Steam_Julie

I've had a problem with my Farish 04, it has jamed and has had to be sent back for repair. Before it failed it ran very sweatly, including excellent slow running. But from time to time it stopped completely. Left in the box for a while, it then ran until it failed again!

I took the body off, but could not diagnose the problem myself. The wheels offered no resistance when the motor was disingauged. The motor appeared to be OK, but the worm appeared not to turn when the motor turned.

Julie

The only reason which I edited them was because searching using Google produced some odd results. Now the results are more predictable.

Julie

The problem with the shorting is more lickley to occur with the terrier than the 04 becuase it has a longer wheelbase.

Julie

I find that micro layouts present more interesting challenges than larger one do?

Julie

Oops I need to repaint the coach ends first.

Julie

The problem is that wood grows on trees! When alive the tree needs to draw water from it's roots to the leaves where photosynthesis occurs. The water is moved through fine tubes.

These tubes in the wood you used to make your baseboard, unfortunately also transmit light from one lines light source led to another line detector. You require to seal the inside of each hole in the baseboard used for the light source and or detector to solve the problem.

The problem can be also solved by using MDF as the top surface of your baseboard.

Julie

Now that I have the coaches running and the technology used in the construction proved in 2mm, I can now start to work on the scenery too.

Julie

Days when you can spend most of the day modelling are very rare.

Julie

I've got a tried & tested method which I have used to build a rake of 6 wheeled coaches in 4mm finescale. The only question is will it work in 2mm too.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

Julie

The prototype had a passenger service, and this was operated using 6 wheel coaches until the introduction of bubble cars in the early 1960's. These run until the line was closed as part of the Beeching process.

Therefore I need to produce a coach that looks the part and can negotiate the 120mm radius curves into the fiddleyard.

Julie

This is real relief to get the train to be able to negotiate the fiddleyard curve without a derailment!

Previously the couplings on the brake van were fixed and I was depending on the reduced length to enable the van to negotiate the curve. This reduced the drag as it went around the curve.

Julie

It lasted until 05:30 approx.

Julie

Now the glue has fully set, I removed the tracksetter and was able to check the curve using 2 Peco wagons both pulling and pushing the wagons around the curves. The extra 30mm of baseboard width has made a massive improvement in running, by increasing the track radius by 30mm.

Julie

I've just realised that taking the photographs they way that have, i.e. their aspect ration works well when the blog is viewed both on a laptop and a mobile device too.

Julie

This entry was uploaded from my new Huawei phone, I require more practice in using it. So we're the photographs.

Julie

Sorry for the 2nd picture being slightly out of focus. This is because my hand was slightly shaking whilst I was holding the camera.

But when I look at the new curve, it is not only a larger radius, but it is a much more smooth curve. The initial part is a transition curve. This means that the radius gradually decreases from the front of layout curve, to the 125mm radius of the fiddleyard curve.

Hopefully when I lay the 2nd new curve I will include a better photographs of both curves.

Julie

AH, the most important thing in a man's life is a shed.

Julie

Incidentally the bridge in the 1st photograph was constructed using cut & shut techniques too.

Julie

I asked the question because, Phil Parker posed a simular question on page 41 of the current issue of BRM with reguard to the front 3/4's of a 1:76 scale Morris Minor.

Julie

Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do with the 2/3rd of the point I have not used?

Julie

Unless you are using very short wheelbase 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 or multiple units without pick-ups on several bogies, there is little difference. Apart from the cost of the points and the complexity of the wiring.

Electrofog points are more expensive and require more effort wiring and you need to have a switch worked by the point motion to select the polarity of the point crossing.

What is more important is that the points are laid on a flat surface and carefully cleaned before each running session, particularly those at exhibitions.

The usual problem for most points is that out of the box they rely of metal to metal contact from the running rails to the point blades. This can be a problem particularly if the rail edges are painted. This problem can be easily eliminated by wiring a connection between these rails on every point.

I hope this has been useful.

Julie

The sleepers are closer together on points, when compared with plain track. I recommend that you consult a book on track, to get some photographs. The 2mm Association publish such a book.

Julie

As if I care?

Julie

Thanks

I'm hoping to soon be doing some work on Trefegwys Road, to reduce the weight of the baseboards &.thus make it more easily transportable.

Julie