lee74clarke
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Posts posted by lee74clarke
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You shouldn't need to hack anything about.
Just get hold of an 8-pin blanking plug (they are easily obtainable as spares or a mate who uses DCC should have some he's removed).
It's a straight swap for the harness and chip.
Hornby part number is X.9255
John
Cracked it! Tried with a blanking plug from another model, runs like a dream now.
Just need another blanking plug now, can’t see the right one on e-bay.
Thanks again.
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You shouldn't need to hack anything about.
Just get hold of an 8-pin blanking plug (they are easily obtainable as spares or a mate who uses DCC should have some he's removed).
It's a straight swap for the harness and chip.
Hornby part number is X.9255
John
That's great, thank you John. So, on the last image, it basically splits between the small green plate and the larger darker plate, then the blank fits in there? Apologies for my ignorance!
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Hoping someone can help me with a poor running Class 37 chassis.
I picked it up relatively cheaply from that well known auction site (wouldn't you think I would learn my lesson buy now) so am not overly concerned, but would be nice to get it running.
I run only DC, so no issues with removing some wiring, if that indeed will help. Now, allowing for the electrical luddite that I am, can anyone tell me if bypassing the circuit board will give me a decent runner, and if so, which wires am I altering?
Thanks in advance.
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At the very bottom of this page, in the pinkish/biege bit of the page, there is a clickable "Sign up now" :
That's spot on, thank you. For some bizarre reason, it doesn't show on my PC (?) but appears straight away on my tablet.
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Is it just my PC, or is anyone else struggling to actually submit an 'expression of interest'?
I contacted KR, was sent a link to the web-site (which I had already viewed), and was told to fill in the 'Sign up Now' form.
Even allowing for being absolutely hopeless with anything computer related, I am damned if I can see it.
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*** Please ignore this post, all sorted now ***
Hoping someone may be able to give a bit of advice on this one please.
I have 4 Heljan Western's, 5203 Champion, 5024 Enterprise, 5210 Emperor, and 5201 Empress. (think I have Heljan codes correct)
The variants are probably irrelevant, expect in maybe identifying different batches, but the first 3 run perfectly, with the exception of one point on my layout, where they derail. This happens running the loco in either direction. (so, if bogie number 1 derails running one way, bogie number 2 derails if taking the loco off, turning it through 180 degrees and trying again)
That would of course normally point me to the track, but the forth loco runs perfectly fine across that section. Typically, that model doesn't run very well at all generally, but that's another matter. (just runs intermittently)
The place where derailment happens is on a radius 4 curve and no other models derail there.
I haven't had chance to look into the issue closely yet, but if anyone has any obvious pointers, that would be greatly appreciated.
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Wonderful work, Graham,
Thanks for showing us all the progress made.
Speaking of progress, astonishingly, Little Bytham is almost complete (or as complete as any layout can be said to be). The baseboards were made and the first tracks laid a decade ago and, apart from a three-year gap caused by my chronic depression (2011-14), progress has been continuous. It's a testament to all those who've contributed that the overall standard is so consistent.
Has it 'achieved' what I'd hoped? I think so, and the principal objectives have all been met, or, at least, I hope so. These have included a sense of real space (and a sense of place), with no visible too-tight curves (it is the fastest stretch of railway in the realm, after all), the minimum of compression (a 'lost' 14 inches) and few compromises over representing the real location (on the GN, at least). It works (very well) and most of the locos/stock have been built, almost without exception regarding the former.
What's left to do now is almost entirely up to me. The MR/M&GNR signals will be working in a fortnight (thanks in advance to Tony Gee), and it's really the point rodding which is the outstanding requirement (or my finishing it off). That, and my building of the correct girder bridge. I'm told the sheets won't be long in coming (thanks again, Jamie; who, by the way, did all the drawings/artwork for nothing - when I'm next in France, the pictures are on me).
