Steamplug

Cheers for the feedback guys, I’ve now stopped worrying about continuity and correctly isolated the  brush holders from the pickups so will give it a go and see how I get on.

2 hours ago, DavidCBroad said:

Are you sure it is worth wasting a chip on?    We withdrew all but a couple of tender drive locos because the traction tyres make the track so filthy.  

Just a bit of an experiment really, I’ve got the Bachman version of the 9f for day to day running sessions.

Tried testing my ringfield terminals after servicing the motor and was surprised to see continuity between the 2 terminals.

Reads around 17 ohms when tested just above the small dimple over the brush springs.

The connection is via the brush from the commutator as i removed the terminals and tested the springs/brushes directly to rule out continuity through the motor housing.

Question then is this normal as I’m looking to convert to DCC and don’t want to blow a chip due to a faulty motor.

 

Cheers

Hi all can anyone offer advice on prototypical cement wagons for the transition era?

My "nameplates" are actually cut from insulation tape. Not the modern vinyl type, but the old fashioned black cloth type. I did them many years ago when the Triang model first came out,and transferred them to the Bachmann model later. TBH they are tatty now and need replacing. Masking tape perhaps?

 

Stewart

Stewart any chance you could share a pic sounds really interesting?

Phil thanks for clearing that one up for me great vid btw.

You are welcome

 

So in your era - no namers am afraid - heres D6703 with the plates covered over ....https://www.class37.co.uk/imagepage.aspx?strnumber=jh37003&cf=gall

 

You may find this thread useful

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/54157-class-37-roof-detail-diffrences/

 

What you have is a VF built boiler fitted loco with a smooth roof so anything from from D6798 to D6818 would seem to be fair game- they were largely Sheffield locos (Darnall/Tinsley) and did wander quite a bit - eg to Banbury on the Newcastle - Poole trains, and later on were often seen heading through Derby on coal trains from South Yorkshire to the Midlands

 

Hope that helps

 

Phil

Phil some fantastic info there and really helps me narrow down my modelling candidate, in fact the whole thread has got me thinking about my donor model as I have 1x Lima 37 and 1x Hornby 37 I’m now in a place where I may make 1 model from the 2 I do have a question about the buffer bars though as I’ve seen 2 different types - see picks, given my Lima body shell has one type and my Hornby another I was wondering why the difference?

Like the idea of D6703 but can seem to find many pictures online will need to try and source some first east Anglian nameplates I will spray my second loco as a non namey looking to D6732 as there are loads of source images available. Probably my next question is as pointed out above I need to consider cantrails, steam heat boilers and air brakes so any pointers welcome. I will add a photo of my donor loco for reference.

Great support all thanks for such a response, the era I’m modelling is the late steam early diesel phase. Reason for the Hornby choose is this is my first attempt at a respray and some detailing so wanted something that would allow for affordable mistakes.

Hi all I’m looking to do a BR Green respray on my 2 Hornby split headcode 37’s I’m looking for examples of loco’s to model ideally something named as I would like to add a nameplate to the side. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated even better if anyone has any reference pics feel free to post.

Some great advice and certainly started me looking at other products. I’ve come across a prowarm xps pink insulation board on amazon which looks to be good for the price. Some good reviews from fellow modellers against the product too, I’m going to order some and see how it goes.

Hi all I need to raise my track bed about half inch above I’ve my baseboard so it looks more prototypical anyone recommend any good products to get this effect.

Thanks for all the tips and advice, ive been having a play over the last few days with different set ups generally the same rolling stock but different locos and weight configs.....

 

My Hornby A4 Gadwall is reasonable however slips with 4 coaches (Hornby Pullmans) ive liberated a weight from an old lima class 37 which I fixed to the top of the boiler with white tac for testing purposes with this setup I can get to 5 coaches. My Hornby tornado pulls better but again slips on 5, the TTS duke of Gloucester struggles to pull 3 coaches and this one isn't slipping its stalling not sure if I can up the power to the motor as it seems severely underpowered.

 

Given the incline is on my mainline ive had no choice but to alter the gradient so went to a 1:40 which is much better all round my gadwall and tornado can pull 9 with a little weight for traction, the Duke does 4 before running out of steam (must be a loco issue).

 

So my next question does anyone recommend weights which I could fix to the inside of the boiler?

With regard the duke any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi all, looking for some advice I have a 1:30 incline leading into my reversing loop and some of my stock Hornby loco's are struggling when fully loaded 4+ coaches. Any advice on increasing the traction of these locos?

Nigelcliffe my wife keeps picking me up for not listening so I’m working on it, I like the look of the Lenz abc, and as I’m in he process of purchasing some more decoders I will opt for this. Thanks for the advice.

So thoughts on prodigy advance? Would this work for me and if so what software to pair it with?

So thoughts on prodigy advance? Would this work for me and if so what software to pair it with?

See earlier post on what I need the setup to do, as I’m pretty new to dcc I’m looking for some help on the best setup. I’m more than happy to swap hardware out and pick up whatever software I need.

No. Because you've not defined what you're going to do with it.

 

As supplied, a Dynamis has no mechanism for getting information from the layout back to the computer. Same goes for anything Hornby supply.

And, until you decide "which software", its impossible to say if the chosen hardware is supported or not. (But, if its Hornby or Bachmann, chances are its not supported, or the support is minimal. ).

So just been looking at a reasonably priced dynamis on the hattons website would I be able to link this up to 3rd party software to get what I need?

Hi all thanks for all the responses just for a bit of clarity, im laying down the track on 4 line mainline layout which has 2 island stations and a second level terminus it also has 2 separate goods yards.

Im looking to schedule some trains to travel the mainline with a bit of tail chasing and in and out of the terminus station on occasion so this would include automatic switching of points as required etc signals will be mechanically wired to the hattons point motors so no need for signal switching.

This will allow me to spend some time manually controlling other trains either also on the mainline or in and around the shunting yards so the whole layout has a good deal of motion.

Ive currently got e-link & railmaster but that is the limit of my experience so im looking for a steer on other setups before i spend huge amounts of time on the software side.

Cheers in advance.

Hi all looking for some software to automate some elements of my layout scheduling etc any recommendations out there? Currently using a Hornby elink to connect to my laptop but I’m open to a change, what u guys using?

I’ve got a load of second hand seep motors I need to test is the a quick and easy way of testing these without wiring them up?