ColinK

Can the Montys Models drivers manage the difficult 05 gearchange?

Although I was going to wait for a sound chip for the 05, with my 03 being such a poor runner, I needed a replacement station pilot for my layout which was at this weekend's model railway show at Carnforth. I ordered a Digitrax decoder (than for the info Jonas) from Wickness Models (never used them before, but very happy as I ordered it last Sunday evening and it arrived Tuesday). This was easy to fit, although I wasn't totally sure which way up it went. I also lined the space where it goes with insulation tape to prevent any expensive shorts. I also fitted Kadee couplings, just plugging them into the NEM pockets. Delighted that it ran well all weekend, despite not having a driver in the cab. Photo below. Only slight problem is that the NEM pockets swivel, so couplings don't always line up properly.

The driving trailers are back in use now, so the trains only have one 37 on them, usually at the north end. If you are out travelling on them next weekend , Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August, it is the Model Railway Weekend at Carnforth Station. I'm attending with my 00 gauge blue diesel layout. Pop in and say hello.

I've just tried fitting the DCC Concepts Zen ZN68 micro decoder. It is too long to fit in the decoder space when plugged in directly. I also tried using the 6 pin harness which came with the decoder. The harness will plug into the loco socket fine and fits into the decoder space. I was hoping this would enable me to then put the decoder on the cab floor. This way I could also fit the 'stay alive' in the cab too. Unfortunatly, the extra wires of the harness are too large to fit in the cable space, preventing the bonnet from going back on. It might be possible to fit it this way with a bit of cutting and filing of the cable channel, but I decided against this. I'll probably leave the 05 in my display cabinet until someone comes along with a sound chip which they will fit for me.

I've recently been over to North Germany to video & photograph diverted (diesel hauled) freight trains. There were lots of German enthusiasts out with their cameras too. Many brought ladders, But some climbed trees instead - there are three in this tree.

I've got a tiny DCC concepts decoder in an 03 which I plan to try in my 05 (the 03 doesn't run well enough to use).

Has the 8f got a function key which sets off the sounds of bagpipes playing?

I've got one ordered with sound fitted. Will you be able to reblow it if Biffs sound is much better?

Interesting layout and full of good ideas. I have plenty of 0-16.5 stock and am currently building a 0 gauge shunter, so thanks for the idea of a dual gauge layout.

Had an email from Tim at Arcadia Models earlier in the week to say the 05s were in stock. Then a stroke of good luck, I work as a part time coach driver and todays job was taking a group of students into Manchester. So while they enjoyed the city centre, I jumped on Metrolink to Shaw, then a 5 minute walk to Arcadia Models. Welcomed with a mug of tea, then invited to run the 05 on his test track. Yes, very nice model, runs well. Then back on Metrolink to Manchester. So I actually got paid to go shopping for my 05! As always, excellent service from Arcadia and competitive price too. There is quite a howler in the instruction leaflet 'thank you for purchasing this retooled class 33! Made me smile. For DCC it says it needs a 6 pin chip, while there is space on the cab floor for a micro speaker. Two cab windows are modelled open to let the sould out. But who is going to produce a sound chip for it?

Arcadia Models in Shaw have them too. Hoping to pick mine up later this week.

Just being curious. There are all these different track machines, presumably with many different cab layouts. So who drives them? They will need both route knowledge and know how to drive the particular machine.

Looks terriffic, a great piece of modelling. I do wonder why the prototype had such a large cab? Perhaps to carry a team of fitters?

It may have been a joke, but a model Parry People Mover would be great. It would make a great independent branch feeding a mainline station, or the ultimate micro layout.

Sitting in the car waiting to pick my wife up at Bare Lane station tonight when the station tannoy bursts in life. Not the usual 'sorry the train is delayed' announcement, but one of the security announcements usually heard at big stations 'please keep you bags with you at all times as unattended luggage may be removed and destroyed'. Odd as the station was deserted and it's unstaffed too.

Are the sound fitted ones on the boat too?

I've no idea of headcodes, but on a Saturday, the sets should be in Carlisle... 0515 departure to Barrow. 0833 arrival from Barrow, departs back to Barrow at 0842 1137 arrival from Barrow, departs 1156 to Lancaster 1426 arrival from Barrow, departs 1433 to Barrow 2029 arrival from Barrow

I was at the South Lakes Safari Zoo today. One primary school group was walking around in hi-vis jackets. I can't really see the point as it is a traffic free environment, unless the teachers thought it would make it easier for the hungry lions and tigers to spot them.

Yesterday morning only one set appeared to be in use, operating the 1004 Preston to Barrow, then continuing on to Carlisle. I think he second set ran ecs from Kingmoor to Barrow (via Shap) later in the day. I had a very enjoyable ride right round the coast, excellent views, really comfortable and clean coaches, with a 37 thrashing at the front. Since my last trip the stock now has central locking, so the extra staff are no longer present. I don't know if that puts the 5 minute connection at Barrow at risk as these staff used to swap trains at Barrow. There is a Cumbrian Coast Round Robin ticket which lets you travel round the coast and back via Shap, but apparently it can also be used as a rover ticket too, so you can go both ways round the coast behind the 37s. Enjoy.

My only experience with TrainController was a brief visit to a friends layout. He has programmed it so the trains run automatically - you can just sit there and watch the trains running by themselves. Furthermore its not just a case of trains going round and round in sequence, but includes complex moves such as dmu's reversing. Just to see that was awesome, but I was even able to drive extra trains manually while the automatic sequence ran, with TrainController preventing conflicting movements and stopping trains at signals to prevent accidents. From that I can see the benefits of such a system. If I build my planned complex OO layout which would need four people to run it, I could run it by myself with train controller covering the roles of the other three operators. Similarly, many continous run exhibition layouts are simply a procession of trains running round in turn from a large fiddle yard. I would find operating that very tedious, especially for a 2 or 3 day show. Letting TrainController run the layout would enable the operators to interact with the public more.

While I'm not modelling in 3mm, I've just looked on the 3MSR website out of interest, wow, there is loads of stuff available!

I thought pukka made pies, not sandwiches.

As an alternative to scanning slides, I got myself an old style slide copier. Basically you attach it to your camera, stick a slide in the carrier, then take a photo of the slide. It was designed for film cameras, but can equally be attached to a DSLR. I found a box of slides, and took photos of a couple of them using the slide copier. This one may be of interest. I think it was taken at Bristol Temple Meads.

There could be scope for a micro layout based on the workshops.

Being banned from B&Q would be bliss. No more diy, so more modelling time!