SweenyTod1

The magazine I had, but now lost, contained an article in the "how to do it" section. There were several different designs featured over several months, but the one I'm looking for used a record deck platter for the drive/ indexing device mounted below the baseboard. I did make a sketch of the design, but with memory fading, I need the detail in the article. If anyone out there has this particular magazine, I will buy it or a copy of the article so that I can build and install the turntable into an existing layout. Any help much appreciated. Tod

Thank you Stewart. Very helpful information for this 77(almost) year old Littleportian, having travelled that line many times in my youth, including to Hunstanton. I wasn't aware of such detail in those long ago days, just an excited young lad enjoying the train ride, looking forward to using my treasured bucket and spade at the seaside. The bonus was a ride on the ex-WW2 DUKW, a real family treat! I can at least complete my 31( both ends) with the correct 4-character code now. Tod

I'm looking for the code that would be shown for a passenger train loco, departing Kings Lynn for London, Liverpool Street. I have two photos of trains heading to Kings Lynn, which show, "1, blank, 8,4. To complete a model project, I need to know what was displayed for the return working, I have searched the Net to no avail, Any help here will be most welcome. Tod

I'm looking for a green 31 to replace a sad Airfix model that fails to run nicely despite many frustrating hours of TLC. It was the last of my motor conversions projects, but for some defiant reason, fails to perform to expectations, compared with all the other Lima locos I converted. I have thus far resisted the temptation the apply the largest and heaviest hammer in my toolbox!!!! So dear fellow modellers, a Green 31 will restore my sanity, if anyone has one needing rehoming, but not at a silly price please. Happy New Year to you all, Tod

I've now re-motored all my Lima locos, eight in total with the cd conversion units from Diesel-Trains. My stud's performance transformed by such a simple, quick job and cost of £12.00 for Bo-Bo/ £12.50 for Co-Co, plus post. I know I sound like an advert, but as I've said before, I have no connection with the suppliers other than a satisfied customer, but certainly I can recommend them. Happy modelling folks, Tod

Having just acquired a chassis, I'm looking for a suitable body kit for it. I believe it was a Hunslet loco used both in this country and overseas. Anyone who has this unmade kit lurking awaiting a rainy day, you can find a new home for it with me. Tod

As promised, I can now report back after buying, fitting and testing both The Bo-Bo and Co-Co versions, I am amazed at the transformation of these two Lima items, They run smoother, quieter and require considerably less power from the controller ( analogue). Providing the track is clean etc, slow speed control, is as good as any of the present manufacturers can offer. One particular test I did, was to have a modified Class 37 and unmodified Class 37 on parallel tracks. The modified loco had 6 bogie (4 kit built) coaches plus a van hanging on the back and the other, light engine. With about 10% power on the train, it pulled away easily. The unmodified light engine needed about 60% power to start and struggle to keep up!! That was an honest test, no cheating to prove a point, so convincing me that I had made a good choice. Purists will no doubt scoff at the idea to improve a Lima loco/DMU, but for £12/£12.50 plus post is better than best part of £160 ish for an equivalent reliable loco. Well it is for me. As I said before, I am just a satisfied customer and they get "5 stars" from me. I will be ordering more, as funds permit. Happy modelling Tod

You may have heard of this, but if not, diesel-trains.co.uk do replacement motors, including a 3-D made adapter plate to fit into the Lima motor housing. I have no connection to the supplier, personal or business, just a customer. I have ordered one for a Bo-Bo and one for a Co-Co. The website is definitely worth a look and promise to rejuvenate tired Lima powered diesels and DMUs. Once mine are back in service, I will report back. Happy modelling folks. Tod

Found it!!!!! It was hiding out of sight, so now no feeble excuses for not getting on with it. When it is all done I will post up a piccy, but don't hold your breath!!! I can set to and produce a scale drawing, then cut up some suitable plasicard to make the well section. Thanks again for the info. Tod

Thank you both, Phil and Mark, I knew you guys wouldn't let me down. I've no excuse not to get on with the project now. All I have to do is find the box of the dismembered donor lorry bits. No doubt hiding in plain sight, knowing my track record!! Thanks again for your most helpful responses, Tod

I am looking for additional photos/ drawings of this vehicle, in order to construct a 4mm scale model. I've dismembered a diecast 8-wheel Pickfords model, which I can use, cab and wheelsets etc. I have from various sources, the same side 3/4 view and some basic dimensions, but searching on the net, I can't find any other views of it, especially from the rear. Any more info about this unusual/ specialist lorry would be most helpful. Thank you. Tod

Thank you Tim for that assurance. However, I will take extra care if I use one or both on this layout, which I don't own, so not at liberty to change the controllers without approval. The layout only comes out of storage on the odd occasions, but next time I will see if its possible to include a Gaugemaster W into the circuitry that can be switched in or out. Cheers Tod

Not sure if this has been raised before, if so, apologies. I have one each of a Hornby Peckett W4 and a Hattons Andrew Barclay. Both small 0-4-0 tank locos and therefore small motors. Are these coreless motors not suitable for feedback control or the more common type? I ask this, as an operator of an exhibition layout (Rowlands Castle), powered by Kentrol controllers, which is fine for all the resident stud of locos and EMUs. I almost killed my little Ruston, but quickly realised my mistake, so I don't want to make the same mistake with my two lovely little tanks. Cheers Tod

