Tallpaul69

Hello one and All, What do folks think of the new DCC Concepts ESP Ψ Aegis 5 Amp Wireless System for PowerCab? It could be the right time for me to upgrade my system as I have two Powercab controlled layouts that are going to be combined into one next year. I was already thinking I would need a 5 amp system which this is. Going Wireless would be good although the transmitter the Powecab plugs into makes the control end look a bit clunky? Any thoughts welcome! Cheers Paul

Contact the seller? -or Blue/whitetac?

So here we are in October, but at least the weather (in sunny Bedfordshire), is pretty good. Discussions continue with two layout builders but one is fast becoming the preferred vendor. I have been researching the upcoming Hornby 78xxx's real lives, as i like the look of the model. After getting some interesting info on the use of 78xxx 2-6-0s from a RM thread I started on their use on the GW&GC it seems one may well go on my buy list. I think it is going to be a job for TMC or others, to weather it, change its number to 78038, and fit a sound decoder. This loco arrived at Willesden in May 63, but as I am using rule 1 to get it to the High Wycombe area, I might as well go the whole hog and backdate its arrival to mid 62! After seeing a photo of 78029 near Acton Power Station, I did consider that as my loco's identity, until I discovered that one got to Willesden later in 63 and after a few months at Watford! More news soon! Cheers Paul

Good afternoon folks, I am currently thinking to model 78038 which according to Paul Teal's Motive Power Allocations:- BR Standards and Austerities, arrived at Willesden in May 1963. 78029 while having the advantage of the photo at Acton, when it came south in June 63 arrived at Watford. It did not get to Willesden until April 1965, which is a bit late for the 1960-63 timeframe of my layout. Next I must dig out my WTT for the south end of the WC main line in 1962 and see what freight trains might have headed in the direction of High Wycombe. My GW&GC timetable for that period only offers freights from Neasden, but I guess a 78xxx could have been lent to Neasden? I will have to wait until next weekend to splash out on a 78xxx, I am spent out this month! Cheers to you all, Paul

Preserved line??

Thanks to everyone for their input. I am persuaded that I can justify a 78xxx on my GW&GC line, but I have yet to decide which one!. I may wait a while and see if a second batch are produced, maybe including some weathered examples? The other alternative is to buy one via TMC who I am sure will do a first class weathering job. I am also wondering whether Hornby will produce a suitable sound file in their new TXS system? Another loco I am considering is Model Rail's upcoming class 11/12:- I think the best bet here will be to get TMC to produce a heavily weathered ex BR example which I can use as the yard shunter in the Wagon Works on the (Rule 1) Wycombe End branch off my GW&GC line. There were WR examples, but most of those spent their early 60s life at Cardiff Docks, apart from one that was variously at Bristol and Swindon. With their 4ft wheels, I don't see them wandering even as far as the larger wheeled 08s did! As anyone who has read my other threads will know, my skills lie in scenery, not weathering or Chip fitting, so I will have to rely on others for the weathering work etc.. Cheers All, Paul

Hi Everyone, With the imminent arrival of the Hornby 78xxx I am trying to work up an excuse to buy one for my GW&GC layout. So has anyone any knowledge of any visits of 78xxx 2-6-0s in the period 1960-63 to the London Area via the GW mainline or GW&GC? I am thinking mainly of the WR allocated examples that were at Shrewsbury, Gloucester, Worcester and on the Cambrian line, but might the Chester, or Lancashire examples come that way for instance double heading a football special to Wembley? Many thanks for any relevant info or suggested sources of info! Cheers Paul

Afternoon All, In my last post i speculated on sound for my newly acquired class 15 and class 16 diesels. It turns out that they both had Paxman engines, so probably sounded different to the class 20 English Electric engine. I have also found that DC Kits do sound files for both, but Is it worth £232 plus fitting to get accurate sounds in locos that will not run every day? This little project is on the pending pile! A more immediate concern is to solve the Kadee uncoupling on the main line problem, where I don't see permanent magnets working ! . The easy solution is to say "fit electromagnets"! Yes I know that! However, the two contenders I know about, one from Kadee themselves, and the other made by Rapido in Canada but stocked by Rails, both have their downsides:- The Kadee version has a large casing hanging down below the uncoupler, and The Rapido version requires a 1and 3/4 inch circular hole below the track, but does not hang down very far. Neither seem easy to retrofit, as is the case on my layout. I might buy one of each and have a play? It is a while since I put up any photos, so here are a few of my yet to be installed signals. An update on the NG with shots from the Annual running day last weekend, will have to wait as I realise they are still on my phone! Happy modelling to you all, Cheers, Paul

