Sun Street

It is not readily known, but no one's mark 3s are suitable for the prototype hsdt set unless modified. Forget roof vents, cable connection points, doors and buffers, they were flush-glazed, certainly not having a rim around them. It's a filing them off as well. Of course,they could be resin cast or 3D printed. Almost worth it for a single rake.

Ah! Victoria, eh? Jub 45565 Many thanks for the leads. Further legwork for my digits If a journey is easy, it is not worth starting. At least, that is what I teĺ myself when I catch up with my 2 projects, these tankers and a full-blown home-built hsdt, avoiding all the pitfalls in both. Pete

If you want a red stripe on your buffet car, Humbrol do a nice shade of red. Precision Paints too. It takes less time to correct than reading all this topic. Be grateful for what is there, it may not be there for ever.......... Yes, I would like a model to be perfect and it is not unreasonable to expect very high standards, but come on, these errors are not beyond simple rectification, if they annoy to that extent. My rake for the HSDT has to be created by modification of production items,try researching that little lot for total accuracy. Mods went on throughout the trials to the power cars and some of the coaches. I had 2 of the first 4 window food wagons, job 1 was to remove the lighting and cut half the sides out to create the correct window size / spacings. There is more chunter about the stripe than the fact that Hornby have ( or have had ) the correct tooling for both standard class and first class interiors, not just 2+1 or 2+2 either, but different spacings. It seems that any old seats are bunged in willy-nilly. Is this why the windows are so close to opaque? This should be easy to remedy, but has not, to my knowledge, been corrected. So sad.

Thanks Mike, I think l need to put together a set of drawings for all the various etches that l need, no one seems to list a suitable 4mm diamond mesh walkway, or ladder for this application. Or does anyone know differently? After all, it is used universally on vehicles and structures.

Well, will we? As Rick asked:- Will we get 12 for the price of 11? Talk about off-topic (iirc) Andy, You have my sympathy. Keep up the good work.

Well, it is coming to the end. A group of us have been exhibiting Buchshee on behalf of our club, Redditch MRC ( www. redditch-mrc.com ) since March 14 on a daily basis at the Redditch National Needle Museum (forgemill.org.uk We have treated it as a social event, taking the hobby out to the public throughout the school holidays. We have even recruited new members from the exercise, with some more enquiries pending. So, how did the layout perform with such intense use? In my view, it has been an absolute credit to the lads that built it back at the millennium. It has since been to more than 30 exhibitions, including Warley, Stafford, Spalding. We have had no track issues or scenic problems at all. The decision was taken to run it digitally, so that meant blue diesels due to available stock. The only failure that we have had, was a decoder going rogue in one of the Heljan class 26 locomotives,which is under investigation. As a consequence, several members have visited us and driven, for the first time using DCC. They have all come out with an intention to use it in future. A few less Luddites in the world. I was one of them a couple of years ago, I will admit. What did it? A Bachmann class 20 factory fitted with sound.Superb. Where now? Our show in September and Milton Keynes in October, so it is time to refresh a few items, like removing sticky fingerprints and worn grass. This is again because l decided that visitors should be allowed access with no barriers in front, a decision that given the same circumstances, l would do again. Let's face it, it is only the children with bad parents that cause the problem. I also bit the bullet and bought an NCE PowerCab from DCC concepts, ordered 5.30 Tuesday, in my hand at 9 a.m. this morning, that is what l call service, and they deserve credit for impartial advice over a couple of years as l found my way through the maze that is DCC. If only more suppliers were as good as them and of course Charlie at DC Kits. The Redditch National Needle Museum also deserves credit as our hosts, nothing has been too much trouble for them, we would be happy to do the same again. Staffing has seen one person do every day except 3, 2 of these the museum was closed anyway, another has done 5 days a week, retirement is a wonderful thing, another few have helped out, and thanks go out to them, a great social time where we got to know each other a little better. If you are at a show and see Buchshee, come and say hello, we would be delighted to see you.

