Adrock

I can’t believe I have missed this masterpiece until now. This is an area that I feel I know well, as my Aunty lives on Anglesey so with countless family holidays spent (and continuing to be spent) there. I’ve driven up and down the A55 quite a lot and you have captured the scenery to an absolute T - it’s scale is also really highlighted well by your N gauge modelling. I really love the rail and road viaducts. I haven’t read through the whole thread so I’m not sure what period you are modelling but I assume the road viaduct is bi-directional and therefore pre-dates conversion into the eastbound dual carriageway of the A55?

Station throat looks very realistic, even more amazing based on the fact that you’ve used (only?) proprietary points? It is correct to say that you paint the track and then it fix down, so that the painted tracks are the ones that are “done” and the rest is still to be done?

Thanks. That’s very positive news as that’s the length I’m looking at too. Really looking forward to seeing this develop.

So this is why the updates on Hills of the North have slowed down is it?!! This looks like another cracker - I too am quite interested in the dimensions as whilst we have an internal double garage, I’m hoping to only take up half of it... What sort of length trains will be able to be run, both in terms of looking right on the scenic sections and being able to handle the gradients? Thanks.

Great to see another update, I’m checking every day at the moment for the latest instalment! One question on your restoration, are you doing anything specifically to clean the rails in order to get good electrical continuity and reliable running for the future? If so, what method are you using? Thanks.

I absolutely love this - it’s great to see each piece develop and the way you anchor it all back to the master plan. Fast progress too...although you’ve had some practice of layout building under time pressure!! Could I please just ask what type of RTR track you are using? Now that the Peco bullhead is available have you switched to that, or has the need to use the matching PECO foam underlay precluded it? The other thing I find fascinating is how you build up the baseboards in these system-type layouts. I keep thinking that I want to start with building nice perfect boards first, whereas you seem to be building each one up with all sorts of different types of wood and supports at different angles. Is this all planned too? Thanks.

Hi, I’m looking for the foam insert from the bottom section of the 31-2000 Bachman Cambrian Coast Express boxed set. The one that holds the 43xx and 3 of the coaches. If anyone has this set and perhaps no longer needs the insert could you please let me know? Thanks.

I have had a go at re-creating these scenes – fairly accurate on the 3MT, but not quite there on the 45xx yet: 3MT – choc & cream mk1s: BSK, SK, FK – maroon Collett SK 4575 – maroon Collett SK – crimson & cream Collett CK – choc & cream mk1s: BSK, SK, FK – maroon MK1 SK I also now have the ability to assemble two separate complete rakes of the 1958-61 and 62-63 “standard” core formations, based on your published notes from the carriage working diagrams and as evidenced by multiple photographs: 1958-1961: Manor – all choc & cream MK1s: BSK, SK, FK, RU, FK, SK, BSK 1962 – 63: Manor – mixed maroon and choc & cream MK1s: Auto-buffet, BSK, SK, CK, CK, SK, BSK I have only shown them temporarily set up in my garage, the setting against whilst I am starting to seriously design my new layout. I am looking at a “system” based concept, with at least two scenes – one a scenic section possibly Pont Dollgoch; and Dovey Junction. My thinking is that I could show the down CCE running as two separate trains through the junction, going in different directions; and I could merge and shunt the Up working there for some added interest – before running through Pont Dollgoch. Still at the early planning stage but I reckon I now have the majority of stock with some ~12 engines and 22 coaches plus numerous wagons to put on a convincing display.

Fantastic pictures, as ever Robert. Assume the first picture shows the core Pwllheli chocolate and cream coaches from the set - ie BSK, SK, FK, then a Saturday only SK in maroon? (Although having checked the 22/08/61 was a Tuesday!) And the second picture has the same three core set plus maroon SK as the last 4 coaches; and the first three are the Gresley coach that was often a through coach (was it to the North East?) and then a couple of other strengtheners? Hard to see what they are but one looks like a carime and cream mk1 not sure about the other. I assume these would have all stayed as part of the merged train which would have been double headed back to Shrewsbury.

Thanks. I have oiled the brass gear and the plastic gears. I have also replaced the springs and brushes but is still making a horrendous noise! Any further ideas? many thanks.

I notice the colours of the water towers are all described as GWR. What colour would these have been by late 50s / early 60s WR? thanks.

I managed to strip down the motor bogie and get this working. It’s making a bit of squeal at certain speeds - not sure what’s causing, could be the gears need a light oiling on the spindles? Also, does anyone know what the blue transitior is joining the two brushes? Can I remove this?