Thanks for the info, I have now found them on Rails website! Is their any video of your layout using them on U tube or elsewhere. Have you any experience of the Kadee company's version? One reason for my interest is that I thought one of the Rapido version might work at the end of my curved platform. Any thoughts? Your comment about orientation is a slight worry! Cheers Paul

Testing, testing 123.... Yes, you are right, I have, as predicted in my last post been busy testing new locos! So far I have tested my 15xx steamer and the class 15, and class 16 diesels. First on the test track, then on Bradenham. The 15xx, thank goodness, is first class! No wobbles, no glue spots, and no loose or missing livery items or parts! If I was picky, I would say the smokebox door, or the front numberplate is a few degrees off horizontal, but I can live with that! I will probably fine tune the CVs to enhance the sound and acceleration, but I will wait until after it has run with a tail load. The class 15 and the class 16 run well, but I notice the silence, so I will be looking at swapping the chips to sound versions. Simplest might be to fit TTS from class 20s. If I cant find loose chips, I might buy two sound 20s and swap the sound and non sound chips over before moving them on. I think I have enough sound fitted 20s not to need any non sound ones. However, I need to research the engines in these classes. The EWS management train has arrived, so I have that and my Accurascale 37 still to test. On the horizon is my Manor, due at the end of the month. Cheers for now, Paul

I am pleased to report that my 1505 (lined, early emblem), sound fitted, bought via Hattons, arrived in the new packaging a few days ago, and is great! It does what it says on the tin. No wobbles, no glue, no missing parts. The sound is very good, might play with the CVs etc. to get it a bit louder, but no complaints! If I was really picky, I might say either the smokebox door is slightly crooked or the number plate is. But its only a very few degrees, so I am not worrying. I hope all those with problems get them sorted out quickly. Cheers Paul

Good Evening Everyone, Apologies for the "radio silence", things have been a bit busy over the last 10 days or so! It's time, I think, to take stock:- Discussions are moving forward on the integration of my two layouts:- I have a number of things that I need to provide the potential builders with information on, while they need to cost some items they have not yet detailed. I have been in touch with Rapido in Canada as they market an electric Kadee uncoupler, which seems to be smaller than Kadee's own product which is a tight fit in some of my locations. Rapido in the UK say they cannot supply it , although they do supply some Canadian products. Meanwhile, my 15xx has arrived, as has my first Accurascale class 37. I need to get them tested, and I also have other recent arrivals to check out. These include class 15, and class 16 diesels, both DCC but without sound. It seems that in the 1960s class 15s visited High Wycombe substituting for 31s on a return run of a timber train which supplied timber to the yard at Marlow. The inward route was via Maidenhead. Awaited and due any day is a sound fitted version of the EWS Management Train, to replace my DC version, which will be going into the "sale" pile! This purchase worked out cheaper than sound fitting my existing set. This week I have also been catching up on jobs delayed while I was out and about from Friday through Sunday. These trips were most enjoyable, so I mustn't grumble! Some layout and trip pics next time. Cheers for now, Paul

Hi Gordon, I would have thought that anyone who has used this item would know what they look like, or am I missing something? As far as I know this item is relatively new to the market, and has not been supplied to the likes of Hornby, Bachmann, etc., under their own branding. I am looking for the experiences of people who have bought, installed and operated this uncoupler on their layouts, with Kadee couplers. Preferably on 00! Cheers Paul

Hi to all the Rapido community in the UK I am looking for a more compact electric uncoupler for Kadee couplers than the Kadee product. I have come across the Rapido Trains Inc. RailCrew uncoupler. Before going to the expense of buying one from Canada to evaluate, I wondered if anyone had used this item in the UK? If so, what were your results with it? Many thanks Paul

Hi Folks, Anyone received a sound fitted Draycott Manor yet? Cheers Paul

Hi Roger, I have just found out about this uncoupler, and I am investigating it for my layout which is about to be fitted out for Kadee operation. I take it then that the Hornby TTS decoders or even their new HM7000s wont operate this Precimodels unit? On another point, any thoughts on how you get kadee operation on a curve. I have this situation at the end of a platform on my main lime where I think magnets will just uncouple all my trains instead of just particular ones? Many thanks, Paul

Thanks John, I don't mind spending time going through a particular thread, it was the prospect of going through who knows how many threads that was a bit daunting! Cheers Paul

Good Afternoon All, pardon me for hijacking this thread, but I can't find one for Kadee related queries so here goes.... Has anyone tried using a Loco mounted actuator marketed by Precimodels.com? This, being loco mounted(it looks very small!), allows you to uncouple from a loco, but not between wagons or coaches, anywhere on a layout via your DCC loco drive. It sounds a good idea for certain locations?? There is a u tube clip on it in operation and it looks to work ok. Any thoughts?? Cheers Paul

