Sithlord75

A designer of N gauge locos I know quite well is of the view that if they are needed, then the design is not as good as it should be - particularly in diesels. He concedes that some small designs of steam locos, because you can't scale physics, may need a bit of help. Having said that, he re-worked one of my M7s to move the weight forward and it now pulls much better than the unworked example.

G'day Matt, I tend to make sure the buffing plate is just in front of the buffers. How far is really up to you, as if you are going with generous curves, it doesn't need to be too far, but the tighter the curve, the greater the chance of buffer lock if it isn't far enough. There is a handy mounting jig from the Shops which I have found quite useful. No photo to hand (technically working right now!) but will try to remember to organise tonight - or if you can join the ZAG meeting (details in another part of the 2mm Finescale section of RM Web) I'll be happy to show you. Cheers Kevin of Oz (the slightly north of Brisbane but not far enough to call it the Sunshine Coast part).

That needs a "groan" reaction!

Website also says Silver Jubilee is available in N gauge (so presumably 1:148) for 92 quid. I'd imagine a 2mm (ie 1:152.4) wouldn't be much different in price. Must finish some other projects first however or The Boss will get stroppy.

No 2 (N6.5) meet the as yet un-numbered Jinty. ZAGers will have heard about the Jinty - the latest episode will be shared on Saturday.

For those 2mm Members who aren't on the VAG, but who have read their newsletter and have wondered at the Zoom Area Group that has been organised the details are below. Topic: ZAG Time: Second and Fourth Saturdays of the Month from 0900 GMT Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83287616944?pwd=WGRnQkprN1IwcitVRm56OThtMUFVUT09 Meeting ID: 832 8761 6944 Passcode: 222372 Meetings are presently scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, starting at 0900 GMT. Please adjust for your present time zone! The link, ID and Passcode are the same for each meeting as it is set up as recurring. It was found last time that joining before I click start on my computer is possible but you find you get punted and have to rejoin once I do! No, I don't know why. Please note - August has 5 Saturdays in it and so there will be a three week gap between this weekend (23rd as the fourth Saturday) and the next (12th September as the second Saturday). For those interested, it is basically a chat session where hints, tips and ideas are bandied about along with some show and tell. Some people have been able to do little demonstrations for those watching from time to time - it really depends on your internet connection and bandwidth along with the set up you have as to how well it will work. Cheers Kevin of Oz ZAG Co-ordinator

I do my couplings in pairs...

I recently made a Nn2 1/2 jig for 32' lengths using my Photon printer. I've a couple of adjustments to make to help but the first length (only 30' as I couldn't be bothered going out to the shed to find the sleepers at 2300hrs!) is below. I used Code 40 BH for it, because that's what was handy. For what it's worth, I think the NG sleepers from Shop 1 are ok for 5mm gauge but possibly too long for 4mm gauge.

I'm with Richard! But well done anyway...

Yes - not for the faint hearted. However I didn't go too gung ho as I found most of the problem is actually in the w irons - they seen to be too long/big. Trying to fix this is a drama and a half. I settled for removing the buffers and putting them back slightly lower. They still are a bit high, but they don't stand out in the train. Helps that all my Engineer's stock is black!

I agree with you - however in my case, being a fairly tightly controlled (at least wage wise) industry I don't get more than Inflation (and this year didn't even get that - apparently there is a pandemic on and so the main employer in my sector (which is the government) legislated away the legislated wage rise! I could go for promotion but frankly the extra money isn't worth the extra stress. There is also limited opportunities to go up. They are there, in fairness, and I choose not to take them. My original comment about the pricing isn't a whinge - I cheerfully paid up for the BTK after all! - more an observation about how the cost of models is getting more and more out of the reach of pocket money. Not much can be done about it - as SRman rightly points out, the increasing wages in China (although its possibly questionable how much of that percentage increase finds its way into the workers pocket rather than the State) is a significant factor in the changes.

Cost is always something to be debated. Last evening I finally got around to replacing the LMS Stanier Brake 3rd for my N Gauge LMS set - I had traded the original for a bunch of stuff a few years ago and they weren't available at the time to replace then. As it happens, purchasing from Rails I was able to see my past orders to discover I originally purchased the three Firsts - brake, vestibule and comp - from Rails in 2008. The Third Brake is costing more in 2020 than the three coaches combined cost in 2008. Not entirely unreasonable you'd think - but then you see what your income was back in 2008 (I really should clear out the tax records!) and discover that your income hasn't tripled... In this case, the usual argument of "look at the quality" doesn't apply as it isn't new tooling, it just has a different number on the coach side to the original issue. Maybe 150 squids for a basic steamie - it isn't going to get new modellers in now is it? Edit - I should say I don't mind costs going up - I do understand inflation and so forth. However, ideally it should be equal - as a % of my income, the coach is a lot more now than it was. So much for economic theory in this case!