Will they resolve the seating issues? Very dark or opaque windows are not the answer.

When I rejoined the hobby after a sabbatical of around fifty years, I started to apply my late career to the hobby. Having spent most of my career as a diagnostic and analytical engineer, I sometimes look at problems from a slightly different aspect to the mainstream. Over the years, some brilliant people freely helped me gain my knowledge, which I am always happy to pass on these days. I hope that I also have retained the ability to explain in-depth, but simply and concisely. If anything is unclear, then ask, I will happily explain. For many years, my maxim has been ''Why? IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL.'' and I try to apply the kiss principle to any project. KISS? - Keep It Stupidly Simple. By the way, the explanation behind Sun Street? I originate from Wolverhampton, from the time when the loco works was still open and THE town station was Low Level (ex GWR), the other being High Level. Sun Street was the spotters' paradise as both the station approaches could be seen with a quick dash of 20'. Anyone else remember both stations being open?

When I rejoined the hobby after a sabbatical of around fifty years, I started to apply my late career to the hobby. Having spent most of my career as a diagnostic and analytical engineer, I sometimes look at problems from a slightly different aspect to the mainstream. Over the years, some brilliant people freely helped me gain my knowledge, which I am always happy to pass on these days. I hope that I also have retained the ability to explain in-depth, but simply and concisely. If anything is unclear, then ask, I will happily explain. For many years, my maxim has been ''Why? IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL.'' and I try to apply the kiss principle to any project. KISS? - Keep It Stupidly Simple. By the way, the explanation behind Sun Street? I originate from Wolverhampton, from the time when the loco works was still open and THE town station was Low Level (ex GWR), the other being High Level. Sun Street was the spotters' paradise as both the station approaches could be seen with a quick dash of 20'. Anyone else remember both stations being open?

Since there is now a managerial alliance between Hornby and Oxford, there could be an interesting opportunity to suit many modellers. How about Oxford continue with their mark3s of all types, and Hornby retire their moulds, modifying them to produce the prototypes? Who owns the Jouef mark3 tooling? Their roof is near perfect for this project and minor tool reworking would make it fit the ex-Lima shell. The Jouef tooling also could be refreshed, getting rid of the paint guidelines and adjust the doors. Just some odd (very) thoughts Pete

A superb post, Phil Back in the 50s and 60s, our understanding of fly shunting was that the wagons after being uncoupled were pushed to gain momentum, then the loco slowed, enabling the cut of wagons to roll on their merry way, a shunter(man, not engine), may run alongside to slow a further decoupled cut to enable a point change in between.This would be done by dropping the brake lever out of its travel position and then push this down to increase braking. In a couple of chapters,Gerry Fiennes'book ' I tried to run a railway' is beautifully descriptive of yard shunting and some of its characters in his life, well worth a read for any serious modeller, many a chuckle therein.

It is feasible in 4mm,we can do it in the yard on Buchshee. Certain things need modifying to magnetic action, and instant loco deceleration is necessary to enable the wagon's inertia to continue its movement. Buch McInroy, the layout's instigator does it with his Kadee equipped stock, mind he has had a few years experience. Myself, I am creating a few wagons with'Kirby'staple modified couplings on one end and just a loop at the other. The most successful technique so far is to 'fly' the looped wagon, leaving the hooked wagon attached to the loco. But timing is all, but when it works, so satisfying Then, how does the fly wagon decelerate, considering its deliberately increased weight? Surprisingly easy. A row of Chinese nymidium magnets in between the sleepers make a grab at the steel axles of the wagon as it passes. It is a case of much experimentation, but it is possible. PS -no chance with 3-link couplers. I have considered a model hump yard, hence the retardersbeing developed.

