john dew

I always do.....It is recommended for DCC. There is only one by the way. I had similar issues replacing the body. The interior is quite spacious but very narrow at the sides and front particularly Good luck John

Lovely modelling Tony.........well done! I really admire the way all the individual models (each excellent in their own right) come together seamlessly without looking in the least contrived. Back Garden Lane * looks as though it has evolved slowly and naturally, year by year.........perfect........you must be very pleased with the result * Back Garden Lane.......Yorkshire Place names are so imaginative and romantic! Cheers John

Despite my electrical issue I managed to make some progress with getting the prairies ready for service. The front NEM coupler pocket is the correct height but set well back, fortunately a Kadee #20 is just long enough. The rear pocket is too low, Hornby provide an offset tension lock, so to use a Kadee at the right height I had to butcher the tension lock and use that as a support for a Kadee #17 mounted on top of that and the housing. The housing itself was loose in the pocket and kept falling out so it had to secured with a dab of superglue.....grr! Having added the etched plates the next job was to renumber the buffer beams Sadly Fox's number transfers are larger and brighter than Hornby so I had to replace both sets of numbers. They look almost too bright but weathering will tone them down. I managed to run out of numeral one........fortunately I found the remnants of an old Modelmaster card. They are actually fractionally smaller and a tad more subdued than Fox but it is barely noticeable. Fox have changed the composition of their transfers and applying them was much easier than with Modelmaster. Less soaking time, slid smoothly from the backing and easy to adjust.........happy camper! Despite the little niggles I think the close up shows why I am so impressed with the fine detailing on the prairies Finishing on a high note I managed to resolve the short circuits that had closed down the storage yards.......which makes me a much more relaxed modeller......I will post about it towards the end of the week Regards from a hot and smoky Vancouver..........there are a number of forest fires in Washington State and the smoke is drifting North......not very pleasant.

Hi Tony Good to hear from you. Sorry about omitting a Pannier from the background......I will try and include a couple next time. If you are suffering withdrawal symptoms there is a super set of photos on ANTB featuring a pannier parade........including a rather nice black one. My slow moving performance took a quantum leap when I started fitting Zimo (Economy) with a Youchoos Lifelinked and Stay Alive (Supercap where space permits if not an array of 3 or 4 Tantulums) I have always been very happy with Lenz but Zimo provide an even smoother performance particularly in the lower ranges. Its difficult to define but I can definitely sense it. Previously, I didnt get that many stall. I have a fairly stringent regime of wheel cleaning and frequent operation keeps the track clean. However even a momentary hesitation could affect the RR&Co time and distance calculation and screw up an uncoupling routine. With stay alives there is now a tremendous sense of confidence and security. I am genuinely quite surprised and upset when something doesnt happen as planned. I know stay alives are not for everyone......particularly those with perfectly laid track (I wish).......but it might be worth a try Cheers John

Thanks Mikkel Chillin' with my Prairies..........great title....wish I had thought of it! Fortunately Apple have just upgraded the Imovie app and included a load of new soundtracks. My normal happy clappy supermarket track wouldnt have worked too well. Cheers John

Do you mean the derailed tanker? To my embarrassment that was there from start to finish. Cheers john

Just posted this video on my Granby Junction thread.....may be of interest to a wider audience It shows my new prairie equipped with a Zimo decoder and Youchoos Supercap crawling back and forth over a not very well laid insulfrog double slip.......... Stay Alives certainly make a difference. For those of a sensitive disposistion: While no prairies were damaged in the making of this movie I did manage to derailed an Esso tanker. If you are still awake...... Regards from an autumnal Vancouver John

I am afraid that I am a bit late with the promised video.....nevertheless better late than never. I got diverted re wiring the point ladder which exits the down storage sidings..........the trials and tribulations of a mature (2008) layout! More on this in a separate post Meantime, back to the Prairies: The plastic coal pops out quite easily, exposing a correctly shaped bunker which should look rather good when weathered with a smaller load of real coal Getting the crew in will be a bit of a challenge, the cab doors are fixed. Some owners have cut an aperture into the body floor others have been able to remove the roof. I think I will settle for feet first, tweezers gripping the collar .......the air may well be blue. Its hardly surprising that I have been looking forward to this release. In 1947 there were 10 of the class allocated to Birkenhead.....numbered sequentially 4120-4129 Engraved plates do make a difference. Still have to change the buffer beam numbers......in an ideal world Fox's transfers will match Hornby's? Cant wait to start weathering all the bunker detail. Finally here is the short video of 4124 crawling back and forth over a not very well laid insulfrog double slip. Stay Alives certainly make a difference. For those of a sensitive disposistion: While no prairies were damaged in the making of this movie I did manage to derailed an Esso tanker. If you are still awake...... Regards from an autumnal Vancouver John

Sorry ....just the one.

