drduncan

Yes it’s a split gear. Thanks for the advice. Duncan

Dear all, One of the (many) things I haven’t mastered is springs. I’d like to include them integral to the solebars (like some of the old D & S kits did in white metal) but the springs seem too thin to get enough meat to differentiate between the individual leaves of the spring. So how do you do yours? Thanks Duncan

Dear all, I’m going for a slightly different design approach. I don’t build in w-irons as I prefer the look of etched ones (especially when the MJT ones don’t need any soldering if you are of a nervous disposition), but I do make sure there are inserts in the over thick solebars (to help stop warping) for the W irons. This approach also allows 3 point compensation or springing - not that I always bother. Here is a broad gauge 3 plank convertible’ wagon showing how I do the W-irons. I also have made use of etched under frame details for timber solebars and use white metal buffers (for strength) (You can see from the right w iron Of this ‘narrow’ gauge GWR 2 plank wagon that I did bother with compensation this time.). You will also note the absence of brake gear - I normally use white metal ones from Wizard or ABS. This is to help add as much weight as possible before hitting the lead shot or sheet (on some of my designs like the CMR iron bodied China clay tippler there’s very little space for ballast if the wagon is modelled empty. I also don’t worry about couplings per se. Admittedly my eccentricities extend beyond EM and broad gauge to include Alex Jackson couplings so NEM would be a bit pointless... Also, and I realise this is contentious, but why make such beautiful designs and fit a hideous and not very effective coupling system - there are lots of different options many of which aren’t nem compatible. You could, for example, design in pilot holes in the buffer beam for the rather good sprat and winkle system - and I’m fully aware I’m not practicing what I preach! Essentially, I’m trying not to constrain my designs too much so someone whose tastes in certain aspects differ to mine can be accommodated. They are definitely not going to be ready to paint, but hopefully a quicker route than kit building. I’m not selling mine at the moment, but I do want to make sure that if I ever did, people like me would buy them. But of course when I start reducing things to 2mm so they can be used by my son on his N gauge I reserve the right to do things differently again! Some of my pre-group prints: A broad gauge 6w fish wagon with guards caboose. A broad gauge 3 plank wagon. A cleminson set up for 6w wagons/coaches. An early attempt at the CMR China clay tippler. The current design has better hinges for the end door. A GWR E19/20 convertible brake tricomposite (with BG under frame - the ‘narrow‘ under frame is being done at the moment. See for more trials and tribulations. Regards Duncan

There is a massive amount of oil in there!

Dear all, I’ve recently been given a farish 47 for my son’s n gauge railway and one of the gear trains is binding every revolution. Any suggestions on a way forward - it’s way out of warranty... Here is the troublesome gear tower: Regards, DrDuncan

The Formlabs 2 can do a 50ft coach in one, but at a very steep angle so it takes ages to print. Thankfully most of the coaches I need/want (recognising there is a difference!) for Nampara are 40ft or 4/6 wheelers at 31ft or less.

Yes, with a separate under frame. I’ve still got the roof to print, but you can see where the reinforcement bars are going through the slits in the partitions. I’ve also got to do the bogies. I’m toying with using the MJT bg 6’4” ones with cosmetic side frames. D

More on the E19/20 brake tricomposite... Here is the body resting on the broad gauge under frame. The under frame is bowed but does flex back into the correct alignment. The narrow version of the under frame is being worked on at the moment. DrDuncan

Dick doesn’t do the internet. However, his layout appeared in BRM many years ago (1996? It’s the same issue as the equally lovely Westcliff ) and was at the show along the GCR heritage railway show in 2018 or 2019 I think so some RMWebbers might have pics. I need to catch up with Dick soon as I should have an S7 bar sided fish wagon for him in the next week or so, so I’ll ask him then if he’ll send some pics to post on his behalf. DrDuncan

Richard Hewins converted his one back to a rail motor. It looks gorgeous in lake running on his Rowington for Shrewley layout. DrDuncan

Oops! I really ought to keep track of what designs I think I’ve done....

That’s absolutely the right approach: model from photos whenever possible. Of course the problem is when there are no photos... The 2 plank I sent to Mikkel was based on a description in the Saltney book that suggests that the first two planks might not have had doors. DrDuncan

Well, as the person that who’s fault this is all I can say is I’m extremely grateful to Gareth! And I’m looking forward to seeing it running on Nampara in a few years - this isn’t a dig at Gareth’s speed of progress but my own! I think at the current rate I’ll be lucky to have the track finished by next summer.

Can you post a link?

As I’ve had no volunteers come forward we can consider this thread closed (and locked if the Mods wish). Duncan

Ian, to change direction a little; are there such things in 2mm as kits for the Dean 6’4” bogie? Duncan

Also are the bolts on the frames bolts or rivets? They look rather tall. D

What height are you extruding your rivets to? I use 0.25mm above the surface and then use the chamfer tool at 0.125mm to round off the extruded cylinder. D

Good heavens that’s good! Duncan

Looking at wagons 4 and 5, 4 might be a GWR V12 or later. No 5 looks like it might have end louvred with shutters - all of which suggests post c1910 at the earliest. This then could mean common user wagons if post 1915 and therefore no inferences about destination or frequency of company types can be made. DrDuncan

Beautiful work. Duncan

So, to try to move this along: 1. Who already has images of the stock books from Kew/York AND (all other things being equal) be prepared to contribute them to the project? (Please detail references and piece numbers so we can avoid going over the same files). 2. Who would be prepared to photograph stock books in conjunction with others at: a. Kew b. York? Volunteers only reply please, negatives are not required. Also please let’s not keep going round the houses about what might or might not be possible. If enough people can support the project to make it plausible we can then go into the details... Duncan

I’m more interested in being given the contents rather than an empty vessel in case I get accused of making the most sound.... DrD

You can always rely on Rich! Duncan

No idea about OSR. Maybe the stationmaster or Miss Prism might have a scoob....