Dave Holt

Wow! It looks like I haven't posted anything since last December. I suppose that's because there hasn't been much to share of late. I finally finished the construction of my Jubilee, which is now away being painted and I have also recently finished off the Caprotti Black 5. The last items on this one being the sand pipes and their support brackets. This loco is now ready for painting and is shown below. As for the layout, sadly there's been almost no progress since I completed embossing the cobble stones in the goods yard and coal drops. However, a friend and colleague in the 35006 P&O restoration team has kindly turned two alternative mill chimneys in wood. You may recall that my original intention was to replace the actual mill at Delph with a much more aesthetically pleasing (in my opinion) mirror image of the Regent Mill at Failsworth; one of the reasons for changing the layout name to Holt. I subsequently decided to revert to the original mill, at least for the initial presentation. As I will be placing the mill and other rear scenic features on separate "hang on" boards, there remains the possibility to have alternative versions of mill. The attached photo shows the huge difference in size and style between the two mill chimneys. The larger, tall one is for the Regent and is a scale 210 feet tall (quaintly, the original architects drawing specifies this as "70 yards"), and the much smaller one is for the actual mill, reflecting the difference is boiler plant for the vastly different sizes and power of engines provided. Obviously, both will need to be covered in brick and stone/brick paper, respectively, in due course. Dave.

Coming along very nicely, Larry. I'm pleased to see that Ian Smeeton's fears have not been realised. I was beginning to wonder along similar lines myself! Dave.

Looking very nice, Robin. It looks as if you have plenty more points to construct to fill the boards with storage sidings. Is the idea to complete the centre roads first to give a continuous run? I'm off to Railex tomorrow. Might I see you there or isn't it one of your shows? Regards, Dave.

Once you've got the Compendium, all you need is the CNC lathe and milling machine........

Hi Larry. I never cease to be amazed at your rate of progress - no sooner the germ of an idea but you've got it done. I'd still be thinking about thinking about it! I hope the real Mary is fine and has not been replaced by some lengths of timber! Regards, Dave. P.S. No recent progress with Delph/Holt, but at least it's still there.

I doubt Robin is planning to glue chairs on these points as they're in the fiddle yard/storage sidings. Could be wrong of course.... Dave.

David, I think you're right to fit this detail now, whilst you can work in the flat - just take care not to damage it during the body assembly. I'm glad to see you've included the junction boxes in the conduit runs. I've recently spent some time helping pull the wires through such an arrangement on the back of 35006. Just for completeness, I think there should be an extra bit of conduit coming out of the LH side of the bottom LH lamp body, turning vertically downwards with an elbow and passing vertically through the tank bottom plate just behind the buffer beam. It then runs under the tender tank to near the front steps. At least, that's the arrangement on a rebuilt MN. Dave.

John, How did you actually do that? 5 thou plastic card? Is it just added to the bottom edge of the body or is it on the front face? Dave.

Hi Robin. Yes, very nice smooth curves. The C12 cross over looks good, although it would be great to see it in more close up detail. Have you tested any stock across it yet? Dave.

Mike. Thanks for the clarification. Leaving one set of fixed holes to locate the chassis in the jig is a good idea that I'll take on board for future chassis assembly. Thanks. Dave.

Mike, It looks as though you're going to have a fixed front axle and twin beams for the centre and rear axles, presumably with an axle mounted gearbox on one of the compensated axles? If so, this won't give proper compensation, allowing twist, due to there being four points of support. It might be worth changing the front axle to rock on a central pivot point, thus giving three pint suspension? Dave.

I'm not an expert on these locos, but your brass chimney looks more like a 3F to me - too tall for a Stanier 4F. You could try the Gibson castings for the Stanier 2-6-4 tank, which looks the right sort of shape. From the tender view, the air vents must be in the coal space, hidden by the coal in this case. Dave.

Steve, I only recently read through your layout thread and must say how impressed I am with the look you are achieving, especially the track/ballast colouring. I look forward to seeing further developments. I'll be very happy, indeed, if I manage to get anywhere near your standard on my own (4 mm) layout. Just looking at your recent coach photos, there appears to be quite a height mismatch between the B set coach and the JLRT single. Was the nearer end of the B set partially off the track? Dave.

Hi Dave. I'm glad you managed to track down the mysterious short, eventually. I always think fault finding and rectification is far more difficult that building a model in the first place. Well done! Dave.

Maybe the overspill of coal is due to poor positioning under the coal plant? Yes, you may well be right. The visible ex_LMS locos have tenders with a short(ish) coal space and also have plenty of overspill round the tank filler and scoop dome.

Rather a lot of funny looking stuff with copper capped chimneys there by the looks of it - for an ex-Midland shed. Still, needs must..... It's interesting to see just how much coal is lying behind the rear coal space bulkhead on nearly all the locos visible. I wonder if it got shovelled into the coal space during preparation? I've certainly never thought to have that much over-spill on my models. Perhaps I need a re-think. Dave.

Hi Robin. It was good to meet and chat at S4N. I'm sure changing to a simple cross-over at each end of the storage sidings is a good move. The facing end switch blades will still have to be pretty well made to ensure reliable running but at least there's fewer of them now. Interesting that you're using mainly rivetted ply sleepers, even though this is a hidden area, rather than going for more widely spaced copper-clad construction. Hope you won't be fitting cosmetic chairs! Looks like excellent progress so far. Dave.

Hi David. In the upper 3F photo, was the centre driving wheel not sitting properly on the rail head? There looks to be a distinct deflection of the coupling rod. Otherwise, it looks as if the quartering might be a bit out. Regarding Dc or DCC operation, in my view it's easy to arrange your layout to suit either. Wire the track for DC cab control but provide facilities to plug in either a DC controller or DCC command unit. For DCC use, you just switch on all the track section switches - that's what I've dome on Delph/Holt. I suggest two controller sockets as the DC and DCC systems might use different pins for the 16V AC out and two wires in to the track. Dave.

Looking good. I don't know that much about these locos, but I'm surprised there isn't some support for the rear end of the slide bars and to the outside of the expansion link. Or have you just not fitted these yet? Dave.

Hi Robin. Mmmm... Curved scissor cross-overs, eh? Sounds quite ambitious and a bit of a challenge to loco front bogies and trucks, not to mention filing the switch blades and the number of tie bars needed! Hope it all pans out OK. Dave.

Well David, I wish you the very best with it all, A complete contrast to my sedentary, retired lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoy your modelling thread, even though I don't work in 7 mm scale, so keep up the good work. Regards, Dave.

Don't know about a job, that sounds more like modern slavery. I hope your involvement with the railway tests isn't of a safety critical nature with that little rest. Dave.

John, Robin, I'll be at S4N on the Sunday. It would be great to meet and have a chat if you're going to be there. Dave.

I've done the same, using cigarette paper soaked in superglue, on my Brassmasters Jubilee and it seems quite effective (so far!). Dave.

Looks like the track might be down near the shed. Did you finally manage to feed all those droppers through the holes in the board or was some other drastic action needed?