george stein

Good (if complex) advice. If it helps, loco is Hornby R3552 "Aberporth Grange" 6860. George North Carolina

Hornby loco to tender wiring loom (x6113) to be replaced after all wires pulled from plug. So, cannot trace which two wires to motor and which two wires to pickups. (Don't want to fry decoder!) So, anyone who has used Hornby replacement wiring loom x6113, Please advise on which wires where. Thank you. George North Carolina

Thanks. Will do careful check of wheel pickups and back-to-back.

Installed a Hornby "Hall" TTS decoder in the Hornby "Large Prairie." Works fine on regular track and double slips. However, when crossing a Peco Insulfrog turnout (either direction) the momentary power interruption stalls the loco; it sits for about five seconds and restarts from startup mode. Very strange. Clearly not supposed to happen. Is there something about TTS I don't know like, for example, don't use insulfrog turnouts? Any ideas? Thanks. George North Carolina

Thanks for helpful comments. Another question: would not two 8 ohm speakers wired in SERIES be better for producing more sound with less demand on the speakers? Never quite understood the series vs parallel dual speaker wiring issue. ?? George North Carolina

Writing from the USA. Several years ago there was a fair bit of discussion on using I-phone speakers, especially from I-phones # 4 and 5, as DCC sound speakers. So, in November 2021, we're up to I-phone #13. To those forum members who research such things: have any of the speakers since # 4 & 5 demonstrated improvement, equivalence, size advantage, etc. The older 4 & 5 are getting both more expensive and hard to find. Thanks George North Carolina

I have been gifted, from a closed shop, a Dapol OO scale green a4. No paperwork, etc. I thinks it's supposed to be the "Golden Eagle." What kind of decoder did they use? (No reply from Dapol!) I'm asking as I have read that Dapol uses "Lais" decoders, which other fora "suggest" are illegal Chinese version of the US TCS decoders. TCS says Lais are bootleg and the company has blocked import to both the UK and USA. So, does anyone know what decoder is in the Dapol a4 and should I consider replacing it? Thanks. George North Carolina

Thank you both for the helpful replies. George

Leaving aside the otherwise good & bad of the Bachmann 60' Collette coaches, should the bogies have a "strengthening bar" linking the wheel boxes added to improve the basic looks of the model. Thanks, George North Carolina

Writing from the USA, so excuse the ignorance. Pictures of signal boxes, especially in Big-4 era, often show a bar or rod across the face of the upper level windows. Was this standard? Purpose??, etc. (basically it looks an easy way to improve the looks of a signal box kit on the layout.) George North Carolina

The box art of the old Keil Kraft plastic kit of the Thorneycroft parcel van claims the kit is 1/72 scale. One would expect it to be 1/76 or OO scale. Was this a box art misprint or is the kit actually 1/72? That would be too bad as it's a nice GWR lorry. George North Carolina Stay Covid safe.

I know this is an opinion/experience question but I'll ask anyway. Most commonly it is recommended to give painted OO figures a final coat of clear flat (e.g., Dullcoat). I have tried both semi-flat (too close to dead flat in my opinion) and satin (e.g. Humbrol or Vallejo). In my opinion -- clearly noted as opinion --I find satin seems just a bit more realistic -- especially under the artificial lighting we use for layouts and exhibitions. In passing, I also use satin for the painted parts (not metal like radiators) of Oxford Diecast autos. Looks less toy-like at viewing distance. So......, please share your opinions/experience on figure and vehicle final finishes. Thanks George North Carolina

Were there distinctive Big Four type wagons exclusively for War Department use in the inter-war period? Distinctive livery & markings?

As the constable said to the solicitor, "evidence trumps advice." Pretty clear evidence that coloring strips by any method trumps leaving them white. Thanks George North Carolina

For those using Scalescenes roofing tiles, do you color (e.g. light grey) the exposed white lower edge of each individual strip? Or is it not worth the effort as the white serves to mimic reflected light and thus adds depth? Advice please. George North Carolina

Thank you all for prompt & helpful replies. Forgot about quick wipe with damp cloth. Question obviously inspired by trying to work on layout during this time of enforced idleness. Keep safe guys. George North Carolina

This is a question, not a complaint. I'm wondering if Roket Card Glue "goes off." As I am not skillful enough to avoid all drops & runs, it bothers me that Roket Card Glue seems to dry in a bright amber color rather than clear (like PVA). Impossible to remove without tearing the paper. Is this normal, or might I have "stale" glue? Just asking your experience. George North Carolina

Quick reply. See the photograph in the aforementioned Miss Prism reference to a previous thread. It's an impressive inspiration for anyone working on the underside of a C-C, Slaters, Parkside, Cambrian, or Ratio wagon. Really informative. George North Carolina

Thank you for prompt and helpful reply. George North Carolina

The old OO scale Coopercraft GWR V4 Mink kits (of which I still have a few) provide a sprue with lever brakes as well as the DH brake handle. Is this merely a "generic" sprue to fit various Coopercraft wagons or is it appropriate (for the mid-1930s) to use the lever brake handle with this kit? Looking a pictures on line,and especially with GWR wagons brakes, I suspect the answer will be "God only knows." Thanks George North Carolina

Ah, air brakes. Of course. And yes, I have the Cambrian tie rods which I intend for the Ratio air-braked wagons. Thanks all for informative replies. George North Carolina

Among OO scale kits, the Ratio Mink wagons have bracing rods between the axle boxes. The Cooper Craft and P-D (now Peco) do not. Two questions: (1) is there a basic logic to which vans received bracing rods and (2) were wagons "retrofitted" with bracing rods? Basically, the rods visually improve a wagon and I was wondering about their general use. Thanks George North Carolina p.s. stay safe during these trying times

First, thanks for the replies. Second, as ColHut asked, "as if from different kits." So, stupid me realizes that I'm looking at one wall exterior and the other wall - interior. There is no fault with the kit - just failing eyes at 76. Hah.

Recently received a Parkside-D kit (#69) RCH PO wagon side and end door version. The side walls had only one (1) side piece provided with the heavy-duty iron work on the non-door end. Is this a defective kit? Otherwise, it's a nice kit. Has anyone else discovered this? George North Carolina

Gentlemen: One of the best things about this forum is that (generally) we avoid what we in the USA call "religion and politics." So, back to brakes on Dapol, Oxford Rail, etc. rolling stock. Thanks for the informative comments. Speaking of the Gingertwit and his idea that modern lightbulbs are what makes him look orange (true, he really said that), I have discovered that using Krylon matte UV protecting spray helps preserve your Metcalfe and downloaded cardstock buildings better than plain matte sprays. Seems to help resisting the flourescent lights we often use. George North Carolina