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knitpick

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Everything posted by knitpick

  1. A few comments - the local WH Smith includes a Post Office. So magazines may be bought - self service only and no browsing. The local Sainsburys has some Model Railway publications. Curiously Sainsburys had the current Model Rail - I have a postal subscription but my post copy hasn't arrived yet. Normally postal copies arrive a couple of days before the magazine appears in the shops. Is there an issue with the interface between publishers and Royal Mail? I guess that enveloping up subscription copies can't be "done from home".
  2. Many years ago I did some low melt metal casting using RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanising) Rubber moulds that I created from a plasticard master. The RTV Rubber wasn't that expensive. The RTV rubber came from Alex Tiranti (if my memory serves) and the low melt metal was Prince August casting metal for model soldiers. But then it was quite some time ago . . .
  3. For types 2,3, and 4 try Bachmann spares parts No. 36-025 (short) and 36-026 (long). Both are screw on with same / similar screw and 2 pin mount. I've happily used these on some of my older Tri-Ang / Hornby / Mainline stock.
  4. Corgi did an RNLI set recently. This included a Land Rover, Trailer and inshore inflatable lifeboat. The Inflatable is quoted as 1:83 - a tad small but you could get away with it? [I intend to on tow.] Unfortunately the Shannon is 1:136 and the Severn 1:173. Another plus side was that for every set sold, at least £1.40 went to the RNLI.
  5. Just a thought - Peco do a track laying gauge. It is double sided - one side for Settrack spacing and one for Peco flexitrack and associated points. So if using 1st or 2nd radius Settrack curves or equivalent (or if using Settrack points) use the Settrack spacing. This should ensure sufficient clearances on curves. At larger radii, the Peco flexitrack spacing should be sufficient. You can then use a Tracksetter for one curve radius and lay the other curve with the Peco track laying gauge. That way you avoid the implied 3 inch spacing from only using Tracksetters.
  6. Note that Settrack points are 2nd radius. So all commercial stock currently can manage that radius with some short wheelbase and most older locos capable of managing 1st radius. As noted, a single track circle of 2nd radius is a tad over 3ft diameter. If you are planning a double track then you will also need to go for 3rd radius giving 3ft 6inch diameter. If you can manage 4ft baseboard width then use 3rd and 4th radii. [Note, I tend to use 2ft Tracksetter and Peco flexitrack as a minimum with Peco 2ft radius points. But have been known to use Settrack when absolutely essential.]
  7. As noted, there is a lot of disinformation about concerning Coronavirus / Covid19. As I understand it, it is basically a form of flu. But there is no general immunity nor vaccine at present. Thus, the expectation is that more people will get Covid19 than the general seasonal flu - hence the references to "epidemic". One key thing that isn't clear is how long after catching the virus you first become infectious and start spreading the illness to others. I would guess that this could be at least a day or so. Another "issue" would seem to be that the impact is variable - some people being more affected than others. I suspect that a few people mildly affected don't realise they have Covid19 and carry on as usual believing the have a mild cold. This would explain the recent cases where the virus has infected people with no obvious connection with the countries in question. In terms of visitors, at the bag search, each visitor could be asked if they have recently been to any of the affected countries. You might need an extra security guard to escort them off the premises if they answer yes. Even so, the main risk will be the traders and their interaction with visitors. There may be an increased risk where operators operate from the front of the layout rather than the back due to increased proximity to visitors. Also there is a risk between exhibitors and traders as I suspect that they share the same exhibitors' lounge for meals etc. So sending the questionnaire to both exhibitors and traders is sensible. And hand sanitisers at the entrance for use by all visitors is another useful precaution.
  8. When I've soldered Whitemetal, I've used an Antex iron - 18W I think, with liquid flux and 70degree solder. In and out quickly is the key.
  9. It was suggested that these would be flown in Monday 16th. Has the plane landed yet?
  10. Johnathan, as far as I understand it - and I may be wrong - the standard point lever uses wiping contacts. As the lever is moved, it makes brief contact with one wiper then the second. The net effect of this is that the lever first attempts to set the point motor to the way it is currently set before setting it to the alternative route. This being the case do NOT use PL-26 with a CDU as the first wipe (for the current direction setting) will discharge the capacitor and the capacitor won't have charged up when the lever wipes against the connection for the correct direction setting. If using 18 AC auxiliary supply from your controller this "feature" is not an issue. None the less, I would tend to use push buttons - or stud and probe as per DavidCBroad. For stud and probe, you could use Brass cheesehead bolts 8BA or larger for the studs. Peco did do a probe (or electric pencil); but in the past I have used a probe made from a length of spare rail in an old BIC Biro tube with a wire soldered to the rail.
  11. It's not clear whether you want to do route setting (i.e. change all points for a route together) or switch the points one at a time. One at a time is much easier to wire. You can either use point motor switches - from Peco or Hornby (other makes may be available) or use "push to make" push buttons. The power feed from a CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) or from 18v AC auxiliary supply from your power unit goes to the switch / push button and the output goes to the point motor. Then a return goes from the point motor to the "other side" of your CDU / AC supply. If using push to make push buttons, then you need 2 for each point; one for each direction. You could also use centre biased toggle switches. Route setting is more complicated and is best done with a CDU and a "diode matrix" - the latter needed to avoid points changing incorrectly. Go to your local Model Railway Club if you want to investigate this as a diode matrix can be a bit daunting for the uninitiated.
