Scottish Modeller

Hi Jay, The ESU Select Direct is a straight replacement - you need to make sure that you put it in the right way - there are a couple of capacitors that are rather prominent on them and get in the way! Thanks

Hi Rob, Need to check with WaveyDavey - Can't remember if etches owned/produced by Shawplan for him? Thanks

Hi Rob, You are correct - they use the same type of wagon as the Airfix Tank kit. Not many differences at all - mostly down to needing to make the detail supplied in the kit a lot finer. WaveyDavey mat be able to help as they have done several. Etch detailing pack was available as well as decals. I have 6 sat unfinished in one of my drawer units - waiting for the etch packs as I already have the decals. see pm of info.... Thanks

Hi Mick, Just because you repaint everything.... Thanks

Hi Mick, It appears that Hornby have used the MK2D FO for these coaches - that would be correct from the coach information available. Anyway.... Virginhst539 - I have 6 Dapol exec livery Mk2D TSO that came with the interior from the FO - so swap would be great! Let me know... Thanks

Hi there, Y0oui can only ask Hornby and hope for the best! I think you would be better off, probably quicker as well, go to the Swapmeets and Exhibitions. Why? Because you could probably buy Airfix/GMR First Open coaches cheaper and easier than the spares from Hornby. First - check that these are actually TSO interiors! Do not let the moulded colour lead you astray! There have been several occasions where the seats have been moulded in the wrong colour plastic. FO should have 7 seating bays TSO should have 8 seating bays If you are successful - I want the TSO seating units! Thanks

Hi James, Martyn has some photos that appear to be from 2004 so they were still around then. http://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/UKRailRollingstock/Z-Tops-codes/ZKV-Barbel-and-Zander-spoil/i-pShcKHf/A Just found a shot that seems to be from 2010 - so, even if not in use, they were still lying around in some places! Thanks

Hi bob, Yes - Albert Bros is an interesting site - very modelable indeed! Rail access to it is via the kickback siding under Thomaston Avenue, then over the Naugatuck River on the trestle and under the James Darcy memorial Highway. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@41.5699185,-73.0575546,306m/data=!3m1!1e3 The line that this diverges from has more additional industry choices if you follow it northwards - leads you right to a small modelable yard as well! Thanks

Hi Bob, Pan Am usually handle the Sullivan traffic. Video at:- Thanks

Hi HornbyA3Fan - What a name! Yes - the DC Kits class 303 comes with glazing strips. Thanks

Hi Pix, I was just about to ask the same question.... I've had a search running on Ebay for ages but didn't come up with anything that I wanted. Thanks

Hi Paul, I also fell foul of the MRC decoders and the programability - or lack of it... I was not able to sort out the sound using the Lenz 100 set programming track. However - I have DecoderPro and Sprog - so I was able to make some improvements as this enabled me to see exactly what CV's could not and could be changed. But - once bitten.... No more MRC decoders for me! Thanks

Hi Grahame, Arrived safely up here this morning (at whatever time the Royal Mail decided our AM mail was). Several interesting articles and comments! Thanks

HI there, That last photo looks very reminiscent of area where the B6415 goes under the ECML..... Thanks

Hi Mike, Glad to hear that there is some improvement - even if not yet to the level you need. I never use grease - always model oil. Running in makes a lot of difference - always do both directions. I do 15 minutes one direction, then reverse and repeat - some locos need more of this than others. After this running in - check the mechanism and reoil if needed. You are right - you should have a plastic cover with cab detail. In the NCB loco it should be blue with 2 grey regulator levers at the front. If you don't have this - then it sounds like someone had the model apart before you had it and didn't put this back. Thanks

