Il Grifone

A couple more points I forgot to mention. From about 1959, the windows were reinforced with framing due to corrosion problems. The bodyshell of this restaurant car is the same as the early all first class coaches. Later examples had an extra door set into one of the central windows. It shouldn't be too difficult a modification. They run quite well, but three point suspension makes them rock solid. it is worthwhile fixing the bogies with a screw, rather than gluing the plastic peg, to facilitate maintenance. As well as the Barrowmore files, there was a volume in the Ian Allan abc series on coaches. This is probably useless information as said volume is probably like hen's teeth. My copy is a closely guarded relic left over from my trainspotting days.

The blue/grey livery followed on from the maroon, so running them together is quite possible, especially as the restaurant car has maroon ends, indicating a recent repaint/overhaul. Catering vehicles tended to head the list (along with sleeping cars) for Commonwealth or B4 replacement bogies.

Lewis and Arran always look at thrown sticks with a "What am I supposed to do with that?" air*. Spot Scott Loki quickly learnt the idea however. He also learnt the trick of opening doors like cats Toby , Ziggy, and Dylan He has now gone to his furever home and made a new friend. We miss him terribly! * It must be a Maremmano thing!

We could lend out Rowena to deal with a rat problem (see my earlier post). Unfortunately distance precludes this solution.

She appears to be DC rather than AC (a diode rectifier fixes this anyway), but there is nothing that can be done for the wheels as the drive is to teeth cut into the enormous flanges.

Ever helpful, eBay came up with this lot! https://www.ebay.it/itm/394391722478?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143230%26meid%3D51153e8e19584d30bd20bf5476730aa5%26pid%3D101224%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D185501998187%26itm%3D394391722478%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWebV9BertRefreshRanker%26brand%3DMarkenlos&_trksid=p4429486.c101224.m-1 Trix wheels are very coarse of course. Sorry for the torrents of Italian and German!

There's always Google translate. I don't think it's supposed to be a Giesl ejector as these are flat sided, but it's not a lot like a spark arrestor either. Hopefully the original chimney is still underneath! It's not my problem though. Even allowing for the much reduced carriage to Italy (21.99€), She's too expensive for me. The family says I have too many trains already, but I don't understand what they mean. I would have thought too many trains is an impossibility! I see what you mean about Peter Sam!

She appears to be one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185501998187?hash=item2b30c7dc6b:g:5U4AAOSwQ4xi0az1&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0HYJQij80eG2YZszBJ8jDnQGm60i6ZZjpO8bgCY9nNbMFbk5L%2FUOiIKULDKwOnJcVld5jRfJX25NRsl8kAHiPQ30MKy%2BCS7FT7IjsEIlaug7AFLHH%2FaUJm4FRrkq6AhigV288hvwIXFYaDZyzt3L1QWZ%2F8zo90qQypfIOJIidgFJZj6VlitTtPhhur%2BA%2FZZ7t0FdqV9gX8FcDrlaYJer8Q68QzcUJCl34M%2F9NSaF5d%2Bm4982Ws2QXc9jchAUpVq%2BzhyTxohOTC8hGF3fD%2FkXLfs%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR67_kfX3Yg It appears someone has committed some unspeakable sin to the chimney and the price and carriage don't seem to be to H0 scale either!

I use Slater's Mek-Pak or similar to fix the windows. The Revell thingy with the long metal tube that clogs up can also be used. The secret is not to use too much. (Impossible with the glue bobble thingy and difficult with tube adhesive - the choices back in the day. A strand of thin wire will clear the tube, but it might be necessary to pull it out of the plastic container - care required obviously.) I forgot to mention previously that the plastic gangway connectors really need to go and be replaced by something flexible (e.g. folded black paper). They are OK at the end of fixed rakes fitted with boards, but between coaches they are about correct spacing between coaches (2 feet on the prototype) touching on straight track. Drawings are available from Barrowmore. http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/Prototype.html

They have a number of faults, but can be made up into quite reasonable models. The buffers are the wrong shape and are modelled as half way neither properly retracted or extended. The sides and floors are 2mm too short. Unfortunately the 2mm is lost in the wheelbase and at the ends making, the doors noticeably too close to the ends. Not really relevant to the restaurant car, but the first class window spacing in the composite is incorrect, both for the prototypes, which had two lengths for these compartments, or the production version where all four were the same. As well as the moulded lining ridges, there is a ridge along the bottom of the solebar, which needs to be removed as not being on the real thing. Being plastic the wheels need to be replaced, though they do run true unlike the contemporary Airfix wagon kits. Not requiring super free running, I fit Peco bearings to the bogies, but standard pin point bearings can be used. Three point suspension as on all bogie vehicles gives steady running without wobble.

