gazman424

Hi Martin, Just back from my after dinner stroll and in to your reply. Did as you suggested and it works a treat! Now fully legible. This hobby and my layout designing would be so much poorer if it wasn't for true Gentlemen such as yourself! Thanks again! Gaz.

Hi Martin/ All, Just a quick question. I have recently purchased a new laptop with a 4K High definition screen. I re-installed Templot with no problems, other than Templot now looks tiny with the exception of the track itself! Is there something simple I am missing with regards to how Templot displays with my 3840 x 2160 resolution? Many thanks in advance. Gaz.

Tony, Excellently set out and moves along at a perfect pace. I'm usually a 'skimmer' when it comes to this type of book, but I have found myself reading every page. That, combined with the pin sharp photography, make it a winner! Well recommended!! Gaz. My complimentary copies arrived yesterday. Any thoughts on it, please let me know - critical if necessary (from anyone).

Hi Monkeys, That sounds right. My cutter is working perfectly (touch laserable ply!), and when I am going through the focus procedure with the guard off, the laser is only active at 10% when I have the button depressed. With the guard on and the laser active, it sits at 10% or thereabouts until it actually starts cutting. My guess is you have a faulty microswitch that detects when the guard is on. I hope you're up and running again soon! Gaz. ]Mine had the issue before I even took the lens guard off... Additionally with the black guard off when I press the laser button the laser will not stay on unless I hold the button down. Its meant to stay on at 10% power. I'll have a fiddle with the cables and leads tomorrow before I put a service job in . I think its sulking because I have the emblaser 2

Hi Seb, And a trackplan for any takers... http://maps.nls.uk/view/103313321 Gaz.

Hi Guys, Possibly a mystery solved as to when the scissors crossing were removed, thanks to the ever-excellent Signal Box site. 1961 with the scissors; http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=1127 1962 without; http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=1129 Hope this helps! Gaz.

Hi there, These most likely are points heater 'mushrooms'. These are used to feed the elements that prevent the switch and stock rails freezing. As to who makes them, I can't help you, but a nice wee starter scratchbuilding project! Gaz. And now the call for help - does anyone know what these are, and whether there are OO gauge versions anywhere? My suspicion is that they have something to do with AWS, but knowing very little about permanent way and lineside stuff I could do with some guidance from those in the know! 016.JPG

Hi Pete, Glad to help, a problem shared and all that!! Gaz.

Hi Pete, It might be worth checking to see that your bullhead rail is the right way up - i made this mistake, and although it looks as though there isn't much difference in the two heads, there is enough! Gaz.

Hi All, And as promised, a pic of the Dia.339; And another coach under construction, this time a Dia. 338 Composite; Finished night shift this morning and haven't been to bed for long, so the land of nod beckons!! Gaz.

Hi All, One thing that I've been impressed with is the ability to form a tumblehome with card, and the fact that the construction has no inclination to warp. It has been a bit of an attitude change for me, as previously, I only used card for the inner structures of buildings, before cladding them with plasticard. I would encourage you to have a go, as the material is very cheap compared to the equivalent laser compatible plastics. I've nearly completed an LNER Thompson Dia. 339 coach, minus the interior which requires painting, and I'll stick a pic of that up to show, in my opinion, that the material can be used for Steel sided coaches as well. I need to thank various people, especially JCL for the whole introduction to this area of modelling via the Silhouette, Monkeysarefun for the headsup and inspiration which sold me on the Emblaser, and the likes of Mike Trice, Coachmann and the Late David Jenkinson for sharing their expertise and time when it comes to constructing coaches - thanks Guys and keep the posts coming!! Gaz

Hi Jason /All, I built this coach using the 'Jenkinson' method, very proficiently described by Mike Trice here; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/104851-the-coronation-the-silhouette-mr-jenkinson-and-me/ I generally use 3 thicknesses of card; The interior is constructed from 1.25mm thick mount board; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BXE75WS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The sides from 0.3mm thick card; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009ARMB0Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And I also use 0.4mm thick card; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00H54EEOW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I laminate the layers using a spray adhesive, and have had good results with this; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000NJZXHS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 For other gluing, impact adhesive and PVA, the cheapo stuff from your local supermarket designed for kids, has also been used. Obviously, all the materials above can be had from other suppliers!! Any other questions, please ask! Gaz.

