SMR CHRIS

next item on the ETS 30 tank new front buffer beam and buffers with Hook draw gear installed as well a few hours so far just to get one buffer to an acceptable operating standard the casting was all over the place one Down 3 more to go thought this may have been one of the quicker jobs but fixing the casting has been a time consuming job buffer Beam is balsa wood that has been treated with CA glue to harden before being mounted Timber buffing face installed and sprung Hook draw gear One buffer fitted time for some sleep buffer 2 tomorrow

Rods modified did you machine the originals or make new ones ??

Marty your right re the Loco kits Most new ones are coming from DJH and there style has evolved making construction much easier than even the HO models were Re a starter kit ie X200 I don’t think it would work as has such limited running potential. Look at the Ixion 10 Manning waddle sold fairy poorly in AU and when on EBay often take weeks to attract a bid. From my experience most who show an interest in the scale do so for the heft of the models even on a small layout a good size loco is preferred over a small one, A case in point My Moonan Flat Layout On Running nights there are about 35 locos that are DCC fitted for the guys to chose from the little 1021 0-4-0 or Juno 0-4-0 Andrew Barkley, have never been chosen as motive power and I can tell you the 57 or 58 is often requested but as it won’t fit the head shunt it’s not a option any way, most will pick a 19 , 30, 30T, 32 or even a 38, from the larger loco steam pool of 19, 20, 25, 30 ,30T, 32, 35, 36, 50, 59, 38, 57, 58, diesel wise they can pick between 79, 48, 49, 44, 45, with the 49 being the most often picked my personal pick is the 50 for heavy goods loco but again others rarely pick it. ,I have a soft spot for the 2-6-0 25 class myself but I can’t remember the last time one of the guys picked that loco. The Auscision RTR 48 Class has proved a small Branch Line / Main line, general use loco is a winner ie 100 models Sold out basically as soon as it was delivered, now a lot of the Aus7 guys already had the kit version so, didnt get the RTR, but it sold out without them buying one so that says it’s the perfect combination model and the market was there for this size model The 49 class took a while to sell out the same with the 45 class only selling out recently after the 48 class lured a few more Modellers to the Scale. This is the loco most want to use, from a pool of 25 DCC fitted steam and is the pick form 5 C38s on the roster

Hi Bob Yes the number I picked “3039” had the coal rails fitted so is a range extended loco, as I think most of them ended up, but wasn’t one with the full height extension to the bunker, also 3039 was not fitted with electric lighting, I will add as many of its features as I find photo evidence of I need to find sone suitable tube to add the balance pipes from the 2 Side tanks that are fitted under the cab behind the steps next, as this really stands out as something missing. Also need some Clack Valves for the water top feeds on the front of the boiler I’ve looked through the spares box and come up a blank for those. Marty the Old O-Aust 30 tank kit the best part of the kit was all the lost wax castings for the detail parts, whilst it could make a nice model the majority of the body parts weren’t to a standard that made it an enjoyable kit to build after doing one I decided I wouldn’t buy one for my self as it was in no way enjoyable to build as a com and hardly worth it in the end. The ETS model whilst having some deficiencies is one that you don’t mind adding extra bits too and at a saving of $700 over the kit well worth it.

Coal Rail, Painted black looks like it should be there

ETS 30 class additions got 10 minutes to do some modelling and decided that the bunker needed coal rails added as per 3039 so these were made up from some etch sheet off cuts I’m always amazed at how long a length of material it takes to make something quite small lucky a etch I had used recently had a quite a long part and the side etching spru was 35cm long and this just covered the job of the coal rails Test fit all looks ok next to solder in place with the resistance soldering unit

Hi Bob stay well clear of that person on Facebook, he’s a fraudster I know of several people that have been defrauded buy his one time trading co, His name is Peter Grace and his girl partner Noey Poon, recently I have seen him trying to sell o scale, Shay kits on one of the Narrow Gauge FB pages I’m sure the same will occur with those, as he did with the NSW o scale Modellers who put up money for Model he never intended to deliver or delivered rubbish. He was linked to Bergs Hobbies with a CHG and LCH hoppers the LCH’s were complete duds wheels out of round they were sort of RTR but just fell apart, also if you remember the Brass RTR AD60 that bergs we’re pushing about the same time as the DJH 60 came out. Aparrently took deposits and never delivered was the same for the 24 and 30T’s Well that’s the same person, Peter Grace formaly tried to market stuff under the Redfern Models Brand mostly never delivered after deposits paid, not sure how much Bergs were in for but they have well and truly distanced them selves from Peter Grace, and Bangkok Model work shop He’s living the Asian high life with a water front property etc

Hi Marty now reset as best as possible with what is allowed only 3 lines or it won’t accept Keeps saying doesn’t meet accepted format if you exceed 3 lines.

