nickwood

7 hours ago, GrumpyPenguin said:

Looking back on this thread makes me wonder if some of the posters are on  here ;

 

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=dull mens club uk

 

 

Some might argue that just being on RMweb would qualify you 

58 minutes ago, Free At Last said:

I did the same with mine. I think the wire I use came from a picture frame hanging kit from a bargain shop.

I just bought and used the same steel wire that comes in the pack. Wizard sell it separately.

16 hours ago, RexAshton said:

I've used the DGs for years with excellent results.  I know you're working in 00 but 0 gauge ones are a better bet. Dimensionally they are the same as the 00 ones but are etched on slightly thicker brass. This means that the folds do not need reinforcing with solder - making them easier to chemically black (paint will gum them up). The extra thickness also improves the fit of the delay latch which on the 00 ones can drop down the side of the hook as it's quite a loose fit in its hole.

I’ve used DG’s on my 00 exhibition layout for over 10 years. I’ve never felt the need to reinforce the folds and chemically black them before fitting. They are robust but far more discreet than S&W’s. You can have loops both ends and they will still work but they need to be accurately set up. As RexAshton has said the delay latch is the weak point, set it too loose and it flops around too much, set too tight and it flips up but doesn’t drop back down. Mine work properly about 95% of the time for the rest I have  a coffee stirrer with a small magnet on the end to lift the loop.

Talking of loops, the couplings come with phosphor bronze wire and steel wire. The instructions say to form the loop out of the PB wire and solder a steel wire dropper to it. If you do this then the coffee stirrer/magnet method of uncoupling will not work. Not only that but it is very fiddly to solder up. I ditch the PB wire and make the whole loop and dropper out of one piece of wire to a method I found with a google search.

There are more discreet couplings like the AJ but I suspect the payoff is that they are more fiddly to make/setup and don’t provide the same functionality. 
 

On 19/03/2024 at 22:11, NHY 581 said:

 

I ordered some from the rep today. He advised that delivery was two to three weeks. If I remember correctly, RRP was £7.50 but as for the quantity, I have no idea........

 

Rob

 

Rob 

I could post a photo of the bottle but I’ve resisted as Deluxe were not sure if the labelling was their final version nor am I sure if Andy Y would be happy with the free advertising.

Size of bottle is about the same as a bottle of super glue and has a very fine needle applicator.

update: you get 25ml.

11 hours ago, jazzer said:

That’s quite remarkable. I have two panniers and although they are not bad as slow runners once they start they always need a bit of power to  get moving and start with a bit of a jerk. Same with stopping . I can’t get a smooth stop. I have two Bachman small prairies which seem to have the same or similar motor/gear set up but are both far, far superior to the panniers. I feel that I’ve tried everything with the panniers but the oil you mention is definitely worth a try.

I would add that the video was taken at the end of a days exhibiting when perhaps the track and wheels were not at their cleanest. 
I have 3 Bachmann 57xx panniers all of which are good runners. I also have a 64xx which runs well but is a little noisy. All are well run in and their wheels are cleaned before each exhibition. Track is cleaned at the beginning of each day of an exhibition. 
There should be no reason that your panniers shouldn’t run as well as mine providing all is clean, pickups are functioning correctly, back to backs are set right and the track is clean. The oil may help but I would also be checking the above.

A short video of one of my Bachman panniers which was serviced using this oil starting and pulling smoothly away at low speed. Note it starts from a position straddling the point frog.

On 17/03/2024 at 10:20, Dragonboy said:

Looking forward to giving this lubricant when it’s available.

As far as I know it will be sometime in April. You’ll need to keep an eye on their website or watch out for the modelling press reviewing it.

21 hours ago, sjrixon said:

Interesting that you found that much of a difference.. I did look at their stand, but I figured thin oil was thin oil.... Maybe next time I run out, I'll look again.

 

Although my Dean Goods isn't running well, so maybe some different oil might help. 

It might help but if your Dean Goods is inherently a poor runner then don’t expect miracles. It is only a lubricant afterall.

6 hours ago, AndyB said:

A really enjoyable show. 

 

As an N gauge modeller I was very taken with Bamfylde. I don't recall seeing better looking Peco Code 55 track. 👏

 

Got to agree that it was a really enjoyable show.

Bamfylde was opposite us and we enjoyed watching it from across the room all weekend. The embankment and bridge are a really well observed scene.

20 hours ago, longchap said:

A well prepared return to the circuit Nick and certainly executed with some aplomb with Best in Show. Congratulations.

 

Looking forward to your assessment of the Locomotion lube.