I'm really privileged to have such a crack team (including yourself) to put everything together, all helping each other and almost all of it achieved by 'bartering' in one form or another. Indeed, so many people have wished to contribute to it (and have done so), just because they'd like to have something they've made on LB. I'm indeed humbled. My most grateful thanks.
Not only that, it's been part of a 'vehicle' for generating funds for Cancer Research. Last month Mo and I 'achieved' our target of £1,000 for this year. Already, we've got a further £200.00. Could we make £2,000 by the end of 2018? We're going to try!
In the light of all the above, I've taken a few shots this evening - just to show how it's all coming (come) together.
Taken from Marsh Bridge, Class A1/1 GREAT NORTHERN romps through the station on an UP express. The completed footbridge shows up well in this picture.
Moving along a bit, another Up express is captured, this time The West Riding, hauled by A1 60120 KITTIWAKE. Though I've started the rodding at this end, there's still much to do.
Another A1, this time in the guise of Tyneside-based 60155 BORDERER, heading the morning fast from Newcastle, which included cars from Newcastle Tyne Commission Quay and the ex-Silver Jubilee catering triplet (visible beneath the spire of St. Medard's).
A view of the same train from a different angle. The point rodding's inclusion here has really 'made' this scene (at least to me), but there's still 'miles' of it to go north and south. When I've built the proper MR/M&GNR girder bridge, shots like this will look much more realistic.
And, seen from that bridge, DELTIC hums northwards on the Down White Rose. I think this view conveys all I'd (we'd) hoped to have achieved with LB. This is a scale-length train, yet it's 'lost' to some extent in the overall scene. There's almost no 'selective compression' (indeed, from this viewpoint, no compression at all) and it's reminiscent of what this place was like 60 years ago.
When you install those somersault signals, and all the mates bring their locos/stock, it'll be back to 80 years ago. Just as it was when Joe Duddington drove MALLARD into history, as he did 80 years ago tomorrow!
Regards,
Tony.
Good Afternoon Tony,
It's looking fantastic, apologies for not visiting for ages. Looking forward to seeing photo's of the LNER version though.
Travelling with the 2018 LNER last Friday, I suspect there's not a great deal of 30's sights left, but you can snap up Essendine ticket office for 85K if of interest.
Best Regards,
Lee
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One thing I also purchased at the new model shop in Bourne was the latest Hornby Mk.1 BSO. These were very common on the ER, and the afternoon 'Talisman' should have two - one at each end. Up to now, I've made do with a pair of Bachmann BSKs. I've made a couple of BSOs years ago, but they're in carmine and cream.
At least this end of the train is right. All I've done is to change the wheels, fit a (Bachmann) gangway cover and dummy buckeye, added the pipes, weathered the roof and the ends, chucked away the tension-locks and made my own coupling (pulling of the headstock, not off the bogie), added Ian Wilson's destination boards and fitted a concertina gangway. It doesn't quite match the Bachmann Mk.1s in both body profile and height. Which is right? I assume it's cheaper than a Bachmann car, and the roof ribs are far less prominent. The maroon isn't as 'rich', though, and the windows do have a bit of a 'halo' effect. As a 'layout' coach in a 'layout' train, running at high speed it'll do I suppose. At least it saves me the hassle of making kits for them. What do others think of these latest RTR carriages?
On a different note, I've just about completed the scene where the Witham Road joins Station Road. Ellen Sparkes' beautiful little gardens fit in perfectly. We have no definitive pictures of this area, though odd bits do appear in the edges of some of Colin Walker's pictures. It looks 'realistic' to me.
Station Road looks great Tony, I think you’ve got it spot on.
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Thanks Lee,
But how does one start a new thread? I don't have the faintest idea.
Good Morning Tony
If you go to the Model Shop Guide section, or any other subject I presume, there’s a black block with white writing, start new topic.
When that starts the next screen, they’re are ‘Topic Subject’ and ‘Topic Description’ fields to enter, then you’re away.
There’s a Topic Tag as well, not sure what that is, so I didn’t bother with that.
When you have written post, there is a ‘Post New Topic’ icon at the bottom.
