Wotan

Evening all, Is it an option and if it is, is it possible to add a stay alive to one of the small n gauge next 18 decoders?? Not sure there are solder pads available as that is my usual route with the standard 6 pins?? trying to put one in the excellent new Farish 08’s…. many thanks in advance michael

So I’m guessing I did have a point after all? It did completely baffle me what was wrong and rather regretted bringing it up as I was doubting myself after yesterdays responses…… but thank you Bob

Well now here’s the thing and perhaps after banging my head against a wall all day trying to be understood this might clear things up i measured the distance between the boss of the association wheels and that came out on my set as 6.45mm the distance between my beefed up pick ups on this Farish model on the middle axle space came out at 6.77mm therefor I deduce it will certainly not help having a further barrier of kapton/sellotape the bosses clearly are a problem as the chassis stands perhaps that’s enough of this saga now ??? michael

No ShadowinLinby perhaps a bad photo but sorry your deduction is not correct 😁 that has nothing to do with it. Just to clarify my original point there is an alteration in the pick up design as noted and a similar problem by Izzy . The only way I can see to making it work is to remove the fitted pick ups file quite a large section away and refit which is never going to be as good as it was in the first place but thank you for your comment as an afterthought here’s the offending axle slot the slot if fine for the factory fitted wheel but the association one with the boss simply cover most of the side causing the short filing that away is not an easy operation michael

I have a question? I have one of the latest batch of GF Class 37’s which is giving me some problems. There’s an intermittent short occurring with the replacement association wheels fitted. which I think is happening when the centre axles come in contact with the centre wheel pickup ??? This doesn’t happen when the original n wheels are put back in???? has anyone found this or do I have an odd one??? Hope that makes sense and the pic helps explain 🙄 yours scratching his head michael

Afternoon, so disappointed to have had to miss the Derby event delayed by Covid due to catching Covid ! ,but hope it was a triumph for all. I’ve been pottering about and think I’m just about where I want things to be now, time to fine tune some stock maybe ? Or think about some planning for another adventure, a bucolic countryside branch line seems appealing ??? happy modelling michael

Afternoon all, the S&T dept have handed back the trackway after finishing the new arrival /platform routing signals .it only took three attempts at soldering together some of the wizard models etchings 🙄 end result balances nicely I think the other end and the departure lights the layout is starting to light up like a Christmas tree when the lights low ! Onwards and upwards happy modelling michael

Evening all, after much deliberation and playing around with signals….. it just didn’t look right with the semaphores especially as I finally got the colour lights to work I had to put them back in! a new loco on the roster a rather sweat running Dapol Pannier conversion is running in as well 😊 so looking forward to our first exhibition this September !!

Evening all, work continues down the line, I like the new balance leading out to the fiddle yard ( or the world rather). one new building seemed enough and I’ve reshaped the original earthworks to blend it all in. The new signals are coming along matching one with some of the original colour lights. Here’s some pictures of some new angles Happy modelling Michael

Many thanks Ian, As I'm a fan of what you've done with Freshwater I appreciate your comments, and I hadn't even thought about the skip and I didn't even realise there was a traffic cone in it! I want to keep it as a nod to Alan, I'm repositioning it and it seemed a good place tucked in the weeds up the hill?? its the same with Dodworth signal box, I don't think theres a problem with an APR design. Theres also a danger the Midland Region might be getting a little close to the Western region.Its just a testament to the track design change the furniture and it works wherever you want it to. best wishes Michael

Evening all, a few more subtle developments, the builders have nearly finished a new house as the railway moved some earthworks around. The station has been taken over and had a fresh coat of paint and a bit of a change with the signal department and the permanent way department need to come and sort out some ballasting but apart from that….I’ve really enjoyed tinkering and it’s getting there.

A couple of more images 😀 best Michael

Morning all, welcome back RMWeb ! there’s been some changes at Hallam ,step into the tardis to see where we are heading? and to my amazement I have my first exhibition invitation for September !!!

