jcredfer

I really like the alleyway, very clever addition of depth. Regards Julian

Brilliant picture, it captures the mood wonderfully. I don't suppose you'd like to re-lay a 6 x 4 roundy?? ... Hat Coat, staggers to the door! Regards Julian

Temporary wiring was used to test the TT motors, which has now been replaced. The Decoder is now permantely soldered in, as are the TT Bridge power connections and a Resistor, Capaciter Filter [the little blue job on the Well floor] added to the TT Bridge connections, to safeguard against spikes which may be formed as the Bridge Rail contacts slide round to change the polarity of the Bridge rails. The power supply connects through a screw type choccy block connector, attached to the brass arm [right side in the picture]; all the remaining connections are soldered to connectors fixed to the Motor Unit. It is now possible to remove the Motor Unit in it's entirety, leaving the DCC power wire input soldered to the TT Bridge, in the centre of the Well. {NB. The polarity change is needed as when the loco drives onto the TT Bridge, the left-hand side of the loco will be on a positive supply rail, but when rotated through the 180 deg, the left-hand side of the loco will be facing the opposite [negative charge] rail. But you all knew that didn't you.} Topside looks like this and and rotates very quietly indeed. LMR 2-8-0 Austerity got a celebtatory turn, just to be sure and check the TT Bridge rail connections. Actually, it got several... Sshhh!!! Regards Julian

Nope, I don't think he did it out of any sense of naivety... but much as your second comment, save I would add bullying, Julian

No. But then, I wouldn't have ordered whalemeat in the first place. Just another simple lack of awareness from Clarkson. Regards Julian

Indeed so, I'm well aware of means to introduce acceleration and deceleration, after a single accessory selection and have a full set of DCC Concepts details on how, thanks to Richard. However, the bridge will still go at a set speed, regardless of load. All of which has nothing to do with the point that Indexing was not like the methods the full size turntables used. Just to be clear, Indexing doesn't replicate how the full size ones were and still are operated, but if you want to spend time and money Indexing, rule No. 1 applies, enjoy. Regards Julian

It was, indeed. Julian

Belgrano, was only one of the many tasks carried out at the time, your reference to their ability to move with "little" trace, was why and how they achieved the tasks. Regards Julian Edit, add "why"

A submarine is out there to do a job, in the defence of it's country. It is equipped with whatever weapons are seen to be suitable for the craft and it's duties. A Nuke carries many systems, personnel and weapons to operate in it's role as a RN submarine and is certainly not limited in it's range of tasking to, simply, throwing nuclear missiles around the landscape. Those systems, personnel and weapons {and anything else those sailors / RM see fit to use, in combat} are, in no way limited on intent for use - with the exception of the "big bang," which is strictly controlled, quite rightly. Whilst the next Warspite "may" not ever gain another battle honour, it will not be limited by the fact that it carries a number of "big bangs". If it suits the Admiralty to give that new vessel a task that doesn't involve throwing "buckets of sunshine," they will also expect that the crew will do whatever it takes to achieve a successful result {which they are famous for being very good at doing}. It is naive to think that any weapon, personnel or equipment onboard would have been provided 'only' for defence purposes. I hope that none of those capabilities are never required, "BUT!!", I am absolutely confident that any crew aboard the future Warspite will continue to operate in the, highly honourable, way their predecessors did. Regards Julian

The subs are not completely Nuke and have a standard conventional capability as well. Belgrano was testament to that capability. Regards Julian

I knew there was something I had missed - of course, it's so clear now! - There was bound to be an Initiation to the Rivet Counter Lodge. Leg-pulling aside, it is an odd mistake for them to make, as someone must have stared at pictures {plans?} to produce the models, yet not get the signs right. Perhaps a lack of the correct model signs currently available?? Regards Julian

As a sort of aside, I do rather wonder about the desire for Indexed control for a turntable. We do all sorts of things to make our train sets look, sound and operate like the full size versions {apparently made as prototypes for our 1:76 inadequates}. Where turntables are modelled, there seems to be a wish to control them with a system which wasn't anywhere like typical of the full size ones. Turntables were variously powered by human muscle, Loco vacuum, Loco steam, external electric / IC {?} motor etc. The decision about where the turntable stopped was, in all these cases, a decision made by the operator. Also, Indexing sets the Bridge rotating at a set speed, until the expected destination, at which point it stops just as abruptly as it started. That would hardly have been how a large Bridge, containing an even heavier Loco, might have commenced or completed it's traverse. Indexing seems an expensive way to replicate operations that were not typical of how they were achieved on full size versions. Regards Julian

DCC Concepts do small bottles of liquid Sapphire No Clean flux, in 50 cc bottles. Easy to use and very effective, also non-acid, hence no clean. I have used it for several years and would have to have considerable factual evidence to change it for anything else. Regards Julian

A male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. A young student nurse appears and gives him a partial sponge bath. "Nurse,"' he mumbles from behind the mask, "are my testicles black?" Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, "I don't know, Sir. I'm only here to wash your upper body and feet." He struggles to ask again, "Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?" Concerned that he might elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worrying about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers. She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles gently in the other. She looks very closely and says, "There's nothing wrong with them, Sir. They look fine." The man slowly pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly, "Thank you very much. That was wonderful. Now listen very, very closely: Are - my - test - results - back?" Julian

The inkjet ones are pretty useless, they weren't even in direct sunlight. The pre-printed stuff has to be much better. I have some reservations about some of the ordinary house brick plastic efforts, as they seem to overdo the mortar depth a bit. on another Forum, someone did a little calculation on just how small the depth of Pointing would actually be at 1:76, almost invisible to the eye. I think there may be a slightly different point to make about it, on very old neglected building, 'though. I do like the stone plastic ones, which can be very realistic. Regards and enjoy the sun, it hasn't been much in evidence here for a while. Julian