That should do it.
Lee
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Thanks Lee,
How does one put anything in the businesses section?
On the home page, thers’s a Model Shop Guide heading.
Go into there and start a new post, I think I did something similar a few years ago for the model railway shop in Grantham.
Shop name & town name I would say is the best bet.
Regards
Lee
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I've just popped into the new model shop in Roman Bank in Bourne.
Excellent, well-equipped and a most-friendly service. Granted, I only needed some fencing, guttering, paints, bits and pieces and adhesives (not loco wheels, fittings, motors, gearboxes, even complete kits) but everything I required was there.
Hi Tony
That’s interesting, I didn’t realise they had opened yet. I used to work near them and they said they were planning to open a shop, it had been a successful internet only operation for a while I think.
Hope they gave every success, nice and local for us.
Has anyone put anything in the section covering businesses yet?
Best Regards
Lee
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Like these?
Many thanks for your kind comments.
I think what pleases me more than anything else about how pictures of LB turn out now is how the work of good friends appears so 'uniform'. Bob's buildings complement the brick bridge built by Ian Wilson, which supports the loco I built, running past Ellen Sparkes' gardens and my wooden dwellings, which are passed by my elder son's 9F (hauling some of the late Pete Lander's wagons) which is under the control of Mick Nicholson's signals, which were made to operate by Graham Nicholas, and is supported by the embankment built by Rob Davey, Richard Wilson and me, and so on................. Have I missed anyone?
Speaking of lighting, it's as 'natural' as artificial light can be. The tubes are white light and so are the pulses of fill-in flash.
Regards,
Tony.
Very nice Tony, very nice indeed.
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Good evening Lee,
I'd forgotten about cutting out the 'evil' eyes and mouth on the pumpkin yesterday!
Your folks gave me a super book for my birthday, by the way.
Yes, they did tell me they had something for you.
Belated birthday wishes by the way Tony.
Tess was most impressed with the pumpkin, so thank you for that.
Regards
Lee
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north end point rodding 01.jpg
In an example of (I hope) doing things for oneself, in between enjoying the company of a dear friend yesterday and taking our 18+-year old puss to the vet's for her annual MOT test today, I've carried on with making Little Bytham's point rodding. I've used MSE's components, and it's all soldered together. The Wills' product might have been a Godsend (in plastic), but it's far too big for 4mm scale.
This is one job which is a 'necessary evil'. I know railway modelling is an enjoyable pastime, but there are some jobs which are just a fag. I've continued at this end because the job keeps on getting bigger the nearer one gets to the 'box. Bigger, and, inevitably, slower. Obviously, the rods underneath the rails are plastic to prevent short circuits.
I have no idea whether this would actually 'work' - I've fitted the cranks and compensators where I think they should be (prototype pictures are scarce in this respect), but it's amazing how much the eye 'believes' that it's 'right'. I wasn't really aware too much of the roddings' omission, but now I've started I'll have to finish.
The loco in this picture might be of interest. It's an O2/2, latterly fitted with an ex-K3 GS flared tender, built from a Nu-Cast kit by Alan Hammet. I detailed it, fitted a proper chimney, repainted it, renumbered it and weathered it. It's Portescap-powered and is a very-smooth runner, albeit with the characteristic Portescap 'whine'. The latter is not too obtrusive, but the Portescaps are never as quiet as a decent can motor/gearbox in my experience, though they are incredibly powerful - this one will shift at least 100 wagons and more.
I've been adding up the number of locos I own and, I think I really have too many. I'd better qualify that by stating 'too many not made by me'. Whenever visitors come, I always use the motive power I've made? Why not? I don't think it's entirely pomposity, because I can tell the personal story behind how each one was made.
Thus, I'm thinning-down. I started last year by selling off almost all the RTR locos, so I'm now tackling the locos not built by me. In case anyone should think that I'm using this thread as a sales pitch, I should point out that a fair bit of what's realised will go to Cancer Research; speaking of which, I must thank Tony Teague for his efforts in completing and selling Pullman cars on behalf of Cancer Research and for a widow.
