Rich Papper

Quick update: new wire from DCC Concepts. Has all been sat running for three hours without incident with all lights on, old locos, all lights blazing. Not sure what else I can do to test it - hasn't put a foot wring since using new wire. Paranoid about getting to next show and it giving up early in the day though... Now have a spare short wire and spare power supply, but short of carrying two of everything not sure what more one can do. Rich

It's my first issue to be honest. I bought a longer flat cable so I could operate from either side when I moved home - I forget who from, but it was a custom job and not an NCE branded one. In fairness that means it has done at least ten years of being used at exhibitions and then being coiled up and shoved in and out of a box. Accidentally left the test rig (module where power goes in and loco sat on rollers) on when I went out earlier so has happily run for another five hours without incident. Will test again before the Thornbury show when I get a new wire, but I can't now see that it can have been anything else. Thanks billywhizz, will have a look at DCC Concepts. Rich

Update. Have found a curly NCE wire and managed to restore life to the handset. Left it plugged in with a loco running on rollers for three hours without issue, so am assuming it is the wire. The same curly one I found also seems to connect it OK to the home layout as an additional throttle. Just need to find a longer one from somewhere now. Any recommendations welcome. Rich

Hello All Just piecing the bits back together after a great show last weekend in Stafford. Would like to say the layout performed faultlessly, but... Anyway, a few photos. New bubble gar debut for L120. This is the new Bachmann model (reduced bargain from Kernow), now weathered. Ran very well in a consist with L124. Not sure what to do with the other one now. I have a Hornby one that I detailed and added lights etc. Retire for parts I guess. Was careful not to mix eras with this. Think they need to be at least 6 years apart! Eddie made an appearance, but now close up pictures like this make me wonder more about the Accurascale one. If I don't go for the green now when will they run it again? Only repainted last year with all the details and bits. Despite a slightly uneven floor, did manage to get the layout quite well aligned. It wasn't built to be an exhibition layout so the top layer doesn't have alignment dowels - it relies on M8 bolts. I have had instances where its been a struggle to get it all on the level even with the adjustable feet. Worst was when upstairs in a timbered building where the whole floor moved whenever anyone walked past! No such problems at Stafford though. Then the DMUs. Did feel slightly bad that I still haven't got around to weathering the Bachmann 117 for an appearance, but most comments were more about the home made / bashed together variants not offered RTR. BUT we had a failure. Fortunately it happened at 4:10 on the Sunday afternoon and not sooner, but for some reason the Powercab that runs the top layer of the layout gave up. Never had any problems before, and in fairness I have had it nearly 14 years, but the screen went blank and the red light on the panel went out. Early days with diagnostics - need to get it figured out before the Thornbury show though. I don't think it is the power supply as all the lights on the layout stayed on, and I can't see why that would fail. I could plug the Powercab into the home layout (Procab) as an additional throttle, but I want to make sure I don't spread whatever problem is there somewhere else. Could be the cable, but I can't tell the difference between the 4 or 6 wire ones and I'm not sure which I'm supposed to use in each instance anyway. Might have to resort to reading the instructions! Stay safe. Rich

Fantastic work. I like the wall tiles by the gate line especially. Rich

JS Models has a few warehouses in 7mm: https://www.jsmodels.co.uk/home/O-Gauge-7mm-Kits-c63279568?offset=6 Rich

Can sometimes feel like it!

Fantastic weekend. I don't think I've ever been so well looked after at a show before. Friendly stewards on hand for everything and scouts bringing me endless buckets of tea. On behalf of myself and my mini-me (who somehow picked up a show invitation for a layout he hasn't built yet), a massive thank you to all involved. Rich

Oxford Road is in the car. Very excited. Right next to the uneven floor - it will be me that falls over! Rich

