Theakerr

Haven't got round to watching the Ken Paterson video yet but over the years he has done some pretty neat stuff including a lot of things that are a bit 'off the wall'.   IMOHP NA layouts tend to jammed full because they tend to be operations focused.  Some do it very well

some not so well.  It should also be remembered that some pretty good stuff comes out of the US, Kadee Couplings, Woodlands Scenics and I think it fair to say DCC and again IMOHP often initially poo pooed because it is American.  Right now i can think of at least two that seem to be studiously being ignored.  Specifically the ready made point system that allows for one extra track in the same length for a storage siding, something I would have thought of great interest to UK modellers with their smaller spaces.  Then there is the vacuum pipe/brake system that actually couples the pipes together.  I would have expected this to have taken off in the UK where there is a great focus on detail, especially the EM and P4 People and the 'Scale' 00 People

A bit of a change in tone.   There is a lot of talk about having a go at building rolling stock and the 'benefits' of soldering versus gluing for construction although this conversation has perhaps been a bit one sided.   So when reading some old magazines I saw this advertisement from 1973 and saw the reference to 'kit bashing' and suggested construction techniques using 'one of the modern adhesives or solder ...' I thought I should post it. 

21 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I don't mind a discussion on cameras (I assume you mean still?) on here. 

 

It's been mentioned before, but the various models are always changing. 

 

I certainly don't mind explaining how I get the results I manage to. 

 

Two examples, both in B&W because I think it's more redolent of the time. 

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

Sorry, the dyslexia part of me forgot to mention that I was specifically referring to video cameras.  The thought came about as a result of the discussion on the virtual show.

13 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

You're absolutely right, Andy.

 

Observers might  note, my little contribution to the virtual exhibition was 'filmed' outside, by Howard Smith at a safe distance away. I'd shot the footage of the locos in question, in motion, on Little Bytham, a couple of days before. 

 

One slightly-distracting aspect of the 'talking head' footage was the black pole supporting the parasol above the (rather tatty) round table. It wasn't acting entirely as a sun shade that day, but also as an umbrella! Time was tight, and it was a day of 'sunny periods and scattered showers'. 

 

Normally, I'd have done a piece to camera in my workshop, but coronavirus prevented that. 

 

I think all the participants did exceptionally well, given the circumstances.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

I have sometimes thought about getting a camera primarily for the Model Railway but end up being frustrated by the multitude of reviews each one saying they are the best thing since sliced bread.  Would it be appropriate to discuss this on this thread rather than start a new thread?  The reason I ask is that this thread appears to attract a lot of like minded individuals so any response could be focused and short.

17 hours ago, Daniel W said:

Some more lockdown modelling of a different kind. I've been meaning to learn 3D modelling for printing off for a while and finally got round to it. The initial test subject is this LMS Sand Wagon, made in Tinkercad. Mainly chosen because its one of the more simple wagons in the diagram book! Buffers, axleboxes, w-irons and brake-gear will be added from available etches and castings. It's a little rough around the edges, but i'm pleased with the initial result. Although the real test will be how it 3D prints. Whilst Tinkercad is incredibly easy to use (i've never done any 3D modelling before and picked it up quickly), it does have its limitations. So now it's on to learning the frankly baffling Fusion 360, which should pay off in the long term.

 

The small holes in the solebar and headstock are for the insertion of brass wire to represent a number of strange hooks these wagons seem to have, along with the usual towing eye on each solebar. The hooks look more substantial than the usual cleats you find on opens and given the nature of the traffic, i'd assume they are for holding down some sort of heavy-duty tarp or cover to keep the sand from leaking out. Alas, since only a hundred were ever built, i have no pictures of them in traffic.

 

Regards

Daniel

I am also trying to get my head around Fusion 360.  I can now draw 2D squares and rectangles and even get them one inside the other.  Cant wait to start on 3D!!

