peach james

I have gotten by with Kadee couplers, but have had to swap bogies around to get acceptable performance and lack of derailments. There are some fairly wicked grades on LM, mostly to do with the floor not being flat (next time, I won't assume...) so the grades combined with 20-28" radius curves results in lots of drag from 8-11 coach trains. The Hornby A4 had difficulty with the 10 coach train, and my Jub is rather anemic, with 8 on it is a just on the grades. James

Well, John, we have a certain individual here who thought that the tide came 2x a year... And yes, he was a Marine Engineer... James (and NO, it wasn't me !)

If William is in Toronto, then no. There is a giant amount of light pollution there. If William is like most Canadians, and used Toronto to mean "somewhere in southern Ontario, perhaps between Oshawa-Hamilton-Barrie" then it might actually get reasonably dark, but not that dark. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Southern_Ontario_at_night.png and http://www.theddo.ca/History/tabid/58/Default.aspx (victim of a bit of light pollution when I lived there...) James

Here I was thinking he wanted the 2016 Horn(?)b(?)y xmas train set- prior to amendments ! (see the Hornby Disapointing Financial Results thread to find the joke, if you are not in the know) Right, coat, hat (& definitely 'brolly, it's rained >60mm here today) James

I fail to see how one can do that, (asking for money for photos) in all honesty. You have dragged this giant assembly to a public location, and then they have paid to enter- so if someone wants to take a photo, and it wasn't prohibited by their ticket, here in Canada, you are then out of luck. If they manage to sell it for $10 000 or $.01, it doesn't matter- they own the copyright on the photo, not you. (for instance, I own the copyright on the photos of my father in law's paintings on Flickr, not the copyright on the images...so I could sell the photographs, but not prints of the images, which would belong to his estate & not directly to me). It's a minefield as to what you can or cannot do, but if you take a photo of something, generally, there is no rights ascribed to the owner of the physical object. Now, rude- perhaps. Not something which would shock me at all though...think of the # of individuals who take photos of preserved railways, and never donate a dime back to said railway that hires in something special for them. James

Just remember, you can also do your own thing... 100_1650 by Peach James, on Flickr Or, say, M4H02102 by Peach James, on Flickr But, be careful, the following can happen... 100_1651 by Peach James, on Flickr (now off to finish dinner- I've been boxing up lego to take to a show next weekend...) James

Just be careful- that's how I ended up with the lad's steam wagon. The boiler had a bend in it, someone tried to straighten it out by slipping a big offcut of steel tube over the copper boiler, and bend it. It bent- right where the cylinder is supposed to sit. So, dad got given a serviceable boiler, free. It sat around for a couple years, then he came on a brilliant plan- make a 1 1/2" wagon out of it, instead of an Allchin Traction Engine (I think, 1 1/4" scale). https://www.flickr.com/photos/47105471@N05/shares/0u8gU7 Happy Grandson's...

I know over here, one can get mis tints for dirt cheap...might be an idea to get a 4L mistint, and use that instead. (they were cheaper for 4L "mixed mistint" than for 250mL of equally green craft paint...) James

Ironic, isn't it? Post was before the tanker fire... James

I'm sure everyone who follows this little bit, by now knows that David Bowie died today. I know that the various of guitar playing individuals on here have heard his music- he wasn't a huge influence directly on me, in terms of what I listen to, but he certainly was a part of the background music which I have listened to since the mid 1980's. (I know...once again, in MY youth, when most of you were teaching, or belting dumb students like me around the ears, or something...). I have a childhood friend who possibly has more to say about him than me- but still, we lost a very talented artist, and individual who was clearly not afraid to be his own person. James

Just to clarify, Jeff, I didn't see the posts between you and Jason about the gap before I posted what I posted...I'd agree, the gap looks unsightly. Ideas I would have are to have a drapeable bit of cloth, or a solid but hollow core section that slides in for when you are having a operating session. Both are workable, I think, with the cloth being easier in the event of an oops on one's noggin. (trust me, I know...) The narrower the duck under section, the easier it is to get under it. James

1. Canadian, not US. 2. Not finished yet due to life getting in the way. (I understand from little bits & pieces, a nasty divorce & near failure of the company (FastTracks) 3. Probably the most incredible trackwork of any model railway. (triple lapped switches, tracks crossing through the middle of other switches, ect). That doesn't include the full sized dodge that was used- where a track crosses the middle of the heel of a turnout at 90%, elevated by ~3" or so to allow for flange clearance. (that's the left hand side turnout in the photo) James

Jeff, could you hang teddy bear fur as per Blea Moor across the gap? If it was attached either with snaps or velcro on the sides, then it might work. (perhaps try with a old pillowcase first?) Or am I missing a chunk of removable scenery? James

I'd have to agree with the nay sayers- if you want the road to go under the railway, the bridge part would be as short as possible. Could you get the mouths in much closer to the trackbed? Or is there going to be more track added on the to? Because otherwise, it doesn't look right at all. Moving dirt is far cheaper than a long tunnel, even if it is cut & covered. If it was me, and things hadn't progressed as far as they have, I would have put it at the narrowest part of the trackbed, just past the lay-by' end. (facing towards the wall), and possibly fitted a mirror on the backside. James

That eyeball engineers about right- that the embankment is cheaper at those kinds of heights (20-30 ft) are cheaper than the alternatives. James