Blooper Previous post read as Now Oxford are tied in with OXFORD Should have read Now Oxford are tied in with Hornby The tooling slide image that was published showed multiple options of roofing, equipment bays, window arrangements to produce all options to that date, with the exception of class 252 (Thanks Royal Oak, good way to describe them). The 252 set window units were mounted from the inside, thus no external frame, also doors were different. 3 roof vents each end, perpetuated into production, but seemed to be changed/ deleted randomly at build or overhaul. The best way to create a 252 vehicle seems to be to use Jouef coaches and smooth the sides which leaves a fine lip around the aperture, placing the glazing appropriately near flush on re-assembly. This also gets rid of the paint guidelines, and the remnants on the door can be used to create the handle pocket. I am modelling to the 3 foot viewing rule, not the slide rule. Mind, I do work to half-mil on any mods. (Masochist? Moi? No, I model railways, just suffer anoraxia )

Thanks for the clarification. My understanding had been that the coaches were sanctioned before the hsdt locos were. This caused me to assume that they were built to spec, and the locos designed to suit, but l can equally see that it would have been possible to create them as an homogenous set for test purposes. It was having the stock in prototype production that, in my view led to the short time from go-design to go-test. It must be the best decision ever made by BR, surely?

As Oxford are now tied in managerially with Hornby, how about the tooling being released as Hornby? The following is not pointed at any single person. As for loco or hst ie mk3 or mk3a, this is raging can of worms, and I would like it clarified. What makes a 3 or a 3a? Buffers? Nope. Roof vents? Nope. So, come on rivet-counters, guide us, instead of being so negatory, please. We need an answer from someone who was there in the day, like me. References gratefully received. Bear in mind that the prototype hst stock had buffers and was Mark 3, but 3a is usually referred to as loco-hauled and 3 as hst from what I can see. I am yet to find any accurate data. I am building pertinent stock, not just chewing the fat. Thanks Pete

Legend, Thanks, I was indeed referring to the 7 window 'shorties' And they got away with it those days as we were so starved of choice and manufacturers. Pete

I have been using Neil Kirby's system for a while now, with no issues on our Buchshee layout. The layout was built to use Kadees to enable remote shutting, and the magnets are still in the layout. I use these for uncoupling my stock, with no extra magnets needed, nor any moved. This is achieved by taking the hook off one end of chosen stock and arranging stock so that there is a hook-to-loop consist at the chosen break points. It works for me as a reasonable cost compromise between Kadees and standard, with the benefit of no hand-of-god moments. Just stop over the Kadee magnet appropriately. I have not found any metal hook that will not solder when cleaned bright. Mind, I use a 1964 Weller soldering gun that takes no prisoners for the work. Also, it has the benefit of minimal mods from standard, if stock is put up for sale. Many systems that are around so devalue stock put up for sale.

Looking through the new release images, I note that someone is not getting quality control, or proof-reading correct. The seating units are all standard-class spacing, whether in first or standard class photographs. Or is it that they do not intend using the correct units, for whatever reason? With their current issues of reputation, they should surely be doing their utmost to achieve correctness in detail, at no cost in production terms. Anyone else bought new stock with wrong seating? I have resorted to buying second-hand units to achieve the correct seating format in both my HSDT(252)and HST(253) rakes as stock was supplied incorrectly. I prefer to support Hornby wherever possible, but stupid errors, of which this is typical, merely underline a sloppiness that I expect to cease with this latest management line-up. I hope that the Oxford multi-slide tooling will be used for the final retirement of the Lima tools. Mind, at least Lima got the number of Windows right. I also expect the marketing people to run stock correctly in the adverts, and not in the continental manner. Anyone else have similar views, or am I being too picky?

Brian, I had nearly 1000 images on another unrelated site. As the originator, l was able to retrieve them in batches for re-posting, avoiding use of the p'bucket site altogether except for retrieval and at no cost, or hindrance. So, the fears of them being irretrievably lost are unfounded. Worked for me, hope it works for you, too. Pete I am advised that the initial posted image is and will always remain mine (intellectual or artistic rights, or some such). As a consequence, they cannot block my retrieval, but once they have manipulated it in any way, then they have rights over its use and abilities to charge for their manipulation.

