young37215

Most of the point motor problems at Crianlarich have been resolved although I fear that I have fried a Servo Controller in my efforts. I am back to running trains again to ensure that everything still works and so far, so good. My next task is to build up the surrounding hilly areas around Crianlarich and to integrate these into the backscene which I will be painting by hand. A new boy puts in an appearance, 37012 Loch Rannoch with white stripe is a recent purchase. A sound chip has been fitted but a base reflex speaker is required to improve the sound output. 37012 brings a southbound freight into Crianlarich. 37049 arrives at Arrochar with the northbound sleeper 37012 arrives at Garelochead on its journey south 37049 arrives at Crianlarich 37049 awaits departure from Crianlarich

As you can see, it uses the MegaPoints recommended (?) aluminium channel, but improved (no doubt I will get comments ...) by adding two bolts to 'clamp' the servo in the channel (I've seen reports of the servos working loose over time) I tried to use bolts similar to those you propose to secure servos in the aluminium channel with little success. I hope you have better luck. Junctionmad, on 17 Oct 2018 - 23:03, said: it makes no sense to switch the frog from a mechanically attached switch , far better a relay driven from the servo board etc. In terms of relay versus micro switch, I agree that wiring is straightforward and easy for non-electrical persons to follow. I would love to understand the respective pros and cons of each option. I use microswitches but if I could see a clear benefit to changing then I would certainly look at doing so.

Crianlarich has had its track weathered at last using an air brush loaded with Railmatch sleeper grime. The resulting track looks much improved but I managed to dislodge several of the connections between the servo and point tie bar which is proving a pain in the rear to resolve. Before After Repairs to the point motors are on going!

Two more pictures to show the 'protrusion'. As can be seen from the first picture, this is very low and a problem waiting to happen.

I have an OWB hard wired with a DCC chip. I know that it does not represent anything that runs on the UK network and the motor is noisy but I like it all the same. I have a problem with the underside of the vehicle which constantly fouls on my Peco code 75 points causing it to stop. The motor continues to run, the problem is a low hanging axle unit containing the drive to the wheels at each end in which the axles sit. The 'protrusion' can be seen between the wheels at both ends in the attached picture. Initially I thought the point of the fouling was the wire that moves the point tie bar from the servos used as point motors but under closer inspection today I found that it is the plastic moulding on the point. I think that I can file off a mm, perhaps more of the 'protrusion' which may solve my problem although I am concerned that this may do damage. I do not want to dispose of the OWB but will do so unless I can find a solution. Has anyone experienced a similar problem with this model and/or, better still, found a solution?

I have found a 1986 picture of a Fort William to Glasgow service comprising 5 coaches where the rear 2 were from green and cream rake. Must have been chilly in them given it was April, the coaches were steam heat and the traction was ETH! This is the first instance that I have seen of the green and cream coaches working anywhere other than the Mallaig extension. Does anyone have any other pictures or knowledge of similar workings? https://www.flickr.com/photos/127282573@N03/37871536136/in/album-72157671772648831/

Today I am at the GWSR for their autumn diesel event. It’s a chilly day meaning that 6948’s boiler is getting a welcome work out. From the attached pictures, I have satisfied myself that the misting on some of my coaches does give an acceptable representation of the condensation caused by steam heat. If only my phone would not rotate the pictures !

I have R4612, a BSO and R4610 a TSO both with lights

That would make sense, back in the 70's and 80's I cannot recall the old platforms being used. That said there are a lot more trains stopping at Bristol suburban stations now than there were then.

The pictures generate some fond memories for me. Unusual to see the HST on the South Wales line, back then there were not many HST services between Bristol TM and South Wales. It was a Thursday so unlikely to be an engineering diversion. Can anyone comment on what is planned for Stapleton Road station; are the old platforms to be re-instated?

It has been a frustrating couple of weeks with problems showing up with derailments and point motors. The derailments appear due to my replacement of tension lock couplings with brass loops which seems to have been cured by reverting to tension locks. These do nothing for realism and prevent the use of the Bachmann snow ploughs. Nevertheless if they mean that I get less derailments I can live with them. 37027 seen first with brass loop and detailing then with tension lock replacing the brass loop. Only 1 brass hoop remains which is on 37039 seen below at Arrochar and where the glue is so strong that I fear damaging the bufferbeam if I remove it. The point motor issue seems to have been resolved by the insertion of the small screw that is part of the servo motor pack. In hindsight, I was silly not to have inserted this at the outset. The screw needs to be fully tightened into the servo so as to avoid fouling the wire that connects to the point tie bar. It is not easy doing this whilst led on my back underneath the layout; I wish I had done it before attaching the servos to the underside of the baseboard!

