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RandyWales

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  1. Hi all I started this topic when Darstaed anounced the range, and quite some time has since passed.... the range are no longer 'on the horizon'. To prevent new readers being confused when they see the topic, I have changed the header to simply read....Darstaed Mk1 coaches for 7mm. regards Randall
  2. Totally agree Stephen....I saw BBS yesterday and was blown away seeing it in the flesh, although expectations were obviosly high after following the build on here. BCNPete and myself have posted photographs in the Cheltenham exhibition advertising thread. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/132280-cheltenham-model-railway-exhibition-7-8-april-2018/&do=findComment&comment=3120404 Despite illness (not contagious) I was determined to get to the exhibition to see the layout on it's debut, but it's big-time payback today. Randall
  3. Echoing BCNPete's sentiments..... I am so pleased to have seen BBS in the flesh on it's exhibition debut. I loved every aspect of this top class model, especially as it is set in my favourite BR Corporate Blue era. This layout is set to be a huge draw at the premier exhibitions in the future. I was very impressed with Andy's simple and unobtrusive method of close coupling the stock, and it was a pleasure to chat on several modelling topics during my many visits to the layout. I'll try and post a few videos of BBS when I get the chance. The exhibition itself is small and homely, never overcrowded, even for a Saturday, and has some very interesting layouts on show. A bonus for me was the 10% discount voucher for Cheltenham Model Centre that came with the programme. Even though the discount doesn't officially start until w/c Monday 9th, CMC kindly applied the discount to my purchases - A blue Farish Class 47, a blue Dapol Class 33 and a couple of Dapol HST first class coaches in blue/grey. On the way home I called in to the Blaenavon Railway for my maiden ride on the railway, and also picked up Dapol's Western Invader in blue at a discounted price at their shop in the town. A very enjoyable day indeed. Randall
  4. RandyWales

    Dapol HST

    Hi all... BR Intercity 125 Blue/Grey HST 4-car bookset now available from Dapol, Hattons and no doubt many others. Randall
  5. Hi Marc.... Myself and others can't argue with your comments about the actual costs of development, assembly etc. However, from the viewpoint of the potential customer, there is another factor I would apply....that of value for money. As an example, on another forum, I asked for help locating someone who could provide a set of gates - those ubiquitous station barrier scissor gates (for 7mm scale). I received a reply from a chap who works with Pete Waterman on Leamington Spa. He told me they have bespoke-built scissor gates in the station on Leamington - printed on a 3D SLA printer. He obtained permission to supply from Pete and I was quoted £40 for a single set of gates (I need a pair). There was no way in the world I was going to pay that much (VFM), so I set about providing my own. I downloaded Fusion 360 (the latest version of AutoCad) for free and set about creating my own 3D drawings. I probably have an advantage insomuch I have recently retired after a 45 year career in IT so I have been this situation many times before. After a couple of nights struggling with the concepts I finally got my head around it and came up with a drawing I am happy with (part of which is displayed below). I then had to decide how to produce them. I considered buying my own SLA printer with a view to selling them to interested parties (after testing the water for demand of course). I discounted buying a cheaper standard 3D printer as the finish quality wasn't up to scratch. I also PM'ed Stephen Leathers from LLC as he has a new Injection Moulding capability and he provided me with what I thought was a very interesting quote. However, I soon realised the difficulties you described in your post, insomuch from my own point of view, I concluded the £40 is cheap if you want something. However, I am still not buying the Leamington gates, as I now have an insight into the actual cost on this item from the point of view of design which is constantly highlighted as the most costly part of the production cycle. I will probably end up sending them to Shapeways, although everything is currently off the table due to illness. On the issue of your points regarding R-T-R over kit/handbuilt I am satisfied with the standard of most (not all) of my not-so-cheap off the shelf models. What I do object to though, is the attitude of some more affluent modellers out there. I am (or soon to be, was) a member of the Gauge 0 Guild, and there was recently a very rigourously contested thread regarding the cost of high end ready to run (handbuilt) models. We are talking £thousands. However, the thread went on to cover all aspects of ready to run, where people chipped in about a lot of the very same issues you have highlighted in your post. Some of the 'debate' got very heated and I took offence to one post by an obviously wealthy member who said: —————————————— Expensive RTR (and as an aside - brexit) - seems to me to be just 'sour grapes' - a very British malaise. As Michael Cain said when he drove a Rolls in America he was applauded, whereas here in the 'wonderfull UK' some wanted to kick his head in. Most people in this country attain their money through their own graft. If you do not like it then keep your opinions to your self. —————————————— He was obviously implying that anyone who is not wealthy is jealous. In my naive ignorance (having for 45 years complied with strict email and Social Media protocols regarding the causing of offence to others), I called him out and was promptly flamed by several other members. The vitriol that is flying around in the UNMODERATED Gauge 0 Guild forum is obscene. Sorry for this rant to conclude my post....blame the medication. Randall