The class D stability problem has been solved now. I don't know if the alleged self destruct function of the Sinclair amps was true or not, but they didn't stay on the market long. I did buy a pair of 10 watt (allegedly) analogue amplifier modules from a place in London* while a student. We had to test one in the lab of course causing it's instant failure. A new set of AD161/2 output transistors solved that and they gave me a few years service in my stereo record player**. (No new fangled silicon transistors here!) *Tottenham Court Road IIRC - the late sixties - a long time ago now! ** This suffered a series of upgrades over the years.... BSR cartridge to Ronette BF40, BSR changer to Deccadec, ECL82s to above amps and Mullard preamp. https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=81905 The SP25 mentioned in the above link did rather suffer from rumble even when new. I would say the quoted tenner is about right seeing the age of the thing,

Snake oil is not a new phenomenon - remember the Sinclair amps from the fifties. I gather the class D one was given to blowing up.

Beat me to it! I doubt that even the resistance of bell wire would make much difference ( I'd have to calculate and the brain is tired and any effect depends on the output impedance of the amplifier and the speaker impedance anyway). (Why 15 ohm speakers are 'better' than 3 ohm) Many years ago I was looking at a then new 401 on the Garrard stand at a Hi-Fi show. Asked if I was interested in buying one, I said I have a 301 and was advised to keep it*. Stupidly I cleared it out (SWMBO orders!) when we came back to the UK in the late nineties! * Standard BBC equipment at the time. Mine drove a Decca ffss elliptical cartridge (Mk III IIRC) and arm. Re the output transformer (or lack of), finding a 100 ohm speaker would be the problem. I did have a pair of high impedance phones that came with my crystal set, but they could hardly be considered Hi-Fi.

This thread has been dormant for almost a year, but I just found a video on Youtube about 'valve sound' and just had to comment. In the background was a device proudly displaying threehuge valves that looked like they came out of the R/T equipment of Noah's ark. These presumably were two output valves and a pre-amp (or rectifier?). So single-ended outputs which generate something like 10% distortion* (one of my first upgrades was getting rid of a single-ended valve output stage in favour of a push-pull - a Rogers Cadet.) Of course any valve amplifier requires an output transformer** - the elimination of this component in itself is the best recommendation for a transistor amplifier. It was noticeable that the video was all guff and no demonstration! *This will make the sound brighter and more audiofile of course. ** One could listen via high impedance headphones I suppose, but I'll pass....

The trouble with British 00/19mm would be the lack of width in the protoype. The Americans don't have this problem. They have a larger loading gauge and don't have low footplates and splashers. It's bad enough with EM! I'm afraid we are stuck with, "It's gotta run on 2nd radius". Most of us don't have space for anything larger. I would agree that flangeless wheels in a rigid truck are awful ('unacceptable' in my book!). Many excuses for the demise of Meccano Ltd. have been put forward. My opinion is we can blame the slot car craze, coupled with the Dublo 'only diesels/electrics policy - we were all steam fans back then - and Tri-ang's lower prices - Dublo's superior quality didn't compensate. (For example, compare the Dublo Bulleid Pacific with Tri-ang's! (or their 08 shunters) - I bought neither back then prefering a Dean single, though I did indulge in a half price bargain 3 rail 8F.)

Talking of pups, I've just taken advantage of a break in the rain to take our two for their walk (plus Whiskers of course! - he has just claimed his place on my lap!) We've just had a minor crisis. Dylan was showing great interest in the drawer unit in the kitchen with the support of a group of the others. I pulled the bottom drawer out. In he went followed by a couple of squeaks. D*&%! It's a mouse!. Next Rowena arrives, "Move over! This is mine!" A bit of scrabbling and she backs out with a large mouse/small rat in her mouth. It didn't last long. Cat treats all round enabled me to remove the undesired rodent and dispose of it in the garden. I imagine one of them brought it in, but it got away.

Unfortunately I have to report that poor Sofia has crossed the rainbow bridge. She was having trouble breathing, but the vet was unable to save her. However Geronimo has made the first step in becoming a house cat. He came inside and accepted water and food, but then shot outside again. A step at a time - we got Elvis from scared of his own shadow to extremely cuddlesome! At lunchtime, he was even holding off puppy Scott who is twice his size. (He had joined Ariel and the three dogs in their undesirable habit of begging at table!) The three kittens are now indoors and doing well, Storm, the tabby, was a bit off his food, but made up for it today. They are in isolation in the bathroom for the moment awaiting vaccination. I spotted Felicity up close and friendly with a Ziggy lookalike. (It wasn't Ziggy as he had a collar.) We trust this doesn't mean yet another litter! Luckily Halloween is not a big thing here (they are trying!) and Bonfire night is non-existant. Just as well as Lewis is scared stiff by bangs (even thunder) and tries to climb on my lap for protection. Thirty-odd kilogrammes of Maremmano is rather large for this trick! Especially as it's contagious and Arran is even bigger at around forty and tries to join him! (We are not sure of their exact weight as they are rather tricky to weigh at this size!)