Thanks John Capacitors removed.....always the first job before I chip I added about 35 grams of lead ....so the all in weight is 270 grams........probably could and should have added more......nevertheless there was another incremental improvement.....this whole commissioning exercise seems to be a series of small steps. Thinking about it there is a bit more weight to add....Crew and Lamps (Modek), Engraved plates and genuine BC Coal.....I guess only the latter will count! I fitted the Zimo without any problems and it does makes a difference but it needed the Stay Alive to provide a sustained level of truly satisfactory performance One thing I have noticed is a significant difference in the Max and Mid voltage I used. I dont really have space for locos to travel at more than a scale 40 mh. I have a pretty good handle on the settings to use.......but when I tried my default settings it shot off like a startled rabbit...scale 93 mph! I finished up with CV 5 at 90 to give me a scale 45 mph. Wont budge at speed step 1 (of 28) but happily crawks away at 3 mph at step 2.....weird. Unusually for me I think I will tweak CV 2 before I attempt a video More to come Cheers John

Modelling time last week was spent mostly admiring and worrying in equal measure about my two new Prairies. There is much to admire about the model. The visual appearance is generally excellent. I guess one could quibble about the body colour but Hornby's interpretation of GWR green has rarely met with universal approval! When weathered it will comfortably pass muster on Granby. Some of the detail is quite exquisite. The wheels and motion are particularly attractive. Visually .....high marks But for me the acid test is always, to quote Captain Kernow of this parisg,........... how does it run? Pick ups did not need adjustment but the front Pony back to backs did. The driving wheels were very diryt and needed a thorough clean with IPA. Both locos then performed satisfactorily running in on the rolling road, although I had a suspicion that they needed a bit more power to start than is normally the case . To test on the layout I had to remove the body and plug in a temporary decoder There were two reported running issues. Leading pony wheels derailing on turn outs and secondly, stalling at low/medium speeds ......see Sam's review for an example of this. I have never pretended that my track is perfect....there are a couple of turnouts, naturally in crucial positions, which cause issues for some locos. Hence the worrying and trepidation. In the event this turned out to be unfounded. Both locos cruised through the suspect turnouts ..........and then promptly derailed on a turnout in constant use and previously without issue! Fortunately traveling bunker first was not a problem and I was not planning to turn the locos on the out and back routines. So problem 1 solved without yet either using a longer pivot screw or filing down the pivot mount..............edited see below * Now to problem 2..........inconsistent running And inconsistent it is.........even with an indifferent TCS decoder both locos ran smoothly and powerfully and then in the lower mid ranges they would suddenly stall....sometimes they would recover after a momentary hesitation other times fingerpoken was required. Other than the Oxford Dean Goods I cant recall a recent loco purchase that performed quite like this and for a while I seriously contemplated returning them.......but eventually I collected enough positives to continue. * I get the sense that they are very sensitive to the slightest unevenness in the track. It seemed that the lack of verticak movement in the front pony may have contribuited to the stalling. I temporarily slackened off the pivot screw and there did appear to be some improvement When they do run they are a delight......it did seed that the longer I ran them the less the incidence of stalls (possibly wishful thinking?) They are relatively light.......weighing in at 234 gm. By comparison the Bachmann 56xx 0-6-2T is 304gm! Keith (Melmerby) has add about 70gm to his Prairie and has noted a significant improvement. In my case the Zimo decoder will hard wired so I will be able to use the redundant decoder slot to add add weight as well . And there is lots of space in the bunker for a Youchoos Supercap stay alive: Perhaps next week I will be able to show a video clip of the Prairie crawling over my Code 100 double slip (complete with insulfrogs). I guess this is all pretty old news to many..... so my apologies for any repetition.....hopefully, my experiencess will be of use to some Regards from Vancouver John

Hi Keith You are correct....Liters and Kilometers.....but building materials are feet and inches because of the states. In this case I am hoping the m2 screw will emerge from my spares box imported from Hornby UK/China! Failing that I may have to try your solution with a turn of thin wire cheers John

Hi John Could you tell me the length of the replacement screw that you used please? It would also be very helpful if you could suggest possible Hornby donors for said replacement screw. It probably will not surprise you to know that until your post I had never heard of an M2 screw Best wishes John

Good question. I am so used to Hornby Olive drab that I hadnt really thought about it. After your post I put together a quick composite Bachnann Pannier, Prairie and Hornby Grange Tender (temporary fix no tender! JMD 22/8/22 " For consistency I have used the same Affinity editing buttons I normally do. I think it appears to have some similarity with the Grange tender although less so in the flesh. I guess my immediate reaction is " ok" just........that may be a bit grudging and I will be weathering mine. What do you think? Best wishes John

Hardly breaking news .......but there are prairies in Canada No broken bits, I think the whistles are straight and she ran fine on the DC rolling road. I dont have a decent run of DC track so the big test will come when I plug in a spare Lenz decoder into what will become 4121 Lots to do, the other loco (4124 to be) is still to emerge from its chrysalis.......more to come

And the sun continues to shine on the righteous...... No broken bits, I think the whistles are straight and she ran fine on the DC rolling road. I dont have a decent run of DC track so the big test will come when I plug in a spare Lenz decoder into what will become 4121 Lots to do, the other loco (4124 to be) is still to emerge from its chrysalis.......more to come

