Neils WRX

Nope I’d do it all again!! Do want to get to the bottom of the WiFi issue as that was a bit annoying. Have a few bits to do before it’s next outing (wherever that might be). Thanks, Neil

Exhibition Report - Paisley 2023 Had a great weekend at the Paisley Show, I think I learnt some more lessons and have a few things to take away. Friday was set up and we managed this in about 80 minutes from car arrival to departure. Back on Saturday morning for a full days operating. I decided to operate different time periods on each day. Saturday was 1990’s. All went well for the first hour or so then a point motor stopped responding. I thought I had a repeat of last year and made an attempt to remove it. But the location was difficult to get at quickly so I left it. Tried to switch another point and that didn’t work either. I had lost all point and signal control. I was using a wired Multimaus controller as well as the Wifimaus but the route setting was on the iPhone over WiFi. I tried the old IT Crowd trick of turning it on and off again, sure enough that worked. I had to flick the switch at least 5-6 times in the next hour, and a couple of times in the afternoon. I guess my WiFi signal was getting corrupted some how. Apart from that the only tool I used was the superglue to make the odd repair. Had lots of good chat several people had come to specially see the layout, I was honoured. Some photos: On Sunday I was operating 2010 onwards, again the same WiFi problem happened a couple of times, but a reset sorted it out. Again a number of people had come to the show to see the layout and a couple of work colleagues stopped by for a chat. I think comment of the day was from a young boy who his Dad had to pickup pointed at the Lineas 66 and shouted “funny coloured shed”!!! The show closed at 1600 and I was back home by 1715. Sunday pictures Last loco off the shed! I still took stock I didn’t use, but the control box with the Z21 worked well as did the signals I added since the last show A great weekend, thanks to the Renfrewshire Model Railway Club for the invite. Thanks, Neil

Have been billed retrospectively by FedEx…. You might be ok you might not.

A quick update, less than a week to go until the layouts first exhibition of 2023. If you’re at a loose end this weekend come along to Paisley and say hello. One of my jobs following the previous exhibition was to make a display board at the shed end. I’ve also included a QR code with a link to the Layouts Facebook Page. Before painting After I’ve selected the rolling stock and cleaned the wheels and track and vacuumed it. Need to iron the valance and flag, so I think I’m nearly all set. Another thing I learnt from last time is have a layout fact sheet for any perspective exhibition managers so I’ve written one. Just a shot of 3 AFB’s and a 51. The layout is also going to appear in Modelspoor Magazine next year and is pencilled in for the April issue. Thanks, Neil

Wow, they have changed their tune!! I got bits about a year ago for a coach interior.

Fame at Last!!! After years or reading Continental Modeller one of my layouts has appeared in it!!! And the “Sticker” I really wanted!! Will post a proper update in a few days. Thanks, Neil

Forgot this one I’ve done another job no one will notice… One of the buses now has a driver and a few passengers. As I said no one will notice…. Thanks, Neil

Another mainly photos and video update. I did discover one feature of the z21 route setting you can delay actions happening so the level crossing starts flashing, the points move and finally the signals clear, a great feature. The only addition since the last update is a class 18.2 electric which is a bit to new for my time period really…. Originally I wasn’t going beyond about 2010 but this has slipped on many occasions including several LINEAS liveried locomotives. So the addition of a “new” class 18 is a logical step. The model is by LS Models and is of course sound fitted. A few videos and pictures. Mehano 5183 fitted with DLoc sounds. 6106 by B-Models / Van Biervliet on the fuel point. 9101 passes through with a couple of tank wagons. 6257 by B-Models stabled on shed. 5403 by Roco leaves the depot. The model is fitted with a Stayalive and Dloc sound. Finally something very random, went to the Warners Brothers Studio Tour a few weeks back. Only thing of railway interest….. Thanks, Neil

Really interesting layout I will watch how it progresses. I do like something completely different. re the name I’d stick with “Roy in a Cave”. Out of interest was the railway freight only? What sort of rolling stock did they use? Thanks, Neil

Enjoy reading this thread, re your new potential layout does the 9 foot length include include a fiddle yard? If it does I’d possibly go for a depot layout as they can be good fun. (I might be a bit bias as I do own a depot layout). My other layout has a scenic length of 9 foot with a 5 foot fiddle yard on the end. This allows a loco + 3 scale length coaches to run. Looking forward to developments. Thanks, Neil

What do you need fixing, I tend to order the spares myself, Gaugemaster can also supply Roco bits provided you have the part number. Piko will also supply bits direct, Jouef / Rivarrosi couldn’t supply bits unless I had a very specific part number. Hope that helps, Neil

Next Exhibition!! My local one in Paisley 2nd and 3rd December. Come along and say hello!! Thanks, Neil

Some actual modelling has taken place :-) I have a M2 coach that is used for the depot staff train. I thought I’d detail the vehicle a bit starting with the interior. The coach is by Trix and is one of quite a number I own. This one has its gangways retracted so won’t be used in longer trains. First job was paint the interior, the vehicle I picked was 1st/2nd with smoking accommodation, so after a quick spray of grey primer. The first class non smoking seats are green, smoking ones are red and standard class is blue. Having reassembled the coach and put it on the layout you couldn’t see the interior so I added some lights, I used the moving sensor ones from TrainTrax which are ok as a temporary stop gap. And with the layout lights off. Thanks, Neil

i know what you mean about the LSM 18’s, I said I wasn’t going any newer than 2010, then I brought a ESU Lineas 66 and then a Lineas 186 turned up now I have gone and brought a 18…..

