Steven B

BNFL #4, 5 & 6 are Hunslets: (Ray Forster on Flickr) (Ray Forster on Flickr) http://bescotplus.co.uk/trains/BNFL6_NortonLakeside0329

I'm not worried if a model has nine rivets instead of ten, but I am worried if there are rivets where there should be a weld. I find it interesting seeing different approaches. I've seen stunning hand-built fine scale track running through what I'd consider poorly executed scenery. Likewise I've seen layouts with stunning scenery with course scale track and radius 1 curves. Neither way is better than the other - just "different". Model railways/railway models is a broad church with each member of the congregation finding their own space of happiness. Sometimes they cross over! Steven B

You still need to rule out any issues with the RSA/USB adaptor. I'd imagine that when you plug the converter in you'll get an additional audio input device on your PC. The PC should be capable of playing back sound from this input via the normal speakers/headphones - doing this should prove the adaptor is working correctly. Play some tunes into the adaptor from your external source and check that both inputs are working. Steven B

Is the burning smell there with the body/lighting fitted/connected? Is it an electrical burning smell, or more plasticky? I'd be tempted to unscrew the PCB and with the loco running touch each component to see which is getting hot enough to make the burning smell. The other option is to turn the power up to 11 and see what goes pop! Steven B

Coreless motors don't mean slow top speeds - if models can't reach the top speed of the prototype then the gearing's at fault. Steven B.

The tank and the crane /column could be one and the same construction: 45305 LMS Black 5 taking water at Wigan Wallgate. 4/8/1968 by Idle Drifter, on Flickr Steven B.

Ah, a PCB from Dapol's "could do better" phase... The residue on the PCB is probably flux from the soldering - it's probably "no clean" which means it should do no long term damage. It won't be the cause of the problems. It should clean off with some IPA or methylated spirit on a cotton bud/Q-Tip if needed. The PCB should be screwed to the chassis block with two screws. It looks like only one is still there. I'm not sure if the black coating (paint?) is conductive - adding a sliver of insulating tape under the PCB won't hurt. You'd need to check what the red wire is connected to. Is there a matching black one on the other side? It looks like Dapol have used standard DCC colours for the wiring (red & black = track, orange & Grey = motor, yellow & white = F0f & F0r). I'm not sure the component with the burn mark is a transistor - Dapol used twin diodes in the same package. A few years ago they appear to have had a batch that burnt out. I've had issues with them on other Dapol models, mainly HST and classes 26 and 58. The usual diagnosis from what I remember is if the model works normally with the body (and hence lights) not fitted. With nothing plugged into the decoder socket, check that there's no contact between the motor feeds and the chassis. I'd put some kapton tape under the PCB just to be on the safe side. The wires soldered to the PCB aren't pretty and do have quite a bit of bare metal exposed on the wire. As belt-and-braces, either re-solder them with less exposed metal or paint them to be on the safe side. As suggested, I'd do any further testing on DC, and when 100% happy test on a DCC programming track. Much less chance of magic smoke being released! Steven B

One for next year? Courage Brewery Hudson / Hunslet 0-4-0DM 1786 'Courage' by MikeG, on Flickr Or with a bit more weather protection: (John Stein on Flickr)

Are both left/right channels on the USB-RCA adaptor working? If you play music back via it and listen via the PC do you get both channels? Audacity is a great tool - I've never had any problems with it, even for basic recording. Have you set the preferences to record stereo audio from the correct source? Alternatively, try Windows 11's Sound Recorder app. Steven B

Why would a Mk3a Sleeper need a barrier coach? I'd assumed they were all fitted with buffers and standard coach drop-head buckeye couplings?

Assuming the water crane/column is gravity fed, then the bottom of the tank has to be above the top of the highest point of the water crane otherwise it won't work. Steven B.

Nice to see the Guy Fowkes one has been shrunk and available on its own! Any chance of Valentine & Taylor Wines & Spirits livery being served as a half measure too? Steven B

I think I've convinced myself to get a green SYE (D2 Helvellyn), but what I really want is a late condition 45/1... Steven B.

Any chance of some vans and opens in plain colours with basic tare/weight lettering and numbers? Peco's own brown and grey are nice but a bit of a limited colour palette. Steven B.

I've voted - assuming Snowdon railway stock would be done to 009 and I'd be able to run it on my N Gauge track. A 1:148 Ivor would be modelling heaven! I think I could make an exception for a OO gauge version but it would have t come with DCC sound. I'm still waiting to vote for Cycloped complete with animated horse. Steven B.

You may be able to remove the N and E lettering leaving you with a plain grey wagon that can go at the end of your rake. If you decide to go down the route of a repaint, the body is held onto the chassis with a couple of clips, one either side of the body, both located between the hopper chutes. Steven B

The yellow marker shows the wagon is "circuit working" - i.e. on a dedicated out and back working, usually on a predefined route. Steven B

Put some tape on each of the brass contacts at the faulty end in turn and re-run your tests - this should help work out which feed is for the red LED. Once you know this you can follow the tracks and wires back towards the Next18 socket. The wire runs may look OK, but from your photos of the PCB marked "F7118+PCB08-A" a couple of the solder joints could benefit from being remade. Steven B

Former HMS Grimsby (M108 - now M310) & HMS Shoreham (M112 - now M311)? If Turkey does let them into the Black Sea it'll be interesting to see how they manage against what ever Russian throws at them (or if Russia take a shot at them before they get there - so far their training has been in British waters). Steven B

Ditto, but just in case it doesn't get through to you (got error after clicking submit), I've also PM'd Trains4U. Steven B

I'd be tempted to mirror the layout on the indicated NE-SW axis, putting the station throat near where the current text suggests the canal will go. This has a couple of benefits. Firstly, the point work is closer to the platforms, freeing up space for scenery Secondly, with just two tracks to turn through 90 degrees, you'll be able to run with a larger minimum radius (at least on the scenic section). Steven B

I've got some P7 hoppers to finish off (still got black iron work to paint), but I'm quite pleased with the repaints I've recently finished using Dapol 21t hoppers and minerals. I started with a coat of Halfords red primer followed by Humbrol gloss "Italian Red" (#220). The photo below makes them look a little brown, and perhaps should be a little more orange in shade but I'm happy with them. They look the part behind a NCB loco which is what matters to me! Loco is an EFE Hunslet austerity and they're sat on a T-TRAK module belonging to a member of the NGS's Yorkshire Area Group. Steven B.

The VCA and VDA bodies are now available from the NGS (along with the former TPM POA, limpet, PTA and Russell coal container. You'll need to find a Farish OAA or VAA as a chassis donor as the NGS haven't managed to convince Bachmann to make a batch of the chassis. I'm hoping Rapido follow on the OAA with the air braked Speedlink vans. Steven B

I can understand not mixing the different eras within a single triple pack; It's that the wagons are identical apart from the running number that's most frustrating me, particularly comparing them to the initial release of the VEA. Compare images for the first release: https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/5003/sonic_models_n_vea_vanwide_van?instock=true&onorder=true&soldout=true Each wagon is slightly different - for example, there's different styles of Railfreight logo, white on black vs white on body colour TOPS panels and different location of depot logos. These changes are much more noticeable than a different running number. Steven B

Don't forget the second air-horn. Steven B.