SRman

He he! Nice! A Happy Christmas to you, Rick. p.s. What are you doing spending valuable modelling time writing poetry???

Peter has "played" with my NCE Power Cab at an exhibition but I also recommend trying other systems before taking the plunge. I do try to give unbiased opinions and recommendations because each system has its plus and minus points. I borrowed DougN's Digitrax Zephyr before choosing the NCE system but there are other equally virtuous systems out there. Having said that, I think the Digitrax Zephyr and NCE Power Cab offer the best value for money starter systems that also allow for almost infinite expansion in the future... well, at least, sufficient expansion possibilities that would allow for the largest and most complex possible layouts! Raise the bar a little and something like the Lenz or ESU ECoS have their merits as fully fledged systems - at a somewhat higher starting price. At least Peter is not short of BRMA members in the surrounding area with different systems to try out befoe deciding to take the plunge. p.s. (whispering!) I bet he DOES take the plunge, though!!!!

I have a blue one I painted green and weathered. As all the others above have said, it is a bit over-wide but still looks like a class 40 should. I haven't had a problem with stripped gears but a bodge I applied very early on was to put some wire insulation over the geared axle, on either side of the gear to stop it from sliding sideways on the axle. it would beneft from extra pickups but I have never bothered as it doesn't get a great deal of running.

I was talking to Peter yesterday about the possibilities of DCC and wiring into the exisiting system using a DPDT switch to allow operation on either DC or DCC (but not both at the same time!). We also discussed possible systems and future-proofing to allow for expansion and adaptation to Peter's needs. He has taken a lot of this "on board" for consideration. Llanbourne may yet go DCC in the not too distant future!! It was nice to catch up again. Also, I missed wishing you (Peter and his family) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we probably won't see you before then. The Season's wishes also extend to all who are reading this.

Yes. the words, "pot", "kettle" and "black" come to mind, Dave! Lovely shots with loads of atmosphere. keep 'em coming, lads.

The usual question comes to mind: you've shown us pics of the real thing, when are we going to see pics of your models, Dave?? Great pics, lovely modelling. Or, if you prefer, lovely pics, great modelling! I love the atmosphere you create, which, together with the really good modelling techniques and good photography, really makes this layout stand out from the crowd.

I haven't yet fixed those links - thinking of uploading the files to YouTube instead of PhotoBucket. In the meantime, here are three new ones uploaded to YouTube. These are not actually on my layout, they are on Neil Wood's! Thanks also go to Neil for videoing these. First up is my Bachmann class 158 DMU fitted with Howes' sound and Electra Railway Graphics vinyl overlays for Wessex Trains 158 747. Function F10 has an extra engine start for when I transfer the sound to a 3-car class 159. I'm using that to sort out the lights ofr DCC without destroying the expensive sound decoder! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUGH19CdrGo Next, my Bachmann Collectors' Club Silverlink class 150 DMU fitted with Howes' sound. The Sound chassis actually originated from a different unit ready-fitted by Trains on Time of Paisley, Scotland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHPmGGQ-Pk Finally, a Bachmann class 411 4CEP EMU with Howes' sound. Neil's camera battery was running out at this stage as we had spent a considerable amount of very enjoyable time videoing a couple of his trains as well as mine through that afternoon - not to mention the talking we did!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXu1CdlvjOo

Neil Wood and I did some recordings on Saturday, of his Voyager and GNER HSt, plus my classes 150, 158 and 4CEP. I have still to edit mine into something presentable before uploading. this time I'm going to try uploading to YouTube rather than my usual Photobucket. If successful, I'll upload all the previous ones to there and amend the broken links in my earlier posts. As they say ... watch this space!

Naaahhh! That's the version for colour-blind purchasers! Â I must admit it's looking promising, although I won't be buying one. I'm not aware of any having got onto the Southern Region, let alone Kent specifically.

Very nice pics, Peter. I'm not sure about Sunday yet but the meeting is listed in The Clearing House as being on Sunday. I had a dose of swine 'flu' a few weeks ago (yes, really!) and am finding that I need the weekends to recover some strength since returning to work. I'll play it by ear.

