Bucoops

Good luck and thanks for the update

Many websites offer a drop-down of add-ons to be included or not - e.g. when buying a motor you can select which gearbox if any to include. So there could be options when ordering to come with wheels or not? Someone has already said you can order wheel from Cambrian separately - so it would need some changes to the webshop but would then cover both camps?

As I understand it, as a noobie, is that with live chassis and body on DCC or DC can cause short circuits if it meets another metal bodied (and buffered/coupling/other method of physical contact) but the other polarity. Sometimes even nice sparks can be seen Any live chassis loco can become the other polarity by simply turning it round. It's not just a DCC issue?

I did say part

SEFinecast chassis etch for an A3 arrived today (fast - only actually got around to ordering it Friday) so need to have a crack at some brakes I guess. Wish me luck - attempting to order from Markits hopefully tomorrow... Not had a chance to do much building the last couple of weeks as work has been manic - but I have a query. The Stelfox kit has brass castings (presumbaly lost wax) - the front sandbox/splashers don't quite follow the same curve as the folded up sides - is it possible to manipulate these? Perhaps get them nice and hot? Thanks

Part of me wants it to arrive in kit form so I can take the pleasure of building it!

We are not worthy

I think that's the first reference I've seen for an A3 having Westinghouse brakes - what stock was similarly fitted to need such a large loco to haul it? edit: Of course now I have Googled it, it would seem that *that* run behind a certain Duck named streak was using Westinghouse brakes... Always learning

I seem to be the only one who thinks the Blue Pullman to be rather ugly - the nose at least. To me it looks to be a cross between a Star Wars Stormtrooper and Snuffy from Sesame Street (gives a clue as to my age there!). Perhaps Star Wars and Sesame Street were influenced by the BP design? They were scrapped before I was born, fortunately replaced with the so much better looking (to me) HST. It is however a shame that they were not successful - 13 years is no length of service. The ghastly pacers, skippers etc. have lasted much longer than that for some unknown reason!

To prevent signals being set to allow trains to proceed when points are against them etc.

Working. Boring. Been a bit crazy. Hoping it's calming down a bit now so I can do what I want to be doing and fire up the soldering iron again

Percentages are weird Add 10% to 10 and you get 11. Take 10% from 11 and you get 9.9

One of the reasons I'm considering using Shenfield as my layout inspiration (don't get me wrong, I'm a LONG way from starting it!) is because it's a through station, with a decent junction, and the end of a suburban diagram so also has trains that terminate. So I can design timetables that mimic the morning rush, or a lazy sunday depending on mood!

Somewhere it says they're aware of that error

Couldn't agree more - great work indeed.

I seem to have an (unjustified) requirement for a metal kit to be metal - especially on the structural side. I guess I just trust solder more than glue? For coaches, plastic seats etc. are fine and I've yet to find metal that can be used for glazing Just did some searching for Tony Wright's method and it makes perfect sense for his layout. Realistically I'm not going to have one like that - I have initial permission from boss lady to build something in the garage - not quite the same area. To quote Mr Wright "If you're using trainset curves, then use trainset couplings!" Obviously planning on avoiding the tightest radius but long sweeping bends ain't happening lol And of course I have to consider it's going to be played with, not just modelling, it IS going to be a trainset - Daddy daughter time. If she wants Flying Scotsman pulling 20 trucks or Thomas (trying to) pull 8 Gresley teaks it's fine with me It sounds like a bar may be useful for locos - I assume double-heading poses a challenge?

Something that has been at the back of my mind for a while that I need to start thinking about a bit more is couplings. I've been reading about an amazing new (to me) creation called a NEM pocket. As much as I'd like to have scale couplings etc. realistically I'm going to need something along the lines of tensionlock - but I also like the idea of fixed rakes for stock, so flexible is the name of the game. The only solderable pocket I can find is the one from MJT - http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/resources/MJT%202580%20NEM%20Coupling%20Tongue%20Instructions.pdf Now I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these, but are there any others for me to consider? I do have an MJT one to try but not actually looked at it yet. Thanks

That's another thing I've learned - there are many ranges that are now under the umbrella of others - Comet under Wizard/MSE, MJT under Dart etc. My poor little brain explodes trying to work it out sometimes!

The photo just shows a frame with no outer skin - hard to tell what it could be!

Roxey? Do they have a link with Markits? Maybe I can buy through them?

Good Morning Thank you

It's a radial axle on the earlier builds of N7 so that sounds correct. N7/2 and /3 had a pony truck.

Whoops sorry, given you more work

Oh, my letter definitely says Feb for the list with production for about April GER bogie coaches and NER elliptical coaches. I did send off a small order for some etches and overpaid slightly as he wasn't sure exactly how much it would be so hopefully that will make up for my SAE being used already for the reply to my letter!

It's hard to tell from the picture but I think it has the indentations - GE13 (GE22 looks too tall?) - http://www.markits.com/NEW%20Products%20OO%2020161222.pdf edit: better picture: http://www.markits.com/images/HandbrakeStandards.jpg