  6. Hi John.... I think a new scheme involving very high end kits is extremely unlikely if you read the detail. PW states that the plan is to provide the best models for discerning modellers and collectors. I know most of us collect kits with the intention of building them (eventually), but I would be amazed if there were people out there who actually 'collect kits' with no intention of building them. Randall
  7. Hi Phill.... I've thought about Kettering, but it was a very l-o-n-g day last year and I've been ill since I retired in October, and I'm still very much under the weather, so it's unlikely. Also, I haven't got any plans to buy anything 7mm for now as I've more or less got all the stuff I need. My N gauge collection has started to grow though, and I've got a simple double track mainline (raised trackbeds of course) under construction. Randall
  8. Hi Phill... I saw your query about DCC chips for 2mm locos a few weeks ago and got to wondering what you were up to :-) I've found your thread now and will follow with interest. Are you intending to use off-loco sound as Chris M has done on Little Aller Junction? Funnily enough, I have also started to collect some N gauge stuff to build a 'watching the trains go by' layout. If I can offer an off-the-wall suggestion... Take a look at my thread from the old RMweb: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/59643-watching-the-model-trains-go-by-with-bincoculars/ You can focus right down to eighteen inches with them and my 2mm stuff looks like 7mm looking through the binos....ha ha ha! I know that some modellers bought these after seeing my thread and have used them at exhibitions with good reactions. Gordon Gravett liked them too, although he did look at me a bit oddly at first :-) Randall
  9. Hi Steve... I saw CBG at Yate today and I was really impressed with the quality of the modelling and the operation. I abolutely love the lasercut Parcels warehouse, as one of my favourite elements on a model railway are buildings that dominate the scene and dwarf the rolling stock. Randall
  10. Exclusive image of the new model on LLC Facebook page for Group members :-) Scale7 wheels OFF-THE-SHELF if you want!!!!
  11. Hi Greg... I was able to make use of a space of 48 x 16 inches to accomodate a single point / three siding Inglenook microlayout in 0 gauge called Maenol Mine which gave me enormous scope for detailing and was very interesting to operate. I documented it's construction here back in 2012. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/14287-maenol-mine-an-update/page-1?hl=maenol Randall
  12. Hi all... Following recent discussions on the Guild forum, a member has kindly committed to undertaking a survey to try to ascertain the extent of the problem of split gears on Heljan 0 gauge locomotives, with a view to the Guild bringing the result to the attention of Heljan as a collective submission. All are welcome to contribute to the survey whether a member of the Gauge 0 Guild or not. If you have experienced the 'split gears' problem, there is a submission point with full description of the requirements on the Guild website's Home Page under the Guild News banner. Please read the requirements carefully as this survey is about ALL locomotive types, not just concentrating on those models that have had the specific problem. This is in order to assess the extent (or not) of the problem across the range. http://www.gauge0guild.com/# Randall
  13. Hi all... Following recent discussions on the Guild forum, a member has kindly committed to undertaking a survey to try to ascertain the extent of the problem of split gears on Heljan 0 gauge locomotives, with a view to the Guild bringing the result to the attention of Heljan as a collective submission. All are welcome to contribute to the survey whether a member of the Gauge 0 Guild or not. If you have experienced the 'split gears' problem, there is a submission point with full description of the requirements on the Guild website's Home Page under the Guild News banner. Please read the requirements carefully as this survey is about ALL locomotive types, not just concentrating on those models that have had the specific problem. This is in order to assess the extent (or not) of the problem across the range. As an aside, could I also draw attention to the fact that there is now a dedicated forum topic heading for Diesel and Electric Traction. This may be of interest to those who are considering joining the Guild (or those who have been members in the past). http://www.gauge0guild.com/# Regards Randall
  14. Don't be so downhearted....maybe a rapid injection of steam through your clack valve will resolve your ablution problem...but not while the train is standing in the station. :-)
