Multigauge

@SRman cheers for the pointer; that's very helpful. I found one side frame came off very easily, the othe less so.

Found this thread useful but having the same problem in 2023. Already broken both the radio aerials! I really want to open it up to give it a service as it is running dreadfully; the contacts look a little skew on one of the bogies.

Did some more work today on the vegetation. Not completely happy with it, but a fair stab.

Been looking for a crane for ages and then one came along as part of a wider collection of trackside vehicles on a well known auction site. Also did a little more work scenic work on the viaduct today. The intention was to use a turf ground cover direct on to some wet plaster type modelling goo, but although it mostly went to plan, the white is showing through in places. I've also added some small bits of material to represent low bushes, but more variety is need to show off buddleia and the like.

Great bit of video footage!

Loving the Lima duff. It looks good with the adornments and flush glazing; do you plan to change the buffers? I've been discovering DCC sound of late - I have a class 20 and bubble car which sound great - but I've also got a Lima 73 running DC and it sounds like your 47; sometimes I wonder if it gives all the sound I need 😂

And the odd photo too.

Finally got round to adding some video!

Hi Ray, Good to hear from you. I used Dapol n gauge ballast, but it does look cruelly large in the close ups. I'm aware of the dockside cranes - which I do like, but I do think the will dominate such a small scene. I'm not aware of Hornby road crane - need to check it out - and thank you for the offer. The running quality of the Hornby 08 is amazing. I was tempted to see if could get it fitted out with DCC sound, but it's hard enough getting the chip in it, let alone a speaker! I'm always looking for a bargain TTS version🙏 though. Glad to hear Crystal Palace is still going on. I'd imagine there's a fair bit of grassing to do. I've used static grass before to mixed success, but I do think practice is key. For that reason I'm working (slowly) on tiny diorama with the good lady to work how to get the best effects. I'd like to visit, but I'm not sure how/when ATM. Any evening is difficult due to childcare.

I need to do so much more to this: Improve the barge. Set mooring lines to barge. Find a decent crane. Find some decent period vehicles. Rebuild the horse and cart I made, painted and promptly damaged. Add loads and other paraphernalia. Add signage. Add greenery. Details/weather rolling stock. Time never seems to be on my side, but at least this weekend I've managed something.

It seems like an age since I posted an update, but that's because it is! I finally got round to ballasting the line in the viaduct and adding cable trunking. It needs some tidying but I'm liking the overall look a lot. I'm thinking of adding a load of long static grass and buddleia to give the real life effect. I also carried out some work on the meagre electrics too, as some of the wiring was a bit dainty and fragile; the swan neck lamp and brazier are on the same 9v feed. When I had the concept of this micro in my mind, it was always to operate the sidings with a peckett, and then I bought a Dapol B4 to give it an industrial feel, but blue 08 runs like a dream and looks so at home; plus I don't have anything suitable from the steam era to exhibit on the viaduct line..

I like this design with the station. Hope it works out.

Love the video of the large logo 50 storming round the bends.

A few shots of work this far. Fenders done. Third rail and pots added and painted. I have realised - not sure why it's suddenly dawned on me - that I will need to address the brick work on the inside of the viaduct and hide the two supports I made to hold one of the wall sections in place. Waiting on some scalemodelscenery items to continue this and another project I'm working on.

Looks fab!

A little over a month later and I've laid the top level track and 3rd rail! A fiddly bit of work where I ended up sacrificing a few insulator pots along the way, but overall I'm rather chuffed with it. Next things to do are cable troughing - on order - track painting and ballasting. I also want a good yard crane to place in the dock area; not hugely sure on any I've seen on the market of late. I was even thinking of a mobile crane like a Coles, but is there any others to choose from?

Thanks for the comments folks

I've often found soldering wires to things a hit and miss affair; and of late more miss that hit. No matter what I do to increase the chances of adhesion, often the solder just doesn't seem to adhere to anything other than the wire itself. They say a bad workman blames his tools, but I was wondering if solder has a shelf life? I've had mine for eons. Btw, I have no idea how I've changed the text colour half way through and can't get it back to black. MG

I can't quite believe how long it's been since I updated this thread, but little had been done for some time. I became distracted with DCC and other stuff. However, a creative burst of energy the other night found a fiddlestick made up and put in place for one of the sidings (a shorter one is also planned allowing for a wagon or two to be run in to the building. In addition, I also took time to make up the decking of the viaduct which is part of the scenic break. I'm hoping to have a short section of Flexi track laid in the future complete with 3rd rail to enhance its Sarf Londoness. On the operating side, I have found that slow speed operation of my peckett (and my other 040) whilst exceptional for the most part, frustratingly stalls at one part of plain track (my Hornby 08 runs perfectly). I think I may have a slight high spot where the stone setts butt up to the rail, so I need to resolve this.

Living round the corner I do find this fascinating. @brightsparkWhat site are you? When I used to do a lot of walking with the dog, we often walked from Beddington lane towards Mitcham Jn via the woodland path. Along it, close to the tram boundary, I found some intact insulator pots that I use as ...... Pot stands in my garden. One is dated 1959.

Thanks for your great suggestions and comments. The wire brush thing I have is very old and probably dirtier than the wheels I'm trying clean tbh, but it looks like brass as opposed to steel painted a brassy colour. Think I need to get myself some white spirit.. Cheers MG

Thanks for tip. I'll try it out when I get spare moment.

Evening, fairly new to DCC so still finding my way around. Bought an 8 pin gaugemaster ruby to fit to my Hornby 08 today. It worked fine, but I could not get the chip seated in a way to put the body on properly. Alas the wires are not long enough to reach to the nose end. Not wishing to faff about and take it back, I found my Heljan 33 also needed an 8 pin so popped it in there. However, despite my best efforts, whilst it fitted fine, the loco didn't work. Conscious the the 33 doesn't have clear marking which way the chip goes round, I swapped it round but still no luck. Popped the chip back in the 08 and it's now not working in that either. Is it possible I've blown the chip? And if so how? This could turn in to an even more costly hobby that I thought at this rate.. I have tested other DCC locos on the same track and they work fine.

Those pictures bring back memories of visiting the area as a kid. You could get almost anywhere without hassle back in those days; as long as you were discreet and polite if challenged. I've been toying with a similar idea, but haven't got anywhere other than dreaming about it. I seem to remember this area was featured in a magazine in the last couple of years too - it's what got me thinking about it before - with slightly revised track layout. Personally I'd prefer to build my own track - if could - to capture the odd turnouts and check rails. I also like the large buildings close to the track; it really gives a hemmed in look.

Kernow have one in the same livery I believe, but not that model number.