Hi Pix, There is no 'Curates Egg' about any of the 3 models you have shown! The Hoover was first available around 1974, the Western a couple of years later. The HST seems to have been from about 1978. None of them go together well! I've built them all and cursed them well and truly! The Atlas chassis for the Hoover and Western were as rare as hens teeth and didn't like the weight of the bodies. Yes - they would haul a good load but didn't get up any great speed. The HST was another chunk of metal shaped roughly like an HST! I tried both Atlas and Life Like chassis in the ones I made - same problem didn't get up enough speed! The Life Like chassis soon died in protest to the weight imposed on them. Put them in the cupboard and forget wasting the time it would take to make something even remotely as good as the RTR ones that are available now. Thanks

Hi there, I used the Zimo MX 645 with external storage capacitor for 'Stay Alive' At the time this was the only DCC chip available with the Sentinel sound set. It is a bit too large for the loco and required a lot of carving to fir everything in. Chip in the cab, speaker in the short hood, 'stay alive' capacitor fitted where I could find room. There is a new, smaller, Zimo chip available that fits a lot better and, if I was doing another it would be my preference. There is a thread on here about fitting sound to the Sentinel and it was also covered in the magazines. Thanks Thanks

Hi Mike, I have the NCB one as well... When first bought it wasn't a great runner - even at the shop. But - it was the only NCB one available - so I bought it anyway. Once home I ran it both directions for 5 minutes each way and repeated this for an hour. At first it was a bit stuttery but with time this improved - but not to the point that I was happy with it. I stripped mine down totally, cleaned all the factory applied lubricant/grease and then applied small amounts of model oil - Daywat variety. Once assembled this made a big difference as it then crawled along without stuttering. When I DCC fitted it I had it all apart again and there was no sign of any damage. Fitted with Zimo sound chip - it now really crawls! Not scientifically measured it, but appears to be down to 5 minutes for 1 yard! Thanks

Hi all, Speaking of Observation cars/saloons... Lochaber - Ex LNER General Managers Saloon 1531 http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=945 I'm still searching for good photos of this one - not in it's current, rebuilt guise, but as it was running in Blue/Grey in Scotland. Also... 9004 - Ex GWR Inspection car - also used in Scotland in GWR Brown and Cream livery. http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=240 There seem to be very few photos of this one when it was up here - or am I just not finding them? Thanks

Hi Phil, Sorry - not an ex DMU car... As per other comments - Ex LNER Inspection saloon. Still exists today as part of the Royal Scotsman set up. http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=1052 Thanks

Hi Ray, Sounds like a possible short in the armature windings. As the motor warms up then the short gets worse, draws off the power and that causes the motor to slow and eventually to halt. If the loco stops on the section of armature with the short - then you need to prod it to get it to move again. If it stops on the section without a short this allows the motor to cool and this in turn allows the loco to move again. There was a straight replacement motor available at one time. I can't remember who from but it was a straight fit with just the original worm gear to be fitted. Thanks

Hi Bennyboy, Yes - This was:- BR 56356 Class 101 DMU: Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory built 1958 http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3060 Gives details of the real thing. Thanks

Hi Al, There was a full set of photos on Fotopic at one time - lost or just forgotten? Don't know. Anyway, they have not reappeared anywhere that I can find. https://www.flickr.com/photos/taysider64/16584421362 Link to photo showing rake which comments state include Brahan Seer. I've also noted that 5234 "Clan Mackintosh" and 5230 "Corriemollie" were both classified SO(T) rather than TSO(T) as they only had 2+1 seating. Thanks

Hi Al, Yes - In the 14 years since I started Scottish Modellers on Yahoo groups we have only found photos of 4 of them. 9385 is at Swithland on the GCR. https://www.flickr.com/photos/45726467@N02/6929015925 5154 is on the Linclonshire Wolds Railway (as noted above) 6300 is at Ruddington Barry Steam Railway https://www.flickr.com/photos/dc-7c/6866471481 There also seems to be a 'Mock Hebridean' coach at another railway centre but I can't find the reference at the moment. 5381 is on the Wensleydale Railway https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/15167752387 Thanks

Hi Al, The phrase 'Rare as hens teeth' comes to mind when searching for images of these coaches.... The full set of names are available as decals from Railtec. Thanks