Maybe EFE Rail will bring out an N Gauge LMS Garratt and then all will be well...

I based them of the TR coaches but they are pretty freelance. Just like the loco - although I think this set will look better with a black loco, which is presently on @David Hugenholtz's work bench.

What gauge is that?

Almost off the Work Bench - and yes 2mm scale if not 9.42mm gauge! These are 3 N6.5 coaches designed by moi to go on Microtrains Nn3 boxcar chassis. Prints by Shapeways. Roof separate to plug in. Fittings on roof by Ultima. Footboards from staples (No 24s but 10s would do) and scrap etch. Glazing is Krystal Klear. I need to actually finish off the far side as a couple of the windows popped on the FB and the middle T. Transfers on doors from Shop 3. The first set was painted Humbrol 63. This lot is one of the green rattles - can't remember which but will go and have a look tomorrow and update.

<pedant> 15A was built by the Victorian Railways at their Newport, Vic, Workshop, not Baldwin (which was where 1A and 2A were built). </pedant> Cheers Kevin

I've been trying to work out what diagrams the suburban's most closely resemble. I had worked it out back in the 90s before the Cloud Age of back ups but the 5.25" floppy I probably stored it on is long gone, as the machine I was using back then. Anyone have any ideas?

I ordered an LMS one as I already have two BR ones from the kits. I ordered principally because finally someone had gone and had a go at a special for the N gauge market. Hatton's used to be - for over 20 years - my go to place for British N from Australia but once they stopped selling Farish, I stopped buying. I don't go on the Hatton's page often as there is no reason to - other than the Garratt. So some information would be handy. My initial understanding was I could have had my kids give it to me last Christmas - looking like it may not be here by Christmas 2021.

Happy to help, as little as it may be, in the Great Task Tim. Fingers crossed for a viewing in 2021! Cheers Kevin

Hi Tim, I found this: but the resolution is poor - I presume the original is at the LT archive or museum? Not sure if a) I'm teaching you to suck eggs by finding it as it maybe in your collection already or even b) if it would help? Cheers Kevin PS - having had a better look around the LTM site, it would appear they do have some drawings which maybe useful, just not on the web. From Down Here I don't know how easy it would be to get see the relevant drawings and decide if they'd be useful.

Only just OMWB as once I fit the DGs to it this evening it will be off the work bench, but I couldn't resist taking a picture of the completed LNWR D15 etch I received back when they were offered on the photo of the inspiration wagon for the finish after I did the 20 transfers last night. Transfers done by a mate in New South Wales who basically took the scan of the photo and then drew the lettering before printing on his ALPS printer. Not the best quality of photo I admit but trying to get the light balance right between the glossy page, the painted model and not having the shadow of the camera....

Wet Saturday here sono outdoor jobs could be done. So I cracked on with these. The MkIV SDJR Body print and the MkII LNWR D21 nearing completion. I'll have to find the LNWR transfers that I have (although with the brakes I suspect LMS might be more accurate - shall have to check the pictures). The SD one will be in LMS livery for me.

I'll have to dig mine out John. Probably in the same box I brought it home in!!

I've had an interest in the LNWR and specifically St Alban's Abbey station for around 25 years now. One day I shall have developed the skills sufficiently to build a finescale model rather than a N gauge one but in the meantime, I have been building stock. As part of this, and as part of my 3D CAD journey I drew a few wagons having purchased the excellent Wagon Books from the LNWR Society. One of the wagons which Down Here (at least the SEQ part of Down Here) found necessary was the D21 cattle wagon. The original drawing work was done back in 2018, but one thing and another got in the road and it never made it to Shapeways for printing. Now that I've got my Anycubic Photon, I finished it off and, having had the most recent Shop 2 order arrive on Monday last, I built the LNWR 9' chassis which came within using the photos of one of the D21s in Volume 1. The result is as below. I was very please that it was very minimal work (mostly just a bit of tidying up from the supports) to get the body to fit the chassis. I've still got to add the bar across the "windows" - I did include it in the drawing, but surprise, surprise, it didn't print that well. 0.2mm over that distance was pushing it I think! Still, no harm done and easily replaced with what was the original idea - wire. Hopefully the weather clears enough for a bit of paint to be put on it prior to the ZAG meeting tomorrow evening. The stepping on the roof is a result of the angle of print - I'll rub it with some wet n dry before painting and between the first couple of coats which tends to solve the problem I've found. .