David Bigcheeseplant

I do know most of the variations as I have the two volumes of the Wild Swan autocoach books it is really the control gear which I need to find the variations on. have now printed the rear autogear which has come out well as per the photos, prices are in 4mm scale £7.50 just for the driving end and £14 for the driving end and language end. In 7mm scale the prices are £13 for the driving end and £24 for both. I need to check postage rates to see if the boxes I will collect tomorrow will be large letter or a small parcel. The auto control rod I have modelled up against the end of the coach I can amend it down to show it connected up, although I am going on that when running on the layout the crew didn't bother linking it up as it was too much hassle.

Hi Bill have you a 4'10" or 4'11 tyre David

I have now drawn up the rear autogear and am doing a test print 4mm and 7mm scales now. I have been looking at photos books and MRJ 8 where Mike Clark did drawings of the diagram A30 & A28 It seems the Control rod on the A30, A38, A39, A40 and A43 ran on one side only while on the A28 and I expect A27 and A28 it changed sides half way along the coach so at the rear end the arm to this will be at a different side, so I may have to do a couple of variations .

Some more prints with some red primer I have added the tension spring and the control rod and I think this is as far as I go with any tweaks. I am looking to get some cardboard tubes to post these, and have started to batch print now. so once I know costings of P&P I will be in contact with people who have placed orders. David

After a number of requests I have scaled the print up for 7mm scale, these prints failed on one of the linkages but I can sort that out, i worked fine on yesterdays print but I did make some changes. The cost of the 4mm versions are £7.50 plus postage I need to cost the price for the 7mm version. I only went live with these last night and already have quite a few orders, I think my printer will be busy! David

As fitted to the autocoach.

Mike Trice has printed some wheels centres off in a harder machinable resin, Also the 9F wheels he has popped a Romford style axle fixing although I can do this or a standard 1/8" 3mm or what ever size plain axle is required. David

Second print run with some mods, I really can't believe how fine I managed to get these printed, the little 0.2mm hole where the control gear links to the next coach has been printed plus a hexagonal bolt head! I really don't think I could get these finer by etching. Now to work up the bits under the luggage end. What is good about these is that is a simple one piece part that glues straight on to the underside of the floor.

I Just printed off the autogear and other than a few minor tweeks it fits under the driving end really well, I was going to redraw the parts for an etch but looking how this D print came out as a single piece I think I may just stick with the D print as its probably finer than soldering up an etch and a piece of cake to stick it in place too, I will now draw up the bits for the other end. Once I have these I will offer the parts for sale please let me know those who are interested. David

Its been a while but I managed to get to Didcot to look at and measure the autocoach control gear on the steam railmotor tailer 93 and autocoach 190, unfortunately autocoach 231 was locked away in the paint shop. There are differences between the auto gear on 93 and 190 so I have used 190 as the basis of my design. Next up I will 3D print what I have drawn and if it fits draw it up for an etch. The idea is that it can be built up on a baseplate then stuck to the underside of the floor of the Bachman model. I still need to draw up the control gear for the non driving end too. David

This is the Peckett wheel with a 3'2" tyre, I can make these centres for Ultrascale tyres athougth there is not a lip at the front of the tyre for the centre to locate up to. Although this would give a finer edge to the tyre. David

Man of the world is still one of my fav songs. It does seem most of the guitar players of Fleetwood Mac seemed to have issues Peter Green, Danny Kerwin, Jeremy Spencer and even Lindsay Buckingham. David

Thanks for these dims I will keep playing, the render below shows the wheel at 3'3" 1/2

Hi Mike Not yet I have a few I can try although these are printed with Egloo standard, what would you recommend? David

I am going to get some people to do some test builds on these wheels first as want to ensure others are happy with the way they work etc. Also currently these inserts fit a standard Gibson P4 3'1" wagon wheel tyre. The prototype Barclay wheel is pretty close to this although the Peckett maybe an inch or two out has any one got the exact dimensions for this wheel as I may do a version that fits the wagon wheel or another one that is spot on. I need to cost these up but at the moment I am looking around the £6 for four wheel centres. David

I have been playing with my wheel generator and printed centres off for the 3' Peckett and Barclay wheels in P4 They push nice and tight in to a Gibson tyre and on a 1/8" axle. I had to create a variant of my programme to design the square spoke rather than oval on the previous designs. David

That looks great Roy, if any is interested in the brackets that support the post let me know as I can 3D print these for a small cost.

Railex goes way back before 2005 we used that name branding from the mid 1970s when we were just a one day show in the Civic Centre in Aylesbury town centre.

I have a feeling there won't be any shows till the new year at least. Unfortunately until things level out the risks are too high to plan or stage anything. layouts trade and punters will all be wary of going. and if exhibitions are unable to obtain a break even figure then it is unlikely anyone would take the risk of staging a show. Warley and Ally Pally with huge up front costs would be hard hit if they went ahead and the hall was half empty and with a fraction of the visitors. I think the hardest call would be if the venues were reopened and exhibition managers had to make a call on to go ahead or not. If venues remain closed then the decision if made for you. David

I do have that book and it does show how it works although I really need to get close and measure all the bits. David

Hi I have that drawing too. Although the Dart Castings bits don’t tend to fold up and locate that well hence I wanted to do something better. And would rather start from the prototype rather than another model.

I have plenty of pics but mostly the autogear is in the shadows, so really need close up detail views David

Has anyone got close up photos or drawings of the autocoach control gear taken from the driving end and non driving end of GWR autocoches as I plan to do a detail etch, although the lockdown stops me from making a visit to Didcot to do it myself. David

I can make the wheels whatever size you want, just let me know the details or even better a drawing and can get centres printed off.