N.E. Thing

I stuck them in the roof cavity.

Hi Andy, I have a NCE Powercab, I believe it does use back EMF as I had an issue once before that was resolved by changing CV for the back EMF. Not heard of Relco I'm afraid. Been using rubbing alcohol but might give Inox a go. edit: or Uk equivalent of Inox...

Any suggestions? Am a bit of a beginner when it comes to maintenance. Not even sure what a dry joint is tbh.

Thanks - It weighs 220g. I tried it with 50g of tire weights and lo and behold it is performing a lot better - not quite perfect, but better. The lighting flickers a lot. Got to figure out how to fit the extra weight as I put in too much to close the body. Any other tips gratefully received!

Hi All, I am having running problems with mine (NER 3171 version). It ran in reasonably fine on a rolling road, but is a poor runner particularly in FWD on the layout. Clean, good quality track that is.. Seems a few new owners are having similar problems, plenty of disappointed chat around it. Is there any known fault, or advice to improve running? Or am I going to have to return, as others havecdone? Thanks in advance Colin

the layout is working quite well, I'm really pleased with it. Some times locos are a bit stop-start, not sure if it's due to track dirt or the locos themselves being underused, any tips would be welcome!

and here's the work in progress slope for the coal stage. It's obviously quite steep due to being a small layout, but a loco can handle it easily.

Hi all, in the last few weeks I managed to bash together a frame with hardboard cover to hold the backscene. It's worked ok apart from a small 1mm gap appeared between the two halves of the backscene. Despite all my careful measuring it's difficult to get sub-millimetre accuracy working with hand tools in a bedroom, so I'll have to live with it. Meanwhile, I hacked a hole in the baseboard in preparation for making the slope to the coal stage.

it's been a while since I posted, but the lockdown layout has progressed. Fully wired for dcc with 10 cobalt point motors and dcc enabled turntable. I'm extremely proud my first attempt at a layout. Next steps, fit a backscene and build the slope to the coaling stage.

just found this thread. Great tips, thanks to those who shared!

thanks for the messages, am strengthening the turntable with additional wooden bracing and hopefully that will help. If that doesn't help the peco motor perform I will certainly look into the locotech one.

Hi, I'm in the process of trying to fit an assembled LK55 tt and Peck motor, and all is really not going well. I am researching high and low to find any solutions. Main problem is the Peco motor seems to not be strong enough to turn the deck smoothly, even without a loco and certainly not with the heaviest locos on it. Visually, the deck wheels don't always turn which means the deck is not staying level for some reason. I guess some problems could be turntable sag, this is about 1mm. Don't know how to resolve this. But reading some comments, it seems the motor is not strong enough regardless. has anyone got succesful use out of the Peco motor? Are there any turntable installation videos? I have seen some where the tt is installed direct to the baseboard with no support and appear to work fine, but mine does not. Should all tt be supported underneath say with additional wood, if so where are the best support points? Am really struggling here! Thanks

Slow progress in the last couple of weeks, trying to find time to do anything with it. I am having some trouble with the legs, which has occupied me all weekend trying to get the thing stable. However I did manage to get the track laid out and found it doesn't quite work, some tight radii and not much room for the coaling stage. A new track plan was needed - here it is. Also I think a new name is in order. Possibly "Colville Shed" - a mash up of Copley Hill and Neville Hill, Leeds sheds, which is my target area and also my own name . The book "Great Northern Railway Engine Sheds Volume3" is an inspiration, in particular Copley Hill due to it's relatively compact track plan. ATB Colin

Hi, does Holt's have an email address? I'd like to know if they deliver as I can't get to Swansea. thanks.

Thanks Gilbert and David - it was me asking the questions on Facebook. I've been following your layouts for some time - inspirational stuff. Best, Colin

Here i laid out the track as a practice. Hopefully do some track laying next week, need to finish cutting the slots for the loco pits first.

Just a quick update. Over the last few days i added some homemade legs. As you can see the layout is being built in quite a constrained flat with a small child creating hazards all over!

Thanks, good images. It looks like it was quite narrow, which fits my layout. I read it was bombed and partially rebuilt, if I was feeling adventurous I could model mine in a similar way with the corrugated iron sides.

Hello all. I've come up with this track plan for my LNER era steam shed. I already have the boards cut from whiterose modelworks (1050x450mm) and the turntable location cut. The idea is it can be packed under a bed when not in use, and maybe one day when I have a bigger home for it, it could be extended to the left and right and joined to a bigger layout, maybe as a longer through-shed. I imagine it is currently half an engine shed really. What do you think? This is my first modelling attempt so any tips on building are welcome. I would be interested in any protoypical information, any general background info particularly on sheds, like what an NE raised coal stage should look like. Thanks!

Hi, just wondering what you use to fix the dust? Is there any risk of it smudging when handled? You've achieved a very good effect.

Paradise city - Guns n' Roses

Lady Fantasy - Camel

The Call of Ktulu - Metallica

Running free - Iron Maiden

Dry County - Bon Jovi