Yet more lack of market research! Who would want a locomotive in a scale hardly anyone uses. I suppose in Australia things might be different? The inability to model Walschaerts valve gear correctly makes one wonder what else is wrong. (They are not alone in this of course. Yes Hornby, I do mean you....)

There was a version of the Bachmann wagon in GWR livery IIRC. AFAIK they just received BR livery both in prototype and model form.

I had forgotten the headstocks on the Kitmaster van body. The rest is almost identical however (as it should be, as they are models of the same van). Does the Kitmaster have the raised section for the wagon number?* Neither of mine is to hand. The works on te other hand cetainly resembles the TRi-ang bogie. The main difference is that the magnet/brush assembly flops about. Curbing this tendency improves things considerably. As stated the 00 gauge was originally 5/8" and early Märklin track is to this gauge. Dublo stock is allergic to it! (It's obvious where their track design (and weird ballast colour) came from.) *If they had made the strapping more to scale thickness, this feature would have been unnecessary (and I wouldn't have to file it off!). We shouldn;t forget Rivarossi's ill-starred 1/80 (ish)* essay in the eighties. This would have sold very well in proper 00 scale (I would probably have bought one despite it being LMS!) *Their scale for Italian prototypes too. I have two collections of Italian stock (covering different periods (epochs in newspeak) as a result. (They are incompatible in other areas too - couplings for one.)

AFAIK all the Continental locomotive kits were 00 scale (poor market research!). The coaches (one French and one German IIRC) were H0. The NYC Hudson was also H0 scale. All the British stock (locos, coaches and a motorised van (the same prototype as the Dublo one - possibly the same moulding?) were 00. If the track gauge is to scale, it is extremely difficult to get the 'works' to fit in a scale body. It's often a problem on the prototype!

I would call this "ex-demo" and treat with reserve....

Spot has around a dozen feline distractions and a pair of large canine ones. Despite these, he has learnt 'Sit', 'Down', 'Come/Get out of the kitchen!' and, 'Pappa' ('food' - no problem with this last one of course!). I am told these should be 'Seduto', 'Giù', Vieni/Vai fuori della cucina!, but I have my doubts here - he certainly thinks he has found his forever home (as in stretched out on the divan!). As also have the visitors - I had all three kittens following Whiskers, Lewis, and me on the walk last night, tails held high. With reference to the recent griffon spottings*, one would appear to be Doglia. http://www.lifeundergriffonwings.eu/it/dati-scientifici/mappa-grifoni-gps/doglia Not exactly overhead, but they tend to fly in circles looking for carrion rather than straight lines and a few kilometres are nothing to a griffon in any case ("Damn it's time to flick my wing-tips again!"). *Here or on the 'On Dogs' thread.

Filing the top flaps off was part of the modification. The first Tri-ang chassis probably needed to be slightly higher as the Trackmaster wagons had very fine wheels (no pointwork to worry about). Dublo wheels would fit, but Tri-ang were a lot coarser. Trix solved this problem with small wheels.

Tri-ang were indeed nearer, but it looks shorter due to the buffers being about 2mm too high. The wheelbase is wrong too. This is thanks to Trackmaster, back at the dawn of time making their wagons 16 foot over headstocks and 9 foot 6 inch wheelbase, which was correct for nothing*. Their van is similar to a L&YR design (maybe by accident? - It came in GWR grey or LNER brown) and the open (same choice off livery) is presumably supposed to be a RCH side door mineral. Since the solebars have crown plates it would have been quite ancient even then. However for their time (nearly as old as me - born Jan. '47 - the Trackmaster hails from '49 or '59 IIRC - I was given a set in my early years) they are well detailed models, but usually wavy due to being made of acetate. The early Tri-ang inplastications (up to about 1956) also suffer from this and stay on the shelf! The Tri-ang versions are available in a wide choice of colours. *I have only ever found two designs of wagon with this wheelbase, (one is a Cambrian open of different style). My go-to of choice for diagram 1/108 welded 16T minerals is the old Airfix (now Dapol) kit. These have weird brakegear - pressing the lever down would apply the brakes - but this is quite easy to remedy. I have picked these up for only 50p! Don't use the wheels supplied in the kit - straight to bin! I have made a rebodied 17' 6" version (These exist built on redundant underframes) from a Wrenn example of the HD wagon and other diagrams are provided by Parkside and Cambrian. I do have a Tri-ang body on the converter wagon chassis, which is useful for running Tri-ang and Dublo together; As is the horse box of course. This is a quite a good representation of a GWR design, apart from the raised planking grooves (a common Tri-ang penny pincher). (Lima's version is superior but needs a culling of its surfeit of ventilators . Presumably this is due to an Italian misreading of the GWR drawing, which admittedly is not very clear on this feature.) Time to stop waffling on David!