Its a bit more involved than the plug track system but I have a bespoke turnout different from anything out there, just about using a bit of new tech and some older methods

Firstly 10/13% is a good rate when you look at traditional auction sites. Better still wait till there is a promotional week with 80% off fees. Traders offer about 1/3rd of retail prices Royal Mail ( at the Post Office )recorded costs £5.55 but only insured for £50 Try Royal Mail on line Tracked £5.19 and insured for up to £150, pay a bit extra and they come and pick it up