Wagonmaster

Thanks for the nice comments chaps. Just for interest sake, the kit didn't come with a roof, but I made one out of a sheet of brass bent and trimmed to shape. It's a homemade chassis using a High Level Pacemaker motorising unit. This has a compensated trailing axle so ideal for a 4 wheel vehicle. The interior uses some bus seats! These came from Mark Hughes who mainly does bus and tram parts, but Mark is very helpful and worth checking out.

Would this be the Railbus in question? Not quite finished I must add. Needs an interior, windscreen wiper and destination blind amongst other things. It is however a runner, DCC equipped and has working marker and interior lights.

The last paragraph here is a great idea! Obviously I would prefer that the magic number were reached for a RTR model, but if not, I would certainly go for a 3D print. A doubly good idea inasmuch that KR Models need not hold any stock or invest any more than they have as we have seen a print in the interview. So just a case of print to order. As for the Class 19, there is one slowly taking shape on my workbench!

Don't forget the Hornby Dublo Class 20, Co-Bo and short Deltic. Trix offered a Western amongst others. This dearth of 'modern image' models is why Colin Massinghams MTK range was so popular at the time. We're quite spoilt now, if you can afford it! At least KR Models are having a go at producing some of the more esoteric prototypes and shouldn't be compared to other businesses. I think we should give them a chance and judge them on the results. The Fell is particularly tricky as it was constantly being modified. It seems to be slightly different in every photograph you see. Not an easy subject for a manufacturer as customers are bound to want it in an earlier or later guise.

After a bit of fiddling and investigation, I ended up with one point not performing correctly. So I tried your 'inverting' suggestion and that worked. Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. I can move on to the next bit now, track occupation sensors. Another can of worms no doubt!

This is a good point (no pun intended). I will investigate this tomorrow. Thanks

Ah, good question! They are set to monitoring, as suggested by JMRI. However, a conflicting piece of JMRI documentation says they should be set to exact! Confusing or what! In any event, it didn't seem to make much difference on either setting.

Thanks for your reply Mick. The point motors are Peco PL-10E driving Peco OO Gauge Code 100 points. The motors are mounted on PL-12 bases under the baseboard. The operating bar on the PL-12 activates two micro switches, one to change frog polarity and the other for position feedback wired according to the Lenz LS100 instructions. The motors move freely with no mechanical obstruction. As I say, there is no problem using the LH100, it all operates as expected. The LH100 indicates it is a feedback device. It is only when using JMRI I have to double click the point to get it to change. This applies to all the points using two LS100's.

Hi All, a bit of a problem with JMRI changing points. I have a Lenz LVZ100 and LH100 setup. The layout I'm building has LS100 accessory decoders with the built in feedback. So, when I change a point with the LH100, one press and the point changes. The LH100 display indicates feedback is being received. So no problem that I can see there. Now, when I use JMRI PanelPro, I click the point and I can hear the solenoid buzz, but it doesn't change the point. The point icon however, does change. Click a second time and the point changes! If I manually change the feedback microswitch, the icon does show the changed state. I have checked all the wiring and it is correct. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why I need to double click the points and why the feedback shows its changed when it hasn't?

I've been a bit sidetracked with the Class 313 I've been building, but I'm back with the 303 for a bit. The lining appears to be yellow/black with the yellow uppermost. However, I'm struggling to make out the numbers. In some shots they look gold, but in others more yellowish. There are transfers listed as 'old gold' as well. Anyone know what colour they were? A similar query/check with the kickboards beneath the doors. In photographs, they look silver, as if they are some sort of metal plate? The stepboards I assume are just black? If anyone could help, I would be grateful. Thanks

I've been a bit sidetracked with the Class 313 I've been building, but I'm back with the 303 for a bit. The lining appears to be yellow/black with the yellow uppermost. However, I'm struggling to make out the numbers. In some shots they look gold, but in others more yellowish. There are transfers listed as 'old gold' as well. Anyone know what colour they were? A similar query/check with the kickboards beneath the doors. In photographs, they look silver, as if they are some sort of metal plate? The stepboards I assume are just black? If anyone could help, I would be grateful. Thanks

Another, maybe factory fitted, would be to produce the 'hub caps' recessed to accommodate the crankpin nut and its rotation, but with two small 'pips' on the rear at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. These could either be a friction fit or glued into two corresponding holes drilled in the coupling rod. This way it is minimal modification and they won't incorrectly rotate. If the 'hub caps' were a friction fit, then they could be popped off for lubrication or removal of the coupling rod, if needed.

It would be good if KR Models could at least contact the factory and see if there is a viable solution to the roller bearing issue. In my opinion, this is a detail that is not only quite obvious on the prototype, but it's omission on the model will open KR Models to all sorts of criticism, which I'm sure they could do without. The Chinese are quite ingenious and I am sure they could come up with a solution. To paraphrase previous points, this is a case of 'have it right rather than have it early!' The easiest solution would be to fit the bosses to the crankpins. It would look right, when stationary, but they would incorrectly rotate with the crankpins. A sort of halfway house solution really, but would avoid a lengthy and possibly costly redesign. What do people think?

