Kelly

Hope you're feeling better soon. The flu jab is based on statistics of what they think are the most likely strains in a given year, so can be hit or miss for some people. I find the jab makes me ill for a few weeks afterwards (a side effect of my illness really), but I tend not to get the full blown flu, which would be horrendous for me really (again due to chronic illness).

Afternoon all. The weather has decided to be kind for trip to the electric railway museum open day. Should have some nice photos of electric units that should prove useful. Now to sit and rest for a short while with a cuppa and painkillers.

Could the stepping be due to some kind of problem with your drawing output? might be worth looking at it to make sure the thickness' are right and so on. Shapeways might be able to advise too, as it seems most of the items they've shown don't have the stepping.

Saw this on facebook. Moron doesn't begin to cover it. And 68 months is still far too short a sentence for such a stupid act.

The body looks good, bending aside. The sprue issue is a quandary really. You could I guess model the buffers as part of the body, and figure out a way to do what I assume is a smokebox door attached somehow? perhaps a thicker 'sprue' that can be filed back?

I'm tempted to order a MLV from Invicta models at some point if funds permit. I have a Replica body to do some conversion work on at some point too.

Evening all. Hope all are well, and those who aren't are feeling better soon. The flat is full the smell of roast lamb, and tomorrow going with Natalie to the Electric Railway Museum, here in Coventry, for their open day. It is less than 6 miles away from here and best of all I can avoid the Toll Bar island hell from where I am that and it is free. Should be a good day, with an opportunity to get some photos of the 457 (traction development test unit) and the EPB (ex-Tyneside unit).

I find myself forced into this option really. Newer models are just too expensive to consider, so old Lima/Dapol/Mainline/older Hornby/Bachmann are having to be used. Adds a bit more interest in terms of the modelling at least, and if it is messed up not as much money down the drain.

Not done a great deal last couple of days, though did make a few tweaks with Natalie's input on the plan. It still needs a bit more work though and a slip adding on the left side. I'm still a bit unsure about the oil depot, adding the point makes it a bit easier to access from the fiddle yard at least and saves on a complicated extra cassette set up. Slowly getting there in terms of finalising the plans, I need to tweak the oil depot a little more still, and figure out that slip for the left hand side. I'm planning to use a set up to access the hidden sidings as featured in the recent Railway Modeller as described by Peter Osbourne, that being a section of flexible track, that is pivoted by wire-in-tube or similar. Though how durable that might be will be a matter of experimentation, if that fails then a small sector plate each end will be used. I may look at keeping the option to have more than 3 sidings available at a later date for when (if) it ever gets invited to an exhibition. Also this arrived today: So I'll have a look through it properly and sort out the forum login etc. I am likely to make use of the MERG canbus set up, for points/signals/routing and train detection. We're off to the Electric Train Museum tomorrow for their open day, which should give a good opportunity to get some good photos of the various units there.

If it is an ATX power supply it won't give more than a set of rails for 12v, 5v and maybe 3.3v. The variance on each rail can vary wildly with some of the cheaper power supplies though.

You would be best having it with the roof integral perhaps as then any clean up for the support material will be internal and thus not visible. At present unless a Diesel/electric loco body is about the size of a 08 or smaller it can't be done as the limit is roughly the size of a smartphone case (the one shown in the video looks to be about a 5", possibly 5.5" case). But it is seemingly a case that they'll increase limits as they get more used to it and that theres the demand there for them to spend the money on bigger machines. Basically they've said they'll only introduce it as a mainstream material in bigger footprint sizes if it proves popular enough to be financially viable. So if too many people say 'I prefer FUD/FXD' then HDA will be a non-starter, but they'll develop and improve it further if they get enough interest, which is fair enough.

You could perhaps use glue instead and lever it in with care?

Thanks for those Dave. Very useful shots of the substation. It reminds me of the one that I remember from the many times I used Barnehurst station, though I think they demolished the original there a couple of years ago or so now and replaced it with a smaller one. The red stop track signs are an interesting feature I noticed on your videos, and could operating interest to the layout with a possession in progress and slower than usual trains, etc. All these details are quite helpful and interesting.

Thats collectors for you. An investment rather than a model to 'run'.

