bubbles2

My Bachmann double Fairlie has a Zimo MX659 N18 decoder fitted as standard, I recently bought from Digitrains a LaisDCC 872007 stay alive hoping to fit this. On the Zimo instruction manual there is information on fitting stay alive to the MX659 on page 62 but it’s looking like I may have to change the decoder, has anyone fitted a stay alive to a MX659 N18 or any advice on how to do this please?

Are Old Time Workshop transfers/ decals still available ?

Thanks for the reply’s, so cat no 32-522NRM had a lighter roof, but still no conclusive proof that the blue changed to a lighter ( as built?) blue.

Another difference appears to be the light yellow lining around the grey roof which my early 32-520 model does not have, can’t believe I purchased  mine back in February 2002 from the NRM, no. 46 on the receipt.

Does anyone know the catalogue numbers for the different livery versions of DP1.

Am I right in thinking the east coast liveried version is a lighter blue where as the west coast liveried one is the slightly darker as preserved blue?

The Bachmann spares site has both the ECML and WCML bodies listed but it looks like they have used the same image for both, at least I cant tell the difference.

So I’ve finally got around to dismantling my gate stock to paint the interior and add some passenger, the floor I guess will be a nondescript grey colour and the seat ends varnished wood but does anyone know the colour of the seat upholstery?

Great news! Got 2 Parkside kits waiting to be finished in Rail blue, must get them sprayed up now.

I’m using a file from  Jonathan Duffett on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/ironmink/designs

I’m sure I read somewhere he draws to full size so they need to be scaled down as required.

I’m trying to scale, or rather my son is for me (he’s the one with the 3d printer) from a file drawn full size down to 4mm, or 1/76 scale so it’s probably a silly question but do I reduce the scale to 1. 76? 

An old thread I know but just wondering if  these GWR tool vans ever got printed?

A few of my own pictures from Flickr.

Thanks for the reply’s that’s made my mind up I’ll stick with SMP, another box ordered today.

On 25/08/2023 at 22:30, AJ'S said:

Does anybody know if Peco have made the Bowsiders to the correct length and width unlike the bug boxes which are oversize. 

I hadn’t realised the Peco bug boxes are oversize, how oversize are they?  If they are too oversize they will look wrong when coupled with the bowsiders, or are these also to be oversize.

How does Peco code 75 bullhead track compare to SMP code 75 flexible track, I’ve been using the SMP nickel silver type J for many years and wondered if it is compatible with the latest Peco code 75 bullhead, is the sleeper spacing similar and would the sleeper/rail height line up when connecting the 2 types, all info gratefully received.

The last 3 issues of Model Rail, no. 316, 317 and 318 are advertising their Ruston ‘PWM’  0-6-0DE as having sprung buffers, none of my 3, the first 2 were returned due to poor running, had or have sprung buffers…. Do yours?

So today my Model Rail no. 317 dropped through the letter box, was this the original or a response to the email? If it was as a response to the email it was certainly very quick.

So I waited the 10 days that the Great magazines web site says to wait, tried to order a replacement subscription copy from my active subscription and it says unable to order a replacement so have now sent an email to bauer@subscription.co.uk and had an automated response saying they aim to get back to me within 2 working days.

I have not yet received my Model Rail no. 317 mail order copy, which is unusual as it normally drops though the letter box several days before it’s available over the counter and I see it’s in WH Smith’s today, has anyone else received their mail order copy yet or are they all late?

Does anyone know if Roger Smith 4mm scale OO (rogersmithmodelrailways.com) are still trading?

BR blue syp at Bristol, click on the picture for my Q13 Flickr album.

Also the derail bars at the bottom of the buffer beams are the wrong way round, the L shaped bar should face under the buffer beam.

10 hours ago, paulbb said:

The flanges look a little deep/big, not unlike the TT120 models recently introduced.

As you say the flanges are rather deep, although it runs smoothly on my hand built code 75 point work and SMP track, also the plastic centres are quite rough mouldings with flash left on the inside of the spokes, certainly not what we expect on our recently produced models.

1 hour ago, BlackRat said:

Geoff that’s pretty awful! 
 

I wonder how many more will end up splitting like that, reminds me of the old Mainline wheels with the plastic ‘muffs’….

 

I was going to order 651, friend of the family used to drive it at Radyr and as I lived just up the road I spent many happy hours trundling around the yard.

 

I might give Chris a ring at Kernow and see if I can pick one up as a static.

Hi Neil, good to hear from you. Yes this is all a bit sad, I do wonder if the wheel splitting is caused by the liberal amount of oil that all 3 of my  PWMs  have been covered with, yes I received my Model Rail 3rd blue one today having returned the first 2.

The latest one is the best runner of the 3, so hopefully it’s 3rd time lucky, this one has the problem with the cab light where if you turn it off with the supplied wand it comes on again under low power, changing direction or when stopped and started again, but as I’ve said before the cab light is far too bright and I think a bit of a gimmick, so if this one survives beyond the guarantee period I’ll be doing away with this.

There is a rather good 8 page spread featuring the PWMs in Model RAIL 313, although no mention of the problems with the models of course.

If you have any luck getting hold of knock down priced returns please let me know, these locos spent time being towed in PW trains between work locations so unpowered examples would be ideal for including in these trains, originally when first announced I thought I’ll have 3, one each in Green, blue and yellow, sadly the high price and problems have now put me off.

On 14/04/2023 at 06:32, bubbles2 said:

Received my replacement yesterday following a phone call from Kernow, he said they all wobble a bit but most not as bad as the one I returned, I was offered my money back but I opted for the one that  wobbled the least and the replacement is much better and certainly acceptable to me. The problem with this one is the cab light will not stay turned off with the wand supplied, when stopped or at low power or changing direction it just comes on again, but I will disconnect or mask it as in my opinion it is far too bright and something of a gimmick. The gap under the bonnet that most have I can probably sort once I get it apart, the bar at the bottom of the buffer beam is fitted badly  but these will need to be removed temporarily to fit the tension lock blanking plate and screw link couplings, So all in all not too bad, but still not what I expect from a new model. I give it 5 out of 10, could do better. 

Well it’s just as well I hadn’t got around to fitting screw links and disconnecting the cab light as what was a reasonable runner has developed a pronounced limp and on investigation I discovered the inner plastic part of the left front wheel has split where the axel passes through it along with a spoke split at the outer end and the outer circumference of the plastic  wheel insert also has a split where the metal tyre fits over it, very disappointing. So back it must go to Kernow, hopefully for a replacement.

On further investigation the front right wheel also has a split at its centre.