hayfield

Worth a go but you may end up with something too large for the loading gauge

Rather than spend £7 (+ a motor mount) on a set of gears, much better to buy a gear box. I have used Highlevels which are either £14 or £16. If you have a metal gear wheel then the kit was designed for either a Mk 1 or 2 motor. You could put out a wanted request on this site for a motor and worm There is a cheaper version of Markit wheels with plastic centres, either Southeastern Finecast and or Roxey mouldings sell them. Well worth as suggested look out on eBay for them second hand

Phone the ebay help line

You have had some really excellent advice from the posters and I am certain the answers lie within. What surprises me is that when you look at the likes of Hornby locos there is so much slop but all runs OK but when a modeller tries this all locks up I guess someone has already suggested this but I would use a parallel reamer on each set of bearings, then test the chassis without the motor to see that it is very free running. I then use a broach on the coupling rod holes to ensure the holes are round, fit one pair first to check for binding. If there is binding swap sides ( the coupling rods will be upside down) to see if this clears it. It might be that a very slight easing of the hole cures it. Swapping wheel sets may also cure it, or at least identify the problem. If the first coupling rod works well, try the other coupling rod with the centre wheels. just a process of elimination to find where exactly the fault(s) lies Good luck

The kits are in the shops now, well in Chelmsford they are

Tim It really depends on which version of k's kit you have, their motors do come up regularly on places like eBay, quite often with worm gears on them The first and second generation kits had pre-quartered wheels and decent motors. The motors being long thin open frame type. The first type had the magnets screwed to the end blocks, the second generation (Mk 1) were glued. These were fine and you may find one of the Romford worms would work The later kits had wheels with plastic spokes, axles having a D end and bolts screwed into then to retain the wheels. As Bertiedog has stated these wheels were not very good, often would wobble and the motors (HMP2) tended to be unreliable. If you have the later make as said much better to re-wheel, this can be expensive unless you keep your eyes open for donor parts. Quite often Jintys come up with 18mm Romfords which the collectors ignore and sell for nothing, likewise again the motors if put on sale without being named go for a few pounds. Or look for alternatives again sold as spares Here is a photo of the early K's motors https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Keyser+mk+1+motor&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjAo-i69oHWAhVCLlAKHcmqAKoQsAQIJQ&biw=1366&bih=638#imgrc=uJNSKWstMPewYM: The second on the left I think is for the motor bogie Best of all would be a can motor with a proper gear box (Highlevel or similar) with Gibson or Markit wheels. Good luck

Totally agree about the W irons, built two or three Jedinco vans definitely a part of the kits which need revising

Just picked up a Wills Finecast GWR King etched chassis for £16.50 plus postage, no idea if it includes either brake gear or a tender chassis. Not too bothered as I have a couple of Wills kits with whitemetal chassis, can always buy a tender etch from SEF for about a fiver, The currant price for the SEF King chassis is £37.50, so reasonably pleased and as I will not be going to a show where SEF are attending till the spring, I would be paying postage anyway

Also try a Pictorial history of Southern Locos by Russell. My copy is in storage so I cannot check if it includes drawings, someone else may be able to check

Whilst I applaud you for building a budget layout, but if its fun to operate are you going to allow yourself some extra funds to develop it ?

Luke After a visit to the Ffestiniog I contacted them about the size details of the turnouts on the new section, they replied and included a drawing, admittedly neither of us will be running large Garretts, but even at half the size it would look wrong on a small 009 layout. You are correct at thinking about both the practicalities and visual appearance. As far as I am concerned the questions are does it work and does it look right

All these Keyser detractors, the kits are what they were designed for, which was a complete kit with a budget price, allowing entry into kit built locos back in the 60's. The early kits were a lot easier to get running with the pre-quartered wheels and 5 pole motors which worked well. The main issue with these were the chassis which had Keyhole stamped axle slots to accommodate the pre-quartered wheels. There are many examples still running long after their RTR counterparts of the late 70's As a young teenager I longed after Wills kits, but once you bought all the parts they were twice the price of K's kits The decline of the kits came when plastic injected parts were included, initially the new wheels "D" type, then that awful HMP2 motor, followed by the plastic hand rail knobs and 8 ba nuts and bolts. These kits are greatly improved with the addition of new wheels, better motor and gear sets and in some cases new chassis. This now takes the kits away from the budget price Nucast did improve the kits with better chassis, but took the kits away from the budget entry level. What now ? They are in the safe hands of Southeastern Finecast with many eagerly awaiting the re-introduction of the range. On the other hand many will crop up both built and un-built, sort out the wheat from the chaff and some bargains will be had like the Adams Radial I have just bought, which will be transformed with a £14 or £16 Highlevel Models gearbox. Or a pannier tank with a set of Romfords just looking for a refurbishment. On eBay there is this P2 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-ORIGINAL-KEYSER-KIT-GRESELY-THANE-OF-FIFE-LNER-P2-OO-GAUGE-RAILWAY-TRAIN-/382204297517?hash=item58fd26c12d:g:MvUAAOSwl7JZnIkI Starting off at a modest price, certainly it deserves new wheels, motor and gearbox, I doubt if the new owner will get his hammer out, but will have quite a few pleasurable hours building it

