DLT

My Charmouth layout has been around for a very long time, but for some reason I've never posted any photos of it on RMweb. Time to put that right, these photos were taken several years ago, but the layout is still much the same. Firstly the station, and the station throat and loco shed area.

Some time ago I was asked if I would show some photos of the layout from further away, in order to get an idea of the whole layout rather than my usual closeups. Heres a few that I think fill the bill. They're not great quality I'm afraid, they were taken in a hurry at a busy show but I think they give the right impression. I've had the photos for a while but for some reason never got around to posting them. Cheers, Dave.

I quite agree, the old H&Ms were very good controllers, and the standard of the day, much as Gaugemaster is now. I use standard Gaugemasters (non-feedback) on the layout, as I prefer small handheld controllers, but my 35 year old H&M Duette (as criticised in the review) powers my test track and runs my locos very nicely, including those fitted with Portescap RG4s. I dont know enough about electronics to comment on best circuitry or output, but with the switches on the Duette set to Full Wave and High Resistance, it works very nicely. Poor control in days gone by had more to do with the quality of motors and gearing (which have changed a lot in the last thirty years) than with the controllers. Hope this helps! Dave.T

I know Martin sold Hursley, I think it was shortly after it appeared at the famous MRJ Exhibition at The Central Hall in 1990. If you are looking for more coverage than the Railway Modeller had, Hursley had an extensive feature in MRJ number 40, also in 1990. Thanks for the reminders, I've just had a look myself. All the best, Dave.

Quite agree, the best of the two volumes. Also includes some good studio material. I particularly like "Be The One". Dave.

Thanks Guys, I would be very happy to supply a loco for the Torrington line at some stage, I doubt if I could finish one before Darren finishes the layout though.... Cheers, Dave.

Thanks Darren, you're quite right about the cab, its not your eyes! The kit originally had no cab detail as the cab would have been full of the Hornby/Wrenn motor. There was no floor, the only thing holding the two sides of the cab together was the roof! Its a bit more sturdy now as I've added a solid floor. The model came to me with a backhead which I've attached to a false floor so that the assembly can slide out for detailing/painting. The model's owner is going to finish the cab and fit a driver and fireman. Thanks very much, I'm not sure why I didnt notice this earlier. There was nothing I could do about lengthening the boiler barrel without a major rebuild Thanks very much, I wish they were mine! All the best, Dave.

With the eventual fitting of an excellent turned-brass chimney from PDK Models, the Q is finished at last (unless you can spot anything I've missed) So here are some photos of the completed beast. Cheers, Dave.

Been listening to Fly From Here a lot, and definitely like it. As you say Tim, its back to the 80s and something of a continuation of the Yes/Buggles combination that produced Drama. I actually liked Drama, though I seemed to be the only person that did! I will have to dig out my old vinyl copy and have another listen. Cheers, Dave.

Apart from the fact that it still doesnt have a chimney, the Q is finished. Theres a very nice turned brass chimney on its way from PDK Models, and once its fitted I'll post some final photos. As I mentioned earlier, I mounted the boiler about 1mm further forward, giving a definite improvement to the front end appearance. The steam reverser gear looks most effective and I'm glad I persevered with reproducing it. Getting it all lined up was a bit of a task. Thanks, Dave

This project is progressing very nicely; 4-4-0s and 0-4-4s can be notoriously difficult to build, what with getting enough weight on the drivers and sufficient swing to the bogie. I'm looking forward to following this build, and I have one question already; what is the gear ratio of your Branchlines Multibox? Many thanks, Dave.T

Hi Steve, Thanks for the comments. The paint is Railmatch Indian Red, brushed on, and I'm really pleased with the finish. I thought Indian Red should have had a browner tinge to it, but this looks fine and really seems to suit the loco. I had first tried LMS Red from Humbrol, but for some reason it looked a bit too pink to me. Will we see you at Wells? Cheers, Dave.

Love the new Avatar Stu, have you or your son been watching Sorry I've Got No Head on CBBC by any chance? Dave.