Many ... many years ago, I was very privileged to have a 2 week course on operating railways, at LMR {Longmoor Military Railway}. One of the lectures was about efficiency of various types of fuel. The figures at the time, were Steam = 3%, Diesel = 4%, Electrickery = 5%. HOWEVER, the Army {note, not MoD} were more aware of what was being said. Steam, coal into the firebox produced 3%, Diesel into thumper produced 4%, Electrickery into electric motor 5%. Is anyone else up with the false comparison here? The Army did, way back then, the figures were LOCO efficiency. Steam, "fuel" to performance, Diesel, "fuel" to performance, Electricity, loco "pick-up" to performance! {Figures at the time suggested that the energy drop, from "fuel" source, along power lines / power rails was such that 7% of it was available at the pick-up contacts.} I am only too well aware that in the intervening years each of the energy sources has improved efficiency and environmental developments. I would be interested in seeing what the Fuel to performances add up to now. I would also be interested in which FUEL produces the least overall environmental impact, for any particular performance. Just a thought. Regards Julian

Maybe a bit clearer in this one. The lighter red section, under the green Pooch tub, is the original inkjet colour, as it sits behind the goods shed wall. The green, faded sections to the right are a true colour of the fade. Regards Julian

I did the printed paper bit and only 5 years later, I ended up with a green wall, instead of red brick. {Some might say I shouldn't have left it outside by the hedge, but I didn't - honest, just light through the windows.} I had to replace the paper on the wall and chose Backscenes self adhesive paper. The picture shows the difference.

My mouse was just wandering, as lonely as a King, [should have been a Castle, but it didn't rhyme] I hovered on my avatar, It wasn't quite your wish for news, but found a content counter. Which only gave the views. Grief, I must be older than I thought - why didn't you lot let me know??? Regards Julian

Blimey, that's advanced, I can't even find the spell-checker. Regards Julian

I seem to remember that the Oakhampton - Plymouth route is still present, beyond Oakhampton; not rails, but the route. A simgle line, with frequent passing places would be better than the B**** All, when the seaside route is not available. It would also serve as a freight route, to ease the coastal traffic. I'm no less sceptical about Gov't than the previous couple of posters, 'though. Regards Julian

A little more progress.. The inside of the Well is now wearing it's basic coat and will get a misting of dirt and a ring of ash dust where the firebox passes around the Well. The 3 x drain grids stood just over 1.5mm above the surface of the Well base. That didn't look at all good, even 'though most grids vary above or below the level of the surface they drain, dependant on how many pints the workman had for lunch, 6 inches really didn't look right. I turned them over onto some Blue Tac and applied a coarse emery board to the under side of each grid. They now lie at a more reasonable level. The outer lip is due a coat of cement colour soon and the polarity change ring can then be fitted. The polarity change ring made a couple of clicks as the Bridge spring-contacts went over the 2 gaps, between the copper contacts on the ring. There were 2 plastic pillows, presumably to lift each of the contacts away from the contact it was leaving, but when it had passed over the pillow, it came down with a clunk on the other side. I tried to rub the pillow down, as it really wasn't that large, but that wasn't as easy as it sounds, causing some damage to the copper strips. I then applied some Revell liquid plastic glue and left it to melt / soften the plastic pillows. The flat side of a screwdriver was pulled across the pillow from the outer side, towards the centre, which pretty much flattened the pillows. I now have to hope the rounded ends on the contacts will not bridge the gaps between the copper strips. Regards Julian

I have one and it is a very nice kit, as far as I am aware, still available. Information about motors, noise and fitting them, is discussed here https://www.dccconceptsforum.com/post/mister-rustys-workbench-dcc-peco-turntable-control-9914890?&trail=30 These are not the only options, of course, but if you turn the sound on with the video comparisons of the motors, you can get a good idea of what might suit you. One of the important topics mentioned is the turntable sagging with locos placed on the turntable. I found a small amount of flash along the floor joins [it needed a magnifying glass to spot it] which left the walls and the top lip with 3 small gaps. The gaps prevent the continuity of the circle formed by the wall and top lip, removing the structural integrity and strength of the intended circle. Any appreciable weight on the Turntable would allow these gaps to close together, which, in turn allows the walls to partially collapsed inwards, hence the floor of the turntable sagging. With the flash removed, the sides fit together and form a strong structure, which will take the weight of a loco with ease. Hope this is of assistance. Julian

Phew!! I'm glad Dunster Castle is still there and I hadn't missed such a huge project. This old age thing can cause so much confusion at times, you just never know. I even thought I fell out of bed last night and had to get out to have a look! You will be aware that a discarded [extinguished!] match or cigarette can continue to smoulder for the best part of a week, before an appropriate draught of wind can set it into flame again. I am very glad that wasn't something we had to witness. Back to the layout, I approve the layout Castle move and look forward to seeing how the Queen likes the new home in Somerset. Regards Julian

Looks quite like Dunster Castle, interesting place, but I don't remember seeing the move "oop narth", in the news. Last time we were there [Dunster] they had a mock Roundhead / Cavalier battle on offer. Before the event a few were checking their muskets and one had a missfire, and tried to get the matchlock to work, [Yes I know most Civil War muskets were flintlock, but I suppose there must have been some older matchlocks, due to expense.] - blowing on the fuse, re-priming the pan each time, adjusting it etc Having fiddled about with the hot end and given it every opportunity to light a smoldering ember in the barrel from the Pan flashes, he then turned it round to take a long look down the barrel!!!! My daughter was about 6 at the time and not wishing her to experience quite such a dramatic demonstration of the energy released when gunpowder burns in a musket barrel, we left, quickly. Regards Julian