SRman

Stuart, could you tell me what safety valves you are using and where you got them, please?

Thanks, David, for that QR video. The 1620 class weren't common around Brisbane but 1645 was a regular around Corinda, Tennyson and Yeerongpilly (and the Moolabin yard, of course). It was even rarer to find them on passenger work so this Ekka shuttle working will be a treat.

Forgot ... I bought a couple of class 20s for the same reasons too!!

You may need to connect wires between the pickups and the brushes, as this would be done through the DCC socket in Hornby's normal installation.

And for all of those reasons, I have ordered one. I bought a class 15 for those same reasons too. There are lots of photos around of those cross-London freights with various non-Southern locos, including the aforementioned classes 15 and 16. I have been able to 'justify' buying classes 24, 25, 31, 35, 37 and 52 (just off the top of my head!) because of those wonderfully varied workings onto SR metals from other regions.

D1007 in maroon syp - one of the first four liveries released and has the dreaded brass wheels. I still haven't re-wheeled mine yet.

Surely by the late 1960s, the real BILs had more than a few dips in their panels, Colin. You are too hard on yourself.

When Colin refers to imperfections, we 'normal' folk need a microscope to see what he's talking about!!

Definitely try reducing the volume a bit, first. If that doesn't work, then I would try different speakers, even another of the same type. Speakers are relatively inexpensive and can vary a bit in quality and behaviour.

Another one from me. This is my Heljan class 33/1, 33 108, with legomanbiffo sound (bought from DC Kits). It uses an ESU LokSound v4 and the standard 23mm round 4 ohm speaker mounted in the underfloor tanks. I have not played all of the functions here but I used several different driving techniques to demonstrate the acceleration, spool down, and idle/coasting behaviours. The horns are playable, using functions F2 and F3. I did experiment with different speakers and combinations when I was installing the system but I settled on the single standard speaker as producing the best result for this particular sound project. Also running around is a Bachmann class 350/1 converted to a SouthWest Trains class 450 using Electra Railway Graphics vinyl overlays. This will eventually receive legomanbiffo's appropriate sounds as well but is currently using a Lenz Silver+ decoder.

You are correct about the contacts to the lighting strips in the roofs, Nigel, but the Desiros don't actually require the body to be removed to fit a decoder. In their case, there is a small 'box' under the motorised coach retained by one screw. The decoder (and any speaker for sound fitting) fit into the area covered by this box.

There are a few projects ahead of this one but I will post pictures of progress on my workbench blog and in this thread too if you don't mind me hijacking it a bit.

Nope!!!

My memories of them go back to green days. I always remember as a seven to eight year old standing in the corridor with all that lovely polished wood, hanging onto the handrail and watching the countryside pass by through those huge windows.

Thankfully ... for my wallet/credit card, at least!!

Thanks Adam. I'll try to give you a diagram or annotated photo with my suggestions. All are minor but will improve accuracy. I am aware that simple artwork changes may require a lot more behind-the-scenes work on your part to maintain accurate cutting of the vinyls. One extra nice touch which can be seen is that your cab destination screens, when in place, are nicely illuminated. I am very pleased with the result, overall.

The class 450 conversion from a Bachmann Silverlink class 350/1 is now all but complete. There are a few very minor tweaks and finishing touches to do but the unit is now running as a complete four-car set in one livery. It's not perfect. I have a few small air bubbles, a couple of small lumps in the paint underneath, and I cut and partly hand-painted the front end stripes to correct the Electra printing. It still saved an awful lot of work in adding the various livery elements and looks absolutely great at normal viewing distances. I am going to suggest a few minor changes to the vinyls to Adam Warr of Electra but, even if he doesn't consider the alterations, I would still whole-heartedly recommend the product. I have taken a couple of videos of the unit too and will edit them into one vid and post that in the next few days.In the meantime, here is the unit, 450 107, looking complete and actually in service. Edit: video added.

I'm sure the odd 33/1 got on to the North Wales workings. It certainly wasn't a common occurrence but I have it in the back of my mind that I, too, have seen something of this.

Well, I have just scored a reasonably priced Hornby 8F off eBay so I have also now ordered a 'Z' from Golden Arrow. I'll be following in these footsteps soon!

"Problems" that quite few of us have, Peter! You are not alone!!

The weather today wasn't particularly kind to you. You still managed to get some decent photos and videos and have some fun - sorry I didn't make it. Love that weathered blue syp Western.

Thanks, Rick. I'll look forward to seeing those.

Hi Doug. Back is a lot better although I shied off driving to Gwiwer's layout day - a pity as he had a couple of our friends from South Oz there. All I have to do now is find where the *@$#@&* I have hidden that glossy photo paper and I can print whichever set of names I want! I do rather like that Newton Broadway although I'm still tempted by Newton Wood and Newton Green. I think the Gill Sans font looks marginally better, although LT probably use their New Johnston typeface - I don't happen to have that on my system and I am not prepared to pay LT for a licence to get it either. Edited to correct typing: they weren't really fiends!!

Hi. Yes it came out of the box a long time ago but was sitting on the far side f the layout where I rarely (at this stage!) photograph it - it was masquerading as a Southdown bus station, a job it actually looked quite appropriate for.

The sheet of LT station names, printed experimentally on plain paper. The blue cross bar is too dark but otherwise it all seems to work.