Mike W2

I've had a fiddle with the Sentinel and it turns out it was heavily over-greased at the factory and the blobs on the inner windscreen were in fact blobs of grease! I've wiped off a load of grease with some tissue, put it back together and it's certainly an improvement. However, it judders while it's on the move and the performance is still not up to what I've experienced from both a Bachmann and Hornby 08 and it does stall sometimes and requires a gentle nudge. So I think I'll have it apart again and do some more fettling. I do have a tube of Tamiya grease (the sort the r/c folks use for plastic/metal gears) and some proper model loco lube oil to replace the factory stuff. There does appear to be a piece missing looking at the instructions. Is there supposed to be some kind of plastic cover in the cab that doubles as cab detail? thanks Mike

Has anybody had any issues with the Hornby Sentinel shunter at all? I got the NCB liveried one and there's a couple of issues with it, possibly minor, possibly just QC issues from Hornby. The first issue is that one of the windscreens is covered with what looks like dots of dried PVA, hopefully it'll just be a careful job of taking the body off and cleaning up the PVA. Secondly, it's not running too well. You need to turn the power up a bit to get it going and it's a little jerky and not very smooth. It's not my track as my Bachmann 25 and Heljan 14 have no issues and run smoothly despite not been run in. It looks like it's been over greased, could this be a problem at all? I'd like to keep it as it's getting hard to find the NCB and I can't be bothered with hassle of sending it back, any thoughts or similar problems? thanks Mike

Just a thought, will the loco's be able to handle full size trains going up the helix? I've tested a Bachmann 40 (original batch) with 16 coaches and a Bachmann 66 with 20 coaches but that was on the flat. thanks Mike

In the 80's Hornby did do a few diesels where you got a selection of running numbers so you could pick the one you wanted. That would explain why the numbers might be a bit wonky. thanks Mike

Paul - I agree about the Hornby 25, which is why I suggested anyone that is inspired to do something similar get a 2nd hand Bachmann 25, with it's much better mechanism, that is if they wanted to spend a bit extra. I can see why Dave has gone for the Hornby one though. Having been inspired by this myself, I've had a quick peek in the loft to look at suitable building materials and luckily I've found an unused sheet of 4ft by 2ft 3mm thick Harboard. In addition, I've found a fair size chunk of foamboard type stuff (the shop sign type stuff someone else mentioned), some more normal type foam board (ideal for making buildings) and a few off cuts of 2 by 1 timber. That coupled with the insulation board in our garage means I'll just need 4 4ft bits of 2 by 1 to make 2 4ft by 1ft baseboards for a small layout, plus enough material to build a backscene, thanks Mike

I'm quite liking the idea here! I might even have a go at something similar but I think I'd still have some kind of wooden base. I'm sure a sheet of 4ft by 2 ft Hardboard only costs a fiver and most places will cut it half for nothing, so you can make up to an 8ft by 1 ft if you wanted. I've also got spare isulation board I could mount on the hardboard and in turn mount the track on that. Just a quick thought regards the Hornby 25. If anybody wanted to do something similar to this but didn't mind spending a small amount extra, I reckon a second hand Bachmann 25 from the original batch they did could probably be bought for a relatively cheap price. the latest ones with lights etc new don't seem much over £50. Either way I agree something like a 25 is great choice. thanks Mike

Hi Ian I don't mind having trackplans for any layout of similar size and concept to give me ideas! That layout you provided the link for is stunning. Some of the photos make it look like you're looking at pictures of a real station. The only thing that gives it away is the model figures (not the modeller's fault!). I'm still not sure whether it will stay a twin track or drop to a single track. i know someone local who's good at building small layouts, so I'll seek his help before finalising any plans. thanks Mike

As mentioned, I already have a OO gauge loft layout, modelling the same era so if I want to make a smaller portable layout it makes sense (financially) to use some of the locos and rolling stock from that, rather than start from scratch in another scale. Besides I really don't like N gauge models, I know they are much better these days but to me they still look far too toy like. thanks Mike

Yes I did thanks. I would have replied sooner but I've been busy wih work all day - the joys of being self-employed! I think I may have cracked it using Y points and small points. The problem is with regards to the fiddle yard, first of all I've no idea how to make a traverser and second, the traverser would need to be longer than one of the baseboards, to fit the required train length. So not only does the 3ft have to have all the points for the station throat, it needs 2 points to make the double track into a 4 road fiddle yard. thanks Mike

Mid-late 80's Scotrail, kinda like a mini version of my loft layout. My loft layout is a U shape 14ft by 10ft, with platforms to hold an 8 coach train, so I can replicate the push-pull trains. I just fancy building a small portable layout, that is easy to fit in a car and can be exhibited easily. So it'll feature local passenger and parcels trains, mostly class 26, 27 and 37's. thanks Mike

Nice ideas but double slips confuse me, I've had a go on someone's small shunting layout that had them and I kept getting them wrong! I'm thinking about making it a single track in and out as that would simply matters. thanks Mike

I can't quite get it to work on anyrail either. The problem also is the baseboards would be 4ft by 1ft and given the max train length is something like 4ft 4 or 5in, I'm not sure a traveser would work and I've even tried saving some length on the point work by using a 3 way point. So my question is - has anyone got any ideas about how this can be done. My criteria would be the following. 1) Max train length is a class 37 or 47 plus 4 mk 1 or 2 coaches, approx 4ft 4 or 5in. At least 2 platforms would need to accodate this length train and all of the fiddle yard sidings. 2) The baseboards are 4 ft by 1 ft, with a total length of 12ft 3) The track plan is to be based on Minories with 3 platforms and a loco stabling siding and the trains must be able to enter the scenic section and arrive at any platform and vice versa. thanks Mike

That might be the book I've got but can't find! Some useful info there! That answers the platform width question, I suspected they would be quite narrow. Eight inches long is about the same as the Medium Radius points, which are too big in my mind, the small radius ones are about 7 inches long, so might work better, as long as the dreaded setrack points are avoided! This is what I'm thinking - total layout size 12ft by 1ft, including some kind of fiddle yard. Max train size will be a class 37 or 47 pus 4 Mk 1 or Mk 2 coaches - this equates to about 4ft 4 or 4ft 5. So there has to be at least 2 platforms capable of handling that (not bothered if the loco goes past the platform ramps) as well as the sidings in the fiddle yard. It's passenger/parcels only, Scotrail themed with local loco hauled trains and DMU's. My McRats and 37/4's will dominate the haulage with a few 47's. thanks Mike

I've been having a go with the Peco point templates, using the medium radius, I'm going to try again with small radius points as I think the medium are too big. I agree the pointwork is crucial but I'd still like a scale plan if poss as a starting point to work from. thanks Mike

Thanks for that but I already have a track plan for it but it's not to scale. I was hoping for one drawn to scale, so I can figure out what size trains it can take, platform widths and things like what type of points it uses etc etc. I have an idea based on Minories and I need to work out how to adapt it to fit my idea. thanks Mike