508EMU

12 hours ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

I cannot see anything of concern there, it's a simple layout to follow the tracks, and the pick up and motor wire connections appear to be in the right place, and there's no evident damage to the board.

 

Can you try the mechanism (with a blanking plug inserted obviously) on DC to see how it performs. If it runs normally on DC, then it's the decoder to check out...

 

 

I can confirm it is the same on DC mode, as a side note the decoder that was in it is now in use in another loco and working fine. You are right in saying all wiring is in place and I have checked all are securely soldered to the correct place.

12 hours ago, LMSfan72 said:

I do think that the diode(?) component just above the 8-pin socket looks to have a chunk out the side of it. I’ll have to think about that to determine if it might cause an issue of running but it would certainly affect something 

Good spot, a closer look confirms it is indeed missing a chunk. May well have the answer! I'll focus on that and report back as and when I have an update.

Cheers all!

Apologies for the delay in replying, this happened a while ago so the loco has been boxed up and dumped in the deepest darkest depths of the cupboard under the stairs and it's taken me a while to find time to dig it out.

Some photos attached of the PCB, I can't see any obvious signs of damage, but maybe I'm missing something.

I can't help wondering if the drop has damaged some gearing or something? I'm used to the older Hornby/lima motors and their many gears. Not too sure how these ones work.

On 11/07/2023 at 11:52, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Not encountered anything like that. Questions for clarification:

Are you using a DCC controller to operate it?

If yes, are other DCC fitted locos running normally on this DCC controller?

If no, have you tried switching off DC operation on the decoder?

Hi, yes I am using a DCC controller and all other DCC fitted locos working fine with it.

I have not tried switching off DC operation on the decoder (didn't realise that was a thing!). I have got loco 0 DC operation disabled on the controller if thats any help.

The loco responds to commands via the controller when asked, and functions such as lights etc all work fine, the only issue with it is even if you set it to snail speed its full steam ahead!

Cheers

Hi, not posted in a while, unsure if this is the best place to ask so mods feel free to move if required.

I've got a Vitrains 37 model (37401 in large logo), a while back it got knocked off a table. No physical damage to the body but ever since it doesn't run right.

It's DCC fitted. Since the drop it appears to have no speed control at all, so regardless what position you set the speed knob to on the controller it is always running at 100% speed. Aka no crawling around, its either as fast as it goes or nothing! It's the same in both directions, and I did change the decoder as I had a spare which made no difference.

I suppose something could have been damaged on the PCB inside the loco but I've not looked in detail.

Anybody have any suggestions where to start at all?

Thanks!

Afternoon, working on a second class 508 3d printed kit. It is to be painted in the 1990s Merseytravel livery. (Yellow and white/grey with the black and grey stripe).

Is anybody able to confirm the correct colour to use for the white? (Or is it grey!)

Not got any photos to hand, however if there's any doubt it's the same livery as worn by a few 150/2s and the dreaded 142s.

Cheers!

I have just this week started glazing my 508, I have used tinted acetate sheets off ebay, painstakingly cut to size and if done tight enough, can be pushed in and stay put without gluing in place. Did put some tiny blobs of PVA in the inside corners once pushed into place just incase but they dont seem to be going anywhere! Very fiddly job.

Top stuff! Looks better than mine!

Mrs is out cleaning the old flat before we hand back the keys, kids are occupied, so Woodfield Rd has made a rare appearance in the garden this evening! A nice way to start the isolation period, even if I am in work again tomorrow.

On 21/03/2020 at 06:24, 47449xeCD said:

Just discovered this. Nice looking layout and locos! Minor feedback on 47535 - ETH 47s have quite distinctive differences between batches in where the sockets are mounted. 47421-585 have the jumper receptacle mounted on top of the bufferbeam (not on the beam itself as your model does). 

I had never even noticed this, thanks! This is one I just ran straight out of the box. I've been meaning to detail and weather my locos for years but it keeps getting moved down the list.

Thanks for feedback!

House move no 3, into a permanent home as we have bought this house. Now we have settled in and the sun made a rare appearance this morning, I set Woodfield up in the garden for an hour. Not had it setup outside since 2015 when I first started it, made up to have it back in natural light.

A few photos from today.

So, planning begins on something a bit different but has a lot of potential - a longer term project due to costs and size, and Mrs probably wont be too happy with the bill (!)

