D1037

I think they were a development of an English Electric type, usually fitted with a Dorman 6 pot?

This is a very interesting thread. Can't believe I've only just coe across it!

A few years ago, I had a go at making a pair of Tokenless instruments, and 3 pairs of block bells.

There no where near as nicely engineered as some of the other instruments shown in the thread, but they work. I had a go at a pair of Electric Key Token machines too, but never quite got around to finishing them, and there were plans to make two pairs of GW 43 patern(ish) Absolute Block instruments too. Really must get around to finishing them all.

On 19/10/2020 at 21:02, billy_anorak59 said:

Class 503 prints in 4mm in cruel close-up.

As stated earlier, the material is not nice to work with, but another selection might prove a lot better? Some layering evident on the print too.

 

Hope it's useful to you Rod.

 

As there’s been a fair amount of discussion over the surface finish of 3D printed models, can I offer up my experiences?

Below is a shot of a project I’m currently on with (Recreation21 O gauge GT3). The print as delivered had the same finish as Billy’s 503 (I’ve quoted it for reference, hope you don’t mind Billy). 
 

For starters ignore everything below soulbar level, we’re looking purely at the body. The tender has had three coats of halfords primer, rubbed down with 400 grit paper between coats, and two coats of Plastikote gloss rubbed down with 1000 grit paper between coats. This has produced a finish that is fair. It’s worth noting that I didn’t flat back the corridor connection on the back of the tender. This gives an idea of the difference the effort has made on the rest of the model.

On the loco a third coat of gloss has produced a good flat finish (You’ll have to take my word for it at the moment, the weather hasn’t been kind enough for me to get a photo in natural daylight yet!). 
 

In short as supplied by shapeways, the prints require a fair amount of time and effort. But good results can be had! I’ll admit though that trying to get a good finish on window frames is at best a challenge, so coaching stock will test the builders patience to breaking point!

Jonny Ward

It's a Hornby Control Rail for control fitted clockwork locos.

The centre section can slide side to side and when in the appropriate position make contact with a sprung loaded arm under the loco bringing to a stand. When the rail is slide across it releases the mechanism of the loco and off on its way it goes. The best bit though is that it formed part of the Hornby control system (Mechanically worked signals and points from an actual lever frame, just like the real thing!), and could be fitted between a frame and a signal. If arranged correctly, it could bring an engine to a stand at a signal at danger, and when the operator clears the signal, the engine starts off. 

18 minutes ago, Legend said:

...and what sort of backward community are they on Mars that use Radial Tanks, Fowler 4fs and a Coal Tank to shunt the rocket .  Where’s the Triang Battlespace Turbocar when you need it . 

I have my Dad's Triang collection in the loft, including quite a sizeable Transcontinental fleet. But neither of us where really bitten by the Battlespace bug. Although I did on several occasions nag ask if we could have turbocar, we never did get hold of one. Perhaps I should make amends and purchase one.... And a snipper car to go with the giraffe car. And a search light car, oh and the rocket launcher....... 

8 hours ago, MarkSG said:

Quite apart from the fact that it all ran flawlessly, I was impressed that the Alpine layout included actual shunting and meaningful train movements rather than just running things round in a circle.

What you didn't see in the demonstration for New London, after the passenger train arrived it uncoupled and ran round it's train, all without the aid of the hand from the sky. I'll admit we did chicken out trying to shunt the freight in the goods yard (Ran out of time to fit and set up the uncoupling ramps!), but it does work as small shunting layout. Albeit one on a different planet!

Jonny, team M&GN

1 minute ago, Mattc6911 said:

Just watched episode 4. . Did that just say episode five is on tomorrow night ? Sat 5th ?

Yes, yes it did.