From the video the limiting factors really are the size limits in terms of total space, at a size restriction of about the size of a large smartphone it isn't suited to 4mm items potentially. The support material iirc is printed much thinner so it is brittle and should snap off (this is how it is done on most 3D printers usually iirc).

The ideas for separate addon modules is a good one if planned right. Especially if they're set up to run independently of any other modules, with or without fiddle yards for shunting puzzle type scenarios.

That has come up quite well. I remember seeing such units when I'd visit my gran in Southport growing up. I think the main issue with the cabs is a issue with resin moulds, in that they shrink by upto 8%, so straight lines can be difficult to acheive, and the doorway on the cab is very distinctively straight. The side recess also perhaps look a little small, but that might just be perspective on my part. Cabs in 3D printing would complement the bodies well if the price of the bodies was cheaper perhaps. I have no need for a 507/508 myself at this time, but I have been thinking of 3D printing models, but 4mm is still too expensive with current methods, however with shapeways introducing the new HDA material that might become more affordable, though at present the size is limited to about the size of a Galaxy Note phone, which obviously negates 4mm units atm.

With some of the reports of the issues with the 73 I'm reserving judgement until I see one in person (and have the needed funds). Class 70/71/73/74 could always be found uses for, but yes, multiple units would be welcome. Bulleid ones rather than BR ones to differentiate from the Bachmann EPB/CEP, or maybe Electrostars.

The DDA came into force first in 1992, revised in 96 and 2005, and then partly superseded by the Equality Act. However, whilst it means buildings and service providers have to provide adequate and reasonable means of accommodation for disable customers needs, there are exclusions for old buildings and the like. Such buildings get exclusions on basis of either listed status or similar. For instance if putting in a lift would be impossible due to the nature of the building. These days it'd be more common for a small platform lift to be put in if a ramp couldn't be for wheelchair use. Otherwise a removable ramp that goes over steps would be used.

Thanks. I'm purposely putting more effort to the planning due to the nature of what it needs to accomplish really. As it is my first layout and is intended to be modular and multi era, thought needs to be taken to allow that to be possible. If the modules all align at the same point on the boards then I will hopefully be able to take a section out and still run it. Which would be required for home use really, with 2 car units mostly. The building of the boards will largely be the same regardless of the width or length to some extent as they'll be from Tim Horn's range of laser cut boards. They'll also align well due to his design from what I've seen, allowing extra lengths /modules to be done over time knowing they'll line up. I need to measure the car really at some point so I know absolute maximum sizes for each module. Though being a mondeo estate it'll swallow a *lot*. 6" width doesn't seem a lot, but does make a difference in terms of storing it and reaching areas. I think the traverser decks could possibly be made as 2 2ftx2ft boards with a suitable framing for runners and allowing them to join together to form a 4ftx2ft traverser as needed, either one end or both, or a single 2ft each end for shorter running, making storage easier. Being able to change out features and such like will keep the project interesting too hopefully as there'll always be something that can be made for others, be it a different crossing box, bridge or tunnel. Though can't go back beyond around 1925 due to the 3Rd rail ;-) I don't think removal 3Rd rail would work ;-)

Thanks for that. It does look interesting. Certainly looks an improvement on much of what I've seen 3D printed previously. I've not seen FUD/FXD stuff up close though so can't compare it on my own viewing so to speak. However, the support material removal may be less of an issue if experimentation is done to get the support material reduced to the least needed amount. The method of printing they're using is one of better methods iirc compared to most other methods the other options use (is FUX/FXD filament or resin based like hda?) and is what is favoured by the high end 3D printers on th emarket iirc.

Until people start getting HDA samples it is a moot point, if SW get enough negative feedback for it they'll not switch to it without further work on it. But they do seem to *hope* to replace it with something, whether that will be HDA remains to be seen from reading the forum post you linked to.

A logical continuation from the APT-E, which looks great, so no doubt this will be good. Not of interest really to me sadly, but best of luck with it, good to see more items coming to 4mm scale from a diverging number of manufacturers. I'm sure this'll be snapped up by D&E modellers. Now if you decide to produce 3rd rail electrics I'll have to rob a bank