figworthy

But if they didn't announce that there was going to be an announcement, how would you know to expect an announcement ? Adrian

Once I'm back in business, I'll have a look at that. I'm still getting my head around the terminology of this. What I'm calling the skirt is a four layer base where the first layer is a broad weave, followed by another broad weave at 45 degrees, followed by two full layers, one front to back, one side to side, with the print itself starting on top of that, but taking up a smaller area. What is shown in the picture above is where the first two layers have gone horribly wrong. Adrian

Not at the moment. As mentioned up thread, one of the power leads to the heater bed has broken off, and my soldering irons aren't up to the job of remaking the join. What probably won't help is that at the moment I've only got black filament, and that on a black bed won't show up very well. Adrian

Thanks David, that is exactly what appears to be happening. The extruder head is moved into position, but it always (every print ever done) appears to move some distance from what I feel ought to be the first point at which it lays down filament to the point at which filament does start to appear. I was starting to wonder if it was deliberate, so as to give an easy point at which to get the scrapper in to lift skirt off the bed once finished. Adrian

The passage that Rolt (amongst others) took though the canal was in the summer of 1948. I didn't think that Narrow Boat would have covered it as an earlier period (1939). Adrian

Thanks Jim. I've had a look, and it isn't a loose connection, it is a broken one !. One of the power leads has broken off where it is (was) soldered onto the plate. I'm guessing that it is a metal fatigue issue as the wires bend when the plate slides backwards and forwards. In theory that is easy to fix, but it is "big soldering iron" job, and I don't have one. But I think I might know someone who does. Regarding the blue tape, sometimes that works for me, other times it doesn't, and there doesn't seem to be a pattern to it. Adrian

Thanks to Robin and Andy for their comments. I thought I'd have another go with it this morning (hoping that a good night's sleep might have left it in more co-operative mood), however when I put it into pre-heat, I noticed that whilst the extruder was warming up, the bed wasn't, it remained at the ambient temperature. Turning it off and on again didn't make any difference. As is still less than a year old, I shall be having a chat with the supplier (Amazon). What I didn't notice yesterday was what the bed temperature was when I gave up. With that in mind, if I'm offered the choice between a refund and a replacement, should I go for the former, and then get a genuine Prussa ? Whilst it is a useful thing to have, it's not something that is getting continuous use. Adrian

Wanhao Duplicator I3 195C extruder temp 50C bed temp I'm setting the clearance on the deck to be one thickness of standard printer paper, before heating, then cleaning the deck with meths, so hopefully I've got a clean level deck. I'm also leaving the deck in pre-heat for a while before printing (I've seen suggestions elsewhere that the plate may not be heating universally, so this gives it a chance to catch up). However, I'm having problems with my prints. I have a regular thing where it seems to not quite print the first bit of the skirt, but otherwise is OK. However I've had four attempts today at doing one print, attached is the most successful (or that should that be the least insuccessful). The image is show with the front of the printer at the bottom. The area in the blue rectangle is basically OK, apart from some missing diagonals, and an inconsistency in their diameter, and the bottom left corner of the rectangle is pretty much where the printer started laying down filament, although watching it, it looks as though it should have started a bit further to the left. The centre and left hand side however are a complete mess. The up and downs of the first layer were initially binding at the back, but not at the front, and the filament started lifting off the bed before the printer started to lay the diagonal layer. Whilst today's efforts are an extreme, I regularly see less than perfect printing on the left hand side, but the printer usually manages to overcome that by the time it has finished the skirt. This is irrespective of where that left hand side is (e.g. whether the print is a narrow front to back, or a wide side to side) I've tried using blue tape, but success rates with that are mixed. One thing that might be significant, is that if I place a straight edge (300mm steel rule) across the deck, then in some places, it appears to be slightly dished, but I'm not sure that it is consistent. I've spent quite a bit of time trying to find solutions to this, but I've run out of inspiration. Any ideas welcome. Thanks Adrian

One club I used to be a member of regularly had one member who turned up with a flip chart to make his points. He was usually in a minority of one with his concerns. Adrian

That is a lovely piece of work. Adrian

A bit of digging (*) suggests that it was the Horsehay foundry in the Ironbridge area. * - Right click on the image, and look at the image info, and that shows that it is linked from www.dawleyheritage.co.uk. A bit of time on there found http://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/horsehayworks/738/horsehay-works Adrian

Ooh that brings back memories (firstly on a IIA then a III) Adrian

Another thing that has just struck me about that photo. The train seems to be made up largely (if not entirely) of guards vans. A quick check of the calendar suggests that it was taken on a Thursday, so unlikely to be an enthusiasts special. Adrian

That's an interesting looking set of track work there. Are you modelling that as well as the tractor ? Adrian

The locks on the Avon were supposedly 75ft x 16ft, and the Kennet and Avon locks were supposedly 70ft x 13ft 9" (I'd have thought 14ft). Adrian

Thanks Clive, that would make sense, but it still looks odd. Adrian

Excuse my ignorance on such matters, but unless the loco is propelling, isn't there something wrong with that signal ? Adrian

Is the naughty step meant to be comfortable ? Adrian

Another couple of months on, and a bit more progress. The cattle dock is almost finished (it still needs drinking troughs), and the area along side has been grassed, and a boundary fence installed. There is still more work to do in finishing off the ballast in the yard, and nothing much has been done on the entrance area, which is next on the list of things to do. I think the yard could really do with some clutter in it, whether that is PW related (some spare sleepers or chairs ?), or goods awaiting collection/dispatch I've yet to work out. It looks like a trick of the light, but the fence posts are upright Adrian

Settle and Carlisle certainly offers some options. Last summer I started at Horton in Ribblesdale, and got the train to Dent. A lovely walk up Dentdale to the northern end of Blea Moor tunnel, then over the top of the hill (a slog on a hot day), following the track again from close to the southern portal, down past Blea Moor box to the northern end of the Ribblehead viaduct. That was about 3 hours. I then carried on back to Horton, but that was mainly the other side of the valley (there isn't a decent route close to the railway). 12 miles altogether. The views back up Dentdale during the climb up over the tunnel are fantastic, likewise coming down the other side. Adrian

This, many times over. Could I expand that to include subject/era as well ? Adrian

I think we need a "Wow" button. If you don't mind me asking, how do you do the hinges on the gate ? Adrian

Another two months, and a bit more progress. The "heavy" part of the landscaping in the station yard has been completed, and this has now been covered in ash ballast, and some grass has been put down. There is still more to do to, a bit more of a weed line along walls, and odd bits in the yard. The cattle dock/loading ramp have now been completed up to deck level (apart from the buffer stop which is in the paint shop). Adrian

Reminds me of a journey to work many years ago. Approaching a set of traffic lights with 2 vehicles in front of me. The lights start to change, but with plenty of time for all to stop safely. First car accelerates, as does the second. I stop. A little further down the road, I pass the two drivers parked up deep in conversation. If you are going to jump the lights, make sure you are not being followed by a police car. Adrian

Figworthy is my first attempt, and (apart from the fiddle yard), all the track on there is hand built, and it has three working traps (although I've since realised that I only needed two). Adrian