Izzy

I also have a few Mitsumis from various sources with one attached to a 60-1 roadrunner+. It's okay, well made, but nowhere near an equivalent Mashima. The armature seems rather small for the size of the motor - nothing like those found in Mashimas - and this is reflected in the power output, which doesn't seem that great. They also seem to resonance/vibrate a bit when not firmly fixed - I tried fitting a flywheel on one which made things ten times worse - and don't seem to like running on DCC too much - whatever the decoder type or the settings used. Probably the nature of what they are/were primarily designed for, photo copiers I believe. But when push comes to shove and there is nothing else around........ Izzy

Although it might be true that numbers of trees in certain areas has fallen compared with the past, in relation to lineside vegetation the reverse is often the case. In steam days immediate lineside stuff was kept down to avoid lineside fires and studies of then and now comparison shots of many current lines often show that trees etc have grown and multiplied quite a bit since diesel and electric traction took over. This is one reason why the 'leaves on the line' situation has become such a problem in recent times. Izzy

I will follow any replies with interest as I have always been in a similar position with 4mm & 7mm layouts. A recent foray into N/2mm (where it has been possible to have a circle of track for this purpose), has revealed that some RTR locos do seem to benefit from running in while others run fine straight out of the box and don't/can't really get any better. However, I do have very mixed feelings over whether rolling roads are a good thing or not, mainly because I can't see how they produce the same friction that occurs from running over track. Fine for diesels etc with non-coupled wheels, but gives me questions over steam locos and diesel shunters, not to mention that non-driven wheelsets, especially those that also collect current don't rotate either. Are these aspects problematic? Izzy

Having moved from DC to DCC with both 2mm/2FS and 4mm/P4 I think it has to be accepted that better running in respect of more refined control is only to be found with the best decoders, i.e. either Zimo or CT. When I first converted I was very disappointed/frustrated with the poor quality control until I used these decoders. Frankly, anything else, from Lenz down, and I can get better performanc on DC without the large additional cost. If I hadn't discovered CT/Zimo I would have abandoned DCC and reverted back to DC. My 20/30 year old 7mm stuff will stay DC simply because it runs as well as anything I have chipped, even with CT/Zimo. So I think it's a case of horses for courses. That the level of advantage very much depends on where you are starting from, and what you need/expect and are happy with. Izzy

Gosh, those pins are long aren't they, meant no doubt to be used with baseboards of differing thickness without problems. Pity they don't just adjust in height with a screw fixing. Instead of cutting the pins short, an alternative might be to use a packing piece between the board if there is the clearance room underneath. Might be simpler/easier as I know the pins are made of a fairly hard metal......... Izzy

I think it has to be said that like so much else this plan is a reflection of it's time, meant to suit the rolling stock then available and the desires of those using them. Small locos and short coaches were the order of the day and imagination was used to bridge the reality gap, operation being uppermost in many minds at the time. So the basics are there and I do think that bringing the timescale forward to the 1960's/1970's Diesel/DMU era - shorter stock than later/newer designs and so less issue with the tighter radius curves and limited track lengths - and making a few changes to suit, getting rid of the turntable/making a diesel depot, laying out the sidings for stock stabling - there is no fiddle area or storage sidings - would produce a usable plan even within the confines of the space envisaged. Certainly enough to give a decent amount of operating pleasure. Izzy

Had the real pleasure of seeing this at Stowmarket yesterday. The shots of it are good, but seeing it in the flesh is even better. And matching up the front display photos with the layout just further reveals the high modelling standard. The way the backscene blends in and looks 'real' is outstanding and easily missed because it looks so natural. Finally seeing/hearing a Sutton class 24 was another highlight. Thanks chaps. Now I understand why it is so well regarded by many, and is the first sound diesel I would like to own despite being out of my league cost-wise. Izzy

I've always found it helps to clean up the machined face of the axles that the brass insert seats onto. More often than not there was the odd burr there that just needed knocking off and then they ran quite true. Sounds daft I know but mounting and de-mounting a few times also helps take any rough edges off the brass insert and gets the screw to seat into it without too much pressure otherwise being countersunk they can also tend to pull off-centre. Izzy

I have found sometimes that when problems like this ocurr rolling back a driver, software version, or Windows update doesn't always work, but using system restore to roll back to an earlier time does. Could you try this to see if the latest changes are causing the issues? Always assuming you can roll back with Win 10. I'm afraid I don't have anything using it so don't know if this feature still exists. Izzy

Ah, sorry. I have similar problems in that a Sprog 2 will no longer play with a reinstalled Win 7 laptop although it did so previously and still does with an old XP and Mac Pro Book and though that maybe you have hit similar unknown issues to me. Hope you sort it out anyway. Izzy

Yes, you can see from device manager that you have issues. The sprog is listed under ports as being com4. But under other devices there are exclamations against all listed, which I believe refer to the sprogs drivers and connections. Izzy

To program decoders using Decoder Pro you must set the Sprog connection as Decoder Programmer. In this mode you can still open a throttle window and test a loco. (There is an off/on button to enable the throttle - puts the output in full power rather than low power program mode output). The command station connection is just for actually running a layout and brings up different options. To change connection you must make the change in preferences and then shut down and re-open JMRI/Decoder Pro Izzy

