DevonCottage

On 07/11/2010 at 22:54, R A Watson said:

If the blue grey Mk1 coach refered to is the one on the dock in photo No 9 I believe you wil find it is one of the Excursion stock either 1285 or 1295, Dia C74, suffering from 1970's film colour instability. Only one of these exists now after vandals set fire to them several years ago.

 

For those who are not familiar with the original Buckfastleigh the photographer is standing in the current cafeteria area, when I was regularly working up there this area was home to the Royal Navy's strategic coal stock from Devonport Dockyard after the Dart Valey bought it.

 

Wally

I've just come across this stream some years late. The coach is probably in chocolate and cream and subject to colour fading as you suggest, but is unquestionably a Mk 1. The DVR did buy a couple quite early on. I'm glad to report both 1285 and 1295 do still exist, although 1295 is a long-term restoration project. Great photos 

Thanks for the comments. I agree slow action motors would be better, if I can get any. Thanks for the tip about Cobalt motors - shame they're also unavailable. I'll keep my eyes open for any that do become available.

I have come back to modelling after a 30 year gap but have a few old items that I am trying to re-use. Amongst them are five SEEP point motors. I have found a wiring diagram on https://www.railwaymodellers.com/join-the-railway-modellers-club/?mepr-unauth-page=1032&redirect_to=%2Finstalling-gaugemater-seep-point-motors%2F which indicated that the 'common' auxiliary contact was tab F, but having soldered one in to test I can get it to change the points (made from a copper-clad kit, not an insulfrog type) but not the track polarity. The blades will go across but the frog and 'downstream' track remain energised in one direction only. I even tried swapping the wires to test whether the common contact is actually D or E instead but no luck. A friend suggested I try Tortoise motors instead, but they seem to be currently out of production. I would welcome any useful suggestions.

Many thanks for all your helpful advice. I have ordered a copy of Paul Karau's book and will work on the 45ft x 23ft ground dimensions if there is nothing else to scale by.

Dear all - I have been a long time away from modelling but, as with probably many others, have returned due to having a lot of unexpected time on my hands and am looking to make a model of the Ashburton engine shed in 4mm. I would be most grateful if anyone can direct me to any drawings that exist as going and measuring it up is not really practical during lockdown. Please let me know. Many thanks