I'll have the loco with me at the Peterborough Show over the weekend, or anyone interested here can PM me, please.
Good Evening Tony,
I trust you are well?
Point rodding interrupted by pumpkin hollowing eh? Good job though.
Would love to know which loco's you are considering moving on, although I'm not sure my wallet will be so enthusiastic.
My Regards
Lee
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Thanks for all the positive comments about the potential for LB to be backdated next year. I definitely think it'll be on, especially with such a generous offer all round of lending stock.
One thing I'll have to watch out for is giant ornithological dung! We're very fortunate here to have daily sights of Red Kites, Buzzards and smaller raptors flying overhead. It was warm today, so I left the doors open to the railway. Perhaps our resident sparrow hawk fancied its chance of taking a blackbird and that said blackbird sought refuge inside. Why is it, after feeding our feathered friends throughout the year to ensure their survival, they repay us by sh*tting so much? Over the main line track, over the MR/M&GNER track and over the control panel. Luckily, no stock or buildings were 'bombed', and the trackwork affected was plain, but it took a fair bit of diligent cleaning to remove the 'ooze'.
What's next? I've had to remove mice, shoo off visiting cats and remove queen wasps.
Those feathered b*ggers also repay us by defecating over the cars and dive-bombing the windows (usually just after the window cleaner has finished). Yet, I'll still feed them.
Good Evening Tony
The cat from next door but one, I guess? It probably left the mouse in there as well, very good at that, just ask my folks.
Will gladly send original W1, a couple of P2's, and a C1 if of interest.
You have previously given them a once over, so they run fine.
Not correct region I know, but that U1 Garrett could come as well.
Blue, silver & green loco drive Hornby A4's, I know you've moved on your RTR loco's, but they're available.
Regards
Lee
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It is Mike!
I'm suitably admonished.
A better way of saying it would be I've lost only one since then...............
Thanks for all the comments about modes of address. If folk are happy being called all sorts of 'names' then they're right - there are more important things to worry about.
That said, I think I live in the past in some ways. At the senior school I attended all the boys were addressed by their surname. Occasionally, we'd address each other in that manner. Doesn't that seem strange now? Flogging was on the curriculum, which is even more strange today.
I once told a (new) senior master where he could go when he suggested at a staff meeting that it would be a good idea if pupils called us by our Christian names. My memory, on leaving the profession for good, was of him being 'eaten alive'! With regard to the use of the term Christian name, I refuse take the politically-correct view these days as to its (none) use. It's on my birth certificate, it was given to me on my christening and re-affirmed at my confirmation. Though I'm now an atheist, I still think it's appropriate; not that it's got anything to do with railway modelling.
This has, though. In a rush of 'architectural' modelling, I've completed the second of the wooden dwellings. Though they hardly qualify as architecture (not even in the vernacular sense), this pair of single-storey wooden homes was at LB in 1958. There was another pair across the road, but we don't have space for those. At best, though the footprint sizes are correct, these are just guesswork. Access to the rear one was via a footpath behind the pair of semis (still to be built). Fencing still has to be completed.
The 2P on the MR/M&GNR is my renumbered/modified Hornby item, hauling modified RTR/weathered RTR stock. The O2/2 on the Up minerals is my modification of a Heljan O2/3.
Seen from the lane from Witham on the Hill, an ex-works N2 scoots southwards light-engine after shopping at the Plant. This is a renumbered/detailed Airfix body for which I made a Comet chassis.
Looking from the MR/M&GNER formation, the relationship of the cottages is clear. There is still much to do with regard to the gardens - little sheds, vegetables growing, washing lines, dustbins, another privy, etc - all done by guesswork because any inhabitants of the dwellings are now long-gone. Where they're sitting (not where they're sat!!!!!) has long been a shelf for visitors to place boxes on. Not now, and I've just been painting the signpost to go in the 'V' of the junction. The site for the pair of semis is clear. In 1958, neither one had a garage.
