The Evil Bus Driver

OK. I'll have a play around once I start adding sound to my locos. I need to get my layout started before anything else. Then see about DCC/sound etc. Like I said, for me that's something for 2024

Very very true. Lets face it that's always been an bit of an annoyance with DCC sound. If you imagine where the eye is in relation to many model railways you're watching them from the perspective of being across the road and maybe at second storey level. What would you be able to hear from that distance? That is the volume at which I would set the sound. Also you wouldn't be able to hear the door alarms or the guard;s buzzer. Plus I plan to mimic what I saw and heard on the real railway and not use the horn ever time a train moves unless they are loco hauled of course but then loco drivers are more used to being in yards where there are people around who need warning. Not criticising since if those are the rules then those are the rules. Multiple unit drivers out on the main line seem to be less 'horn happy' (No sniggering at the back) and so that is what I'd try and recreate. I'm not too sure about the horn sounds so maybe I'll read up on it a bit before this comes out or someone from the 1:1 railway can do a post on this Looks like sound will be my main focus for 2024 hehe

There's definitely something about natural light on a layout isn't there.

It's always been Fish and chips on Fridays round my way. Braunston village has an excellent chippy if you like them cooked in beef dripping.

Chips and gravy? In newspaper. Actually that sounds quite tempting

Oh blimey I remember those... Seriously retro nowadays.

Hopefully it could be ready for next Christmas, or even Warley. It certainly looks interesting and if its in Beta at the moment then hopefully by the time my boards have serviceable track on them it should be more or less ready to go. It certainly looks good though and plug and play for those less confident at soldering is a big plus. I've seen DCC Concepts do a plug in Stay Alive so this is great news. I've put in a couple of preorders too. Looks like 2023 will be the Year of the Preorder for me hehe

This is great although I did use the Engine Driver app on my Android phone at Warley on our layout (Snowy River if anyone saw it) and that worked very well. (It was linked to a control box using a Raspberry Pi through a Sprog. You can do that using a laptop loaded with JMRI as well.) I do wonder if this is a more plug and play version of that however for those who are nervous of soldering then this would be ideal and might give a boost to other decoder manufacturers. It might spur on more DCC sound and make more conventional sound decoders cheaper as the tech moves forward so I'll keep a very fascinated eye on the developments and see what happens.

Looks like I'm going to need to get 6 Brake seconds and modify them into TSOs. I've checked the underframe and they're the same moulding on brake and non brake vehicles. Might need some milliput as well.

That's good to know as I know they were strengthened with 'loose' coaches during the summer. Thanks for the info.

When I bought my Hornby 3set I actually looked up which ones to get in order to make up a proper set. There was only one CK in the shop so it had to be an SR set. Bachmann could do the same but I'd only forget on the way to the shop so I'd still do a little research and write down what set's can be made. I'd probably put a note on my phone and use that. I'd becstarting with a 3 set anyway as I'm unlikely to afford anything more in one hit but I can always add to it later and go up to a 6 coach rake later.

Heh I hope so. I'm after 2 Brake second mk1s to make a 3-set. I've got plenty of kits to keep me going for now though. I do tend to check feedback on there. You can get some great bargains but there are some who have had less than positive experience there. That said my reference to it as Evilbay was a bit tongue in cheek, especially since I've bought a fair few bits and pieces on there over the last month.

It's Ebay but we all have our opinions on its merits or otherwise

No French Blue? Obviously no Brighton Corporation Atlantean AN68s with East Lancs bodywork in the offing. Are there any plans to create a motorising kit to allow road vehicles to follow a steel wire a la Faller? That'd be really impressive.

I saw these on Heljan's stand at Warley (and my shopping list went up by several items hehe)

Looks really good! I'll be going for some after Xmas.

A little birdie has whispered things about a Southern unit. It wouldn't be fair on them for me to spill any beans though. A blue SUB could operate alongside EPBs and 508s, evidence for this is the 1983 Waterloo documentary where there is a montage of both types running together. As to a 319 they've certainly become 'the train we came here on' which always gets the public at shows so they're likely to be good sellers. Maybe Hornby or Bachmann have done a bit of research and put it in the 'to do' list. I did mention the class 74 to KR Models at Warley and he said never say never. Or words to that effect. Apparently the next four years is going to bring good things from them and Accurascale so definitely exciting times.

Good to see developments on here. I've been following with interest. And the commander in chief needed to collect the fuss tax too.

Ah thanks. I'll give it a go when I next have them out. I've been going through my Warley goodies haul and I'm really pleased with it.

Question for you. What's the best way to remove the Maunsell gangway covers? Are they clipped in? I'm reluctant to use too much force on mine as I don't want to break them.

I have some cl. 101 coupling bars somewhere. Probably I've put them somewhere 'safe' meaning they'll never be seen again lol I am also fairly sure my Cep is at my mum's house so I'll have a look and bring it home next time I'm there but yes that definitely looks much better. I really don't know why they don't just use those as the shorter couplings as they work really well.

I've fitted the Airfix version to my mk2Ds and I'm very pleased with them. That said they could be closer. I also bought some NEM Elites at Warley and have had a play around. I reckon with the Keen systems floating gangways and these within my rakes they are far better than anything else. I even tried them out on my Hachette mk1s and these got the best result of all. Really close with virtually no gap at all, plus these coaches have a good strong spring so they pull together well. I'll have to add them to my third Hachette and see what happens. I've lost the kinematic drawbar from one but it doesn't really matter as these are my 'experimental' coaches so its not such an issue. The Hachettes will be the first rake to receive floating gangways so I'll see what happens once they're fitted.

To be honest it was a long time coming. These units are as much heritage as any steam engine now and there's a strong connection to the area. That said if the news came up that they's bought a Fireless loco to maintain services I wouldn't have been surprised hehe

Heh maybe. There's a clear enough area next to the track where it was. Most people go from Rughy to Long Lawford and some to Wolston but rarely more than a handful go beyond. Usually to Morrisons at Binley. After that it's usually concession pass holders as the public mainly use National Distress.

heh thats a great plan. And yes the Evil Bus Driver does indeed do the 86. If you're regular on there you've probab;y seen me already. I'm the one with long hair.