I'm based on the Wirral, and growing up in the 90s spent a lot of time travelling around with parents  on the Merseyrail network. A common place we would wait a while for a connecting train was Hamilton Square, connecting from a Chester/Ellesmere Port train then changing to the lower platform 3 for West Kirby trains. I have developed a love for the Network, the stations and the class 507/8 rolling stock, but never had any means to replicate any of it mainly due to the lack of stock on the market. Recently a 3d printed class 507/8 kit has appeared on ebay (see my blog posts) so now I have a train in the works and nowhere suitable to run it given my other layout is a small 8ft TMD designed for class 37s.

I have always wanted to model an underground station, something which had slipped my mind until I stumbled upon Rich Pappers excellent 'Oxford Road' layout while reading through this forum, which got me thinking.

The intention is to build a rough model of Hamilton Square set in the 90s, with the British Rail brown panelling and class 507/8s running around in a mix of BR Blue and the Merseyrail Regional Railways yellow liveries. Also in the long run the class 501 and 73 sandite unit which could often be seen lurking around the network.

Hamilton Square is one of the original Mersey Railway deep level underground stations, and has 2 platforms linked via a footbridge. In the 70s, a 3rd platform was built on a slightly lower level to allow West Kirby and New Brighton bound trains to pass in a new tunnel under the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines rather than having to cross via points, designed in the same style as the 70s Liverpool "Loop and link" line stations.

So, what are the plans - In the same method done on 'Oxford Road', platform 3 will be at the forefront of the layout in a cross section style view - this gives me somewhere to run the 508 I am currently working on for the timebeing. The plan is to then add platforms 1 and 2 in at a later date, at a higher level (say 10-20cm above for now).

The main idea is that all the platform walls can be removed so the station can be viewed from various angles. For example platform 2s wall can be removed so both 3 and 1 are on view from the front, however platform 1s walls will also be removeable so it can be seen from the back meaning the wall on 3 (the normal fron viewing cross section) can be fitted meaning it is completely closed in, so platform  3 would then only be visible looking down the stairs from 2 just like in reality - bringing back many memories when the 507/8 class are finally withdrawn in the next 2 years or so.

Very early plans drawn up in Anyrail are attached, subject to quite a bit of tweaking as it has just been guesswork so far. To do it roughly to scale would mean about 18ft width which is a potential problem , so I'm looking to shorten it so platforms are 3car length rather than 6. I am also going to add some extra space on to the rear to make the curves on my plan less sharp. Also not sorted the width between the tracks on platforms1/2 yet, so thats next on the list.

There is of course scope to build the station building and surrounding town scene on the top of the layout - say 1foot or so above track level. Not overly realistic as its a deep level station, and as mentioned if platforms are shortened its not going to be spot one , but gives a good feel. Certainly lots of potential, lots of challenges, and hopefully at long last somewhere to run a 508 that gives a proper feel of the network - now where can I bottle up the smell of the stations into airwick wall plugs??

I look forward to any views people may have.

9 hours ago, pdanny said:

Looks great and can't even tell it was filled, but what brand/ product of filler are you using?

On 29/01/2018 at 13:59, pdanny said:

Working on the bodyshell for the first DMSO. It's a case of just filling, sanding, cleaning and repeat.

I've been referring back to this thread on your 313 build as I've just bought the 508 kit from the same place, I'm very impressed with it so far and managed to get the 3 bodies assembled. I'm just wondering what filler you used for filling the gaps? Top work, seeing your finished product really convinced me to take the plunge!

Very nice layout, giving me some inspiration! Is the little depot office a kit or scratchbuilt?

Its at the point now where I can actually sit down and play trains for a few hours without having a huge list of jobs to do on the layout, quick snap of 37401 through the main gate

I started a small layout in 2015 intended as a cheap fix to run the locos I have had gathering dust out of action for the last few years, we knew we would be moving a couple of times between then and now, so I needed something small and easy to move around, plus having a daughter (now having 2 daughters!) needed to be quick and easy to store when out of use to keep out of harms way, so I can have it setup or packed up in about 5 minutes. Its a first attempt at a half acceptable layout until I have time money and space for a bigger project.

Its an 8x2 layout, which can split into 2 4x2 panels. there is minimal wiring underneath - only to connect the track circuit, lighting, and a few point motors. These are connected via an RS232 under the board. The 2 boards are clipped together with 2 cheap catches as visible in the photos which hold it nice and tight. There are 2 guide lugs underneath to line it up.