If nothing else (at least to me), this shot 'captures' the 'wide-open' aspect that the LB team has created. Here, you've got a 13-car express (loco by John Houlden, train modified/made by me) which doesn't fill the visible scene, doesn't go round 'daft' visible bends and, if we're in a jolly mood, can go at over a scale 90 mph. In less than 32 feet, with a width at the station area of over four and a half feet, would it 'work'? Probably not.
Good Morning Tony,
I guess I come from a generation where titles are not too critical, actually some of the titles I call the lads at work I couldn't even print. (type?)
However, one of our salesmen insists on calling everyone 'chap', I hate it, drives me mad.
But then, I do genuinely believe he is a fool.
Back to Bytham, those wooden bungalows look very good. I never knew the rear one was accessed via. a pathway behind the houses.
As far as I recall, my folks place and obviously the adjoining 'semi' were built by the Midland (or the M&GN?), would the wooden bungalows have been put up at the same time, by the same company? Not sure on that.
Got a feeling my Dad told me the man that lived in his place around '58/'59 was signalman in the M&GN box.
Anyway, all looking very good, can't wait to see Station Road finished.
Best Regards
Lee
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Thanks Robin.
However, showing my complete ignorance of how this thing works, how do you know?
I dip into your 'Nod to Brent' thread from time to time and that really is the most active thread as far as I can see.
I never thought I'd be a participant in new technologies, but there you go. That said, tomorrow I'll be on more 'comfortable' ground when a chap is coming over to begin the construction of his first loco kit. I'll be acting as his tutor over the next two days, but it'll be vital that he does the work himself. He's beginning the construction of a DJH A2/2. 'Jumping in' and 'deep end' come to mind. However, since I test-built the first kit, wrote the instructions and have built well into double figures of the class from this source, then I should know how to advise him.
Having spoken with many modellers, more than one editor and a publisher in railway modelling this year, the perception seems to be that building things like a full-blown Pacific is perceived as very niche-market these days. If so, then articles around this type of thing are probably not what the publishing market is looking for. From my own point of view, it always used to be, and editors were always happy to take articles from me on building this or that loco. When I was full-time on BRM, I made it my business that I still kept writing such articles. However, things move on and the inexorable dominance of RTR has rendered kit-building less and less of a necessity. Thanks to the like of the hugely-inventive Graeme King, even an A2/2 can now be made from a Bachmann A2 conversion. They're brilliant as well, and I've photographed numerous examples. Particularly if a modeller had difficulty in making a sweet-running basic chassis, then this is the path to take if one wants a Thompson Pacific. Creating such a conversion oneself is also a hugely-rewarding process on a personal level. Is such a conversion niche as well? Perhaps?
Anyway, other than taking pictures of progress over the next two days just to let folk on here know how we're getting on, I cannot really see a 'how to' article on a 'newcomer' building a complex loco kit being on the 'want' list of editors of the mainstream magazines these days.
Any thoughts, please?
Good Evening Tony,
To be honest, I don't purchase any of the magazines anymore, unless you pass something on to my Dad, I don't see them, although I did get a copy of MRJ when Bytham was featured.
As for photographing the A2/2 build, well that would be much appreciated. I still have the one here you sold me a few years ago (6 or 7?) and will have a crack at it one of these days/weeks/years/decades.
Also have a couple of Graeme's conversion kits to have a crack at, would no doubt be a better bet for some heavy handed individual like me.
Kind Regards
Lee
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Love this, nice touch with the birds singing.
Just need a chimney stack in the background now for the brickworks!
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Good evening Tony et al,
I had another go at doing some sky and sound replacement using Jesse's gopro footage (Jesse - I hope this is ok. I've set it so you cannot view it unless you already have the link)
I was doing it on my laptop so it's not as polished as I would like, but as a bit of fun for a few hours I think it's ok, I hope you like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sMUZipjN0A&feature=youtu.be
I like this, gives an amazing atmosphere.
