RedgateModels

In 00 don't get too hung up on the number of sleepers per length; go for what looks right as I think it'll get what the effect you want anyway.

 

I'd say concentrate on the P-Way and S&T details - things like loc. boxes, troughing, (cosmetic) point motors and their associated cabling and maybe even markings left by techs from a previous tamping shift?! Looking at the timescale you've given I think they'll help the look more than sleeper spacing on its own.

 

Just my opinion though!

Agreed, as the gauge is "wrong" there is no real way of determining what is "right" for sleeper spacing, or sleeper length for that matter. We have had lots of debate on this matter over the years, sometimes heated, sometimes not. The general consensus is that using prototypical sleeper length and spacing will not work with OO track as this makes the track took too "narrow gauge". So accepting this some form of compromise with shorter sleepers and closer spacing might be considered to get the track to look right.

Best thing to do as has been said is to experiment and find out what looks right to you. Once the track is buried in ballast the spacing is not so much of an issue IMHO

Finally I have a vid of my class 14 sound project

Thanks to Waggy for letting me video his class 14 at today's Mansfield Show

I can reblow your decoder for £10 plus £5 return p&p

I've got no real issue with people re-selling the models, but as I still have about 200 left in stock, it seems a bit pointless trying to sell at over-inflated prices just yet...

 

My beef is more with the cheeky use of my imagery - from this forum!

 

And its not even of the production model, but the pre-production sample - so the pictures don't reflect the product on sale.

 

Oh, and describing it as new, when it is infact secondhand, but unused.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to describe them as scum though. I'm sure if any of us thought we could make a profit on something, we would do the same.

Succinctly put Gareth, as ever

Not the original sheet, but how's this?

It's OK Steve, I have a photo of 8203 at Ilkeston in '58, I'm sure it went on through Duffield ....

Must get some wipers for my Alexander example

Why build a model railway when we can watch Eastwood Town ............... double wow!

 

Can we have some video please?

 

Dan

Never mind that, what about an open day

When the class 15 is finnished it will be a class 15/81/31/CIE A class hybrid! Most of its electrical machines have been lost/removed over the years

as long as it sounds right

Yes, does look like a scrap yard. Hopefully this will slowely start to change now. Quite a few wagons will be leaving the line for scrapping / pastures new. The stored 4TC set is sititng waiting its turn for contract overhaul in Butterley Carriage shed, it will then be leaving line. There's also lots of Class 117 cars in store for Dorset County Council, all about a ton lighter thanks to the local metal theives. Over all, Swanwick should start to become a little more loved as vehicles leave, track gets renewed etc.

Thanks Sam, good to hear. I've not been up for a while, used to volunteer years ago, before the Wrigley's shed went up and 80080 was in steam, so I can see just how far Butterley has come. The problem is the casual family visitor who comes along for a Thomas day doesn't know about all the hard work that has been put in over the years

It was also great to see the OTP graveyard come to life at the 25th Anniversary weekend, this ought to happen more often, but then I do have a special interest in such things .....

Yes I think the public are bothered about the way a Railway looks. The Heritage Railway Movement is competing with many other "attractions" for Joe Public's money. Lines of scrap and poor facilities do the movement no good whatsoever. Those of us involved with Heritage Railways need to work hard to make sure that visitors have a good experience so they come back again. The stock the public see should at least look reasonable. Everything else should be out of sight.

Agreed, my local - Midland Railway Butterley, suffers in this respect like many heritage lines. You travel from Butterley Station to Swanwick arriving past a long line of, well, scruffy rolling stock and what appears to be an on-track plant graveyard.

I as a shareholder have done my level best to encourage all my wife's friends with kids to visit and the common complaint from them is the "junkyard" appearance.

Of course storage is a problem, as is the lack of volunteers to help do something about it (plant a few trees maybe?)but it really is a shame that this is one of the first impressions that joe public get on arrival at Swanwick.

Ha, I'm not getting rid of my Alexander one, yet another opportunity to fool the punters at the Nottm show ....

 

Ohh, is that the new Heljan 15

 

and

 

ooh, is that the NRM Deltic Prototype

 

Should give me something to talk about

Hey!