I am another person that uses both, and my layouts are wired in such a way that either a DC or DCC controller/system can be plugged in and used. Perhaps the most interesting fact to be learnt is that DCC is now considered as quite normal and just another option in the control stakes. I have no doubt this is mainly down to most locos being at least DCC ready - probably the best option for most giving choice over the actual decoder used - and that swopping between DC and DCC with many locos is now not an issue. It would be interesting to learn the spread of use in DCC with regard to whether it's used purely for loco control, which is all I use it for, or as part of a wider computer controlled setup i.e. points, signals, etc. At the end of the day I doubt DC will disappear, after all the motors are still DC, batteries are DC, and the simplest and cheapest control if needed is just two wires from a battery, it's just the controlling interface that can change if the desire is there. A bit like communication. When first fax and then e-mail appeared the complete end of postal mail was forecast. It hasn't happened, and I doubt it ever will, just that the overall nature of use has adapted and changed to give more options. Izzy

Beautifully observed modelling par excellence. Scale and gauge don't really come into the equation, it's above that like others of similar ilk. The overall design of BLT to Junction rather reminds me of Jas Millham's Yaxbury branch in it's original format. A very nice concept. The motive power you have seems most appropriate, and all you really need. With regard to tonal fading of printed papers I think 'colour fast' should be treated with some caution. Makers inks will probably fade less slowly than generic ones (and there are differing ink types within some ranges) but the paper materials used are part of the process here and I am sure you are familiar with the term archival in this respect, which in itself is really advisory rather than definite, so whatever process is used, ink/laser/paint etc aging will occur sooner or later. Izzy

I've standardised on the A4 footprint size RU boxes for all my model railway storage needs, stock, equipment, materials etc, so they can be stacked in a cupboard. These come I think in 4 & 9 litre sizes and I use the 4 litre size for stock. With stock laid side down, three layers deep with six columns can be accomodated. I make the trays out of single thickness mount board as it's cheap and easy to change or replace as needed, with individual partitions to prevent too much damage. I do have one 9 litre box with a small amount of P4 stock in two trays made from 5mm foamcore board, with this standing on it's wheels. This stock is not nearly as easy to get out as the 2mm stuff laid on it's side, but the foamcore is good, however probably too thick to allow three layers deep with the 2mm stock. Izzy

Yes, agree, in just the same way you wouldn't expect to read a damming critique of Peco products or those they wholesale in the Railway Modeller. It's often a case of reading between the lines whatever magazine is involved because any review can't reflect everybodys differing tastes anyway. Since returning to the hobby some years back after a decade long break it's the Hornby and RM mags that I buy most often and never the others, although all mag purchases are few and far between these days. Izzy Izzy

Really interesting these couplings, the basic design being applicable for any scale. I am just wondering about trying them in 2mm with the spear heads set downwards and used with magnets for un-coupling. As to height I wonder if setting at coach bogie level would be best, so they could be used with all stock? One aspect I am not certain about though, wouldn't they be slightly offset from the centre line? Otherwise with the heads set at an angle they will pass each other, or am I missing something. The original Sayer etches seem to have the wire offset. A few experiments seem to be the next step, with the gauge of the wire being I think a crucial aspect. Wagon weight will also be key it seems. I'll give it a try anyway. Thanks for starting the thread on them Stephen. Izzy

I find the local clubs in the my area (covering a 60 mile radius) are quite able to do that themselves without any assistance from commercailly based shows. So much so that I no longer bother with any of them. Izzy

I believe a very similar type of basic coupling called the Electra has been used in 2mm circles for a considerable number of years both with static and electro magnets. This uses a pivoting wire hook with droppers and I think the latest version has delayed action, but I'm not sure. It was in the 2mm mag a few years back now and it seems the design has evolved over time. I do know that Mick Simpson uses them on his Wansbeck Road layout and there is a video on youtube. Izzy

Thank you Jesse & Tony. Wonderful. I kept on waiting for the 'whoosh' of the air turbulence in lots of the shots and if I had enough hair left I'd be looking for the brush and comb.....! Izzy

It would appear it also depends on where they were located, those off the GE appearing to be the normal flaps down. If you look at the photos here you can see that the plain green ones around Essex had them mostly up. http://www.d8233.org.uk/gallery_others.htm As Paul J says it does seem to have mainly been a Stratford thing and using photos of the actual one modelled is best. Izzy

According to the notes I have the headcode shown on the model - a Heljan 4mm one - denotes a freight, mineral or ballast stopping at intermediate stations in the 1960's period, and Unfitted freight, Branch freight, freight stopping in section in the 1970's. I must admit to being puzzled by the comments regarding the white lights as there are non illuminated on it. Are you seeing the white discs showing through the upturned flaps holes as lights perhaps? Izzy

Found the latest issue in my local craft/model shop. Nearly tripped over the huge pile of them in a box on the floor. Might be what you'd expect in terms of quality and subject matter given that it's a freebie. Rather like those booklets of products for sale stapled into many mags these days. Probably good for peaking the interest of someone not into railway modelling and encouraging them to look closer at it, but I wouldn't think it would hold more than a passing interest for anyone else. Nothng I would go out of my way to get, and by that I mean making a detour into a shop I was passing to pick one up. Izzy

Thank you Jim, that's most interesting and very clever. Talk about squeezing a quart into a pint pot. And then there's the decoder. Good job CT are so small, especially the latest ones. Izzy

I have long puzzeld over why they were folded upwards, it's something not really commonly seen on other diesel types, and of course gives rise to the white dot showing through the disc, which at first when I saw photos of them - at distance - I thought were some kind of route code. Perhaps someone might know. I think some other early diesels such as the class 21 had the discs hinged sideways. Izzy