richard.h

Just arrived in the post is the next item to go on the workbench. I've always liked the idea of having a Triplet Set to run on the layout and chose this particular version as there is lots of information on RMWeb from other people who have built it previously so I won't be short of reference material. First step, open the box and check all the contents.

Here is the video showing the work done on the Duke of Gloucester

Duke of Gloucester This Loco can be bought quite cheaply now in a pack with three coaches as The Heritage Rail Express. Although it has a reputation as a poor runner, pick-ups in the loco only (didn't that used to be normal) I couldn't resist a bargain and decided to buy one to see what could be done with it. The first thing was to fit a stay-alive decoder together with the most powerful capacitor that could be squeezed in. This transformed the running as can be seen from the following video. The next stage was weathering, again detailed in the video, to try and give it the look of a slightly worn but well maintained premier locomotive.

Point Rodding Continued This job has been delayed as the parcel got lost in the post, it finally appeared a few days ago so I was able to finish off this section. I fitted Peco cosmetic rodding and at the same refreshed all the ground cover and vegetation which was looking dusty and grubby. Now, thanks to double-ordering I have enough rodding to do the rest of the layout so I will just have to knuckle down and get on with it.

Now with the Pullman Coaches working well I can run an eight car train so here is my version of the Yorkshire Pullman. In real life it would have been eleven coaches into Leeds with three going onto Bradford but in my case it's cut down to six plus two. And it's hauled by a Leeds (Neville Hill) based loco Archibald Sturrock

Poorly Pullmans The layout and station was designed to take a maximum 8 coach train, this was the most that could be fitted in and still look right within the total layout size. Eight coaches worked fine with everything but the Hornby Pullmans, once I got to five the derailing problems started, having tried all the other coupling options,Roco, Kaydee etc without success I decided to try the option I had seen used by other people on this site and dispense with standard couplings altogether. So the coach bodies were drilled out to accept wire hooks and bars. Finally success although for it to work properly I had to adapt the Loco Tender with the same fitting. With the strain taken away from the Coach Bogies I can now run eight coach Pullmans trouble free.

This afternoon the Derby Lightweight calls in for quick stop. Before heading on down to Oxenholme, got to learn how to change the destination boards!

Layout Controls Since the start my DCC layout has always been controlled by the NCE system using macros, (routes) to set the points and signals. This has worked well but as the layout expanded it has got more difficult to keep track! of what you are doing as apart from the signals there is no visual confirmation of the routes set because I would have to build a minimum of three mimic boards to do this. With the extra time available from the lockdown I have been looking at different systems which would work with and compliment my NCE system and after some trials decided to use the JMRI package. I don't want a fully automated system but something that I can still control from handsets but with more freedom. One of the problems with NCE is that the handsets have to be plugged in so you are always following the trains around and connecting into socket points. So I installed the JMRI, programmed it and connected it to a touch screen display TV Now I can display either my track plan or Macro List, as shown, plus throttles for the locos and control them just by touching the appropriate point on the panel. However I tend to use the Touchscreen just for route setting as another advantage with this system is that you can link in any suitable Tablet or Mobile and use that as a controller. And then it gets better as now not only are the handsets cable free but you can enter in all the functions for a sound chip so you are no longer trying to remember what F6 does on a particular loco the hand set clearly shows every function. At the moment I am still investigating it as there are other possibilities to be explored, such as linking in signals and the DCC turntable but it's working fine and if there is a problem to be resolved I can just go back to my NCE system which remains unchanged.

Here we have a few photos of the Class 24. As it races through the countryside. With the Condor express container service.

Point Rodding The area around the South Signal Box was one of the first sections completed a few years ago now and is starting to look a bit drab and dusty. I wanted to tidy it up and fit some cosmetic point rodding but without taking up the track which is quite complex there. The gravel on the layout was secured with water based PVA glue and I found that by using very hot water applied with a paint brush I could soften and remove selected sections so that I could drop in rodding sections without cutting into the track webbing. It is not a perfect solution but to me it is acceptable from normal viewing angles. So now I am just waiting for further supplies of rodding (somewhere in the post for about three weeks now) so that I can finish it off, weather it, and tidy up this section.

Little People I have previously bought most of my 3d figures from ModelU and have been very happy with them, however their recent price increase from £3.00 to £4.50 per figure plus a need to stop all the loco staff looking alike prompted me to look elsewhere. I found Hardy's Hobbies priced at £3.00 each or packs of eight figures for£18.00 so decided to order a mixed batch to see how they compare. They arrived a couple of weeks ago and due to the staff shortage on 1960s BR have been painted up and put straight on duty. I think that they compare very well and I now have two quality suppliers and a greater range of figures to choose from.

