Art Dent

I took my replacement A4 to my local O-Gauge Club to test it. They were most accommodating and she ran without a hitch straight out of the box. Started running her gently, light engine, then gradually ramped up the speed until it was running at a scale 110 mph. Tackled curved points, etc without a problem. The club then suggested some coaches and attached 5 Teaks. Again, she ran without a problem for a total "running in" time of about 20-25 mins. Then, the Iron Horse threw a shoe! Coming around a curve (with a curved point) she lost the driver's side front pony truck wheel, losing the small plastic "washer" in the process (which we didn't find). Earlier in this thread, someone had posted that the wheels were "wrong' and suggested replacing them. Rather than 'Araldite' the wheel onto the existing shaft, I thought I'd explore this possibility. Can someone post a link to the replacements (with an appropriate axle if not included) for the front pony truck? Would the wheels be a 'push fit' or would they be secured with grub screws? Thanks in advance, Art [Hope I've managed to post the YouTube clip correctly. Now sorted - YouTube clip should be embedded! ] Many thanks to the friendly and accommodating folks at http://www.sheffieldogaugegroup.org.uk/

Thank you for the replies. So, in summary, for 'light engine' working, single WHITE lamp, certally-placed at buffer-beam level, at the reat a single RED lamp placement doesn;t matter (probably platform side?) Art

Thanks for the replies folks Just shows how your pre-conceptions can be wrong. Art

Okay, so I know that a steam loco working 'light engine' had a single, centrai, buffer-beam mounted light (colour = white?) So, what was at the rear? I'm guessing that a single red lamp (central, buffer-beam mounted) ? Thinking specifically of tender locos although, of course, the requirement woud equally apply to non-tender locomotives as well. I have got all this correct have I? There are many pictures of locos working 'light engine' but invariably, they are running forwards and coming towards the camera - not going away. Thanks Art

Oh, okay. I didn't know that some companies had them at the rear (facing away from the tracks??) Art

Hi folks, I think there is a mistake in the refurbishment of the Hornby (R503) Signal Box - the feature 'Enhance Second-Hand Buildings' by Michael Russell (pages 84 - 89). Shouldn't the lever frame and instruments be facing the large windows alongside the track and not the rear wall? An interesting article nontheless and quite a transformation from the Hornby 'toy'. Art

Duplicate post

An update from me. I contacted Hattons by phone. They emailed a pre-paid return label and are arranging for a replacement loco to be sent out and they are apparently going to check it for faults before shipment. So far, the experience has been straightforward. Will update this thread when I get the replacement loco. Obviously Hattons agree we me that even at £299 instead of £750, I should expect a first-class product and not something defective! Art

08893 is a looker! Some subtle weathering on the connecting rods! Art

Can't exactly remember - but if my memory serves correctly it was a 'Rail Excliusive' SP40x20x10 Boom Box 4 Ohm. I know it was from Digitrains in Lincoln. Link to speaker >> here Again, if my memory is correct, the stay-alive was 870009 STAY ALIVE UNIT 6-20 SECONDS 27x10x9mm >> this one (although I think the number was 860009 and it wasn't branded as a Lais DCC "Kung Fu" unit but one of Digitrains' own). Art

Resurrecting an old thread ... Way back I posted pictures of my weathered Dapol 08. When the site was moved, the links got broken (as you'll see with a lot of the older posts). I have now uploaded them again - and they can be seen here I also promised to share pictures of the Zimo MX644D, speaker and stay-alive installation in this post - but never did (life getting in the way I suppose) Now included here! ^ Decoder wrapped in Kapton tape, same with stay-alive beside it. Purple wires go to the speaker mounted vertically behind the radiator and held in place with Black Tac ^ Showing the speaker position (v. difficult to see). Next two pictures may help ... and the same picture with the speaker position highlighted ... Hope these help! Art

