NFWEM57

Hi Frank, Have another cheap broken 4MT on the way for that very purpose. Take the motor out and use it purely as a free running test loco. But thank you for all your advice. Patrick

Keith, Good idea. I may upload a thread on lesson's learnt for conversions. It will be old news to the more experienced but useful to those just venturing into EM.. The issue with the 4MT was not the split chassis, it was the fact that adding brass shorting shorting strips on inside of the wheel on both sides to connect steel tyre to brass stub axle meant that I could not get down to 16.5mm back to back without pushing the stub axles so close together that the axle would not fit inside the chassis. A combination of modifications required, but more in a separate thread. All metal wheels on the brass stubs would have been a better solution in hind sight. Regards, Patrick

I took both videos, including the Mk1 carriage, down earlier today not wanting to showcase Wayne's product in a bad light; as you put it. When I have a more acceptable locomotive I will run it through Wayne's turnout. I have worked on the 4MT all day, blown a decoder in the process and had to wire up another, so I will test it tomorrow and consider whether it is acceptable for an upload. But, the loco is a quarter century old so we need to make a few allowances. Stay tuned there may be a video in a day or two provided it showcase Wayne's product in a favourable manner. One small point, those who might not wish to attempt scratch build track, and delight at the prospect of Wayne's easy build product, might not also wish to undertake more complex conversions. In addition, as pointed out previously in this thread today, having a less than perfect loco run through track is a good test although I will admit mine was probably far less than perfect..! Wayne's turnout handled my 'contraption' pretty well. Patrick

Thank you, much appreciated.

Cognisant that we are showcasing Wayne's work, not mine, I will take the videos down. When I have a perfect locomotive to test the turnout I will upload another video. Regards, Patrick

Hi Frank, Thank you for your comment. If I had one I would have used it..! This is my only EM loco at present, a mogul is part complete, but that is why I put the caveat. This issues, back to back and pickup, will be resolved this weekend and I will upload another video. In the interim, I can upload a video of an EM converted Mk 1 coach with good back to back going through the turnout if that would satisfy in the interim? Patrick

Robert, I agree and had this not been a test track, I would have considered using point rodding with remote motors. But, if not feasible, al least putting the point motors to the side. Patrick

First images of British Finescale EM B7 fitted to Test Track. Test track has EM (outer 2 loops 34 and 32 inch), OO middle loop and 2 N gauge loops (just visible top left) but yet o be laid at the front. 3rd inner EM track coming of the BF B7 is a Jacobs siding going from 30" to 26" radius to test EM conversions. OO loop has original BF B7 prototype. EM has BF B7 followed by EMGS B6 on inner loop and an EMGS B6 on outer loop. Servo point motors controlled by ESU Switch Pilot Servo. Track screwed with M1.4 x 10mm to allow for change. 2mm cork (B&Q 10m x 1m for £36) painted with Wickes Matt Emulsion Slate Grey. Points section is removable. Flexi track is PECO Bullhead for OO and PECO EM from EMGS. Wiring in process of being compete and all above board to allow for reconfiguration and selection of DCC or DC for each gauge. Dynamis for DCC, gauge master for DC. Separate 5V DC, 12V DC and 16V AC supplies Detail of points Once wired up will run a few conversions through. Patrick

Hi Keith, The sub forum is t is scale specific rather than gauge specific. What would need to be added is sub forum for 4mm scale and then a subgroup for each gauge which I don't think is possible. There only seem to be one sub level for each forum group so perhaps within Skills & Knowledge Centre we have Kit Built Track in addition to Hand Built Track with hand built being the likes of C&L, SMP etc and Kit Built being Wayne's type of product. But I guess it is something for the moderators to mull over. Video by Friday latest. Day job as well..! Patrick

Hi Keith, So there would be a forum called Gauge Specific and within that there could be OO, EM, P4 ? Wayne's B7 prototype is now in situ on my test track along with a couple of EMGS B6's. I will upload a few pictures later today. Patrick

Hi Keith, Video might be a good idea, much like the 2mm Scale Associations 3 videos of how to assemble their 16T mineral wagon tester. http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/wagonvideo/ Useful tips in there for any scale. Bit late now but maybe I'll make one when I get a production turnout... Patrick

Martin, Very timely and useful information as I convert the old 4MT..! Thank you. Patrick

Hi Keith, Thanks for your response, much appreciated. I only took up the hobby a year ago, train spotting as a child and dreams of a layout and the space to put it in. Half a century on, I decided on an additional hobby and I too was left with a choice. I have an engineering background and almost a year in workshops as an apprentice (in addition to 2 years of theory) armed me with a skill set that is coming in useful. I have always disliked the narrowness of OO so EM, and most RTR can be converted, was the obvious choice. Steam is challenging but rewarding but everything else is quite easy. Alan Gibson and Ultrascale make some incredible wheel sets making conversion very simple. I do not regret choosing EM, it requires a bit of effort, but the reward is fantastic. I am hoping to put my first steam conversion, a broken Bachmann split chassis OO gauge 4MT I purchased for a few pounds and converted to EM with DCC on my new test track which incorporates Wayne's EM gauge prototype in the next few days. As someone once said to me decades ago, you will never know what you can do until you try. And if I am succeeding 51%of the time, I am winning..! There will alway be failure but it is what you take away and learn from failure that counts. That is how we learn. Give it a go..! There is no such thing as a free dinner. Patrick