Good Afternoon fellow modellers, This time yesterday, I was pretty miserable as it was beginning to look like there was no one able to meet my requirements for work on my layouts in a reasonable timescale:- One builder was, after a postponed job was set back in play, talking about doing my jobs in two years time, and there was some doubt as to whether the other builder could do two important parts of the work. However, a phone call from the second builder this morning sorted out a misunderstanding and while there is one item he cannot do, in fact, what he can't do is in the "nice to have" rather than the "vital to have" category! So we are on the road again. Admittedly even he is now talking about April to do the jobs, but I can live with that. So we have talked through my query email that I sent him over the weekend, agreed what he had included and not included and confirmed he will send me costings for the additions later this week. Meanwhile, there a a few things on the layouts I need to photo and forward to him. This weekend is a 12 inch to the foot steam weekend (weather permitting!). On Saturday I will be going to the village of Turvey, just outside Bedford to the Bedfordshire Steam Preservation Club annual rally. There I will enjoy the sights and sounds of over 100 Traction Engines, Steam Lorries, and the like. Sunday is the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway annual rally, with all of their locos on the go, and an intensive (for this line!) timetable. Meanwhile, I wish you all a successful weekend whatever your liking in transport, be it Full Size, or model, steam, Diesel, or other means of propulsion. Best regards Paul

'Evening All, We got home earlier than anticipated this afternoon, so I have been able to move on with my review of the estimate I have received which, for ease, I will call estimate A:- As suspected from initial reading of it, It is not clear whether all the items on my "Wants List" handed over when the builder visited, have been included. Some probably have, but there are others that do not readily fall into any of the items costed. Originally I had worked on the basis of whoever does the job taking "Bradenham" away to work on, leaving me with "Wycombe End" and its existing fiddle yard (which will be replaced by a new fiddle yard board joining the two layouts) to keep me occupied. Both builders have suggested they would get a better running system by taking all the existing boards away, and this is ok with me. There are other benefits in them having all the boards:- Firstly, it will be easier for them to equate the slightly different levels of the two layouts. Secondly they will be able to provide a set of backscenes to the whole system. Currently Wycombe End has a backscene that I like, but this is in a hardwood surround, so probably not easy to integrate on site with additional backscenes. I will also be asking them to come up with a scheme for computerised controls with a Mimic Diagram on a large monitor screen, rather than their suggestion of a traditional Mimic with toggle switches. The traditional Mimic seems to me to be getting complex in my situation with the need to operate points, signals, and electric uncouplers for the Kadees. Estimate A specifies a Heljan turntable. I was a little sceptical of this having in the back of my mind that I had read of layouts having troubles with this item. However some research suggests that it is ok provided it is not in a continuous track layout where 180 degree turns have proved to not quite line up! More thoughts and updates anon, and if I am lucky, the first review of the second Estimate (Estimate C, there is no Estimate B!) Best regards Paul

Given your experience with the Heljan turntable, would you recommend it for installation in a new baseboard by a professional layout builder (not me!)? The turntable controls are to be included in a mimic diagram being made at the same time. If not the Heljan, what is recommended and why? Many thanks Paul

Good evening everyone, I am pleased to tell you that earlier today I received the first of the estimates for the work to combine my two layouts. The first thing to say is that it is within the budget I have for this project! We are out tomorrow, so I will be busy over the weekend digesting the details and composing a list of queries- I can already see a couple. Best regards Paul

Be careful what you wish for! Many of us remember the last time SK was consigned to the scrap heap (well, the northern wastes of Locomotion, actually)! It was not pretty. While we have a more sensitive man at the helm (Bravo Taff!!) this time, he cannot do everything and looking back at the Hornby Programs on TV, I can't remember any obvious candidates to do a better job in SKs shoes? Maybe there are folks hiding at Bachmann, Dapol et al, to nick? Also, trying to be all things to all modellers is doomed to failure, so where should Hornby concentrate?.......Discuss!! (Grabs coat and beats a hasty retreat) Cheers All,

Yes, I have seen the photos on PBs site, although mainly earlier than 1992! It is beginning to look like they had all gone by 2008 although I thought i remembered them on cement workings after 2002 into St. Pancras, but might be confusing with the straight topped variety!

I run a modern image version of my GW&GC layout in c1992 and c2008. I have a lot of Lima, Hornby, and Dapol depressed centre ("V") tankers and I am wondering what south of England flows they were used on in the above periods? If there are some possible uses then I will think of weathering them, otherwise i will sell on! Many thanks Paul