Tom F

Afternoon all I'd appreciate some advice, regarding modelling dry stone walling. After a couple of months of very little interest, I'm returning my attention to Cwm Prysor. I'm close to starting the grass work, and the few Scots Pine's that appeared along the branch. However before then, I need to add a couple of rows of dry stone walling that ran along the moorland road and over the level crossing. The method I'm looking into, is one as used by Ian Nuttall on his Settle and Carlisle layout, Dentdale, which involves making a jig from plasticard strips of different thicknesses. DAS Modelling clay is then added and once dry can be cut into strips of different thicknesses. Below is the drystone walling I'll be trying to recreate and how it is today, granted in a more deliberated state. Has anyone tried the above method?

Some ended up on the GWR during the Second World War.

I do like those tarpaulins on those wagons Andrew. What method do you use for making and weathering them?

I gave up on HMRS a few years ago when batches of fat numbers appeared to be all that was available. I've not required any while on my GWR venture, but that is all going to change with my Scottish layout. I'm most likely going to use waterslide.

Hi Daniel Mixture of everything really. Initially it's a case of a build up of washes on the body, touch of dry brushing if needed, then I use an airbrush to tone it down. Chassis I tend to airbrush then dry brush before finishing with powders. Couple of examples below.

Cheers for that Andrew, I genuinely find Vans fascinating. I have an unfinished parkside dia 94 (I think that's right), so I know the kit you mean, and removing the bit on the door doesn't seem too difficult. I'll give one a go!

Morning Andrew, I don't have it to hand but it came out in January 2017 (so will be the February issue). Yes that LMS is a Dapol body (bought for £1) on a Parkside PA16 underframe (bought for around £1.50 I think). I've attached a photo of my Ratio body one too. I have picked up an ancient LNER type (dia 16??) like yours, however yours looks like a more modern kit, what type is it?

Thanks Andrew, I think it's a worthwhile investment regarding the Brassmasters jig. I wrote an article which was published earlier in the year for the Railway Modeller on goods traffic for my layout. Tony kindly took photos of my stock as part of our horse trading. I've attached a couple. I really need to get on with some more 16Ts while also thinking about stock for my Scottish layout which is currently in the planning stage. Cheers Tom

Very nice Headstock, I've yet to make an LMS steel ( I have done a ratio body on a parkside chassis which was rewarding). The next wagon batch I'm going to build will utilise the the Brassmaster axle spacing jig, as I've found in the past I've had to do some major fettling to get the Cambrian wagons to run without a wobble (probably more a case of my own hamfistedness!

I do feel some are really missing the point of Tony's comments regarding chequebook modelling. There are aspects of my next layout I will be commissioning (buildings), but I will always make it clear that those aspects, which were commissioned are not my own work. The problem arises (and I've seen it on RMweb) when certain individuals don't make it clear what is someone else's work....and are happy to keep quiet and let others presume. I sympathise entirely with Tony's views on this, but it's fair to not confuse this view with a problem with cheque book modelling.

Some very amateur behaviour from those high up in the group on their facebook page, when asked some basic questions regarding the companies operations in the comment section. https://www.facebook.com/trawsblaenaurailway

I could be wrong, but I don't think so. I think the first 8750s had the same mechanism the current models, it just didn't have DCC ready gubbins.

Well I've tested it on DCC, and it's quieter than the last one, however it's very coggy on low speed (almost like lots of little stutters) this was after even altering CVs to match a coreless motor. Ultimately it's just not in the league of the chassis underneath my 57XX and 64XX (which were both bought for £20-£50 less than the Hattons 14XX). It will be sent back on Friday.

I think I've sadly been unlucky twice, I don't intend to start fiddling with it (Hattons did say the body isn't particularly designed to come off), and I know someone else posted earlier in the thread that they had given up trying to look inside and are selling theres. Will be getting a High Level Chassis from Scale Four North.

No better I'm afraid (actually I'd say it's worse). This is after running in for the instructed time and oiling. I'll be sending back and wont be asking for a replacement, instead a refund. I'm sure some run sweetly and I've bee unlucky in acquiring two like this. I had asked that Hattons test the loco before sending, which going off the condition of this I don't think they have (could be wrong). May test with a decoder later on the layout, but ultimately I'll be building a chassis for a detailed airfix body.

Just to be pedantic, I don't believe Mainline ever did the 8750, only the 57XX, The 8750 was released by Bachmann in 1999. My replacement 5819 has arrived, about to go and test....wish me luck!

Just had a look regarding the Railroad 14XX. Pre order £34.50 at Rails...... I think that's going to be my way forward.

Currently awaiting my new model after the poor running of the 58XX I returned. I really have my fingers crossed this one will be a good runner. I did notice how sloppy the con rods were, it surely would have been a lot simpler to gear on one axle, and let the con rods do the work they are supposed to do (as on the prototype). I was originally going to have two of these, however I'm generally now thinking about the second one being the Railroad model coming out later this year. With a DCC chassis, repaint and the mainly trains detailing kit...it shouldn't be too shabby. It all depends on how well this replacement runs.

Thank you, I'm awaiting to here back from the product department of Hattons on the matter. I did fit a Digitrax decoder from in one of my 64XX's but the loco just buzzed. The tight spot however is one of the main issues though which I think is effecting it. Thanks for the info on the Zimo decoder.

Mine arrived today, however I will be contacting Hattons in the morning and sending it back. On Analogue it's fairly smooth although in reverse it has a really quite pronounced tight spot. However on DCC it's very poor. It's noisy and on acceleration it tends to jolt on speed steps (lenz system). I've fitted it with a Lenz silver mini which are a very good decoder but you wouldn't think so from watching it run. I even changed to a decoder I had in a Bachmann 64XX but this time it just buzzed. It had crossed my mind that it could be the built in capacitors (which I normally remove) causing the issues, but with it's odd design it's not easy to get the body off (Hattons recommended not removing the body when I enquired some months ago). Will return to Hattons and see what can be done. At the moment though, I feel really disappointed.

Good for you.... However for those of us that actually model a prototype, we need to renumber our locos to match those that worked a specific area..... So in my case, I need to renumber my 58XX....and if it had been done like conventional models, it would have been a lot simpler job.

That is good news and an easy fix. What plates are you using? I've some modelmaster ones at the ready to renumver my 58xx but I'm hoping they are a similar size to the Hattons plates.

Hmmm, it's an expensive mistake if it goes wrong. I'll be looking to try and get my plates out. Another reason the recess was a stupid idea.

Double post

Thanks, do you think it would be possibly to remove the original plates out to sand down off the model, to avoid damaging the loco?