ianLMS

Which type of fencing? post & rail or post & wire? either way, check out Scale Model Scenery. I used their laser cut 4mm fence posts with strands of wire from home quite successfully and not that expensive. I am sure they do Post & Rail as well. www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk Ian

Stunning as ever Allan. full of character and just waiting for a simmering loco to take up residence, My preference would be a Jinty, but each to his own!!

Thanks John, I am happy with version 2 so will go back to the first two coaches and tender coupling and revise them. I also plan on seeing if I can replicate the hoses a bit better, especially after seeing your pictures! I looked at the cost of using Kadees and other alternatives, plus the fact they are still quite obvious and not that pleasing on the eye. Kadees for all my coaches would probably set me back £40-£50 and some. A length of 0.8mm brass wire is probably 50 pence. One length of brass wire did 5 coaches plus the tender connection. The corridor connectors were £4.00 for 12 off Ebay and do the job. May not look great, but IMHO they are better than the short rubberized original ones that were fitted and help conceal the coupling and make the gap a little closer. The main advantage of Kadees etc would be for coupling and uncoupling purposes. However, I am not into shunting coaches. My rakes will be fixed and mostly used on through trains. I have a few Bachmann coaches which I will work on next for another train. I may swap the odd loco around to give me a bit of variety, but that's it. I have some seated people coming and may put in coach lighting. Then I can take a look at improving the overall detail/appearance of the coaches. Should keep me occupied for a few years!!! My new Hornby coaches (9 of them) will not be touched for a while (too scared to ruin £40+ coaches) and I will use them for trains stopping at the station and can couple/uncouple coaches/loco's as and when. Eventually they will get similar treatment. I do plan on shunting wagons between the marshalling yard and goods yard though and will adopt the 3-link/Instanter couplings because I like the appearance. Its not an exhibition layout so I don't need to worry about onlookers commenting on the giant hand wielding an un-coupling hook glued to a torch, heavy handed loco lifts, nor un-prototypical movements. Ian

The extra detail and weathering on these coaches, let alone the superb couplings really put my efforts to shame. Yet again, I need to up my game!!!

And a couple of my yet to be modified Bachmann 3F. Note top right corner - The tunnel/hillside covering the hidden sidings are all hinged so I can gain access. I need to re-align a turnout under this section so removed that part of the hillside. It will be put back once I am happy everything is running smoothly again!

couple more pictures of the Airfix rake of coaches with the new couplings, plus a couple from around the layout.

Here are some more pics along the same lines. With a bit of thought and fettling, I am sure I can do better and make them neater, possibly even to look like hoses etc. 1st Pic - Showing the underneath of the Airfix coach utilizing the existing coupling hook mount. Simple bent the wire around to make a loop, sat it over the lug and re-affixed the cover plate. no fancy modifications, no butchering and no soldering/glueing. 2nd Pic shows the original coupling and corridor connections. 3rd pic shows the new coupling device used between coaches 2 & 3 so I can part the rake and lift/handle 2 or 3 coaches at a time. 4th Pic shows the connected coaches on the layout. 5th pic shows the improved coupling which is higher and level with the buffers. Once the corridor connector is fitted it should hardly be noticeable. Last pic is the test - 4 coaches coaches coupled behind my Patriot. Final job will be to couple the brake 3rd on the end making up the rake. Shame I don't have space for 10-11 coach trains!!!

Thank you John. Might have to look into that option when i move onto my other coaches.

I have been looking into various coupling devices to try and get rid of the standard coupling and have decided on a DIY version. Not proto-typical, but looks OK, very cheap and brings them a little closer. I am converting all of my loco's to 3-link, but the 3-link on the coaches bring them too close together and suffer with buffer lock. I devised a semi-permanent coupling using 0.45mm (Correction - 0.8mm) brass wire (blackened with "Brass Black") and attached to the old coupling mount under the bogie. I am still experimenting with what works and looks the best and have had a couple of laps of the layout with 2 coaches coupled to my Hornby Patriot with no issues. I also used some cheap corridor connectors from Ebay which helps with hiding them. I couldn't get the buffers much closer otherwise they would lock. I am also trying to give the impression of connected vacuum hoses etc. Last picture shows my latest variant not yet road tested or blackened. I also plan to have a coupling that can easily be separated between the 2nd and 3rd coaches as I cant lift more than two or three at once. Still working that idea, but will probably use a loop and hook in the middle of the brass wire. Once I have this rake sorted, I will then move on to my Bachmann coaches and 50' parcel vans and the Hornby coaches/vans. The Hornby coaches uses a different way of mounted the coupling hooks so will need to devise something a little different but along the same lines.