Latest update on this, with the 2721 I packed out the rear compensation springs with plastic to “simulate” a rigid chassis. I then tested the chassis and it displayed the same jumpy characteristics as when the body had been put on previously. The wiper was sitting a bit higher up the wheel, so am convinced poor pickup is the major root cause. I reverted that one and took off the traction tyres. Having replaced the body, I’ve found it’s now running really smoothly and it can creep at really slow speeds just like when the body was off. I think the pick up wiper touches the top of the middle wheel, so maybe the pickup capacity has been improved by removing the traction tyre. There’s a bit of a wobble when running but it works now, which is all I needed it to do. Maybe in the future I’ll put a proper set of picks up on all three wheels on each side. Still have the 91 to strip down - that’s the job for this weekend.

I don’t disagree with you and this would normally be the approach I would follow. Part of me really wants to fix it myself though, especially as the cost of second hand panniers etc with the latest chassis are unbelievable - one went for 49 on eBay last week! On my version, where does the other brush connect to by the way? Is it a live chassis on the axle? As pickup wipers are only on one side.

Thanks for all of the comments - these have been really helpful. On my 2721, I think my springs on the rear axle are shot, as rather than being too powerful, as soon as the body goes on the body sinks the axle right down to the bottom. I think I will remove them and somehow convert to a normal bearing. Where can you source replacement wheels from to replace the central traction tyre by the way? I don’t really need too much pulling power - it’s just for the kids to whizz around their own track with! On the 91, I will try and bypass the pickups to check the motor. I have noticed quite a bit of black gunk in the middle so may need to strip it down at some point.

Thanks both - this is really helpful as a start. How do the pickups on the 91 work? Is the inner section of the bogie effectively “live” and it collects from the axle? I can’t see any traditional wiper pickups.

Hi All, Given the current lockdown, I’ve pulled out my old / original Hornby engines that I had as a kid for my boys to play with. They are: 1) a Caledonian pug 2) a 2721 pannier 3) a 1991 class 91 so far, I’ve got the pug working nicely after a strip down and a full clean. In terms of the pannier, again stripped and cleaned it runs well on its 2 (!) wheel pick ups as just a chassis. However, as soon as I put the body on it jerks all over the place. Wondering if this is because the weight pushes the sprung axle down, removing contact with the pick up, so it effectively is running on one pick up? Does this maybe indicate that the spring has gone? What Method has anyone used to : 1) remove the springs and replace with a bearing to create a rigid chassis? 2) added additional pickups? 3) has anyone changed the wheel sets to a non- traction tyred version? how do you even remove wheels from their axels? Finally, the 91 seems completely dead. Any ideas on where to start with this one? Thanks all.

I can’t exactly remember all the model number details but I remember going through a similar process to you. In the end, I think I ended up buying both a late crest non Dcc loco and an early crest DCC ready version, swapping over the chassis (2 minute job) and then re-selling the non-DCC version on eBay taking advantage of a £1 max fee on sales. I think I made all my money back and probably saved myself money from buying paint and transfers. Plus I preserved the RTR look and finish.

Completely agree with your points. I’ve investigated use of a Grange chassis previously, but these are a tight fit into the Grange and therefore require quite a bit of work to fit inside the narrower Manor with older / thicker plastic body mouldings.

Im not sure the seated crew is the biggest problem with the Manor...! Also, on both of mine they are separate accessories that I’ve not fitted. I would agree that that it would be fantastic if someone brought out a new Manor - but many have been waiting for that for years and its still not happened, so I’m hardly going to pin my hopes on waiting for it. Options are kit build (I would probably commission someone to do that - quite expensive) or adapt what’s available (within my skill level). I’d therefore buy a 43xx as a donor to that end if it can be made to fit.

Has anyone given any thought to putting the chassis from one of these under a Bachmann Manor? If I’m not wrong I think that the boiler of a Manor is slightly narrower than a 43xx, so hopefully Dapol haven’t made it to be a tight fit. Would the cylinders and driving wheels all line up, leaving the main challenge being fitting a replacement bogie? The tender would actually be accurate for a Manor, so all I’d need to reuse from the older model is the body. To avoid needing to do a repaint to make the two match I’d probably do a Manor in black. Thoughts?

Hi, Am looking for some help please. Does anyone know what date in 1963 the Cambrian lines were transferred from the WR to the MR? I have been looking through a lot of photos from 1963 and some of the Manors were immaculate in august for hauling the Roual Train. Am wondering if they were still under WR operation at that point, or not? Thanks!

Thanks - I thought this may be the case. I’ve used TCS direct fit decoders in my panniers so I could go down that route again. I’d welcome anyone else’s experience in which chips they have used too.

Hi all, Am looking to chip my DCC ready version of the above loco. Does anyone have any feedback on what the loco is like for room in terms of fitting a decoder - any to avoid as too big for example? Has anyone successfully fitted a Bachman’s 36-533 (which would be my preferred chip)? Thanks in advance.

Thanks all, but I was actually after the manufacturer and model number of the DCC chip that Bachman fit to the factory fitted DCC version! If anyone knows it. Thanks.