Continuing with the development of the Scalescene Hotel. We now have a completed side to add to the front and corner unit. The weather was a bit changeable last week. Rain didnt exactly stop play but it did cause a few changes in venue, hence the variatiun in some of the photos. The side is identical to the front except I wanted to substitute a central window in place of the pillared Entrance Door. I have tried to avoid repetition and too much detail. Hopefully the photos help follow the sequence but delighted to answer any questions. The base layer template for the new window had to be cut out and centred very carefully. When I made the front section, in February, I found it difficult to get clean cuts on the small windows using my usual Olfa craft knife .......this time I used a scalpel blade. Time consuming but much crisper. I originally intended to have two plain central windows on the 1st and 2nd floors but then realised that using the overlay from the kit would avoid a lot of complications blending in new cover All I had to do was reduce the width of the central columns and print some more cover layer ........and Bob's your uncle: Add windows and curtains Next paste the support elements....ceilings,floors sides on to 2mm board The instructions suggest doing this first. I think it better to complete the front so you can test fit as you go and avoid the dangers of "thicknessr creep". Lots of cutting out and laminating Completing the jigsaw.......the two front elements slide between the horizontal ledges There is virtually no tolerance......hence the importance of test fittin early on. Pediments and pilasters.....buttresses and friezes........all done except for roofing: Another side to do but first I think I will make a second corner unit and try and finalist the footprint and pavements. Regards from Vancouver John

I have a very similar memory .......at Liverpool Central with my Mum and Sister watching this tall sun tanned stranger approaching us. I had the vaguest recollection of “Daddy”. He had spent the last three years in Kenya.....had to be one of the cushiest postings ever. We , on the other hand, had survived the Liverpool blitz........and I can still recall hearing the sirens and being taken down to the make shift Shelter....the cubbby hole under the stairs. Ian, I have followed your posts for many years and have learned so much from them. It is therefore with some hesitancy I ask.... are you certain your Dad’s hat was a Kepi? That is a peaked hat I would have associated with the French Foreign Legion or Gendarmerie. In the Army the airman’s headgear was called a side cap or forage cap. A very minor point.....loved your post brought all manner of memories flooding back Best wishes John

Hi Brian Good to hear from you. Glad you liked my efforts with Scalescene . They are remarkable kits. John Wiffen , the designer, is quite brilliant at incorporating additional detail which makes the finished item less two dimensional Hope you are keeping well and enjoying the summer.....although I guess its a bit damp today! Best wishes John

Gorgeous weather here.......too hot for gardening: Time for some modelling : A bit more work on the Station Hotel, last seen plonked on St Asaph Square in February. The plan is to expand the low relief kit into a full size model .....facing the square and backing on to the railway in the rear.........so two sides and the back still to be built ......and I still have to work out how to deal with the roof! First job is to build one of the corner sub assemblies which will connect the front with one of the side units It was surprisingly easy and quick to build.........so quick in fact that I omitted to take photos of a couple of the stages but hopefully these shots give an idea of the sequence Next stage is to build one of the sides. This will take a lot longer because it is not only more complicated but I will have to do a fair bit of cutting and shutting with the base templates in order to replace the elaborate entrance way with a third matching window. In other news, my new Hornby large prairies left Liverpool early last week........delivery times from the UK vary significantly particularly with Covid ........but next week is, perhaps, a remote possibility. Its a delivery that I am looking forward to with a mixture of pleasurable anticipation and some trepidation. Reaction to the model has been mixed, particularly in relation to its running. Some owners are clearly very happy with the model.....others less so, with reports of the pony wheels derailing and/or uneven motor performance. I do hope my Prairies fit into the former group...... However there is no point in worrying.......right now I am focused on cutting out 36 perfect window apertures! Regards from a very sunny Vancouver John

Thats a good idea .....would work for me as well I was thinking of the 6 wheel brake.....or is that too generic?

Great minds think along similar lines! GWR livery? cheers john

Hi Tinker With RR&Co, once the cv values are entered, each new loco has to be “profiled” . This involves running the loco back and forth over a test track while the computor measures the speed for alternate speed steps.....takes an hour per loco. In the case of the prairies I also have to programme their working schedules......the 4 car non corridor set that I bought in January last year has been basically idle apart from some half hearted turns with a pair of 56xx. Last week Hattons announced the Dapol Prairies would be delivered in September but the consensus is that was a clerical error....someone got confused with the moguls. We have only seen CAD drawings for the prairie so I doubt if the finished product will be here this year Good luck with the green house repair......ours has been very productive this year John

Hi Tinker Good to hear from you.......Excellent progress on your modest extension.....no wonder you have no time for modelling. Modelwise we are in a similar situation......two prairies should shortly be leaving Liverpool for Vancouver followed in September by a Shirt button Mogul. Lots of re scheduling to do Best wishes John

No .....thats perfect.....its the shirt button with steam pipes that I have on pre-order! Once my budget has got over the hit of Prairies and this Mogul I will be very tempted to buy the GWR livery model.....change the door and re number to 6337. I was astonished how many Moguls were at Chester when I read the Lyons shed book Is that the black pannier you are referring too? I would / should have one but I have rather a lot already Many thanks for the info. Best wishes John