jonhinds

That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking.

Thanks! Although I’ve just noticed it’s missing some windows, so I will have to wield the scalpel again. The brick tone also feels slightly ‘off’, although the real thing looks different in each photo so perhaps it’s near enough.

Finished the structure of the Red Star parcels building. Just need to add in some detailing & weathering, as well as darkening the roof. I’ll post a breakdown of the method later this week (mainly so I don’t forget myself). Happy with it so far and feel it captures the real building fairly well.

I’m planning my next layout and settled on a heritage station loosely modelled on contemporary Damems Station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. I’ve added a passing loop and a pair of sidings to the prototype for operational interest. Board is 4x2 ft. Turnouts are B7. This will be my 2nd layout using code 40 track from British Finescale and Cobalt Digital point motors. I’m also interested in block detection. The track plan is relatively simple as my interest is in filling out the landscape detail behind the station. Final placement of buildings not certain, although the single platform will be located as indicated. I may consider adding a further goods siding behind the station and making one of the turnouts on the loop three-way to accommodate.

Ah, thanks! I’d been putting in addresses manually each time as I didn’t realise it was possible to increase the recall slots.

Hopefully a simple one. Every time I select a loco address on Powercab which currently has its directional lights on, the lights turn off and have to be turned on again using function 0. What’s the setting/CV to stop this?

Strangely that still hasn’t worked 😔 Edit - found the solution here:

Looking to do this very thing!

I’m planning on eventually having running sessions broadly themed around three years: 1987, 1989 and 1991. Need to do a bit of digging into timetabling and diagrams. [Square brackets not available RTR] 1987: Class 45, 47 on limited summer services HST Executive livery Class 101, [104], 108, [110] Metrotrain Class 142, [144], 150/2, 156 Parcels: 31/4 and 47/x in BR Blue small logo, Class 101 parcels sector, [105 parcels sector] 1989: Class 101+108 hybrid, [104, 110] Class 142, [144], 150/2, [155], 156 Parcels: 31/4 and 47/x in BR Blue small logo, Class 101 parcels sector, Class 128 Royal Mail ‘Duplex’ red 1991: Class 142, [144], 150/2, [155], 156, 158 Parcels: 31/4 in BR Blue small logo, 47/4 in parcels sector livery There might also be an occasional scrap working using the loop to run around. Railtours with double headed 31s and other loco classes also possible.

The instructions state: “The lighting of the front and rear cars are independently operated. To all the same address to be used the non powered cars lights are operated by aux1 (white) and aux 2 (red). The decoder in this car will need to be programmed to operate these functions directionally and map to the function key of your choice.” Tried that and doesn’t seem to work!

I’ve got a Dapol 142 with Lais Next 18 decoders in both units. After addressing them simultaneously on the programming track of my Powercab the motorised unit is fine. Lighting follows direction of travel. However, the dummy unit does not respond to function 0 to turn on directional lighting, and instead both 1 and 2 manually toggle each direction light on and off regardless of the lighting direction of the motor unit. Any ideas?

All sorted, turns out it was decoder function mapping that was the issue. Just to say I’m really impressed at how quickly Simon was able to resolve the issue via email. A+ customer service!

Mine’s also a later Royal Mail unit so looks like there might be an issue after all.

What a beaut, and a smooth runner out of the box. Planning to run this in consists with a Parcels 101 as a stand-in for the 114s that it was commonly paired with at the time (1988-90). If Revolution sees fit to produce a 104/110 I’ll be throwing money at them!

Blimey, has it really been a year since I last posted? Dusted off the layout after a big move, and the sudden appearance through the letterbox of the excellent Revolution Class 128. Still plenty of scenic detailing to do!

Possibly daft question, but does the unit not have red directional tail lights? Mine only lights up in forward direction.

Coin test passed so it’s not the system! Forgive my complete electrical ignorance but how do I perform a DC supply test? I have a cheap multimeter but haven’t got round to working it out.

I’m at a loss as to what’s going on. I recently dug out my N gauge layout after a few months in storage. I’ve had no previous issues running from an NCE Powercab. However, one of my locos suddenly stuttered and failed, and after reinstalling the blanking chip wouldn’t even run on DC. Just now, a second loco has stopped running on DCC - lights work but nothing else. I’ve reset CV8 to 8 but still nothing (Bachmann/rebranded Zimo chips). Is there some sort of power spike at play here? Have I damaged the motors? I’m baffled.

That 66 is a stunner!

Had a look at the UK standard ballast size and it’s typically 30-50mm aggregate, at least presently. So that means a particle size of roughly 0.2mm-0.35mm in N. Ordered a cheap 0.2mm mesh sieve from a Chinese eBay seller, which should do the trick with the chinchilla dust. Meanwhile, I’ve put the sand in a lidded container with some mid-grey weathering powder and given it a good shake, which definitely produces a more realistic base colour. Also bought a pack of DCC Concepts grey blend 2mm ballast and will experiment adding in a few different ratios.

Couldn’t agree more on both counts. Shirebrook is one of those layouts that sets the standard for realistic weathering and detailing in N.

This is really useful, thank you Duncan! The larger particles of chinchilla dust do look remarkably better than the alternatives. The BR Blue era definitely does seem to be a sweet spot operationally for Bradford, although I’ve committed to a later date as it’s more the era I remember. In the late 1970s there up to five daily London express trains, including the Deltic-hauled ‘Bradford Executive’, as well as plenty of pilot duties for the resident Class 03. 40s on parcel trains and Peaks aplenty!

When space is less of an issue in the longer term I’m thinking of extending the layout with an additional board. This vintage layout plan from 1984 is food for thought:

Many thanks Ian. There seem to be as many approaches to this as there are layouts!

First ballasting test using chinchilla dust (24h after scenic glue applied). The buff colour obviously isn’t right, but I think the texture is bang on. Might try adding some grey weathering powder and/or a 2mm grey ballast blend. Opinions welcome!