down the sdjr

Hi Geordie, Im very much a beginner myself but you can get solder with different melting tempatures, standard and detailing solder. Others here will answer you much better than i can.

Hi Jack, I do like an Adams Radial. I have a Oxford Rail one and while some people dont like the slow gearing i think it runs lovely. Although never noted running on the S&D mine does from time to time. great locos. Paul.

I am going to order those, they look really nice. I will only buy the 1:5-1:8 v jig as i dont suppose i would need bigger for a station like Blandford Forum. If it all goes wrong i can always buy the Vs from C&L.

I bought a really nice Bachmann 4F on ebay for under £90 and EM wheels from Alan Gibson £35. It was a TMC super customised with weathering, coal, crew, fire irons and re-number. I could not build that train in EM gauge for £125 from a kit. Plus, I simply do not have the skills.

DMUs would have saved some time and money at Templecombe.

Thank you @hayfield very informative as usual. I think i will stick with the kits for now, did some costing sums and for the amount i need the jigs are 1/3 the cost before i begin. Maybe later if i get the bug. Thanks again.

Hi everyone, Can anyone point me in a good direction for 00/EM gauge jigs for point building, Vs and switch blade filing etc? I am a member of the EMGS but being a newbie to all this i dont want to buy the wrong items. I also notice C&L make common crossings for £21.50 if i am unable to make them myself. The layout plan i want to make is 6 points on a slight curve (Blandford Forum northern end) so buying the Vs might be a good option for a beginner. @hayfield I have been researching the C&L chairs that are now on sale and getting to grips with Templot. Paul.

Dont know why i read your post as Templecombe. I might need glasses.

Very good thread here by @tingleytim.

Nothing ever seems to be easy on the S&D. I have learnt more from people on this forum than i ever thought possible. A lot of knowledge here.

@bathgreenpark Fantastic looking layout. I have seen it before on you tube. Nice work. It must have taken ages to build, the attention to detail is stunning. Do you scratch build the locos? that 3MT is really nice.

Reversing into Sturminster Newton if i remember correctly.

Those Peco kits are really good, I have been scratch building my latest station and im afraid to say it does not come close to the standard of the Peco station buildings. I use the Peco door and windows pack which is the same moulds that come with those kits.

I have converted my 2nd Jinty for the EM gauge layout. This time i bought a pre built set from Ultrascale, expensive but very nice indeed. The wheels are a straight swap and the coupling rods attach to the wheels with no modifications required. I had to cut the brakes off and glue some 40 thou plasticard to bring them out and file to shape. I then glued them back on to the chassis with a bit more filing to the plasticard. After a bit of paint the body went back on. Runs really nice. I have got a 3F tender and a 4F to do next. I have started the layout but will save that for another blog post once its working properly with no shorts..... Thanks. Paul.

Hi John, I checked the B2B and checked the point is flat, both are good. I do seem to have a short somewhere on the layout that might be a problem. Going to spend the weekend trying to sort it. Thanks for all the advice/ sugestions. Paul.

GW models do a really nice B2B adjustable gauge. I have no connection just like his tools. You do need a vernier to set it, the other tool is a wheel quatering press it was the only photo i had of the gauge on the computer.

I have been having a go today, tried all different varations of the wiring and i am back to where i started. The jinty has Alan Gibson FS wheels and will run through the straight turnout 6 times or so in either direction but on the next pass will just stop. I have checked and no wheels are touching the blades, i can hear the frog switch activate as the train goes over, really odd.I think making my own frog switch as @jcredfer mentions might be where im going to go but will carry on trying over the weekend. Frustrating. The photo shows the spot the train stops in reverse direction.

Had a look at the Tam Valley product, seems to be for DCC only not DC. I am trying to use these on the Peco EM gauge track. I have the insulated joiners on the v, the switch blades are not sprung on these points and i think the back of the wheel is touching the blade causing the short. I will try some more fiddling and not give up just yet.

Wished i had seen this thread before i bought the Peco stuff. Smartswitch is ok but the smartfrog operates in a different galaxy as far as i can make out. Tried everything but it seems to be trying to switch polarity as the loco goes over the v. DC.

I had a go at modelling this, bought some Parkside wagons that matched as best i could find, close but not perfect. This has got me thinking. I grew up in Blandford and have long thought about making a layout. I really like the Blandford museum layout and i think i will regret it if i dont have a go. I am going to focus on the north end of the station, single line from Salisbury st bridge to the platforms. I hope posters on here will be able to answer my many questions i will have. @tingleytim photo has given me such inspiration.

As a newbie to all this i would reccomend the CL point in a bag kit. Very good instructions are included about 10 pages. I have started a EM gauge layout and since beginning that i am considering re-building some of my 00 gauge layout to hand built points, etc. Plus Hayfields thread above is supurb. Paul.

That is a work of art.

I downloaded Templot, what a great program / tool that is. Thanks.

The gears slip when under load on this one. I bought it used from Hattons and it has always done it, must investigate and find the problem.

Thats a very kind offer. Of course being a newbie i am unsure of those measurements or how to take them. The instructions with the CL b6 kit says i can cut the template to form the curve, i am not sure how well i could do that. Here is a pic ot the place i was thinking of putting it in with the toe end to the left. Thanks again for your informative posts.