I echo the above comment. Yesterday whilst researching in an effort to find out when 37043 was painted large logo I did a Google search for '37043 large logo'. This came up with a number of pictures which I looked at trying to find their date. One picture of 37043 was at WW and having clicked on it, it was a good 30 seconds before I realised that I was looking at WW and not the real thing!

37043 had a headlight fitted by June 1984 which suggests that the date of the picture is wrong. She also had a white stripe by October 1983 although this was subsequently removed at a date I am unaware of. She was large logo by early 1985. If you flick through John Chalcraft's website you can see a picture of 37005 departing Crianlarich dated August 1982 where the weather appears very similar to the 37043 picture. I suspect that this is the more likely date of the working.

Griddle 1105 at Oban May 1981. Lots of other WHL pictures in this album https://www.flickr.com/photos/bystuart/31221950816/in/album-72157669157413216/

I am confident that no superglue got on the window glazing which means that it is the fumes/vapour that caused the misting. I have not yet tried to remove the misting because I think that it resembles the condensation caused by steam heating. If I change my mind then I will find out if it is removable!

Heljan's actions are an attempt to circumvent trading laws plain and simple. They are not the first and will not be the last to do so as others have identified in this thread. The Authorities lack of action is typical of how the statute book in the UK is currently enforced on a selective basis. I fear that people are missing the broader point about retailing in general where daily reports of retailers in dire financial straits are commonplace. All of the factors behind this have been identified in the thread, it is simply a fact of life in this day and age that high street retailing is challenging and model shops are no exception. Whilst I love the thought of an old style model shop environment, I have become used to the modern online world getting items delivered by post and make no excuses for doing so for the bulk of my purchases. In my view the online market gives me a much wider choice than relying on a local model shop who realistically could never stock everything given the extensive manufacturers catalogues that exist today.

The glazing on several coach windows misted up which I guess to be a reaction to the superglue used to secure the passengers. I cannot make my mind up if this is a reasonable reflection of the condensation produced by steam heating or if I should clean the glazing and so I have left the windows misted for the time being.

Much as I rate Derails and have spent a good few pounds with them, having done the Bristol to coleford drive myself to visit the shop I think you will find the shop is a modest affair. Nothing wrong with that but if you are hoping for a stellar retail experience, you’ll be disappointed.

37264 at Oban with ETHEL and, I guess, Mk3 stock probably on Sunday 26th August 1984 with a additional Merrymaker service to Edinburgh. I think this was the only time 37264 did the Merrymaker, 37081 was the usual loco on the Merrymaker in 1983 and 84. I never managed to travel on the Merrymaker but happy days. With Oxford Rail's impending Mk3 release in blue and grey plus Bachmans DBSO, there will be a temptation to model the Merrymaker!

There were a small number of 25’s allocated to the WR for your timescale although I am not certain how many had air brakes. In addition there were regular pairs on empty China clays 6V53 if I recall which went at least as far as Bristol. Again I question whether air braked locos were seen. I suggest you buy an old Platform 5 pocket book from EBay which started production in 1979 which will show both the Home Depot and braking capabilities

Another cracking picture that stirs the memory. I also have 022 on WHL4, albeit mine still has her bufferbeam skirts and has yet to receive a headlight. You cannot have too many Eastfield 37's on a layout!

Back to running again to see how the line has settled during the summer months. I have discovered problems at Crianlarich with several of the servo driven point motors where the pin that moves the tie bar has come loose at the point the servo arm attaches to the servo causing the arm to detach. I am not sure why as yet but need to sort this because the servo arm also drives the frog polarity switch. Otherwise nothing else seems to be wrong so I will now start weathering the track at Crianlarich. 37192 arrives at Crianlarich with the northbound sleeper 37264 departs Crianlarich with the first Oban service of the day 37039 awaits departure from Garelochead with the first Oban to Glasgow train of the day 37027 arrives at Arrochar with a Fort William bound freight 37027 awaits departure from Crianlarich 27034 departs Crianlarich with Grampus loaded with spoil

I use code 100 in my fiddle yard and code 75 elsewhere. Whilst expensive for what they are, I have several SL 113's in use and all work perfectly and are very easy to install. You will also need the code 75 fishplates for your code 75 track, the code 100 fishplates are far to big in my experience

Love the pictures, they are a perfect source of reference for my modelling era. Are there any more to share?I don't think I am the only person that would enjoy them!