Jump to content
 

Geneng

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    19

  • Joined

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Geneng

  1. Geneng

    Hornby Pullman Coaches

    By Geneng,

    I have been looking for Hornby Pullman oval spring buffers. A lot of the coaches offered on Ebay seem to have missing buffers. Research indicates that it is extremely difficult to find the correct spares and Hornby are currently only able offer one type of spring buffer. I am hopeful that my purchase of buffers from an Ebay supplier will fit or at least be adaptable.
  2. Geneng

    Model Railway Lessons

    By Geneng,

    A few years ago I purchased Hornby Live Steam. I learned through practice how to control the powerful locomotives! I do not have the space for a permanent layout in my flat so I created an oval track using four portable baseboards which I could link together. Then being bitten by the model railway bug I thought why not add a DCC oval? So I now had a double track oval, the outer 4th radius for Live Steam and the inner 3rd radius for DCC. This got a bit boring so I decided to link the tracks using points and some rewiring The track is Hornby. Finding that 'express points' would require serious cutting of my existing tracks to accommodate, I elected to use standard points as they slotted in very easily. That is when the problems started! Standard points are 2nd radius. I found to my cost that my close-coupled Pullman coaches would derail at the points. Then I found that coaches which I had fitted with corridor connections would also derail because of connections fouling on point curves. Also combining the two ovals meant that all the track could get contaminated by the live steam locomotives - they can drop oil. This affected DCC unless the track was scrupulously pre-cleaned. I now think that I may need to reduce the realism aspect and remove all my coach corridor connections because satisfactory running is ultimately the requirement which should take precedence. Maybe in view of space considerations I should have gone the 'n' gauge route for DCC and kept my systems separate? Anyway I might still upgrade my points and modify my track instead!
  3. Geneng

    Live Steam

    By Geneng,

    Well I recently managed to overheat a track joint with the high current from my Live Steam controller. Result was a melted sleeper at the joint, which increased the joint resistance thus killing the system - tripping out. Replaced affected track - sorted. Currently testing a modified remote control analogue sound van for added features; working well though a bit of a challenge to get the 'chuff' to match the loco speed; the Live Steam voltage being relatively constant but subject to interruption from controller action and/or dirty track, I have elected to use an on-board power pack- good job I have two control hands! Derailments at points have been sorted by using express points and removing 50% of my corridor connections, so now only one end per coach, which just means more care in assembling a train.
  4. Geneng

    Baseboards

    By Geneng,

    Well as experienced modelers will know chipboard is not a recommended base for track but I used it because it is inexpensive. OK because I found that although Hornby track pins will not indeed grip at all well on chipboard the very fine Peco pins do - just needed to drill some sleepers for the thinner pins and take a bit more care in fixing - job done. Also Hobbycraft sell foam and felt sheets in A4 size, much less expensive than Hornby track base product - very useful for miscellaneous base requirements, but for authenticity you may want to re-colour as the greys on offer are not a match.
  6. Geneng

    West Coast train

    By Geneng,

    Just upgraded my West Coast Class 33 as support for my West Coast Class 5. I had fitted a Hornby decoder but have now fitted a Loksound. Took a few trial and error circles of my loop to program the right speed, acceleration, deceleration but managed it.
×
×
  • Create New...