Larger buildings such as the loco shed and warehouse are sat in place, so can be removed when storing, the smaller objects such as fueling point and cabins etc are all glued in place, and the yard lights just unplug from their mounts. I built the boards myself using parts from B & Q, its started to sag in the middle because I never got round to fitting crossmembers underneath, nothing too noticeable and doesnt affect operation, bit of a make do and mend job. Since I started the project I have moved twice, Ive had it upstairs, downstairs, outside, and has been set/packed up countless times. Ive had no issues with it and found it to be very effective.

I've attached a couple of pictures in its early days to give you an idea plus one of the latest pics. It spends 90% of the time packed away.

I do have a thread on here, which I havnt updated in quite some time, called Woodfield Road.

Probably a shock horror to most modelers as it goes against most conventional ideas and standards, but as done exactly as I had hoped, so I hope this is of some use.

*Edit* Ive also had it up and down the loft hatch a few times via a ladder with no issues, and moved it between houses in the back of a 2001 Corsa with room to spare, so quite practical.

Oily tracks, a new 37 in the form of 37401, and another scalescenes kit - this time a warehouse. Few more bits and pieces ordered for some proper details and finally might get close to finishing a railway!

First update in about 3 years. A house move and 2 children have halted progress somewhat, until recently where i've picked up again. Still a lot to do, some buildings to build and weathering to apply but its getting there and giving me hours of fun.

It was never intended to be accurate or too realistic just somewhere to run my locos until I get a big loft space to start a proper layout. More foliage is on order!

I was considering buying this kit myself, I'm so glad I didn't. The proportions are way out, even the Windows on the sides are too low! If the price shown on Ayjays homepage of over £800 is correct, that's a hell of a lot of money for an inaccurate model. I bought my Vauxhall Corsa for half the price of this kit! (£450)! 

Don't get me wrong,you've done an excellent job, the repaint looks top quality, those stripes along the sides look pretty fiddly to do and it's only the model itself that lets it down!

Work on scenery continues. In other news, I've bought another lima class 37- 37320 from an antiques emporium. It's a respray, and is pretty good quality!

Photos to follow when I get chance to go on the pc.

Some good progress made this week. Electrics are nearing completion - I've wired up the shed and fuel pump lighting using LED strips. Also fitted yard lighting for the left side of the layout which is all wired up and working. I still need to fit a point decoder for the left side of the layout, but unfortunately the wallet says otherwise!

On the right side of the layout I've nearly finished the hills, the wall textures have been applied and started to apply the grass. Ive drilled the holes for the yard lighting and will fit along with an LED lit portacabin when I've finished the grass. Im still not fully decided what I'm doing with the car park/yard area, still looking for ideas. Im thinking car park, storage tanks, portacabin and some skips, but not entirely decided what and where - ill do some more research!

I'm thinking of building a Scalescenes warehouse, minus 1 side, which will be LED lit to house the Hornby elite, but we'll see!

More to come.. Luke

Some photos of the layout setup in its current form. Ive cleaned the rail heads and some of the stock pickup wheels yesterday so all runs a bit smoother.

As you can see progress on the 2nd hill hasn't gotten very far. Over the next couple of weeks I plan to wire in the LED lighting for the shed fueling area. Ive not decided the best option for yard lighting yet but I have a few ideas.

Luke

Sorry, ive not had much chance to check the forum or work on the layout. A day or so after the last update the layout was taken down and left under the stairs in preparation for a house move.

Its been exactly a month since my last update, and it wasn't exactly an exciting one.

So whats new?

Having transported the 2 halves together side by side in a 2001 Vauxhall corsa, I can report both have made it undamaged. The layout is now set up on a more permanent basis, on the floor in the loft. The cat is currently living with my mother and layout is out of harms way. The maintenance shed has been repaired and is as good as new. Ive started work today on the retaining walls on the 2nd half of the layout, and hope to get some photos over the next few days.

Luke

Well, the cat has since had a go at the maintenance shed, so im going to have to tinker with that to get it back in one piece!

As predicted my 2 weeks off work hasn't been as productive as id hoped, but ive got until Monday, so maybe tomorrow work will commence on the 2nd half!

Update!

Ive started the scenic on the hill and retaining wall on the left board, ie the larger hill. Decided to add the standstone brick wall effect first and then the grass and seems to look ok. The other side is untouched and is still a news paper mess!

Still got some wiring to do but not much - need a point decoder for the remaining points and to fit some lighting but that's it. Im hoping to have the majority of scenics finished in the next few weeks.

Luke