You are correct the Bocq is from Ciney to Spontin and beyond. Eventually the line will open to Yvoir but that’s maybe a few years away. They have a Gala second weekend in August (it’s well publicised) which normally involves some visitors. The only thing I brought this year was a book. In previous years they have had a model layout but this year it was a big Lego train set and a SNCB Driving Simulator with control desk etc. There are swap meets in Belgium and one happens at St Ghislain in the old loco depot maybe twice a year. Most of my purchasing is done on line, not sure the last thing I brought from a shop in person for the layout. Other preserved railways in Belgium that are worth a look are Dendermonde-Purrs, CF3V at Mariembourg, and Eeklo all have events during the year. Thanks, Neil

i went for the sticky Velcro option, just 2 plugs to connect along with the 2 wires for the track. Also going to wire in a programming track electrical connection as that was a pain when I connected that last time, getting my big fingers in a small space!! Thanks, Neil

Quick recap of the summer stuff. When I built the layout I had ballasted the carriage sidings with “clean ballast” to represent recently relaid track. One reason was to add a bit more operational interest and make use of a track machine. I remember seeing a model of one in operation at the exhibition in Glasgow a few years back. I knew Viessmann produced one with Infrabel stickers I just missed buying one when they came out. One turned up on EBay and I’ve added it my collection. Initially it ran poorly over the point work, on further investigation one wheels was slightly too narrow, so I adjusted that and problem solved. Here’s a video of it doing its thing. I’ve also been adding and swapping chips around and the Lineas 186 now has sound. The original model is by Piko. I have added a ESU Loksound chip to it using a 185 sound file. One of the versions has the same software as a 186 and listening to several clips online it sounds spot on. I have also added sound to the LS Models 27, I’d like to add sound to the 13 but taking the body shell off is a complete paff… Thanks, Neil

First update in ages, as it’s been the Summer and J’ve been doing other stuff like holidays etc. Did manage a visit to Belgium for the first time in ages and went to the Bocq Gala. Even made it a family holiday using trains to get around. Here on a visit to Brugge. One modelling job was to use a “really useful box” to contain the Z21 and modem. Should hopefully make setup easier at exhibitions. I have been fiddling around with sound again on a few locomotives but that’s for another update. I have been carrying on with the weekly Facebook update so here are a few random pictures. Thanks, Neil

I’d suggest getting a Lokprogrammer it’s really easy to change this stuff, to change taillights to come on when the headlights are on or have them off and on a separate button to switch them on. Thanks Neil

Glad you like the thread. The Rancid Ashtray and other ferries…. Always had a soft spot for the Princesses (Jet foils)…. No real knowledge on the Van Biervliet 51’s I think a small batch of green ones appeared as I saw some pictures on a Luxembourg Model shops page, but that’s all I know I’m afraid. I haven’t ordered any myself I actually quite like the Mehano ones as none of mine have suffered from the split gear issue. I have fitted Stayalives and use Dloc’s sound files and I’m quite happy with them at the moment (until I see a VB one)…. Thanks Neil

I agree as well, all sparked after a debate on another thread about signals not being visible from normal viewing distance!! thanks, Neil

Minor wiring change which no one will notice…. One issue I’d wanted to fix was the ground signals which I felt were too bright. So contacted DCCconcepts and they suggested I fitted a resistor between the board and the light. So here is a comparison. On the left is the unaltered signal on the right is with the resistor. A bit better, but as I said no one will notice…. Thanks, Neil

Nothing Much to See Here …. As the title say’s not much has happened pretty much all my modelling time has been spent on the Belgian layout. Just one arrival, yet another 751 this one with the later ribbed body style. The model is by Roco and I have fitted an ESU Loksound v5 Decoder and at the moment I’m just using the standard decoder file. Next are just a few random pictures that I’ve posted on the Belgian MPD Facebook page. 749250 - Roco 743086 - MTB 751004 MTB 781505 Roco Thanks, Neil

Luke, Fair enough, I do remember the “fire and forget” when I helped operate the layout. Although I did try and play to the watching public a bit, slowing to a near standstill being checked at a virtual signal, before accelerating away. Should you want to automate the mainlines the IRDOT system should be your friend with one on the exit to the fiddle yard (to make the signal “go green”) and another 30 cm after the signal to turn it back to red. Thanks, Neil

I’ve done some stuff… I keep forgetting to update this this thread, I tend to just add stuff to FB as it’s quicker, take picture on my phone write a sentence and hit send. In the last month I’ve crossed 300 likes and unsurprisingly most people come from Belgium…. Modelling wise I’ve just wired the lights into the DCC Bus so they are on all the time, originally they went through the Roco Switch Pilot to turn the lighting on/off. This was done so I could turn the lights off in case they got hot, but at home I tend to only ever operate for no more than 30 minutes at a time so this shouldn’t be a problem. I might wire them back into a switch before its next exhibition which should be Paisley in December. One thing I have been looking for, for a while is some Belgian concrete fencing. This has a very distinctive design, I did think about getting some 3D printed. Happened to come across this manufacturer by chance and they produce Laser Cut fencing which is very fine and just needs cutting out and painting. As I have said a number of times one of the objectives of the layout is to run electric locomotives with pantographs up. I have had a long standing issue with some LS Model pantographs which catch going through the points. It tends to effect the ones with thin heads and only when leaving carriage siding 2. Anyway when I looked closer (with a phone picture as it wasn’t visible from normal operating distance) I noticed the wire had not been soldered correctly, so fixed this and as if by magic the problem was solved!! Another 62 has been added to the fleet this time 6257 by Van Biervliet as part of their “Budget Line” although not sure 300euros is very budget…. The loco has a slightly different livery with the number higher up on the nose. I think this is my 16th class 62. Quick picture of it on shed. Thanks, Neil