JackB95

Is anyone else having issues with the DVT's pick ups? I've got two TfW ones (thanks Hattons for the mega-cheap second one). I've found the copper contacts to be flimsy as hell, and any attempt at bending them gently to have more pressure on the wheels soon goes again when I return the wheels to the bogie. It's like they're too thin and don't maintain any shape. Quite often looking underneath, I find the contacts just floating and not touching wheels, meaning I get a proper strobe whilst pushing it around. Seems rather poor given the cost of them initially. Half tempted to put in something like the DCC Concepts wiper pick ups as an easy fix. Shouldn't have to though. Be interested to hear others!

My Bachmann XC Voyager returned to the workbench for a few minutes this morning to receive a subtle modification. Track3D has yet again come up trumps with a 3D printed skirting piece to upgrade the Bachmann factory one to the newer Meridian style ones that the real Voyagers got around 10 years ago. Thankfully, they're offered in unpainted, XC brown and VT red! Result. It's a very simple to fit them. I took the front bogie apart by unclipping it all, and took out the screw that holds in the skirt and deflector. The glue join between the skirt and deflector was snapped carefully. Under the light clusters, there's two small notches sticking out that need to be cut back (the white plastic shows in the photo). A very easy job with a knife, and then the new skirt can be glued in place (I used Glue n Glaze). The deflector squeezes back in with a bit of careful persuasion before screwing back in. Reassemble the bogie, and bosh! The paint match is bloody close, and when you consider the real thing has a slight shade difference, it's no problem at all. The mastermind behind the product is working on transfers to compensate which'll be available very soon I'm told. These'll only be to replace like-for-like, so 220016 or 221135 on the XC versions and whatever Bachmann did for the VT ones. Grab yours here for a very sensible price! Great to support small businesses etc.

A splash of paint over the past 24hrs has got me to this stage! It's certainly coming on nicely. Plenty more work to do, but loving how it's looking.

PHWOARRRR!!

Popped into my local model railway show this morning before work. That being the rather big one at York Racecourse. Before the main reason for me going, I came across a trade stand that happened to have two HOe Zillertalbahn coaches that my driving car was needing. They're certainly more prototypical, and suited, to the set than the two coaches I've already got. The main event, however, other than drooling over Deadmans Lane, was to pay a visit to JSModels to collect a little something... The Llandudno Junction booking office and waiting shelter is here! And what a beauty it is. Like the main shelter it's accurately modelled on the real thing, down to the bricked up door on the back of the office. Jonathan has done a gorgeous job of this, and I'm excited to get it painted up. The canopy simply slots over the top and through the roof like the real thing. Bravo that man.

Thanks for that! I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Saw the layout in the flesh this morning. Been trying to get to a show with it for a while. Couldn't say no to it being on my doorstep. Absolutely gorgeous layout. Even better than the pictures! Loved watching it for the brief amount of time I had available. Especially loved the Meridian. Incredible work on that. Here's my selection of photos to share.

Brilliant stuff. Was that one of the £135 Goggles with sound on eBay? Spotted them... Who makes the double decker coaches? Can't find any anywhere online! Cheers.

Some really great work going on here. It's incredible what the 3D printing world has done - the 380 will look gorgeous once finished.

A small update - I received my YaMoRc YD9401 upgrade module to go into my Digikeijs DR5000 controller. This upgrades a number of features, some that I'll probably never find myself using, but apparently improves reliability in some aspects too. Anyway, it's something that the crowds are doing, and the part came into stock (and straight away out of stock 🤣) at DCC Automation, so I cracked on and upgraded. It's a very easy upgrade with a couple of screws, swapped out the modules, then did some computery magic with the very easy-to-understand instructions and voila! The Z21 apps on my phones work as they did before, so now to keep an eye out for any problems that I once had! Bosh.

@melmerby mine arrived a minute after yours - wasn't expecting that! Anyway, I did the upgrade today, and I managed to get it to work. Well happy. Similarly to you Keith, I got the odd COM7 error message. I found it was just my PC being silly and sometimes having two of the programs open. Go into Task Manager (Ctrl Alt Del) and end all DR5000 or YD7001 programs. Then try again, usual double click etc. It should work. Or if not, try unplugging and plugging back in the USB lead to the controller. May have to restart the program a few times, but it does work. As long as you're following the instructions, you can't go wrong from there mate.

Similar to others, my module arrived today, installed, and just waiting for my activation codes! Exciting...

Oh wow that's impressive! Really caught the real thing well.

Looks absolutely brilliant that 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

After I sent the CMX round cleaning the mainline, I decided to give the Valley bombs a spin round. 20312 leading the train through Conwy on 6D43 from Crewe to Valley CS Fully loaded and after a spin round the triangle, 20312 leads the train through Llandudno Junction on 6K41. The more I take these photos of Junction, the more excited I am for getting the rest of the station building, and more importantly, the footbridge. It'd really complete the scene.

Oh yes, still going strong. Hope you're keeping well Neil.

Been nearly 4 months since my last update! Nothing much has happened, but the Bachmann Virgin 57 has now gained the Illuminated Models lighting kit to give it the correct marker lights. Unlike the Arriva one I did a year or two ago, I've decided to only wire up one end of the loco given it'll always be coupled, and it'll allow me to have reds on the 'front' when coupled and nothing on the inside. It's a fiddly kit to fit, but worth it. Even if Illuminated took forever to send them out with zero comms 🙄

Delicious update! Really like the finish you've made on them MHAs! They look absolutely spot on especially.

This is a great announcement. One that I saw was being demanded for on all corners of the internet, and I'm very glad Revolution have taken it up. Just hope Bachmann don't pull a blinder now 👀🤣 Now, if they could follow suit with the Peps, I'd happily snap a couple of Merseyrail ones up 😉 Link to website article if the Facebook link above doesn't work https://revolutiontrains.com/revolution-upscales-to-offer-320-321-in-00/

That's smashing! Really looking good. Regarding the bogies, contact Hornby Spares direct. I've had parts that've not been listed anywhere before off them and they've been pretty good about it in fairness.

Coming on well!

Many thanks! Haha well they're not that far from Wylva power station 😉 I went to Conwy last week to get some photos so I could maybe even make a start on the backscene building. Shall keep you posted!

Oops! What's that coming through the dusty Conwy arch? 👀 Yep! I've caved. I've got myself a Bachmann Kernow exclusive 158 in the outrageous Ginsters advertising colours. My justification for this one is the fact they transfered to Arriva Trains Wales in 2004/05, and did work down the Coast back in the day. It'll eventually get upgraded speakers to improve the experience somewhat! They're not cheap models, but I'll be honest and say I got it a bit cheaper given it was an 'unwanted duplicated present', and unopened! Result.

A couple of little updates on the layout. Not really been up there due to the cold temperatures, but that's not stopped me. Rusty Rails released some modern style platform end fences the other day. I had to order them as they were a perfect solution to my platform ends at Llanduno Junction. I've spent the past couple of days painting and assembling. They're gorgeous. Incredible detail given they're 3D printed (12k resolution printer apparently? whatever that means). I've sprayed them using a Tamiya grey, and they're not glued down yet, but stand up themselves! It has reminded me that I need to finish putting the brick textures on the side! Looks naff from the end haha. I've also concreted the hardstanding for the container storage yard. Another ScaleModelScenery set of textures! Cheers!

Some more pictures published today! I'm thirsty for more! More shots, and information about the development, in their latest Engine Shed issue here.