Yes one big train Room but for a life long hobby it needs to be done properly, hopefully sooner than later We will be back to trying to find a suitable location once we get over the current challenge Shelley is fighting. A big Yes to looking forward to the day it’s underway and even more so seeing the first train run. i really want to have a

ETS 30 tank loco with Brass Numbers fitted identity confirmed as 3039 3039 is a non electric lighting, loco and has a medium height coal bunker with grated coal bunker and was chosen as it is a confirmed visitor to Newcastle and Toronto stations that will be included part of my O scale Model Railway

ETS 30 class 3019 enhancement begins 3019 will become 3039 or 3067 both loco’s that are confirmed visitors to Toronto, that will be part of my layout, so far original pad printed numbers removed wheels / motion painted, Headlights removed from front and rear. The Rear head light bracket wasn’t attached when the model was received only the wires to the light were holding it in place, once the light was removed from the lamp bracket, the bracket was soldered back in position with the resistance soldering iron and the paint touched up. the front lamp was much the same, it had been rather bent in transit and the bracket itself was stress cracked once the headlight with the wires to the LED’ that were basically holding it in position like the rear head light it simply came away luckily leaving enough of the bracket to mount one of the supplied small lamps to. Next will be to make some coal rails for the bunker from some brass and find some suitable timber for the front buffer beam. photos of the model so far looking less like a out of the box tin plate.

Marty answer to your question on wheel size they are 28.9mm for the drivers and 19.3 for the bogie wheels. and 31.7 to the top of the flange for reference on the drivers.

Hi Bob Yes the Coal Bin is really big and takes up a lot of realestate and I have a spot planned for it in the Grand Plan for my O scale layout, as a part that will represent Broadmeadow Loco and Yard, See Plan Below yes ithe bin is scratch built as a generic NSW style started by Kevin in Taree I think as something to do ( in between building contracts for HO Coal stages and bridges ) as he’s not a O scale Modeller and I’ve finished it off, hand rails for the ladder stairs will be fitted once the rest of the bin is painted. Plan for for the future Tran shed

Hi Bob I have Emailed ETS re Nickel silver Wheel sets for the 30 Tanks awaiting a answer

You are correct Marty should be flange less centre driver don’t forget this is a toy train style model however you are also right with the visual look may look odd as the wheels are slightly under size.and having all wheels flanged hides this quite well

The ETS 30 has had its number removed wow ETS must use some good yellow ink it had etched into the base metal and required a wet n dry rub to remove the imprint on the metal before I masked around the red lining and resprayed the tank with Model Master “Engine Black” 3019 is no more some etched numerals will now be fitted I just have to check class numbers to get the right loco number to detail correct as there are a couple of bunker variations. May even remove the head lights as a lot of the class weren’t fitted with electric lights. 3039 or 3067 are the two current choices for no headlights fitted locos

Hi Bob re the blackened wheels I agree they are a backward step I’m thinking due to the ETS nickel wheel profile the blackened steal may have been chosen for looks more than function. I wonder if ETS could supply a replacement wheel set with the nickel sliver wheels, a set would be a easy replacement. May be worth a email to them. The extra pickups are a good idea I have done a very similar pickup arrangement on my 30T . so far with my 30 tank a Keep Alive has been sufficient to give very smooth running of the model have yet to install sound will probably fit extra pickups when I pull the loco apart for the install

Hi Bob I got a reply from Zuzana at ETS they can supply a non clutch set up for $15 us $$ For the 30 class loco's i locked my one up using a small section of rc fuel hose on the axle behind the C clip keeps the clutch locked

Just watched all the videos Bob good stuff the layout is looking really good the Astro turf really makes a difference ps I believe a few more 30s are on order to be coming down under, and have been able to order without the clutch drive on the axle

A Big paint Job started. NSWGR 6 Bin coaling stage, with the approach ramp this is several feet, of structure. photos show where it up to before I ran out of paint I started with a couple of tubes of artists acrylics and mixed a dirty Gray /Black wash, in a good sized bottle large enough, I thought to cover the structure for a first wash,, however a large amount of the structure is made from Balsa wood so this sucked up a lot more of the wash than anticipated, I will have to buy a couple of bottles of acrylics next week to complete the job, so on hold in till a trip to the shops for more paint.

Ok re the Box of the ETS, further looking at the model some items like the side tanks are basically the same other items are definitely smaller like the boiler and foot plate and bunker re the 1/32 scale yes the carriages are more than the engines, I’d be getting another loco rather than a set of the coaches or two coaches repeated, they are only doing the non powered terminal car and a second class cars and will repeat with different decals for Buffet and first and The power generator terminal car. I won’t be getting a set, I have a couple of sides and ends ready to do a set of FS cars to run with the MHO, just need some time to build them, mail train formation will be my train rather than the Newcastle express,

A video of some Australian live Steam, NSWGR C38 Class Pacific’s Running out in the sunshine including double heading 3801-3820. Models 3801 Bowande Gas fired With Radio Control 3820 Accucraft Gas Fired 3830 Accucraft Gas Fired 3820 Accucraft Meths Fired Photo of my Streamlined 3801 and 3820 double heading

Whilst not much has been happening with the 7mm modelling the my 1/32 live steam has had a run ' this photo shows my Streamlined and unstreamlined C38 Class locos 3801 & 3820 double heading Plus a Video of 4 live steam C38’s being run includes the double heading of 3801-3820

Hi Bob The ETS 30 tank is quite a bit smaller than the Scale 7mm 30 tank that I have doesn’t look out of place on the layout Unless it’s with the 7mm scale 30 tank then it is quite noticeable. Its shorther in length and slightly narrower across the foot plate. Although the cab on the ETS is longer The box also seams to indicates it is built to 1/45 scale Two photos below first in front of a Fox FO showing it doesn’t look too out of scale second photo shows the two 30’s with the back of the bunker aligned the difference at the front is quite evident. ill post some extra in the next post since the update can only up load 2 photos per post.