robertc

I am glad you have finally got a loco that operates as it should Chris. I'm not sure how many purchasers would be so accommodating. Unfortunately this is not uncommon and the importer is not alone in facing these issues from suppliers who are told to concentrate on rivets, not on sound mechanical and electrical attributes. The Japanese makers years ago assumed that the HO brass models they were supplying would primarily be displayed on a shelf in their golden glory, so we received pretty toys that needed a lot of work to run smoothly and reliably. These problems can send firms to the wall as you are entitled to a product as described and free from faults or your money back. My problems with the 49 pale into insignificance. regards Bob Comerford

Here is one of the power bogies for the 41 class partly built. Just did a few laps in the dark. regards Bob

It is a big project and you are all to be congratulated. What would worry me is what happens to it all when Pete falls off his perch. While I hope that day is distant, there are a lot of people who have put many hours into this layout. Would I be right in assuming this is not a clubroom but Pete's personal property? regards Bob Comerford

My 59 wheels are rusting as I watch them ..and they are still inside :>) A lot of O gauge here was part or fully outdoors in years gone by (toy sets excluded) as the average household was never big enough to run a suitable size train. Mine certainly isn't! regards Bob

Hi Chris , I'm OK and hope things are your way. Outdoor running is always a gamble but well worth it when it comes off. Your 57 should not suffer any ill effects. I try to only run plastic models when there is a chance of a shower. Cardboard coaches could be a real tearful event! No more wooden structures, only plastic or metal from now on. regards Bob

That certainly would have been an interesting conversation Chris. That is a nice model and would look good running around with an LMS carriage set. Of course the pair would look even better :>) regards Bob

Thanks for those shots Chris, the weather outdoors can be unkind sometimes. Shouldn't there be two of those diesels... just like nuns ? :>) regards Bob

My utility poles may have looked nice when I first built them but they have repeatedly fallen apart outdoors. In fact the only wood on the layout that has held up are the poles themselves. They might be crude but the replacement crossarms and supports are now being made from scrap brass frets and wire and soldered together. I can't see rivets outdoors. :>) I also had to replace the level crossing with new planks made from styrene last week as the wooden ones had almost completely fallen apart. regards Bob

The NSWGR 41 class basic body shape has now been assembled. It will need some filling and filing but over time the details can be added when I feel like it. The observant will note it has had the radiators extended and the roof outlets added to it. I want it in red and an original version would be incorrect. I'll get back to the 59 shortly. regards Bob Comerford

Thought I might put the existing parts together so I don't forget I have them this time. Also started on the roofs. regards Bob

Seeing as how I jokingly mentioned the BTH 41 class, here is a picture of how far I got making mine. This was started well before Berg's mentioned their intention to make a kit. I finished putting the body side louvres in last night. First work on it in several years. The Bergs w/m kit was a good item but having already started mine I have dithered over purchasing it. regards Bob

Ahhh,...... it is the sight of the Col Shepherd coupler in a previous post that brings comments about match trucks Marty. I have built many paired match vehicles over the decades in several scales, it is a very common well know practice! I used to have a small box with several individual ones for HO/OO too. S trucks fitted with Kadee one end and dunny seats, chains, coat hangers, X2F etc at the other. Came in handy on club nights with expectant newbies wanting to see their latest purchase have a run around. Col made a drop in matching device that he keeps in his pocket for when Kadee equipped stock was wanting a run on an AMRA standard layout. Much better than my emergency piece of solder or paper clip.:>) regards Bob

Sorry, you've lost me Marty ???

I have put the private coal trains away for the moment as they really have no place on the layout. Now back to the outer suburban theme we see a 79 on a small transfer goods working deputising for a failed BTH 41 class . regards Bob

Sounds like you had a fun night Chris. I do like the multi coloured stars in the night sky... a thoughtful touch :>) CPH's often ran in long rakes along with the trailers. Do you intend to stop at two? I'm with the direct control brigade these days, my thumb provides the inertia :>) regards Bob

The monkey motion on the 55 certainly adds to the interest. Worn out motors and gears are a fact of life on my layouts. A couple of my Chinese HO diesels have had replacement motors and the old Lima ones had replacement brushes; so far the only replacements in O gauge have been gears due to a vital screw coming loose and me snoozing while they ground their way around the layout :>) I will have a bedroom spare probably in the not too distant future. I have decided it is not big enough for any O gauge layout that would satisfy me so my remaining HO stock might get a chance to wear out again. regards Bob

ProType 19 class was released very early 70's I think. if my memory serves me well, I saw the molds under construction at their North Sydney shop in 69. I was a member of the ProType model railway club and there was to be a layout built in the basement under the shop. I don't know if it happened as I moved to Canberra at the end of that year. regards Bob

That's a nice job so far on the 19 class Chris. Hopefully the supply of parts will not dry up with change of ownership. Col can probably still supply the NSWGR standard dome, chimney and buffers in brass as an alternative. I have a set for my intended AMRA 3-rail 24 or 25 class, just waiting to see if Col can still supply the wheels. The 19 has never been high on my list, perhaps it comes from helping so many get their ProType ones to run. :>) regards Bob

You are more likely to find the zap range of glues in model aircraft stores as that is their main market. regards Bob

In the future I look forward again to occasional visits to the smoke. One highlight will be to run trains at the AMRA NSW clubrooms in Sydney. The 7mm NSWGR layout is AMRA standard 3-rail with hook/loop couplers. I want to be able to take a loco and guards van with me to run there so they will have to be special dedicated stock. To enable testing on my Peco bullhead DCC layout I have decided to make the loco also operable with a battery/ radio control van I will build. A side benefit when I have that power van is that anyone who was prepared to make the same simple mods to a loco could also run their AMRA 3-rail stock on my layout. Loco wheels are on order and I have some parts for the rolling stock already. Will be fitted with Col Shepherd bogies and coupler. regards Bob

$200 ??? Many of my loco's can and do run on chips that cost only $25 even in today's devalued currency. Many of them cost less than that when I bought them. Sound is something that can be added any time if needed.

Martin, my line is DCC only these days. I could run a dc loco before putting in the booster to handle the occasional visit of high current draw locos and for some other technical reasons. It was quicker and cheaper for me to buy one down the road than order a matching Digitrax one. You will need to have a full tank or three to visit me and my times for playing trains are restricted due to my full time carer duties. You are quite welcome to come and run trains if the stars align however. There were also these strange visitors and a couple of 16 ton open wagons not shown that needed some surgery before they could be run Chris. regards Bob

You seem to be having a bad run Chris, hope the short holiday helps. The shot of 3820 is very inspirational. There has been a history of large 7mm locos arriving with damaged running gear. I hope the manufacturers can find a way to take the body weight off the mechanisms when in transport. Those containers get some rough handling at times. regards Bob

A Century Models Baldwin tendered cutaway cab 19 class was amongst the visitors yesterday. It was put to work hauling the coalie. I cant find the photo so here it is on its home turf. regards Bob

Hi Chris, I didn't notice the unmotorised version in the ad..thanks, I could loose a lot of sleep :>) I would be a little careful with having urethane out in the sun. My experience with several models including some of Greg's G1 offerings has been to find them sagging and bending in the heat. I repaired my Fox FO set after it became a string of bananas in less than 30C heat and Ernie offered to buy it off me as his layout is under cover. Years later I realised why my urethane HO 49 warped... I was as usual drying it on the window sill. regards Bob Comerford