Hi Martin, Plastic not supplied in prototype but that is why we build a prototype, to test and correct..! Have already mentioned that in my feedback to Wayne. I was aware from the N gauge instructions what was required. For this prototype I used SloZap to fix in place. I would probably use epoxy for a retail kit. My background is in military maritime engineering. Everything breaks eventually unless it is seriously over engineered, which even then does not eliminate failure modes but significantly reduces it. So, fault finding is inevitable..! If you look at the B6 produced for the EMGS by PECO, it is a compromise and you may notice they isolate the switch rails half way toward the toe and the heel and switch rails adjacent to the frog are electrically connected; bit difficult to do in a kit unless you are experienced. So the PECO solution is an option which the more experienced modeler could implement even with Wayne's kit. I may do it. More generally, the people buying the EMGS B6s and Flexi track will likely be more than happy with Wayne's product and those who have issues with it will, in all probability, continue to build their own. But this product opens up more realistic track work for swathes of OO modelers who want something other than the products PECO makes for the rest of the world, not the UK, and for EM modelers, who may lack track making skills, and having seen and used the EMGS B6s and Flexi want additional turnout to complement the B6's which are easy to make and on a par with, or better than, the current B6s. if there is growing interest in EM due to Wayne's initiative, maybe the volume manufacturers will finally provide the option of EM gauge wheelsets as quite a few smaller producers now do; eg Accurascale. But you have to generate the customer base and demand - Wayne's product is a catalyst for that. In any project there is a cut off point where you say no more change, go with what we have otherwise nothing gets built..! So, I agree with Jeff, we're in danger of going down a rabbit hole and delaying production....! Patrick

Hi, Which is what I did using plastic sheet 0.25mm thick until the rails were fixed in position. But no vertical angle, good point. Next time...! Every day is a training day.. Patrick

Hi Martin, That might be the CA I used there unless the chair is incorrect? Patrick

it is dinner time..! I am sure it will follow...!

Hi, Thank you for your observation. Not a fault of the product as the gap is set by the assembler. You could have more if you wished when assembling, I chose 0.25mm. Patrick

EM B7 duly received and assembled. Have started a new thread with first look pictures. Well done Wayne..!

Wayne Kinney of British Finescale kindly sent me the latest prototype of his new range of easy build turnouts to assemble and test, an EM gauge Left Hand B7. As before, no instructions. A number of alternations and improvements have been made based on feedback about the original OO gauge B7 prototype and assembly has been much simplified. Taking my time and avoiding my error with the first prototype, assembly only took around an hour this afternoon. The prototype will be installed on my test track in the next few days for live testing. But, for now, a few pictures of the kit and the assembled B7 including a picture of the EMGS B6 and the BF B7 alongside each other. It compares really well, a game changer indeed. Patrick

My god, I thought Wayne was older..!

A second video of the point in close up has been uploaded to YouTube Patrick

Having just completed the OO gauge element of my multi gauge test track this morning, I tested the new Dapol Mogul, out of the box, on the test track which includes the prototype 00 Fine B7 from British Finescale. The back to back was 14.5~14.55mm out of the box. My first You Tube upload so apologies if it is not perfect. The very slight bump as it passes over the crossing V is my fault as I messed up during assembly and which I declared on page 2 of this article (4 Dec 20) . so nothing wrong with the product, just the tester...! The point is screwed in place place as it is a test track and I may wish to test other track items in the future. Patrick

I will of course endeavour to encourage senior management to take an interest in some aspects - scenery, buildings, et al, most other aspects will be mine to tackle. Will be well documented, that has already started, with logic behind decisions, lesson learnt. DCC layout so wiring less complex and with computer control. Attached is an image of the section of interest to be modelled. To the right there was US Army Depo which became a factory with rail access after the war. The mainline goes to Exeter (left) and Taunton (right), the branch lines go to Barnstable (far left) and Minehead (left). Helix at both ends with fiddle yard underneath. Father Time permitting I may model Minehead once the main layout is complete. Most pictures I have found of the station around 1950s to 1960s are copyright but can be viewed on line at (click on image to enlarge): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Fitzwarren-Railway-Station-Photo-Taunton-to-Wellington-Milverton-1/252215037274?hash=item3ab9300d5a:g:nNUAAOSwk1JWcT7l https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Fitzwarren-Railway-Station-Photo-Taunton-to-Wellington-Milverton-4-/252957826535 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Fitzwarren-Railway-Station-Photo-Taunton-to-Wellington-Milverton-15/264500454502?hash=item3d9574a466:g:tCIAAOSwHSxdpuTB https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Fitzwarren-Railway-Station-Photo-Taunton-to-Wellington-Milverton-14/252957826528?hash=item3ae5761de0:g:wOgAAOSw0hlZJzBM Patrick

Thank you for your interest..! Nowhere near as elaborate and exquisite as layouts such as Retford or Little Bytham but the same idea. EM gauge, 1960's and location modelled, Somerset or North Devon, yet to be decided but current plan is either Taunton or Norton Fitzwarren with the latter the current favourite as it provides for main line and branch line operation. Very much in the planning stage with many pieces of a far broader jigsaw required to fall into place before construction can begin. In the meantime, I am collecting and converting the rolling stock required which will be tested and fine tuned on a small multi gauge (EM, OO and N) test track which is just nearing completion. Some stock repaired or refurbished and sold on, hence the need for an OO part to the test track. Just converting Bachmann split chassis GWR Mogul and BR 4MT to EM and DCC; both were bought spares or repair due to damaged or missing motion gear but otherwise in VGC. Needed to recover long dormant skill of hand by practicing on something..!