Since my interest in and membership to the Great North of Scotland Railway Society, I have considered making a Class R, later LNER G10 0-4-4 tank loco. Pages 109-111 RCTS, part 7 gives much detail of these locos. A body kit could fit on an M7 chassis, but with dimensional compromises that may not sit well with some. There were only 9 locos in this class, eight withdrawn between 1937-1940. one did survive, 6887, (renumbered 7505 in 1946), only to be withdrawn 8/1947. I was about 15 months old then, so it qualifies extra interest for me! Fortunately I have the skills and knowledge to scratchbuild an accurate chassis and probably a body too, but as you can tell, I'm "knocking on a bit" and have quite a few projects I would like to complete. before "falling off my perch"!! So I doubt if anyone would make such a limited interest commercial loco body, but I thought I would throw the idea out there, to see what might bounce back!? Happy modelling folks, Tod

Hi Paul, Thanks for that, I'll give it a go. Tod

Ok folks, I wish to buy two U19s, but can't find contact details to do that. I don't do facebook which is all I can find, so please would someone please enlighten me with their details, so I can place an order? Thanks. I have one detail question as to shed locations. I wish my two to be shedded in East Anglia eg, Cambridge, Kings Lynn, Peterborough etc, so do I have a choice of which transfers are included, whether on not they really did live there! Tod

As an East Anglian ( I presume you are), I remember back in the dark ages, when I were a lad, in the Isle of Ely we did have some very heavy snowfalls, Even so, Rule one applies in any case. They look jolly nice models, so it looks like I should get a pair of U19s, (well it is my 76th on Sunday), justification methinks!! Tod

I got in touch with Al, who tells me that the J45/DES1?DES2 are in development. He advises us to look at Facebook for updates and will do the same on here. Looking at page 11, RCTS 10A, states:- "In January 1966, all four were transferred to the London Midland Region, where they were allocated to Crewe South shed. They were withdrawn from L.M.R. during 1967". So they did well to survive from 1944-45 to 1967 and did useful work at various sites. One, then renumbered 15000, was noted at Derby Works, painted green, in October 1958!! Whether it ventured out of the Works isn't recorded, but perhaps a reasonable case to apply Rule1? Thank you for your responses, much appreciated. I shall be patient and get on with some of my other projects awaiting my attention, many long overdue! When I retired in 2012, I thought I would have all the time in the world for my hobbies. Hah!! How wrong I was. I did not factor in another rule, "SWMBO", had other ideas!!! Bless................ Stay safe and well folks, Tod

Does anyone make kits or conversions to RTR locos of these shunters? I have vague memories of at least one of these, when a school friend and I visited March Marshalling yard in the 1950s. We were allowed in a control box and under supervision, operate the retarder to slow down a brake van. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm stopped it completely and a shunter was called up to push it onward!! The onboard guard was not a happy chappy!! A memory that has lasted all these 60 plus years! Anyway back to the here and now, I would like to replicate that day in 00 scale. I know 08s and 09s are similar and replaced the LNER types as far as I know. I have a Skinley drawing and RCTS volume 10A to refer to, but a kit or conversion would be a better option. I bow to your knowledge and skills for any pointers to assist me. Cheers Tod

Hi, You could try AC Models of Eastleigh, Hampshire. They stock spares from most of the main companies, including Hornby. The nickel silver wire suggestion is a cheaper solution, if you are handy with a soldering iron. Good luck, Tod

Apologies to PJT and yourself Halvarras. Thank you both for your guidance, which gave me a satisfactory outcome, a model working, as it should. Tod

I thought it time to bring you all up to date. I'm very grateful for your replies of course, but I did get my railbus repaired. It was quite expensive, as it was a seriously sick puppy. New motor, circuit board and replacement final drive gears, via a personal contact, but pleased to say that it runs beautifully now as it should. I presume Heljan read these posts, if not, they should! Their quality control/assurance department needs to be overhauled as this is not the first model with defects to be discussed on these pages. I have one other Heljan loco, a Class16, which, so far is Ok. That's probably a "kiss of death" , but we live in hope that it's not! So there we are, I started this little saga and time to be ending my input now. As far as I know, Gaugemaster has or can get spares, I understand that's where mine were obtained from via a third party. Expensive yes, but It suited my needs. The gears can be obtained from Ultrascale, as has been said already by Halvarras. Happy modelling girls and boys, Tod

Apologies if is the wrong place to ask, but after trawling through these pages and searching Google, I can't find an "idiots guide" to reconnect new wiring X6113. So before I attempt to dismantle the loco to get at the motor, some help is requested from you lovely experts please. The supplied plug has, as you would expect 4 wires :- red, black, yellow and white. With the loco upsidedown and the plug placed in position over the tender socket, red is on the left and white on the right. I have the Service Sheet HSS No.343 (dated February 2009), which is not a lot of help, as there is no colour code to say which wire goes where? The loco is only to be used in analogue mode and I presume the black and red wires are there for that? The wires poking out the cab footplate are all black and much thinner than the replacement set. I have never understood why Hornby chose such a flimsy connecting system for such a crucially important function?! So please help this old fart, not very well at the moment, and could do without additional stress, I just need to know which wire is to be soldered to the motor/ pickups. Thank you for your patience to read this and hopefully some kind soul will tell me what I need to know. PS , this not my loco, I am attempting to help a friend here. Tod

If the Wickham railbus was produced in 00 scale I would definitely buy one. Can't remember who, but someone produced a whitemetal body kit of the Bristol version years ago. Even more exclusive than the others, only two, rather than the others in batches of five. There must be some clever person out there who could print a few body/chassis kits for these elusive types. Who will rise to the challenge then? Ever hopeful! Tod

Strange, I got a message from Hattons announcing a forthcoming re-release of the W&M railbus yesterday on my phone, Even more expensive than the original release!! My one is away for repair, but if the ad is genuine, I do hope it has a more reliable motor capable of driving an excessively heavy model? The weight may have been part of the motor killing process! With the cost of my original and the expected cost to repair, I do hope my one may enjoy a reasonable lifespan. The person at Heljan who designed the railbus probably enjoys weightlifting...........................................................................? Tod