Hello, I’ve enjoyed tinkering with some cosmetic tweaks this week, escaping from all the terrible news. Hopefully complementing and sympathetic to what was before on the layout. I want to bring a bit of what I’ve seen of pictures of the railways of the 1950/60’s to the layout, so here’s a flavour… happy modelling Michael

Thanks Melvin, Only problem I’m not 00 gauge and I’m not aware that Train Tech produce 2mm signals???

There’s been some late hours spent in the locoworks ! might leave things along for a bit and concentrate on some coaches that need some attention…. But I hope things bode well for these two when they get motorised etc, I’m happy with the basic running qualities for now . I’m enjoying building the L&Y tank from Nigel’s etched kit again new disciplines to learn, I’ve got to tune the radials better! the j39 is ready for its tender as well. happy modelling everybody Michael

Thanks so much for the replies , lots of info for which I’m really grateful, I basically just want to operate the signals out of a 3 platform terminus (Minories style) Independently and separate from the points to make it more interesting to operate. The LDT look good , just want to make it as simple as possible…. keep em coming though! best michael

Hi ive got some colour aspect signals I want to wire into the layout which is currently DCC. The points are DCC operated etc but I haven’t ventured to signals. so the question is what accessory decoder should I look for to kick off. I currently have 1 ground signal, 2 x 3 way aspect that are separate and a mounted 2x 3 way with 2 call on signals. All are cr signals n gauge. Forgive my ignorance but just unsure how to go about this thanks in advance michael

I'm very lucky and enjoying giving this beautiful layout a new home, thank you Alan you made something special. I'm playing around with ideas, I can't get the blue diesels out of my head they just fit don't they.. But the flexibility is with no real changes it can be taken back to the 1960's and the end of steam, that was my original idea, but.... I'd appreciate any thoughts , I think this layout deserves to be seen again if not blue what do you think would work and give the most interest??? Alan gave some ideas of either move to end of BR under Regional Railways operation, or after privatisation with Northern Railways, Hull Railways etc?? It would take very little tweaking and I certainly won't be making alterations... thoughts? best wishes Michael

The sun sets at Valhalla loco works, quite a lot going on the Ivatt awaits it decoder and stay alive, I've found assembling the valve gear to be best separately from the loco and then put in place, the L&Y footplate is taking shape whilst the gears arrive, and the j39 waits patiently... One plus of being homebound for the last few days after 60 miles an hour winds and storm battered the coast! happy modelling Michael

Evening all, Whilst my blurred vision returns to normal from the black arts that is "valve gear" I thought I'd take a look and make a start on the wonderful L&Y 4-4-2t produced by Nigel Hunt, its been a joy to put together so far and the instructions are just superb! They'll be a pause with this one which is a shame due to the one 14t gear I had shattering when I tried to clean it up!!!! oh well its back to the valve gear I think..... best Michael

So I thought, I know, something to relax, unwind and all that, why not take the Ivatt 2mt and have a go at fine scaling that next. Thank you again to Nigel Hunt he has produced a super conversion etch as you all know. Tender chassis done, wheels on and quartered and good running, lots of very small bit cobbled together! For eyesight preservation and to maintain sanity plenty of breaks in proceedings seem to be best all best Michael

Good Morning all, 2691 all ready for Sunday service

Thank you for the "thumbs up's" and positive comments, it's great to be enjoying modelling again, have to say a thank you to the good folk at the 2mm Scale Association for the developments and all the kit that has become available as well over the last few years, The new point kits are really good for example, so a bit of test track has been growing over the last few weeks and I couldn't resist a cruel comparison with a Scale7 wagon, it certainly highlights real-estate value on a layout! all best Michael

Feeling encouraged by my Fairburn tank here is my Jinty, what a lovely model the Graham Farish model is and with the parts that are available via the 2mm Scale Association I'm really pleased with whats possible, and I include the wheel quartering tool in that! With some help from a stay alive and zimo decoder which fits snugly in the cab area the running possibilities are so good now compared to days of old. I know many people have achieved this and better than my efforts, but I just wanted to show that its possible from the very average modeller! So a passenger loco, a good loco- now some thinking about a country through station........ best wishes Michael