I tried to put water in the boiler of my Tornado last night and light a fire in the firebox, the mess was unbelieveable I later discovered that the manufacturer had seen fit to fit a non-authentic electric motor where the fire should be - incredible

Seriously, lets have a bit of calm chaps, it's a toy train, if you like it buy it, if you don't, well, don't. Santa brought a tear to my eye last Christmas when he surprised me with one - best surprise for a long time. Can't see when it will get a run, it won't fit on my home layout with all those Rad 1 curves and it can hardly appear on a 1958 colliery layout now can it

How's this, taken at Churchrail last weekend, quite please with it, especially as it was a Cameraphone snap

Riddles' proposed design for a BR standard 3F was thrown out by the BRB as it was just TOO ugly!

 

Oh I've got to do that one Gareth, 3 axle tender though ....

The Standard 4 tank assembly drawing is an illusive creature, I bought a CD full of such things years ago off eBay and guess which one is missing?

If I ever get my hands on one it will be in the scanner faster than you can say "copyright"

it's a bit class 20ish, in that there's some turbo whistle, nowhere near as bad though, you can tell it's a hydraulic, it's got that characteristic fluid sound.

some examples are here - click on the 14 link and download the sounds.

quick update on the sound chip, it's all done apart from a few extra sounds. I'm waiting for my expert 14 driver to hear it before I'm happy though

DCC sound project nearly finished now, just fiddling round the edges with horns and auxilliary sounds etc, the basics are there.

It's getting an outing tonight at the Mickleover club (if anyone's running DCC)

Just had notification from Hattons that my replacement order has been processed, now that's fast, only posted the 14 back on Friday Hope the replacement is okay

I've spoken to Hattons and out of the significant number of locos despatched this week there have been few notifications of any issues as yet. It may be opportune to remind members and readers that the best way of resolving any issue is to contact Hattons directly so that any problems can be addressed as opposed to adding 'me too' content to what has already been posted.

 

Thanks,

Well said Andy, I would urge all owners of class 14s with faults to report them to Hattons, even if they are happy to fix them themselves and have no other reason to call. Hattons need to know the bigger picture so that they can report back to Heljan.

One NCB class 14 is on its way back to Liverpool today, the unattached bits I could cope with, a bit of glue would sort it but I test ran it last night and it's rubbish - camel's back duly broken it's on it's way back.

Oh and both locos had end door handles missing

I bet Hattons are a tad miffed with Heljan's quality control .....

Had a quick look at my pair of NCBs last night, one is perfect, well, nearly. Nothing missing or dislodged, runs beautifully. Cab steps are a tad loose, a pin drop of EMA will sort that. The second one is worse, main issue front buffer beam off, buffers, collars and springs loose in the packaging, one cab step broken off, the other one hardly glued in at all. The little "Celtic Crosses" aslo loose in the packaging. Havn't run this one yet.

Should be easy to fix, but I might send it back.

EDIT: just been looking at the bad one with a collegue who happens to work on the real ones at the WSR, spotted that the end door top handles are missing! - will check the good one tonight.

Just spoke to SWMBO and my NCB's are waiting at home all wrapped up in string, hope they are ok reading the tales of woe!

Update on the sound scheme, got the startup to idle to running and back again sorted, just need to do the thrash and coast sections plus airhorns etc. Lots more hours tied to the PC methinks ....

So, is there room for a speaker and a Loksound 3.5?

I'm sat in a hotel room with nothing to do but chop up a DVD recording from the WSR .......

This wagon passed Manchester Piccadilly this morning, in a CWR train off Merseyrail Northern Line.

It number was JZA, NLU 93465

 

http://mark5810.foto.../p63221261.html

http://mark5810.foto.../p63221260.html

http://mark5810.foto.../p63222019.html

 

Mark

I think that's the one we'll be using with the Grinder, when we can find it, no-one knew where it was on Wednesday - not at Doncaster, maybe Toton, no, dunno then, we'd best go home ....

you lucky, lucky boy, my email doesn't even confirm mine are packed yet!