I havent added anything here for a while, but this does NOT mean that work on the Q has come to a grinding halt. Still awaiting a chimney and looking a little peculiar therefore; the painting and lettering are done and weathering is up next, followed by final assembly and adding all the detail. The front end might look a tad too long, but thats because the boiler barrel is a tad too short (theres nothing I can do about this). The boiler assembly isnt fixed in place yet, so I might add a spacer between the firebox and cab front. This would have he effect of moving the smokebox forward a little, improving the front end proportions. Cheers, Dave.

At long last, some more photos of Bridport, taken at the Barnstaple show last weekend. They mainly feature the recently completed tram loco, running on the layout for the first time. Cheers, Dave.

I too have had this problem with a "strategic reserve" of RG4s. I worked a bit of white spirit in with a brush and gently worked the gears by hand until free. I then mopped and blew the spirit out as best I could and lubricated with RS multipurpose grease or some light oil (Daywat I think) from my local modellshop. I definitely did NOT power it up before everything was running freely.. Even then I left it running for a while and it freed up even more. Hope this help, Dave.T

Sorry for the recent lack of updates, but things are progressing. The Q is painted and about to be lettered, following this will be weathering and final assembly of the pipework etc. I've had to do a few little tweaks to the chassis, like adjusting the gearbox mesh and the pressure on the pickups, and it runs beautifully. Trying to locate a new chimney; Three were supplied with the kit, the original Maunsell and the later stovepipe are fine, but the one we want to use, the Lamaitre, is much too big. The body should be about 7.5mm diameter, but this was nearly 10. It looked like a bathtub on topof the smokebox! Hoping to get a PDK version, they do a very nice brass one for their Q kit. Cheers, Dave.

That picnic bench is a masterpiece; I keep having to remind myself that this is 4mm scale! I guess the photo shows it about four-times full size? Cheers, Dave.

Well I think its finished at last, some cab detail added, but not a lot in the way of pipework. Much of it will be obscured by the crew anyway. I dont think theres any more bits to stick on, and I think it looks ok with the tramway coaches. All the best, Dave. Have to think about the next project now.

The mid-morning passenger train leaves Bridport Town. Dave.

Thanks Tim, The choice of chimney isnt fixed yet, it was just perched there for the photos. Cheers, Dave.

Some of the boiler pipework and handrails. All will be blackened before fitting. The bits attached to the odd shaped bracket are the control apparatus for the steam reverser. The bracket fits behind the reversersing cylinders above the footplate. All the drawings I've seen have tended to gloss over the precise detail of this gadget, so I've had to work it out from some good largescale photographs in various books. By the way, the whistle looks to be a complicated assembly on this loco, does anyone know if theres a casting available for it? Many thanks, Dave.

Thanks Crompers, but I thought you were a strictly "no kettles" man??? Cheers, Dave.

Starting to fit the various detail bits now, reshaped the frames, and the front end is looking a lot better. I had hoped to solder just about everything, but in the end I have had to use Araldite in certain areas. Some of the detail on the castings, particularly the smokebox door hinges, were casualties during the reshaping of the smokebox; so they have been replaced in brass. Lampirons are bits of leftover etch from previous kits. They are probably a bit overscale, but they look bertter than none at all! Next job is the steam reverser; the kit includes the appropriate castings, but the pipework is left up to the builder. Cheers, Dave,

Attention has at last turned to the front end detail, the locomotive's signature. The main job here was a rivited bufferbeam; the kit supplying only a blank lump of whitermetal with rather dodgy looking cast buffers. With the loco came a set of Markits/Romford turned brass buffers, and they needed a decent beam. The more I use the GW Models riviting machine, the more I like it, and actual production of the rivited piece becomes very quick. You need to spend a bit more time thinking about it beforehand and working out relative distances and spacing, but its time well spent. The other peice of brass fits between the frames below the smokebox door. Here the casting didnt fit very well and left gaps, so this bit was cut to fit, and the valve rod covers were solderd in using bis of 1.6mm brass rod with the ends rounded off. The sticky-out corners will be trimmed to length once its fitted. Cheers, Dave.