11 hours ago, hayfield said:

 

With eBay always sending the seller a quick message, I and many others don't use the GSP and are happy to quote international postage, my listings show the worst case, I always state contact me first before bidding, but shipping internationally from the UK is expensive 

This is interesting because recently I found a loco that could be had for Pounds 60 but the shipping costs were quoted at pounds 25 and then there was a customs clearance charge of pounds 15 or thereabouts.  The customs clearance charge was particularly frustrating because in the last 10 years,customs have only got me once and at about Can$140, (60 Pounds) experience says they will not bother.  As a result I went no further and having experienced this sort of 'mark up' on several items in the last 6 months or so I decided why bother to waste time looking. 

Cost of shipping (to Canada) from some sources like e-bay and some retailers is becoming a very big issue reaching the point that I now no longer look at e-bay and I select my retailers very carefully hoping that they are not a sole source supplier.   Apparently it is the same for people in the UK who want to buy from NA.  FYI there is a thread on this

11 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning David,

 

Many thanks.

 

I suppose that it's quite striking that it'll be 2021 (at the earliest?) before a decent RTR V2 will be finally available. For decades folk have bought Bachmann's original one, and, presumably, many are still happy with it; especially since it had a much better chassis provided for it a little while ago.

 

The need for a better chassis was on two levels; one, because the original split-chassis was really not DCC-compatible, and: two, because that original chassis was awful. I know folk tell me they've got split chassis which work 'beautifully', but I wonder what their definition of 'beautiful' is. So many split-chassis have been brought to me at shows with the question asked 'What can I do about this; the wheels have all come off?' 'Have you got a plot, and have you got a spade?' is my standard response. 

 

Indeed, a friend brought a split-chassis B1 over on Friday, and the axles had (literally!) split. 'There's nothing I can do' I told him, 'except build a Comet set of frames for it'. 

 

Returning to the V2 theme, I've just soldered-up the next set of Comet frames for the second one. Progress pictures later...................

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Re the split chassis B1, another option is to look for a well priced new Bachmann B1 and swap the chassis.  They can (could?) be had relatively cheap and are a direct fit although depending on layout requirements may need extra weight.

I have used Redutex on several models and in general I think it is pretty good.  However, and there is always an However, a) I found getting it was very difficult until I went direct to Spain and b) I found it very difficult to weather, especially with powders and if over weathered almost impossible to bring it back.

I try to use my fibre pencil as little as possible but there are certain jobs where nothing else really does as good a job.  So when I do use it I wear disposable gloves, clean my bench top, make a point of working over this area, vacuum and do a final clean up with duct tape. 

I live in Canada but I see the same thing in reverse and it also appears to apply to some direct sellers (Accurascale) who seem to use the same postage mechanism.  I have found there are a couple of ways around the problem and one ultimate way, I don't buy from e-bay anymore unless I have no option.  The options I use are 1) try to find a supplier using a 'friendly' postage system who sells the the part as an agent 2) try to use an e-bay supplier who has a real shop and then deal with the shop directly.    In the end though I now use e-bay as a search for UK stuff but do not buy.   For different reasons but the same end result I and others in Canada tend not to buy from the US at all.  Global Economy Anyone?

Sure enough the box I new was there last fall is not there now.  Presumed 'surplus' to requirements and dumped.  Sod's Law strikes

Now that is a most interesting approach.  I am now hoping I didn't throw out the kids crayons in one of my 'reduction' operations.

I think I can just remember the weekly Mother Shopping Train from Louth to Grimsby on a Friday I think.   All the Mothers with their respective offspring together with their Prams would be on the platform.  The train would come in, Prams would be loaded into the Guards Vans, babies, children and mothers into the non corridor coaches and off they went to the next stop eventually arriving in Grimsby.  Then down to the Bull-Ring Market, other places of exotic merchandise (Chambers) and coffee at Guy and Smiths (Carrol's at Christmas, Hyms at Easter).  The reverse process occuring in the afternoon.  If you are still with me, these Mothers Shopping Trains would be headed by one of Louth'c C12 and I have been procrastinating for some time about building one for a trip down a very vague memory lane.   So all the stuff on here about C12s pushed me into pricing one out.  Did I ever get a surprise?   Compared to the price of some of the newer stuff a kit and all the bits and pieces is actually very reasonable.  It looks like I have found my winter project.