Morning All, I've not broken cover on this Forum yet, but SimonDs' timely comment above has spurred me into action. I too bought an Emblaser, and after a bit of a disastrous start, involving a broken laser carriage, all my own fault (and unbelievable customer service from Darkly which got me back up and running - free of charge - Thanks!), I am getting to grips with this indispensable tool. I also had problems with material selection, and bought various thicknesses of card and ply to experiment with. The most promising results for me, came from card. This isn't a material that I use much, being a huge fan of styrene, but the results showed that I had to follow these up, and designed a coach as a test. I choose a Gresley Dia. 57 as something simple, and combined with MJT parts and Hornby bogies it shows how versatile the card is. Please don't be too harsh, as this was the prototype, and still requires weathering and finishing off, but I'm quite pleased with the outcome - enough to continue. I'm finding my feet working with card, and I'll be happy to answer any questions about my experiences to date with it. It's bedtime now so have a good day!! Gaz.

Hi All, Your mysterious concrete boxes are catch pits for lineside drainage, and are covered to prevent ballast and rubbish falling in and blocking them. Gaz.

Hi All, To clarify a couple of points; A 'UTX' is basically a 'tunnel' under the track to enable a main troughing/ cable route to switch from one cess to the other. As has been eluded to, a hollow 'bearer', basically a metal channel sleeper with a removable lid is another way of doing this, although is restricted to how many cables can be accommodated. Orange piping and clipped down cables are generally 'Tail' cables. These are cables from Locations (Relay Cabinets) to pieces of lineside equipment, i.e. point machines, signals track, circuit connections, etc. These maybe routed via the troughing until adjacent to their final position, where they will leave the troughing and run via the above. The bigger cables, Lineside cables, run between Locations, other Locations, Signal Boxes and Relay Rooms. Exposed cables are generally kept to a minimum to avoid accidental damage, and nefarious intentions! If you need any other info - just ask!! Gaz.

Morning Giles, Superb stuff - very inspirational! But may i ask what type of plastic you are using, and is it available online? I'm struggling to find suitable materials... Gaz.

Morning All, The kick back siding on the down road was known as 'The Jail', as once you were put inside, you were a long time before you were allowed out!! Here are a couple more pics; I'll be really interested to see how you get on with this, given the standard to which you built Alloa! Gaz.

Hi Guys, Without being nosey, what limits are you intending to model? I always thought for a model, the Main Street overbridge at the station to the Pipe Bridge at the North end of the goods loops would be the obvious scenic breaks. Gaz.

Hi There, I made the point of emphasising 'scissors crossings' and he was sure they were still as there as per my earlier post. Having done a bit of digging myself, they definitely weren't there in 1968; https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/6920586899/in/photolist-bxxPnM He's obviously mis-understood the scissors crossover reference, understandable, given that it was 0630!!. Here are a couple of pics which are tantalizingly close; All Copyright to JWelsh. Apologies for the misunderstanding, but let me know if you need anymore pics or info...

Morning All, According to the font of knowledge, July 12th, 1958 is when the Grangemouth - Larbert service went from being a Caley 0-4-4T and coaches to a railbus, and rounding that train was the main use for them. In 1965, there were paper vans that came from Polmont, hauled by a J37 (N308 headcode?) ,arrived and ran round, and attached to the rear of 1S07, which also used them. So, by his reckoning, they were definitely still there in 1969, and were removed along with the centre roads in the early 70's. They were operated from Larbert South. His best guess is removal in 1972. He's going to do some digging and welcomes other enquiries. Gaz.(Off to bed now...)

Hi Ian/ All, I'll maybe get an answer for you in the morning, via an ex-Larbert North Bookmarker. He comes on duty at 0630, so i'll give him a bell and see what his opinion is, as his knowledge is quite encyclopedic. Gaz. (Currently keeping an eye on all things S&T related in the Larbert area...)

Hi Gordon, I've been following your thread for a long time, and it never fails to inspire! The only way I could make my station plan work was by the inclusion of slips, diamond and scissors. The pic attached shows the 3rd attempt at this, the previous two being ripped up as they didn't give the reliability I demanded. Given your flair for building 'normal' points, I would give the more exotic formations a bash - if I can get them to work reliably, I have no doubt you can!! Keep up the great work! Gaz.

Hi Again, Model Railway Journals 206 & 210 are the issues in question. Hope this helps further. Gaz.

Hi Andy/All, Hobby Holidays stock it; http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/products.php?cat=45 Just scroll down the page and it's listed under 'Limonene'. Hope this is successful for you if you try it! Gaz.