No, that is a 9F being flogged across the country, with 16 tonner's hung on the back, and a fireman who should be clobbered with the shovel as he is wasting coal by blowing off !. (and it is a fine painting too...) I think that model railways are a form of sculpture, which it is desired that they move as well. They are not strictly a "model" of any area, in spite of what Tony or I might try for. They are an interpretation of that area, an effort to draw from an inspiration of it and make it the artists own conception of the view of reality. I know the line "model what was there, not what you THINK was there" is out and about- and it is true, to a point. It is defining what that point is is where a layout crosses from being a model to being art. Over here, they called shop classes for quite some time "Industrial Arts", which is what I would think of them as being. It's not art to fix the alignment on your 87 Chevette, but it is art to build a kit car with welding, woodworking, leatherwork, electrical, plumbing, ect. It is not really anything else, so what else can it be called than "art" ? (Science is a pragmatic approach to something, starting with a hypothisis, and moving towards answering the question (singular) that is asked in that, artwork involves more than 2 possible correct answers, IMO). It doesn't mean that stinking piles of bull turds are art ! James

& here I was thinking Jeff would be ordering one of these: http://www.tesco.com/direct/intex-explorer-pro-100-inflatable-boat/306-4640.prd (& in case anyone thinks I am too flippant, I am sure what was the family's store in Cockermouth was flooded for the 3rd time in 50 years- it's not what it was, but it still hurts to hear of the damage) James

Cost of die sinking decreasing? With the advent of CNC machining to the extent which it has proliferated, the cost to make a mold is much less now than it was >20 years ago. So, I would suspect that if there are serious differences between the sides, it may be now cheaper to cut a new die than to put together one from segments, if you need to make some new segments anyway. (it's just a thought though...). Rapido will make you any coach you want- I think Jason said 50 000 quid, for 2000 coaches or so. (that'd be 25 quid each coach, if you think in such thoughts). That gives an idea of the scale of figures to use, anyway. It's kind of amazing to have someone openly say what their costing for doing a custom model would be. (and if I had the $100 000 to play with, I have a waggon in mind). James (I use quid, as the Canadian Multilingual keyboard doesn't have an easy access to the pound sterling sign)

Jason, go back to bed, little one has kept you awake with dreams of them ALL being Henry ! And with that, I leave you with the thought for tonight- for those of you without little ones any more, and those of you with parents- time with your family is far more important than whatever father christmas brings and leaves under the tree. (but another steam perambulator never goes wrong !) James Powell

OK, so I had an unfortunate accident involving my LRC and a 9F. (it all made sense when it happened...) in the tunnel on Long Marton. I melted a truck on it, and had to get a spare from Rapido. No charge for a replacement truck. (awesome !). Then, I opened up the coach body (VIA coach, not a VIA 1 coach), and go to change the wiring around. No issue at all...as easy as it could be to change something that isn't supposed to be damaged. However, what I was amazed at is simple: WASHROOM SINKS ! there, in the body of the coach, where it cannot be seen without taking the whole thing apart, there are SINKS in the washroom molding. If they go to that level of detail in things that are almost impossible to see, think of what you can see. Thanks Jason & Rapido, for running such a company. James Powell

M4H02973 by Peach James, on Flickr M4H02974 by Peach James, on Flickr M4H02978 by Peach James, on Flickr So, programming- the three videos show a DMU going Down (towards New Biggin) on Long Marton. They represent about 50 hours of programming time in a semi-graphic environment, to get the operation that I want. There are still issues, for instance the quew system is not working right, but, now LM should have signaled service in both directions.

So, the Down program now works, and I haven't tried the Up in conjection. Well, they sort of work, anyway...there are errors that I know about, and probably some I don't know about yet. The current issue is that starting a 2nd train may (or may not) cause total confusion, depending on where in the "program" the first train is. I think I know how to fix it, but it involves a little more flagmen and on/off switches to do so. (I am probably going to cap at a single train on standby, not more than that). I am completely unsure what will happen with regards to running both up and down trains at the same time. There is a decided problem that I can see, with regards to call attention, train on section and train ID's. Computers are smart, but only do what the programmer has told them to do ! I may try and get a video up in a bit, to show what I have gotten to so far. James

I bought a GP9 for flinging infront of my track cleaning cars . I have a 50 and a 66 that also see use for similar, and I have been known to add the cleaner behind the pair of 28's. James

Funny, AndyID, mine is "hard to get one started outside right now- with or without accelerant" Although we have "only" had 1/2" of rain today... (well, the meter says 11.83mm for Sooke) I was up here: on Friday, This is close to home (but a few years ago- mum, sister and now 10 year old...) James

Jock, my big lad around here told me the same thing . (10 years old, and fairly clever) Other shocking incidents- 40 Ton/Hr submersible pumps (about 25 hp, as they are ~25A/440V) 1. On ship. The pump weighs 82 lb, and has a rope and a power cord. (and a 2 1/2"/64mm hose). To lower it down, one uses the ROPE to lower or raise the pump. The 'leccy cord is secured in such a way that it is supposed to be able to hold 2x the pump weight. Supposed... When you see the sparks leaving the pump because one of your mates has the pump by the cord and are dragging it running back up the ladder. At least we were NOT in seawater, as it was only an exercise. 2. At the school. The pump's on/off switch comes in at least 2 versions- waterproof and water resistant. Fortunately, the school has a very good GFIC (RCD) on the 440V power supply. I think I got about 5 ma across me. My boss still told me to go see the doc's, because you cannot see internal burns. James