  12. The current (2019) Hornby catalogue shows 2 new releases (BR and LMS) that were due Q1 this year - so may still be available?
  13. If you are still having problems - my Dapol Pug instructions state "To lubricate the motor bearings, first remove the cab by gently pressing inwards the sides and back and then lift upwards,"
  14. The "issue" with the Isle of Sodor is that it is entirely fictional. In contrast the Isle of Wight isn't. The Rev Audrey who created Sodor had his own layout (I saw it at Central Hall, Westminster on Easter being operated by the Rev Teddy Boston). As such, he ran what he liked "bought in from the mainland GWR, LNER, SR and LMS railways". So for freelance, go Isle of Sodor. In contrast, the Isle of Wight had very specific small tank locomotives (and diesel shunters?) - until they got second hand London Underground Tube stock in the 1960s? You would be very limited in loco choice if you went for Isle of Wight. Perhaps do a Rev Audrey, create your own fictional British Island and run what you want? For N gauge outline, there's Graham Farish (owned by Bachmann) or Dapol as the main Ready To Run suppliers.
  15. When attending, I use Swanley and walk unless we have a car full. Note that only London based pensioners get free train travel; the rest of us have to pay - and bus isn't a viable option from outside London either.
  16. When I built a sector plate, I placed the pivot point close to the end away from the rest of the layout. I then laid the tracks on the sector plate parallel until they reached the curved end. The curve on the sector plate was centered on the pivot point and the tracks were adjusted to be perpendicular to the curved end where they met it. OK, I did have 5 roads on the sector plate and one leading off which makes things easier. But the key point as I see it is that the tracks should be perpendicular to the sector plate curve. (Rather like on a turntable as the sector plate is in effect a large turntable that doesn't turn the full 360 degrees.) So in your case, I'd lay the sector plate lines parallel at normal running distance apart except at the curved end of the sector plate where they'd diverge slightly to be perpendicular to the curve. The layout track can then be laid to align with your 2 sector plate lines.
  17. For what it's worth, I'd be tempted to have the main wooden baseboard at track / quay side level with a drop to water level. I've seen this done quite effectively with a river at the front rather than the sea. This method does mean that you have a firm base to attach the track. Also I would use at least 6mm wood for the track bed given the length of track pins; you don't want a sharp track pin where your hand might catch it. I've also destroyed a mini drill grinding disc getting rid of the sharp ends of track pins that came through the supporting thin baseboard and were catching on fingers. An alternative would be to place the track bed on risers rather like an open frame layout. Peco did an interesting booklet on building a baseboard - which may still be available?
  18. In the club I attend, the policy is that all vulnerable members must be accompanied by a suitable carer / guardian / parent. Otherwise you need to ensure that the club has enough cleared and trained members to ensure that at least one of them is present at all meetings. Also, in the absence of this rule, there is the issue that at least one responsible club member must ensure that the vulnerable / junior member is collected safely. Another issue would be that the club would need to bear the cost of clearance checks - which I understand are time limited You would also need to have a process to deal with suspect behaviour including when to involve the Police. Larger organisations would normally have a nominated safeguarding contact to undertake initial checks and reporting to the Police.
  19. I'm not that young! In my teenage days the 0-4-0T was Polly / Connie / Nellie. I did get some of the later 0-4-0s including Smokey Joe and the original 06. I used high wattage low amperage resistors wired in series with the motor to slug it so that the locos ran reasonably. OK this was last century. So be also aware that with these older 0-4-0s, they have the old style Hornby wide wheel treads with a back to back that doesn't like modern point-work. Oh and I have seen the newer version of that chassis run; they don't need to be slugged.
  20. Oxford also do N scale vehicles though not as wide a selection as their 00 range. You may find something of the era that you could repaint? Also, if it's a main town, you could still find trolley buses.
  21. Slightly off topic, but I too tend to visit the Waterloo shop when up in London - mainly for books - there and London Transport Museum (about a mile away via Waterloo Bridge). It would be sad if their Waterloo shop also closed.
  22. Dibber - thanks for the clarification. I guess I didn't take much notice of the original 16xx announcement, assuming it would be dropped as we seem to have had quite a few pannier tank locos lately - the Bachmann 64xx had recently been delivered, the Heljan 1366 was imminent (and Kernow had dropped their proposed 1366) and Bachmann had announced the 94xx. I tend to await formal announcements before such things register.
  23. Just to clarify, I am aware that the current Taliesin is a single Fairlie. However, my wife has fond childhood memories of riding behind double Fairlie Taliesin - hence my reference to the 1960s. One of my HC Casserley books notes that this double Fairlie was renamed to Taliesin in the 1930s and lost that name in another renaming in the 1960s. It is my wife's interest that prompted my question. In terms of costs, the maximum number of variations and thus potential sales that can be achieved with limited retooling, then the lower prices will be. At a simplistic level, the more locos that can be put onto the same chassis albeit with subtle body differences then the higher the number of sales to set against the tooling costs.
  24. Had another look through the July copy but couldn't spot any reference to the E1 on the pages announcing the 16xx class - nor elsewhere in that mag. Am I going blind?
  25. It will be interesting to see which locos they are planning. For example will they do Taliesin as running in the 1960s?
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