Congratulations to Keith for getting this far with what looks like and sounds like a great model. Obviously there are a few issues to be ironed out, but that's what a pre-production sample is for, isn't it! I think most of the issues have been mentioned and as far as I can see are (in no particular order): Glossy paint finish Bogie jumping on curves Larger roller bearing 'hub caps' Headcode discs, as in are they changeable, I feel most people would want a Class 1 display Are there any crew in the cab and if not, how easy is it to fit them? It would also be interesting to know what drive train is being used as there was a lot of debate about it. So quite a small list really in comparison to what other well known manufacturers have palmed us off with. I think Keith is right when he says he would rather 'it right than quick'. This model is what his reputation rests on and I'd rather it took another month or so to get right than have it quick. I look forward to reading Keith's reply and am looking forward to receiving my model in due course. Well done Keith

Thanks for your observations Signaller69, I appreciate all the points you've made. Funnily enough, I have a Tri-ang Caley 123! I wouldn't have gone by that shade as being definitive though. I think BR Caledonian Blue is just going to be one of those odd shades that no-one is going to fully agree on. I never saw them in that livery, just Corporate Blue and later. Lighting, distance, film stock, weathering, colour reproduction and device screens, plus that odd effect of the right shade looking wrong on a model, all play their part. I'm sure Precision have done their homework. By the time it's varnished it will look different again! I'll stick with it. Now, what shade were the Class 86's when built! Only joking!

Thanks for the link Martyn, I had already seen this site and found the info useful. To illustrate what I mean, I've posted a photo below of one of the DTS's with it's initial paint job. A lot of work needed yet, as you can see. But it is quite dark in comparison to some photos.

Thanks for the replies on this query. 'Grey' may have been the wrong description on my part! The striped material looks the same as used in the AM4's that I am used to. They gave the appearance of a grey look to me. However, the mention of green was interesting and the black and white photo certainly shows a different pattern. Would this be a similar green to that used in the Swindon Cross Country 120 units I wonder? The other picture of the MBSO does show a red seat. No mention of that in the Blake book, just the green. I think I'm just going to have to paint these seats as striped beige in the DTS's and as suggested, in the MBSO red in the end compartments. If new evidence turns up later, I can always repaint them! The model is DCC fitted and will have internal carriage lighting, so the interior will be visible. That's the trouble with fitting lighting! The model has been painted using Precision BR Caledonian Blue now. It does look a lot darker than can be seen in most period photographs, especially in the Blake book. Look at that MBSO for instance! Looks like Sky Blue. Other period photos do indicate a darker shade, so I guess this is a problem with early colour film and reproduction playing tricks. The Precision shade however, is spot on for the two repaints that occurred later with 303 001 and latterly 303 048.

That would seem the logical arrangement, but I wondered if anyone knew for definite. All the interior photos I've seen are of the DTS's with their stripey grey moquette. Unfortunately the photos don't identify the car interiors as the DTSO or the BDTSO, so I reckon they were both grey. Glasgow Electric book does show an MBS with the doors open, but you cannot see the seats! Bargin book though, only 3/6!

Me again with more queries. I've been reading the Glasgow Electric book published around the launch of the system. In the book, it mentions the interior decor, stating that two coaches have the grey striped seats and one coach green material. Unfortunately, it doesn't say which coach has which! Anybody know which coach had the green seats? Steve

Me again with more queries. I've been reading the Glasgow Electric book published around the launch of the system. In the book, it mentions the interior decor, stating that two coaches have the grey striped seats and one coach green material. Unfortunately, it doesn't say which coach has which! Anybody know which coach had the green seats? Steve

With regard to the level crossing, I too have one on the layout and was considering remote control operation. As you say, the models are not particularly robust, so a more gentle form of motorisation is needed. I have to experiment yet, but have you considered using a linear servo or stepper motor? The speed and travel of both of these can be regulated and set and give one button operation. As I say, I haven't got quite that far yet and need to experiment. Looking good though.

Thanks for your reply and helpful observations and suggestions, I'll follow these up. My period, in theory, is a bit later than yours, mainly so I can run a CC6500. I really like these locomotives, so it's a case of a layout built so that I can run it! My as yet unnamed layout is not really accurate to a particular place, but more to give a flavour of French railways and somewhere to run my somewhat eclectic collection of stock. I don't have a thread for the layout. Meanwhile, I look forward to reading more about your progress with your project with great interest. Steve

In recent times I would agree, but I think Rod and myself are modelling something period. I guess mine would be more mid to late '60's, not sure of Rod's period though. Not sure how quickly signeaux méchaniques were replaced in this period. I was going to use the Disc Rouge colour lights, if I could work out how the aspects work! But there is something appealing about the mechanical signals. I do find French signalling a bit bizarre, but I think that is looking at it from a deeply ingrained British viewpoint.

Just come across this thread, which is fortuitous as I am currently laying track for my own 1500V dc French railway! I will be following with great interest. There are a couple of queries though. I was surprised to see you using mechanical signals with an electrified line. Was this a common practice? I guess I tend to think in British mode where electrification was usually accompanied with colour light signalling. What sort of masts were used at the end of a track, i.e. a terminating bay or siding and how were the wires fixed?

Another request for help. My 303, in as built condition, is nearing the paintshop. Whereas I'm happy to use Precision Paints BR Caledonian Blue for the main body, what should I use for the roof? Tye roof looks almost white on photographs, but I'm told it was either silver or light grey. Any ideas on the shade? Would BR Rail Grey be somewhere near?