Nergle

Popping in from Western Australia? Fair point No reply to email and shop in decline? Well maybe they are in decline a bit. The conversation that I had with Philip did explain the problem regarding the website. Not of their making. They are a small two-person outfit and the admin of running a model shop that includes online sales added to the restrictive practices of some of the bigger suppliers simply makes it not worthwhile. A shame but I did get it. That's why I said don't give up on them and call them instead - you know speak with a human instead of bashing a keyboard!

Mike's Models are a range of whitemetal kits sold by Holt Models in Bishopston (just outside Swansea) The range of models was inherited from Mike Sharman - hence the name - but still made and sold by Holt's Holt's are fully functional but their website isn't. And won't be. Ring them or pop in and ask them to explain - I felt it was valid Don't give up on Holt's!

So I popped into Holt's a week or so ago (late September 2019) whilst in the area... They are still trading. You may find that their slightly peculiar opening times/days (0900-1200 & 1400-1630, M-Th & Sa) is why they can seem difficult to get hold of... Their website is defunct and will remain that way. You can always call them (01792 232264), email them or pop-in and see them Their listing on UK Model Shop Directory is still valid Don't lose heart with Holt's! Their reasons for not being able to buy through a website felt valid to me when explained - give them a ring and ask them! Whilst there, I bought quite a few bits and pieces including two new Bachmann 4Fs for £80 which struck me as being very good value!

Clans are so unsung and enigmatic. What's not to like? When I get the chance, I'll post photos of the 5 Hornby ones that I have - all weathered and all southern region... So that's Hengist and Horsa, Wildfire and Wildbrand along with Canute. Why the southern needed 5 more class six pacifics is anyone's guess, but they do look good Anyone done any of the Northeastern batch never built?

You may not be an actual member of TDMRC, but honorary by association and hard graft I feel Jon! Thanks for everything, as the Albany and a couple of future builds have moved ahead far faster with your kind assistance

Hi Budgie Your two attached articles answer why we're using lightbulb overload devices. They were recommended by a friend who is installing them on his large DCC layout (he uses ZTC/Taunton Controls kit) Remember that this is an exhibition layout; that means that I want minimum disruption to operation, hence the up/down DCC supply split. The theory is that we could experience a minor and brief short which, with the lightbulbs, will result in the bulb glowing/lighting momentarily (electrically absorbing the short) but preventing the Command Station/Booster from tripping (stopping everything in that direction). Obviously if we get a dead short, then the bulb will light and the DCC kit will overload. The bulbs are intended to create smoother and more reliable operation. If you look at your attached articles, one of them recommends Digitrax PM42 units (we did consider these) - these are in effect the same as the bulb, but in the form of a breaker - i.e on or off and you are simply subdividing your layout as you would your house. What the bulb does is to smooth current peaks because of the time taken to heat the filament. All electrical systems have a degree of tolerance; because our electrical load (the train) is moving, shorts can occur very briefly and sometimes having an overload system that is too sensitive (too quick) to shut down is a blessed nuisance as the wiring/motor etc can cope with the small spike in current. Where a short is more serious, both the bulb and the system overload, saving the chip and other delicate electronickary Just in case you were wondering, the bulb holders are car light bulb holders with 21W low voltage bulbs - if you want to know a more technical description and source, I'll post that if it'd be helpful? So that's the theory; the proof will be in the pudding! And if you have checked messrs Bachmann and Hornby back-to-back tolerances recently, you'll know that they are erratic; that's where I expect to get our problems/shorts from! All the best

Hi Silver Sidelines I am repainting/upgrading a couple of B-sets for a friend - a couple of things I found: The 'short' buffers are right for the outer ends (brake ends). The inner ends generally did not have outside buffing gear, but often a single centre buffer (like older SR EMUs had) and were coupled with a variety of bar couplings Bogies also vary with possibly three different types on different batches and during the vehicles' life BR livery is as already stated on your thread - the issue is weathering especially of red paint So I am keeping the short bogies (rewheeled as you have), I will weather the underframes and roofs, the bodies are already repainted and renumbered and we've installed a few passengers I found (on Google) a couple of cracking photos of the variation in coupling arrangments - type in b set couplings into Google (images) and towards the top are two really useful photos... The other thing about these ex-Airfix coaches is the generic underframe - lacking full brake gear and dynamo... Nice job on yours btw. Hope that's helpful Nick

I have just built a larger signalbox from two of the 1990 version of the Hornby kit - suitably painted and with a little extra detailing, this has gone together easily and neatly to create a lovely model, larger than the out-of-the-box kit. Assuming that the Gaugemaster kits use similar plastics (depends on what the moulds will accept I guess), then these kits are fine. They're not up to the latest Ratio/Wills standards but then they're cheaper and of differing prototypes. I also have a small collection of the footbridge kits awaiting completion of some platforms on which to mount them! Good luck!

We've built London Road Bridge, but not fully finished it - it needs further painting and a whole host of details (drain covers, the tramlines, fencing, trolleybus o/h, downpipes etc) added to it. I'll get an image uploaded soon as, but they're too big just at the mo I keep threatening to arrange an exhibition date as a deadline to work towards for the group but haven't done so yet but I guess that we are looking for a first outing in 2016 - so please do come and look at our rendition and say cor! I remember those! Back to the model - we're in the process of re-fitting Tortoise point motors using C&L adapter bases. Time consuming as there is quite alot to do to get these fitted and working smoothly, and we have just under 30 points to do. Alongside Twickenham is a 14-road fiddleyard being built too I the meantime, I am continuing with research for Twickenham Junction so just to ask again; anyone got any good pictures of the goods yard at Twickenham? An elusive subject. I have a follow-up article in Southern Way 29 due out in January 2015 which includes some information but not alot. We're doing the research for that part of the station at the moment so anything new would be great!

Thanks ever so for the information on the tramlines on London Road Bridge, and especially the photograph. We have two pictures and, amazingly, a very short piece of film of a trolleybus coming over the old bridge in the late 50s/early 60s. We always knew that the tramlines were in situ but buried beneath tarmac (we have some 1964 images of the old bridge being demolished). Your post has prompted me to go back and look again at our images and you are right that the rails are visible in places particularly on the bridge approaches. I suspect that it will be a matter of wear and tear and the date you pick to look at the bridge - in other words because the tarmac wore very quickly (as it doesn't adhere to steel) the rails will have come and gone under a flurry of repairs for the best part of 12 years! We are debating how to replicate the tramliines, probably on the crown of the road - most likely using a 'B' pencil. For those interested, we're also just beginning to create the trolleybus o/h using aluminium tube, beads and wire - more to follow... Anyone got any good pictures of the goods yard at Twickenham? An elusive subject. I have a follow-up article in Southern Way 29 due out in January 2015 which includes some information but not alot. We're doing the research for that part of the station at the moment so anything new would be great! Thanks all