22 hours ago, john new said:

 

I think there are two different strands running concurrently and this is a very sweeping generalisation to which there will always be exceptions:-

 

1) Those of us who fit the mould of the join clubs/societies & volunteer generation (pre war thro' to baby boomers) - in the main ageing and being replaced by a much smaller % of those younger than us.

 

2) Modellers and rail enthusiasts younger than set (1) - possibly a smaller absolute number, just as keen, but they don't join physical societies in the way set (1) people did, they buy in services rather than contribute by volunteering and via the internet get and share what they need. Modern life is different and I know from the circumstances of younger members of the family that it isn't that young people are lazy, their whole life pattern is now 24/7 not 9-5 and club activities can't necessarily fit or be afforded.

 

 

I am terribly afraid that the COVID thing will be the end for many clubs.  Many were on the decline before, now I wonder how many members will come back once restrictions are lifted.   I say once they are lifted, but I suspect it will be at least eighteen months to  two years before some restrictions like social distancing will be eliminated.  I base this statement on extrapolation of data from countries like Germany, Italy, France and China.  With social distancing how will club layouts be constructed and how much fun will it be to have a beer a cuppa when you are 6' apart?   Then there are the shows.  If the clubs fold how many will survive, especially after a gap of 18months or longer?   Although from a personal perspective I have believed for some time that there were too many shows resulting in a decline of quality, so the shows that do survive might be much better and might actually have a beneficial result for the hobby.   How might you say do I reach that possible conclusion?   When there were only a few shows each year I can remember going to one of these shows and coming back with a renewed sense of enthusiasm because they were a special event to be looked forward to and the shows were good.  With the multitude of shows that were I don't think I felt that sense of renewal. 

This may just be me, but when I was building Bronzino , I found that if I was generous with the low  melt solder the result was much better than when I tried to limit it as I would when soldering electrical bits.

Does look interesting.  Thks

Never even thought of that but it is one to add to the mental library and hope I can retrieve it if the time comes.  It is doubly interesting though because there is another thread going about 4 Bachmann Locos that have essentially stopped running  and one of my suggestions, based on experience and the forum, was to eliminate the decoder plug board by wireing the pickups directly to the motor because some boards have gone FUBAR and I had read also that some people had cut the capacitor. 

On 09/12/2018 at 06:00, Nick G said:

Ivy

 

 

Ha anyone used this?  I have purchased a couple of so called 00 gauge Ivy and a) when it arrived here in the GWN it was the wrong colour (way to light and very matt) and b) was about 1' scale diameter.  Years ago I remember an article where dried dyed tea leaves were used.  Has anyone tried this method?

Moderator, You might want to take this down.  I did a search of the forum and found nothing.  I did a Google search and found a thread called IVY that appears to be just what I was looking for.

What do you use to model ivy in 00 or HO?   I have purchased a couple of bags of 'Ivy' and I am not happy with either.  Both have 1' diameter leaves and the colour is wrong.   I seem to remember many years ago an article in a Magazine where dried and dyed tea leaves were used.  Ground foam even though I can get it just doesn't have the correct 'flat' appearance.

I had forgotten about the bearing.  On at least one of my Bachmann locos over the years I remember it sounding like a milling grinder and all it took was a little oil on the bearing.  Another thing I have seen reported on the forum and have experienced it myself is a faulty DCC pin board.  I cannot remember the characteristics but one solution that works for some was to cut the capacitor leads and the other, which is how I solved my particular problem was to eliminate the board and hardwire the pickups to the motor.  This has actually become my standard practice now.

4 hours ago, cctransuk said:

 

CLONK - CLONK - CLONK .........

 

Worn big end bearings?

 

John Isherwood.

The WDs had such a distinctive sound so it amazes me that I don't think I have heard a single sound equipped WD that had the correct sound. 

Whilst I model 1955 to about 1962 and have no plans to change, I think one modern image model that might be interesting is an in and out Kings Cross.  Lots of activity and relatively easy to run because coach sets with end details would not have to be turned, neither would locos.   Also, it would be fairly easy to vary the time periods.

Regarding the Bogie de-railing when running in reverse, somewhere on this thread very early on it was considered a known problem due to the rather weird attachment mechanism.  As I remember there were two solutions both of which seemed to work.  I don't know if you can do a word search on the thread or not.