I have a Hornby 4wheel coach that weighs 140 grammes. I reckon that that could be called a heavy-weight track cleaner. As it has a fair bit of drag, I will use a Hornby 0-4-0 flailing away when just cleaning the track with it to loosen any stubbon deposits, and not hauling it behind a repaired loco. Between the axles are a cut-down Peco track rubber and a magnet. I also have a wodge of cloth between the 2 that I can soak in meths [or lighter fuel on odd occasions] to wipe up after the Relco does its magic. As I have a dedicated figure-8 2nd radius test track to run stock in on both left and right-hand sides per lap, and occasionally use a Relco on non-DCC locos, the detritus that is generated off various stock is surprising. I find that locos run in in this way are smoother, as the flanges are equally cleaned and prepared. So often, locos are only run on an oval in one direction, and, like preserved locos, only use the one flange, its opposite then oxidises and causes issues. Also, many people only clean the top of the rail, forgetting that the flanges in a corner have a greater conducting area than the tread. It is often worth cleaning the inside face of the rails, it has been found to improve the running of our exhibition layouts.

A friend bought this off Ebay and found that it did not go. I wonder why? After analysing the material, I can only think that someone had cleaned their track using a Brillo Pad. ____ Seriously!! After a thorough cleaning, with a magnet alongside to avoid pollution of the workbench, the motor ran beautifully once the brushes had been filed to get clean carbon. Moral of the story.? Keep Brillo Pads away from your models, even a load as steel scrap can shed the odd fibre. Track short anyone??

If I recall correctly, this chap was offering resin casts for sale a while back. A member of our club paid good money for a pair and they were duly delivered and brought to club. I have to say that the quality was atrocious, I hope that a great number of mods have been made since that time, but the proportions tell me that these bodyshells seem to have come out of the same moulds. Caveat emptor applies. The facebook correspondence has probably been edited by now. Please be careful before parting with your money. The only models that I have seen that are satisfactory are Shane's [Wolf 27 on here] and they are superb. Mine are still making progress. As I am modelling in 1974/5, the 2 power cars have multiple differences after going through Derby between service on the East Coast and the Western region. I certainly will not accept a re-nosed squadron-build bodyshell as many are. The louvres are a case-in-point. Subtle, but obvious once recognised, just closely study the images that are about. Pete

Yep, start again, ONLY this time better! After all I have had one go and know where the issues lie. Thanks to you all for your sympathy and support. If anyone has any Jouef mark 3s that they wish to get rid of, that need work, I may be in the market. Livery does not matter as the bodysides have to be re-worked completely to remove the window frames. Roofs and bogies important, wheels are not as they will be re-shod using Hornby 12mm solid disc [made to look like disc-braked units]. Nor are couplings important as I am using Keen's System with magnetic attraction. Any help or leads to appropriate stock will be much appreciated. Am watching Ebay, but prices are climbing. Well, let's face it, with idiots like me throwing them away, they will, won't they? Thanks again for the support Pete

Ever shot yourself in the foot? A month ago, l threw out a box of bubble-wrap. As I did it, l thought to myself ''Why was that there?'' On Tuesday, l found out why it was where it should not have been, it was only half-full of bubble-wrap,. What was the other half ? 15 [yes 15!] Mark 3 coach shells, 8 converted to prototype configuration, including the catering cars, the others being prepped to create the first squadron set, plus power car shells 43002 and 3. Ah well! Back to the work-table. I have had a fortunate buy at our local show, picking up 8 Jouefs for £40 for Justin [just in case they were needed by someone]. So, this time, I shall do a strip of images as to how l create the catering cars. If l feel that they are good enough, l will put'em up on here. Why the delay? I have searched my flat 5 times and 3 lock-up garages of car parts 3 times, just making sure. Moral? Always look at the inside bottom of any box that is being thrown out. Such an idiot, am l!