The loco arrived today and very pleased, on the down side whilst the loco was in its box there was not enough bubble wrap to stop the model moving in the box, both buffer beams have been bent, easy fix, the nut in the smoke box which front fixing bolt screws into is loose/ not there. Otherwise a nicely built and painted kit. Plus side Nucast chassis, Romford wheels and a Mashima 1224 motor It was stated as a non runner, its all down to a motor mount with a set of Romford gears which has not meshed, nothing that cannot be sorted using a Highlevel Road Runner gear box will not fix. I guess I could fettle the motor mount into working, but I doubt if it would ever be anywhere near as good as a Highlevel one. Will alter to EM gauge at the same time. My plan is to build my version of Bodmin General in preservation, recently all I have bought has been SR locos may have to rethink perhaps Bodmin Town as it might have been, trouble with both is it would have to be a mirror image of either as I need the end of the line on the left and would prefer the station building at the rear Looking at what I have, which basically is a well built kit that is available would cost about £90, wheels about £25 motor £20 all for just under £40 plus a new gearbox at £14/£16. Ready built except for a couple of hours changing the motor mount over.

There is a thread on here mainly about the buildings http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97776-glyn-valley-tramway-infrastructure/ Just search Glyn Valley on here and there are quite a few results

Harrow model shop did one in the 70's in whitemetal, works very well I then built another one using a DS10 motor in a motor mount fitted to the axles, axles ran in pinpoint bearings in the axleboxes, I cut a hole in the floor and made a housing out of plasticard, also worked well but a bit light

Must be the summer holidays, perhaps with a touch of midweek blues/nearing payday etc

Something I have wanted for a few years is a k's/Nucast LSWR/SR Adams Radial tank, trouble is so does so many other modellers and I did not want to spend lots on it. This week on Tuesday just before 6 pm a Nucast model was up for sale and the bidding had reached £31, I put in a cheeky bid of £40 not thinking I had a chance of winning. As it happens got it for just under £35 with an extra £4 for postage. Looks reasonably built, downside is its in BR livery, also states a non runner which normally means everything needs a quick clean If it is the Nucast version there will be no K's wheels or motor plus a better quality chassis. There is no photo of the chassis but I think the wheels are Romfords. Am looking forward to seeing what arrives

Luke http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112167-four-arches-halt/page-1 Go to post 10, look at the last photo, then look at the other 4 or 5 photos. Many ways of building the boards to achieve the desired results, plus a piano hinge could be used rather than 2 or more but hinges, a great idea for modern sized houses, nothing to stop you from doing the same in larger gauges

Two identically shaped baseboards, inside the track circle add risers, for instance 3" (above the base boards) then join with 2 hinges on top. When folded over will give a 6" gap between the boards, the scenic section in one half must be kept below this height I guess on on the non scenic board the more ingenious could make a fold back extension to the scenery

Chris I have been using the Exactoscale special chairs for some time in 4 mm scale, with the exception of where the chairs actually make the gauge (check rails, wing rail etc) the chairs seem to work fine whether its P4, EM or one of the 00 variants, quite often a quick fudge like cutting through one part of the chair on the check rail chair solves the problem, or using a different centre part of the block chairs to fit the gap better As for chairs on Shapeways I have been tempted to buy some is the price, accept its far cheaper in a bulk pack but had there been a pack for turnouts to be used along with the existing range of C&L/Exactoscale parts they could be far more cost effective, unless that is I am missing something. I have often thought the range of C&L "special" chairs would look far more impressive in 7 mm scale, what you are doing will make me look at the range again

Luke Lots of different things that you can do with this type of layout. I like the idea of being able to fold it up and walk away. My plan is to just have a simple small layout to operate which is quick to build. As for scenery a town setting is fine for narrow gauge winding itself along roads or between buildings, by equally could be a country side layout

I think I said I wanted to copy the layout idea on 3 arches its actually 4 arches halt. well its the baseboard design of 4 arches halt http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112167-four-arches-halt/ A super idea for a compact layout, I may slightly increase the board size and scenic breaks

I think we are now spoiled for choice, I can remember reading 1960's Railway Modeller/Constructor/News mags which were full of articles of making items from scrap materials, Bic biros were often used, beads, cardboard, old tins etc. Modellers used their imagination to recreate models. I can remember coaches had one livery on one side and another on the other.

These kits are super value, as I said I was looking for locos I could convert into overhead electric. I will pit some lights and cables on the front, after painting and glazing I will fit partitions. Details can be what you want, made from scrap tube and wire, metal or plastic, or you can leave them plain The pantographs are very cheap off eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kato-n-scale-11-404-DC-Pantograph-PS16A-2pcs-n-Gauge/191948641212?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 hardly breaking the bank Here is another style of loco from the same company http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/009-Kit-78-Freelance-Diesel-Locomotive-for-the-kato-11-1903-Chassis-/142477871866?hash=item212c57cafa:g:6aAAAOSwXcRZbLjL These are the pantographs Single masts Gantry for double track

I bought some N gauge Sommerfeld masts (at a competitive price) which to my eyes look about right except for their height, I plan to build concrete blocks from plastic square section tube to raise them. 00 scale is far to tall and big, TT scale is probably right but the cost of buying new for a bit of fun is prohibitive This is the loco I referred to earlier, minus roof Mock up of system Tram with roof Another view of proposed idea I have bought quite a lot of H0 Continental buildings, also bought a Bemo H0m loco so the buildings will go on a larger model with dual gauge, a small layout based on the 3 bridges idea will be a starter with minimal scenery. I have used a Kato N gauge pantograph on the tram loco, waiting for a bit of bling to be added once I can get to the spares box, then a paint