  15. Go easy...some newcomers to 7mm have only got an 08 and a couple of wagons. I watch my 4mm HST through close-focus binoculars - looks 7mm scale - good enough for me until I win the lottery! Randall
  16. Hi Bob...Thanks for posting in the new section on the Guild forum... I've always got on well with other Guild members regardless of area of interest...lots of banter and mutual mickey-taking. ....for others interested in the back story: I joined a D&E Facebook forum (with 1000+ members) recently where the standard of modelling is superb but the general opinion was that the Guild didn't cater for their interests. A small group of members interested in D&E started a series of threads on the Guild forum and we were able to make the point that there were many hundreds of potential members who felt alienated by the fact that the Guild 'appeared' to be stuck in a Steam shrouded timewarp. There were many more Guild members in support of our proposal for the new section, although there were quite a few members who were still rather negative. The outcome is what we see today....where the Guild has metaphorically opened it's arms... There are those who will argue that the Guild was already a Broad Church but this change now confirms that things have moved forward. With the new section now active in the forum, maybe we will begin to see more Diesel and Electric articles in the Gazette, more post-steam layouts at Guild events and who knows, maybe a dedicated/ exclusive D&E-themed exhibition run by the Guild in the not-to-distant future. All this depends on the new section being supported by existing members as this will hopefully encourage new members to join. Randall
  17. Hi David.... I'll try to help... Can you describe the steps you take and at what point you hit the problem. Randall
  18. Hi... The Gauge 0 Guild has today added a Diesel and Electric Traction section to it's members forum. This is a major shift in outlook for the Guild. We rejected outright the term 'Modern Image' Randall
  19. Hi.... Following lobbying from a group of members, the Gauge 0 Guild has today added a Diesel & Electric Traction section to it's members forum. This great news is a long-awaited change of outlook for the Guild. I have posted the complete story here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128130-gauge-0-guild-now-has-a-diesel-electric-traction-section-on-the-forum/&do=findComment&comment=2923675 Randall
  20. Hi again, After a couple of weeks lobbying by Diesel & Electric members, the Guild forum now has a section for those interested in post-steam topics. This is a shift in outlook for the Guild, as until now the organisation has only paid lip service to the topics that are of interest to a rapidly growing branch of 7mm scale modelling. I know there are some RMweb members who have recorded their opinions about the lack of interest in the post-steam era within the Guild, with some having become members only to leave again after discovering that their interests were not catered-for. Some even reported hostility when they raised their heads above the parapet. Hopefully, things will now change and the Guild will become more inclusive to Diesel & Electric modellers. So, if you are already a member, please help by paying a visit and hopefully posting in the forum. If you are one of those thinking about joining, you might find that things should soon become more attractive to your tastes. Randall
  21. Interesting...when I bought my Heljan Class 47 from the E&T stall at Doncaster, both gear trains were seized, but the chap in charge of the test track said it was only pulling 1.5amps...that's BOTH motors with the controller maxxed.I've since removed a motor/gears from one bogie and the loco runs very sweetly...on what amperage?.... I don't know. Must be less???!!!! Within RC tolerances??? Randall
  22. Hi Phill....Loving the idea of sharing chassis to keep costs down...as long as bodies are available. There seems to have been a lot of people elsewhere picking up spares bodies.... Are they readily available from Heljan? Couldn't make Telford again due to FINAL oncall commitments....now at an end due to pending full retirement :-). Also, I recall mentioning to you elsewhere that my Heljan Class 47 now runs on one motor and you were anxious to try running one Heljan motor on a RC battery setup. The chassis is still very heavy obviously, but did you experiment? Randall
  23. Hi... I solved a split gear issue in my recently aquired Class 47 by using half of a full set that I'd bought for my first Heljan loco - the Class 37. What do I mean by half a set? I just removed the motor (and split gears) from one bogie and replaced the split gears in the other bogie. The 47 still runs like a dream on one bogie. I'm not sure if all sets are interchangable between loco types, but it worked for me. Randall
  24. Hi Phill... Thanks for posting...hopefully your involvement will encourage a few more members to take a closer look. Would you mind posting your clip of D815 Druid here? - the one powering through the cutting and tunnel in your garden - to give a sense of what is possible? I'll give that app a try...that's one of the Android apps isn't it? The buttons have a lot more space for text descriptions of their function. I could also use that for station announcements/ clattering of trollies and other railway related sounds - sent to under board speakers. Randall
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