CROMPTONS RULE OK!!!!

The jerky class 33 could be a combination of wheels and pickups. Turn the loco upside down and try a wire feed to one wheel only of each side. I have found that, out of the box, Heljan locos often only pick up on four or five out of the eight wheels. To tweak the pickups, just pull the side frames off and use fine long-nose pliers or forceps to twist them into shape so that all wheels pick up as they should. Clean the wheel treads and the wheel backs. Of course, that's not guaranteed to fix your problem but I would be willing to place a smallish bet that these two things are contributing heavily to your problems.

Good news indeed!

Thanks.

Nice vids there, Baby Deltic. Â Â I like your third and fourth rail as well and the general station modelling. What was that last parcels van in the train, please?

Yes we do!! Â

Weighing in here, I have had some success with the Bachmann EZ-Mate (terrible name!) couplings but found the longer versions flexed too much under load, so they were a failure when running a nine coach rake of Hornby Pullmans but OK with only six of the same Pullmans. The softer plastic shanks were pulling down under load then uncoupling if bumped or going over even slightly uneven track (let's face it, most of us have some spots like that!). I'm interested in that mod to the long wheelbase vans too - I have a few recently purchased VGA, VAA, VBA and OBA/OCA (I think) wagons that don't like being propelled for shunting moves.

I emailed him a couple of months ago and got no reply (which is unusual for Simon).

Well said, Rick. I have refrained from pre-ordering because of the above issues: the unknown power plant and now the doubt as to which era the blue model will belong. Please Simon Kohler: let us know exactly what Hornby intend doing with these releases.

I think we should clarify: the original units were in blue with small yellow panels and a matt finish. Hornby's first releases in the catalogue are to be a slightly later blue with full yellow ends and polished window frames (at least, that's what is pictured), plus a refurbished unit in NSE livery. So Hornby are to release a unit in original condition but from the second batch delivered to BR - there should be no need to actually change the moulds for the first batch, it is purely a livery and detail change (eg the polished BR arrows). From all of the pre-production shots and information shown so far, still no one has been able to say what motor/mechanism is to be fitted.

Another member (thanks, Kev) has alerted me to the fact that my links to photobucket seem to have failed. I'm not sure why this has happened but it also applies on another forum I'm a member of. I will try to upload all the vids to YouTube (as soon as I can remember my password!) and redirect the links to there, although this may take a bit of time to get up and working properly. Please be patient with me as I have been a bit busy of late.

It's rubbish!!!! He cheated and slotted a pic of a real one in there!!! Actually, I agree with Richard; that really is a lovely shot of the 33 (no bias here!).

And on that subject, in a book (at home so I can't give the full reference right now) Diesels on the Western Region, there is a picture of an unidentified green D8XX Warship hauling 11 coaches in maroon livery over a curved viaduct in September 1964. 8 or 9 of those coaches are Hawksworths, most are clearly identifiable even end on from their flattened roof profiles at the ends. Also evident from the photo is the odd grouping or "clustering" of the side windows on most of the side-on Hawksworth coaches pictured. That is the only picture I have come across showing an almost uniform rake of Hawksworth coaches; most other shots show one or maybe two in mixed rakes as other posters have described earlier. EDIT Wed 22/09/2010: The book referred to was by hugh Dady, and the date of the pic should read September 4th 1965. The location was Largin viaduct. the fifth coach is not a Hawksworth and the ninth and tenth are indeterminate.

I have some of these white metal daleks (and other figures) but I think they are a little large for OO. That hasn't stopped me using them occasionally on my layout or dioramas, just for a bit of fun. I am also not averse to posing a blue Ford Anglia with white roof and stripe in a tree on occasions ...

Absolutely correct, Jamie. I did mine recently enough to remember! I inserted a small flat-bladed screwdriver from the front of the bogie, pushing it past the gears and levering gently as it approached the clips just behind. Once you can get one side loose, the other follows easily.