 

 

 

Thanks Bill

I must declare that Deluxe Materials prior to the show approached me to try out their new synthetic loco Lube called Locomotion. I had no previous contact with them before this. They supplied me with a bottle of the oil to use and I serviced all my locos using it before the show. it comes in a plastic bottle with a very fine needle applicator which was very easy to use to get a small amount of oil in the right place. What was noticeable was that the response to my KPC handheld (analogue) controller was enhanced with the locos responding to power a little sooner on rotation of the knob, meaning less voltage was being applied to start the wheels turning and slow running was marginally better. My locos do run pretty slow and smoothly anyway but I am convinced that this oil improved them.

I also dug out a couple of long forgotten locos, an old Airfix 61xx and a Hornby pannier that hadn’t been run for years. Tried running them without any attention and they ran very erratically and noisily as you would expect. I then serviced them using the oil and whilst still not up to today’s running standards, performance was remarkably improved. They were still noisy but started and run much better.

Would I recommend it? Yes I would. It appears to perform at least as good and better than most of the other proprietary products claiming to do the same job that I have tried in the past.  I had no running problems with any of the 12 locos I serviced for this weekends show.
 

Deluxe Materials took some video of one my panniers starting from stationary on a Peco Electrofrog point which will probably appear on their website when the product is formally launched in April.

I have no connection with Deluxe Materials other than as a satisfied Guinea Pig for their product and have not received any inducement to give my thoughts on this product.

if you have any questions about it’s use then please fire away. 
 

22 hours ago, richbrummitt said:

Good to finally see the layout in the flesh today. If in doubt add another pannier was being taken to the limit when I stopped by with a goods being shunted down the quarry sidings behind a light engine. Probably too much going on to match the reality of an 8 mile branch, but otherwise risk being criticised by others for nothing much happening. The scene is beautifully modelled. I did here someone nearby muttering to another that it must be fine scale. 
 

It’s a fine balance as you say but you probably came at an unusual juncture if what you saw is the episode I think it was. Generally we work to a sequence of passenger train in, followed by prepare to depart. Goods arrives and holds in the loop. Passenger departs. Goods shunts the yard, forms the outgoing goods and then departs. Repeat. 
if there is any lull whilst the fiddle yard operator sorts things out then we hold a pannier in the cider yard which shunts some wagons there.
The vast majority of punters just don’t stay and watch if nothing is moving. 

Hi Terry, nothing north of Oxford at the moment but who knows what the future holds.

Much Murkle was awarded Best in Show by Steve Flint

8 hours ago, longchap said:

All the best for a great return to the exhibition circuit this weekend Nick. Unfortunately my UK trip had to be shunted back to the next weekend, so I will sadly miss seeing you and MM again!

 

 

Thank you Bill. Shame that your plans have changed. Another time I’m sure.

Good luck with the layout sale Andy, I’m sure it will be replaced by a new albeit smaller one before too long. I’ll say hello to Kevin for you.

Take care.

Thanks Ian

Much Murkle is loaded in the car ready for the short journey to Basingstoke this evening and its first outing since Milton Keynes in March 2020, 4 long years ago.

I’m looking forward to the buzz of exhibiting again and spending the weekend with my team mates, old and new. 
I’m acting as a Guinea Pig for Deluxe Materials new product, “Locomotion” a synthetic loco oil claimed to reduce friction and give smoother starting at lower voltage. It’s not on the market yet but I’ve serviced all my locos with it and will review it here after the show.

if you are reading this and attending the Basingstoke show please make the time to stop for a chat.

15 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Really looking forward to seeing @Hampshire Hog layout Millway Docks, especially as it will now be running in the 90's period.

Andy, make sure you stop by Much Murkle and say hello. It’s been a long while since we crossed paths.

On 24/01/2024 at 06:02, nickwood said:

Thanks, Actually I hadn’t noticed they were in there until you mentioned it and I checked the box. When I get a minute I’ll fit them and see if they solve the problem. Cheers.

 

They didn’t solve the problem unfortunately so I’ve had to resort to moving the fixing screws. No big deal except the narrow scrolls will have to stay as one of the wider ones broke removing it 😟

On 24/01/2024 at 19:09, MrWolf said:

That's the new M&SWJR section isn't it?

Yes it is

1 hour ago, gwrrob said:

 

Right, who's going to be first to weather the roof like that.

Thanks for those photos Rob, will come in handy when I get around to getting the airbrush out 😀

Hi Kevin

I've just been catching up with your recent antics. I'm going to PM you some scans of an old (1960's?) RM article that I did a few years ago in case I ever wanted to do a similar project to your weed-killing train. You may have seen it but if not it could be useful. 

Nick

48 minutes ago, 57xx said:

 

Good to see you back, Nick. Have you tried fitting the narrow scroll irons from the accessory pack?

Thanks, Actually I hadn’t noticed they were in there until you mentioned it and I checked the box. When I get a minute I’ll fit them and see if they solve the problem. Cheers.

Link to the details of the Basingstoke show