Good morning all, Had a good running session over the weekend and managed to iron a few issues out. Project for the next few days is re-working the coupling on my coaches. I have been looking into various coupling devices to try and get rid of the standard coupling and have decided on a DIY version. Not proto-typical, but looks OK, very cheap and brings them a little closer. I had a quick inventory and realised I had collected around 26 coaches; 6 x old Hornby Railroad, 7 x Airfix, 4 x Bachmann, 3 super-detailed coaches from the Hornby "Going Home Set", 3 x Brand new super detailed Hornby (R480X range) coaches i got for my Birthday and 3 x R467X range which I picked up at Warley, plus a Hornby 12 wheel dining car, an old Royal Mail coach and 3 x 50' parcel vans (Hornby & Bachmann). The plan is to sell my old Hornby Railroad coaches and Royal Mail coach, modify the Parcel vans, Airfix and Bachmann coaches and keep the 9 x new Hornby ones relatively pristine until I am happy they can be considered "old" and can be modified (read "butchered") with losing any sleep. First up to the chopping block are the Airfix coaches. I devised a semi-permanent coupling using 0.45mm brass wire (blackened with "Brass Black") attached to the old coupling mount under the bogie. I am still experimenting with what works and looks the best and have had a couple of laps of the layout with 2 coached coupled in a similar way to my Hornby Patriot with no issues. I also used some cheap corridor connectors from Ebay which helps with hiding them. I couldn't get the buffers much closer otherwise they would lock. I am also trying to give the impression of connected vacuum hoses etc. Last picture shows my latest variant not yet road tested or blackened. I also plan to have a coupling that can easily be separated between the 2nd and 3rd coaches so I can lift them at once. Still working that idea, but will probably use a loop and hook in the middle of the brass wire.

Yes, it was Marion Zeller who I contacted. Didn't realise there was more than one Zeller selling identical rolling roads. Will have to wait until Warley this year and confront the Mr. Zeller who is selling this stuff on his stand.

Happy New Year and well done Paul - coming along very nicely. An interior will really help especially when lit up. I put one in my pub; bar, pumps, optics, tables, chairs etc but you cant see it at all unless you are a contortionist!! Severn Models do an exceptionally nice etched kit with furniture items (bed, wardrobes, dresser, mirror, chair etc), Very easy to put together and paint. I have several of their kits. 2, 4 & 7mm catered for. Usual disclaimer - no vested interested, just a satisfied customer. http://severnmodels.com/epages/eshop1179816.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop1179816/Products/N19 Ian

Good morning Jeff, Have you had any issues with the rollers not spinning properly and sticking? I purchased one at Warley 2017 and several of the rollers don't spin even after oiling. Some don't even make contact with the wheel. I contacted Zeller but they state they haven't been at Warley for 4 years (even though my bank transaction clearly states "KPF Zeller"). The track cleaner wagon I got from his stand works great!

Thank you George. That's the beauty of Scalescenes printed kits - they do all that for you!!

I am very glad Hornby was able to help out like that - nice to have some good news and kudos for a major manufacturer instead a wave of complaints and negative comments.

It certainly looks a very good product and less cumbersome than mine and many of the ones available to purchase! Will be interested in seeing the results on your layout.

Thank you Dave - very kind words indeed. My scenery is working better than my railway at the moment though. Had a good running session yesterday which highlighted several areas where loco's/wagons etc are jolting, derailing, stalling etc, so my focus over the next few days/weeks will be to get it running as smooth as I can.

Yes you have - completely, but thank you and its great to know someone enjoys my efforts almost as much as I do!

I fear you have over-sold my abilities and efforts Edwardian!!! but I will take the kudos and praise and enjoy every minute of it. I now need to up my game to match your skill in buildings and track construction though!!

I built my main one using Luke's video as a guide and it works perfectly well using 12v. My entire layout (Jencaster) was laid using the DIY Grasser. I used plumbing pipe and a peanut tub for the hopper. My second one uses a No More Nails Tube and a beaker with a 9v battery - again, works fine for small applications. Wife wasn't too happy when I stole her sieve to use for the mesh through!!! I do like the look of your handle though - very professional appearance.

As discussed on my thread, I take my hat off to you for having the confidence to hand-build your track. They really do look great and so much better than ready-to-use ones. Well done that man and can't wait to see one of your Edwardian loco's trundling over the newly laid track through the wonderful buildings you have built!

Thank you Edwardian - very kind words indeed and I am certain Castle Aching will be right up their with the the best the hobby has to offer. When I look at the high quality of models on this forum (yours included) and in the model rail press I am in awe. Some of the detail, atmosphere, scenery and design skill of the modellers is something I aspire to and wish I could attain. Looking at the Cakebox Challenge results has me wide eyed and open mouthed at the level of modelling achievable. I had a good clean up last night and Sunday will be track cleaning followed with a good running session. Then on to the next project out of my kit box. One more Bedford truck, some Parkside Dundas wagon kits, telegraph poles, signals, point rodding (if I feel brave enough) and then start on the coaches, detailing and chipping more loco's and adding more detail to the scenery. That should keep me going until the end of 2019!!!

Well, with a thousand supporters behind you, I am sure you will accomplish the task well!

Most kind Edwardian - I see your layout is coming along very nicely - i wish I had your confidence you build my own track. Your layout thread is definitely the most interesting one on the forum and your building techniques are superb!! Lets hope you are up and running trains in the very near future too!!

Here's anther pic of the modified Hornby 3F Jinty being serviced with the Airfix 4F ready to start a days work!