At risk of looking an idiot (I know...too late), may I ask a flange squeal question? Might be someone on here could explain this at my level or someone from Accurascale if you have a chance. So, I understand the principle - sensor above bogie detects rotation and plays in the flange squeal noise on the sound fitted examples. Two questions I suppose: is this adjustable by either angle or speed? i.e. for those of use with a few unavoidable trainset radius curves, is it going to squeal on every corner if the sound is on even at line speed with a full train? Or does this only kick in at lower speeds when shunting through points? Since most of us have points that are much shorter radius than most in the big world. Could one adjust the settings so that the squeal only occurred when under a certain speed? Or tweak the angle that the trigger detects at? Thanks for any ideas. Thinking of this and the 50. Rich

You'll soon have it back together. Hope the move went well. Rich

I'll be there with Oxford Road (assuming I can find all the bits!). Apologies if I can't get a word in edgeways with anyone who wants one - my other operator is 7 and already far too excited. Rich

Fantastic work. I've recently picked up an L120 for a bit of dirtying up - but I'm not sure my fingers will allow me to do the bits of wire! That Rainbow Railways blue is good though - can't tell where the joins are from the pictures. I too have a DPU lined up to run with mine, but I think I might need to do some speed matching first as the difference between the weight and power of the Heljan 128 compared to one of these is quite striking. The Bachmann unit could be flat out in the opposite direction and the Heljan 128 would still drag it along. Rich

I too ballast and weather the track before adding the third rail - also Peco code 60 and their pots. I also tend to recess them a little further into the sleeper end by drilling one small hole through for the locating peg, and then about 3/4mm in with a larger bit to slightly recess the collar under the insulator. Another vote for super-blue before adding too. Can then waft over with a bit more weathering when all the other bits are in place. Don't forget to add the cables that connect lengths of rail. I use solder wire glues on and painted matt black. Currently working on side protection boards for station areas. Good luck. Rich

Very sad to hear and echo sentiments above - a thoroughly nice chap. Thoughts with all who knew him. Rich

On a 117 they're definitely under the cab floor somewhere. Santa specials at the GWSR used to use a 117 set and cab visits were allowed for little people. On one my son was told to sound the horn at a foot crossing and nearly jumped a foot in the air at the sound of it. Rich

There was only one GWR bubble and it was one of the first repainted into NSE so it didn’t carry it long. According to the railcar site it was already in NSE by Oct 87. Rich

But very smooth riding. I remember a couple of trips from Boulogne to Paris and back on family holidays and seeing what we could balance on the air-con vents by the window as the train pulled away. I'm sure good track helped too, either way a different experience to the 4-CEP that got us to our side of the channel. Rich

Yep, definitely Gare de Lyon. Great to see, thanks for sharing. I have some of a similar vintage in the loft somewhere. Maybe inspiration for a layout one day… Rich

This looks like a great plan. One day I'll manage the 'less is more' principle, but not got there yet. Looking forward to seeing the boards. Good luck. Rich

Looking rather good Ian. This picture my favourite. The depth and range of colours just fits together so nicely: the deeper greens of the shrubbery on the embankment to the lighter greens of the weeds between the lines. Very nice sir. Rich

I’d love D400 too. Is it just me or is this sample missing the cab front handrails…

Looking brilliant as usual. Careful with the door bangers. I've left a few different in the past. Always think I'll get away with it, then I start painting the NSE stripes... Looking forward to more. Rich

If any consolation for those who haven't got theirs yet, mine came and was hidden by my wife before I got home so my children can give it me for fathers day!! I suppose that doesn't stop me ordering another though... Rich

Hi Ian You may well have twisted my arm there. Of course I could always get a second one and paint that ... (and re-mortgage the cat). The destination blinds I did were for a variety of older conversions like the Limby 121, 115 and 119 I bashed about and were made from two rectangular LEDs with a tiny styrene box built around them and then a printed blind on the front. Could use the same sheet to stick over the Bachmann light if you could get their printed one off. I've attached the Word doc I made mine on below if of any help as a starting point - easily editable. I did a variety of sizes and boldnesses (?) to see what came out the printer best and printed on glossy photo paper. Didn't need to be glossy, but my printer seems to be finer on this. I will do mine when I have it apart. For a top neat job I'd have a look at Will's (@dj_crisp) changing of those on his (and plenty of DMU conversion inspiration) - his post here. Looking forward to seeing it. Rich DMU Destination Blinds.docx