Yes, I'm quite serious! Okay, the rrp *may* be £750 and for a long time it was being sold around the £500-mark (can't remember the exact figure) before being reduced to £299. However, they aren't listed as 'graded', they aren't listed as 'seconds', they are listed as 'new'. Therefore I expect the same quality and standards as if it had been sold at the full rrp of £750. Are you saying that because it has been 'discounted' by 60% that I should expect a lesser model or that I should expect imperfections and/or missing parts?? Would you expect damage and missing parts on receipt of a brand new model?? If so, your standards are clearly different to mine! Okay, so the cure for the loose front bogie wheels may be to buy some Slater's wheels & axles (at £18.50 inc VAT) for a pair of wheels plus axle (or £37 for the front bogie) - ref 7838G. Also possibly problematical are loose driving wheels. Slaters do a pair plus axle (retained by an allen screw) for £25.50 inc VAT (so a total of £76.50) - ref 7880G So that's £113.50 to replace the front bogie wheels and the driving wheels. Then, there is the issue of OLE warning flashes (from Fox Transfers - F7214 or HMRS Transfers?) at at least £7.80 (Fox) Expensive business getting your model to 'look right' and 'run right'. Art

Nope, no loose plates in the box. Completely emptied the inner cardboard box of all foam and checked thoroughly. Only the loose wheel from the front bogie - the wheel was loose in the box - luckily semi-jammed behind the leading driving wheel so no bodywork damage - at least I didn't notice any. No fall plate, coal load, running board supports or valence pipe which the instructions say should be included. Only a pack containing the brake rigging. Art

Just received my Hattons A4 today having been looking to get one of these for ages. £299 seemed an absolute bargain! Both front 'splashers' (?) above the pistons have glue marks (where the stainless steel tread plates fit?) and a loose wheel on the front bogie. No loose tread plates in the box. Haven't even taken the model off its MDF board so no idea if it even runs! ^ Now you see it ^Now you don't! ^ Port side ^ Starboard side Email to Hattons requesting a replacement! Not impressed with the QC at Heljan! Art

Brilliant! I hadn't spotted that. I'm still waiting for confirmation that my Next Day DPD parcel has been dispatched! Many thanks Art

Thanks for the info/confirmation. Looking at Fox it seems that I'll need several sheets - including sheet FRH 7355/20 (just to get the 'A4' or 'Class A4' or 'A4 - Kings X') on the bufferbeam! Currently researching for my period. It seems that this detail changed many, many times during Mallard's service life! I'll also need a 7mm shedplate '34A'. Any idea where I can get these from? Art

Bump!

Looking at an un-numbered Hattons Original A4 (H7-A4-007B) to be dressed as No. 60022 'Mallard'. I have found some etched-brass numbers and nameplates (Fox Transfers FEP60022). There are two colour choices for the background. Which is correct for the peropd 1952-63 when Mallard was in Lined Brunswick Green? Virually every colour picture I can find of Mallard is in the post-1963 Garter Blue livery (which isn't much help). There are a couple of pictures of Mallard in lined Brunswick Green (showing a black bacground to the nameplate) and a couple more with a red background - so I am non the wiser. I'm hedging towards black but would appreciate confirmation. Also, is the following the correct Fox Transfers sheet for the Cab-side numbers (FRH7008/60B)? Thanks in anticipation, Art

I'll look forward to seeing this layout too! Art

That's great news! Be prepared for LOTS of questions 🙂 I'll be there too for some inspiration. Art

Surfing the internet (as you do), I found this website. Okay, it is mainly for American HO-scale but no doubt some track plans can be altered/adapted to suit UK O-Gauge. Journal of Model Railroad Design - Layout Designs 10 plans per page and at least 17 pages Hope this is of some help tp others. Art

Thanks David, That looks very intersting! Art

Thanks Mike. I have already found these and saw that Vol. 1 was "free". Despite there being a 'download' button, it appears that GOG are going to post a copy! The download link didn't appear to work. Volume 2 & 3 are hopefully on the way! Art UPDATE: I found the download link for Volume 1 - it was in the order confirmation email!

Thanks once again to all. The Gauge-O Guild has a 1mth "free trial" so I've been d/loading several back issues of the Gazette for some inspiration. Art

Thanks. Now off to see what an internet trawl can come up with. Art