DaveyH

And on the same “fun in the snow” theme.......

Enjoyed it last year. Is there a code yet for 2020/21 as the site says I have no leagues from previous years! Thanks Davey

Our rescued girl, Mia. Not sure what we would have done without her during lockdown....we owe her loads!

Are there any other sort? Good luck with your revised “target”. Davey

Received a link to this earlier today - may be helpful. Whatcar Davey

I have a Draper Expert 13500 Twin Combi Filter Respirator which is excellent, even when using pungent, solvent based spray paint indoors. Other makes are available, but I mention the brand and model which I have used so you can search it online and see what we’re on about! Davey

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. Might get some time this coming week to select one of the mentioned methods and give it a shot. Davey

I have just completed two Metcalfe card models and am wondering how best to “plant” them on the baseboard (6mm plywood) so that they appear to be built into rather than onto the ground? What advice could you give me please? Thanks Davey

This support page will tell you all you need to know.

A Digitrax DS64 will switch your Kato points. I am sure there are others, but I have used this one successfully in the past. Davey

That would be some achievement...................... Thanks for pointing the error out, I've corrected the original post. Davey

The pcb arrived eventually and I had a first stab at milling a frame. The result was quite good...any imperfections being a result of my lack of cad ability rather than the mill which appeared to cut the frame exactly as designed and, perhaps more surprisingly given the dainty nature of the MF70, exactly to size. Here is the result. The pcb was cut with a 1mm end mill of Chinese origin at a spindle speed of 8,000 rpm and a feed rate of 100 mm per minute. Davey

Andy Sorry for the delayed expression of my thanks for your detailed reply...been busy! I have been threatening to create a scratch built chassis for a LNWR Special tank for ages now and have been drafting in Autocad for a while. I was going to make my first trial milled frames in 1/16 brass sheet, but have now been encouraged by your post to test the design of frames and spacers in FR4 initially. I ordered some PCB boards this morning so should be ready to go tomorrow or the next day. I have a Proxxon MF70 mill which I have converted to cnc, so I can mill at up to 20,000 rpm ! Thanks for the idea...... Davey

This is very inspiring....may I ask what spindle speed and feed rate you used to mill the FR4 please? Thanks Davey

I too would recommend Mr Color paints. They do smell a lot, but the coverage and smoothness of finish is exemplary. I use them with a Harder and Steenbeck and Iwata airbrushes without issues. Davey

Another sunset, this time on the west coast of the Llyn peninsula in North Wales.

This woke me up this morning! Davey

Moved on to cutting some brackets for the warehouse awning. I’m delighted with these as I know I could not do this with a knife. Others can, but I can’t! All cut with the 3d printer laser module from thick card that I bought in the Range following a “bargain” tip on here. Good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Davey

With its freshly applied window sills oozing glue and a newly added header strip, the Draxla warehouse is ready for weathering and then mounting at the back of the layout.

And here is the assembled front. The laser was used to cut the windows from thin card and the window “holes” from the thick cardboard box material. I get a consistency that I cannot manage manually. Window sills and a roof next...then some dirt! Davey

The laser would quickly burn the surface of the bed on the 3d printer, so you need something. My immediate solution was to cut some floorboards which I had bought for other reasons for 50p each in Wilko’s Charity bin! A couple of stops on either side to ensure it stays in place (and misses the mass of wires at the back of the Wanhao) and all was well. It does get singed sometimes, but the majority of this damage was done when I first started and was playing around with settings. Here it is on the machine. Here is the latest incarnation of the window, now cut in a finer, coloured card, glazed and mounted in a wall panel. Just waiting for a window sill. ]

Ever wondered what to do with those Amazon boxes? This took a couple of minutes this morning - it’s a trial for a background warehouse window and it and many more will be cut in better card for the “real thing” so to speak! The Endurance Laser module made short shrift of this and was able to cut at sufficient speed to avoid burning the surface of the card. Davey

I am contemplating making an enclosure for the printer. Something like this https://makerhacks.com/ikea-3dprinter-enclosure/ There would need to be an extractor fan mounted on the back, which would then vent out of the window, as the spray booth does. If I do it, I'll document it here. Davey

Whilst my wife was pleased with my first efforts (as shown above), it was time to do something practical and railway related on the Endurance/ Wanhao laser cutter. So, here are some cruel close ups of the walls of a rear extension to a warehouse, drawn and engraved to 1/87 HO scale. These are engraved on plywood and await final cutting out. Created in Lightburn software. I’m happy with these as a “first go” and am looking forward to doing more. Davey

Yes Simon, that is the Endurance website. I originally bought a Chinese laser module that arrived dead having taken over 20 working days to come. I then decided to go upmarket, hence the contact and subsequent purchase from Endurance. All paid by PayPal, so the associated assurances made me feel good about the deal. The unit arrived in less than a week.