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I’m building a GWR twin car railcar . It is inspired by an article by the late Monty Wells from 1985 in MRJ number 6. I want to wire the motors in each railcar together but the Hornby wiring is fragile and complex . I guess I’ll have to join positive to negative, as one is effectively running in reverse ? Any suggestions on how to join the wiring from one railcar to the other will be welcome . Thanks Ken

Hello Richard would you kindly feed back that making the improved 30 to 1 gear set as a retro fit would be welcomed by some purchasers of the mogul ? Thanks Ken

Thanks Frank . I’m committed to the Brassmaster’s easichassis route . Here’s hoping the worm will respond to a worm puller ! Otherwise , as my Dad used to say “Use a bigger hammer “. Ken

Thanks Frank , that’s helpful. Thanks Frank , that is helpful . I would be prepared to buy a new 30 to 1 worm and pinion by themselves to retrofit to my mogul . It is still on the 2do list awaiting conversion to EM . Your planned kit to convert to tender drive is tempting but I’d like to conserve as much as I can from the Dapol mechanism . Please keep us updated, though , with your etched kit and your progress . Regards. Ken

Assuming there is commonality in the mechanicals of the mogul and prairie, an improved 30 to 1 gear ratio would be welcome . Especially if the gear with a one axle of quartered wheels were to be available as a retro fit . In other words , drop out the old and substitute one axle with new 30 to 1 for a mogul . Different wheel size for prairie ? Full marks to Dapol for listening and learning . Implications for the Manor but I’ve already preordered an Accurascale one . More pain in the wallet!

Thanks Fran that is helpful . I’m a cheerful bodger and look forward to some precision bodging ! Ken

Wow ! I’m very excited by the announcement . I worked at RNIB for 20 years and they had 2 sites after which the GWR named after them ... Condover Hall and Torquay Manor so I will be ordering a Manor . Fran , may I clarify one point , please ? It is about EM and P4 . Are you saying it would not be commercially viable to follow the Sutton Loco Works route and offer EM and P4 rtr ? Or are you saying it won’t be possible to convert your splendid model OO to EM .... possibly due to clearances with cylinders or the die cast running plate? Either way , fantastic job and news and count me in . Ken

Re the suggestion of a small factory doing EM conversions . I recall a couple of people offering this service in the EM Gauge Society newsletter. I’ve used John James some years back and can recommend his services- no connection except as satisfied customer . He did an M7 for me amongst others . One small point about the M7 . The “effective “ wheelbase is from the leading driver to the centre of the trailing bogie which is longer than many six coupled engines . My M7 will traverse 36 inch radius track but I think will grind on anything smaller. Hope this helps .

Personally , I am committed to the upcoming Brassmasters easichassis which will improve an already very good model . However , it won’t by itself address the issue of the gearing . I’ve only run my mogul on rollers so far in 00 and it performs nicely but the real test will be once it is converted to EM and runs on the layout . I hope it will cope with 6 coaches or up to 20 goods wagons . As a cross country runner it will not need super slow running for shunting but slow , steady grunt . 18 to 1 may be fine but instinctively I feel 35 to 1 would be better .

Wouldn’t it be great if , say Ultrascale , did a replacement gear set to lower the ratio to around 35 to 1 ?

Thanks for the tip about checking with the subscription dept . I have just renewed my subscription so it might be a factor . However my digital copy has arrived so I think my subscription is still running . Our Postie is excellent and we are on good terms . He refused my second Thank you bar of chocolate as he is now on a diet .

My print subscription copy has always arrived promptly but I haven’t received February yet . Definitely NOT complaining , they and Postie have done brilliantly in Covid . Is my experience unusual? I’ve got the on line version but prefer tactile experience of good quality paper .

On my Hornby 28xx : From centre of small end to centre of big end is 42.8 mm Maximum width across cylinders 35.2 mm Length of cylinder 17 mm .

Re Ambulance train conversions . Around 1956 , I was at East Croydon waiting a train to Brighton . As we waited , a long freight train passed slowly . As part of the freight train, I have a vivid memory of a bogie brake van in a two tone livery with Red Cross markings in a white circle . Fallible memory suggests the livery was LSWR salmon pink and brown but ( being slightly colour blind ) , it may have been GWR cream and brown . From this distance in time, I speculate that they were First or Second World War stock on their way to being condemned .

Some thoughts on the Mogul . First , has there ever been such a “Marmite “ model ? In 60 plus years , I’ve never known a model with so many detractors and admirers . Second . Running in. By chance , I received my Mogul and a Bachmann LMS diesel 10,000 together . Dapol say “No running in required ,” whereas Bachmann recommends 2 hours . I accept each manufacturer will know their products best . Noting comments on the benefits of oiling and running in here , I gave the Mogul a session on rollers which seems to have helped marginally , ( no scientific evidence). Gearing . During the session, I gave my Mogul full power and the motion disappeared into a blur . See below on gearing . The upcoming Manor . On the basis of my experience, i will want a Manor . I hope , though, that Dapol will listen to the constructive comments here and improve the con rod and slide bars . A reduction in gearing to ,say , 30 to 1 or 40 to 1 would be good . But overall , I’m well pleased.

Very interesting, erudite and clear explanation. I will follow . Ken

I use Tamika masking tape cut to the width of the drum for the uncut end and applied with an overlap . Then a thin strip at right angles to the narrow tongue end of the J cloth . The direction of travel and rotation makes a difference.... sorry if this sounds like Grandma sucking eggs . The J cloth can catch on points especially facing points and IPA will soft the adhesive . I tend to do a wet run and then replace the J cloth with dry . I’ve also used methylated spirits .

The Lanarkshire Model Supplies conversion of a Hornby brake van works well . It has a brass , insulated roller around which you attach strips of a J cloth material . Samples are provided to start you off but replacements can be cut from J cloths . Cheap and effective . I use IPA as a cleaning fluid . Mine is converted to EM gauge and is pushed in front of a Bachman 25 all wheel drive diesel .

Great stuff! Thanks and I look forward to more updates . Ken

Brassmasters’ blog confirms they are starting work on an easichassis . Good news.

Mike you have just opened the door to memories of a host of inspirational layouts , Tyling , Charford , Craig and Mertonford etc . And a time when the Modeller , Constructor, and News published on the same day . Off down Nostalgia Lane ! Ken Sorry , so off topic .

Frank thanks for your offer but sadly I’m a bodger rather than engineer. My skill set is finite and I’m struggling with a Comet chassis . That’s not a reflection on Comet but a a statement of my limited abilities. I also suffer from what my grand daughter calls “ wobbly hands “. I’ve set the Mogul aside for the moment whilst I think on . I do appreciate your kindness . I loved watching Hungerford at Epsom. . Ken

Frank please keep us in the loop re EM gauge conversion. Your concept of motor in the tender and a boiler stuffed full of lead reminds me of the late Guy Williams’ 28xx for Pendon. Ken

Loco Chassis Ken

I hope this view of the tender underside shows clearances Ken