Any chance you could spend a few more hours on PC to do some more?!
Well done
Lee
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Tony
May I also be among the many to congratulate you on the two railway cottages - stunning additions!
I have a question about the building material. I can't tell from the photos whether the cottages were built of stone or brick though I would imagine they were the latter, based on the location and cost. The lintels do appear to be of stone, but again it is not obvious to me where such stone might have been sourced.
The adjacent goods shed certainly has the brick one associates with Eastern England, though I think the largest source of such bricks was/is at Wrotham in Kent. Bricks predominate in areas where no decent building stone was available (one exception in East Anglia and elsewhere in the south being flint as a weatherproof facing). This regional variation in building materials became more diffuse as the railways developed the means of easier transportation, particularly for its own uses. As an example, the GWR used Staffordshire Blues far from Staffordshire, mainly because of their hard wearing properties.
So, where might the LNER or its predecessor have sourced the material for the cottages? If they were built of a rose coloured sandstone where might that have come from?
Paul
PS I do mean the materials used in the original buildings, not the model!
I couldn't say where the bricks for these particular buildings came from, but Little Bytham had a brickworks for many years.
Nothing much left now unfortunately, but I can remember one of the stacks still being there when I was a kid (early 80's)
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Wonderful Tony, Bytham yard complete, would have loved to have been able to have a wander around whilst still a working station and yard.I've spent part of the morning bedding-in Bob's lovely little cottages.
Two ladies who used to live in the cottages as young girls will tell me exactly how the tiny gardens were arranged, but for now I've contented myself by just adding some grass and fencing (the latter from photographs).
I think they fit in really well.
Many folk liked the view looking south of the station in the MRJ. I've taken a similar view, but this time with Ian Wilson's lovely finished structures/buildings in place. Someone commented about the open nature of the model - 'less is more' - with no compression, selective or otherwise. I hope this view sums that up.
If I get chance tomorrow, I'll print the 2 photos off and get some comments from my Mum.
I don't think the outside kharzi and rats wandering around the goods shed made for the sweetest of memories, I am sure she will regale you the tale of the front room filling with burning soot when a chimney fire got of hand.
I think Geoff (her elder brother) as a railway mad young lad, loved every minute of it though.
Can't wait to see the finished buildings sometime.
Best Regards
Lee
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Thank you Sandra (and all the others) for your kind comments about LB in the MRJ. How LB got on to the GW main line, I do not know!
I felt a bit of a hypocrite about saying there was too much RTR (in my opinion) on layouts these days, only to find that one or two RTR locos appeared in the pictures which were chosen. Ironic, really, when they make up such a small number of LB's loco stud, but there you go.
Speaking of chosen pictures. The following are some that didn't make it into the MRJ. Apologies if some of these have appeared before.
MRJ 04 Ivatt 4 on excursion.jpg
MRJ 12 A1 on Up Afternoon Talisman.jpg
MRJ 16 V2 on freight passing 'box.jpg
MRJ 40 A2 3 and K1 through M&GNR bridge.jpg
Bob Dawson informs me that he's finished the railway cottages, so they'll be fitted in place soon.
The invitation for you to visit again is always open.
Regards,
Tony.
Good Evening Tony,
I trust you are well? Look forward to seeing photos of the yard with cottages in place.
Does that mean station and structures associated with the station yard are complete?
Kind Regards
Lee
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Yep, that's why I said 'seem', but thanks for agreeing with me .
Not sure if it would help, but on the well known internet auction site, there's a chassis in bits, might be worth a look?
If you put 'stanier tank motorized chassis' into search, it will come up. 4 days left to bid. I am not selling it, just to clarify.
Regards
Lee
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'Hi' is useful when texting as it is shorter than 'Hey up'....
'Hey up' is a particular favourite between my Dad and I, but on a text, it gets shortened dramatically to Ay up.
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DCC blanking plug
in Wanted
Posted · Edited by lee74clarke
All sorted.