For anyone looking for a different loco kit to build a large collection has just been put online at:- http://wmcollectables.co.uk/index.php

I think I must be getting 'cabin fever' it has been nearly 40 days of total lockdown in Spain, you can't even go out for walk. So here is a video to I made keep occupied which features a look around the Engine Sheds.

Wolf of Badenoch A few more photos of The Wolf is it goes on 'running in' trials around the layout. The main thing left to do is to adjust the pony/ bogie truck and tender settings so that they don't cause any shorts anywhere on the layout.

Very nice video, what software or technique do you use to get the effect of looking out of the coach window

That looks really good , you have made an excellent job of salvaging a damaged loco and the black livery looks right on it.

Thanks for that, I did find postings regarding Coopercraft problems but they were a few years old so I tried to contact them just in case they had now got their act together as they say, but no response so that's one supplier off the list. Wizard models have the full range of Comet Kits needed in stock so that's looking promising at the moment, still reading up on Wright Writes. Richard

Mentioning Loco Crews and Figures I have always bought ModelU figures in the past and they are excellent products but when they increased the price from £3.00 to £4.50 each I decided to look at alternatives. I found Hardies Hobbies £3.00 each and packs of 8 for £18.00 so that's where my latest crew came from and they are equally up to the job, both good products from good companies, just pay your money and make your choice.

The only problem I have had my Heljan Turntable is dirt on the sensor causing it to lose calibration, this is easily cured by cleaning the sensor and then letting the turntable run round until it finds its home position. The turntable then remembers its preset positions and it is not necessary to re-calibrate it again. You seem to have tried everything but haven't mentioned the power supply mine runs of the 10amp DCC bus but if you are on DC you should have a separate 15volt AC supply to the unit, is this OK. Failing this if you cannot get it working can you contact your supplier and get it changed as you mention that you have just bought it.

I would like to build a triplet set of coaches as used on the East Coast Mainline in the 1950s. After spending quite some time trawling the internet the only option I can find are the sets manufactured by Comet Models, other sets such as the Ian Kirk Models seem to be out of production, they are shown on the Cooper Craft website but I didn't get a reply when I enquired about availability. Can anyone else confirm this or are there now some newer manufacturers which I may have missed.

First class work as we have come to expect, you certainly know how to create a typical grimy railway scene, the Mill area looks great. On the N2 did you use weathering powders around the coal rails etc to give the appearance of rust?

The Wolf is now on Running-in trials around the layout so that I can identify problems such as the front pony truck fixing that was moving and causing shorts and then continue to fit smaller parts. Because the Tender and loco body are opposite polarities they must not connect electrically so I have made some plastic drawbars so that I can safely get the gap as close as possible and then fit the cab doors.

The difference between the the two rail heights is not large enough to cause any real problems. I certainly would not attempt to change the rails on the Turntable, if any adjustment is necessary just file the ends of the turntable rails to give you a slight slope rather than an abrupt change of height. As can be seen from the attached photo you get differences in height (magnified by the camera) anyway as the turntable rides around on its cogs but it doesn't affect the operation, you could probably compensate for this by putting shims under the rails but then you may spoil the appearance.

A very good article with excellent photos including some Locos I hadn't seen before, where have you been hiding the LMS 1000.

Wolf of Badenoch Back in November I was looking for a new challenge and wanted to improve my modelling skills so I decided to jump in at the deep end and try and build my first kit based loco an A2/2, ( this is documented on another thread) My choice was based on the fact that it was a model I had always wanted and due to its unique design and limited production numbers no RTR manufacturer was ever likely to produce one. Fast forward one month and Hornby announce its planned release. Never mind just get on with it and I must say that I have enjoyed the challenge, mistakes have been made but I have learned a lot along the way. So here is the model in its 'Paint Shop Finish' It's extremely glossy due to the layers of matt varnish applied during lining to keep the transfers in place. In this state it is not really suitable for my layout as all my other locos are weathered so I bit the bullet and gave it the full weathering treatment. Now we have a loco which looks something like the ones I remember and hopefully not spoilt. There are still some of the small fiddly parts to fit but the intention is to give it a good running in and make sure it performs OK first otherwise I would probably knock something off while making adjustments.