dj_crisp

Skipper will be ace

I'll second that the CLAG website is excellent and my source of loco wheel sizing. It's been a real help! I've just done a 56 conversion using Ultrascale 3ft9 diesel wheels and there are a few shots on my thread but not really step by step instructions. The only tricky bit is solving having a bit of wheel rock (solved with a file) on one of the bogies. The Ultrascale diesel disc wheels are excellent but I'm sure the price has gone up since i last bought them. I can also reccommend Nigel Burkin's book "Fine Tuning and Maintaining 00 Gauge Models" which is usefull as he model's in EM and has step by step instructions on using black beetles (very similare to DCC concepts) on a 33, the 08 conversion using ultrascales, drop in Ultrascale 37s etc. and a Hornby 31. I found it very helpful and the only way i could do my 09 as it's a bit awkward. If you plan on doing a few locos I've found my favourite specialist tool is a GW wheel press and wheel puller which is a great help to everything nice and square! I just use cheap M2 washers from ebay as spacers and other tips are burring the axle where the gear is and using some loctite. I really like the DCC concepts wheel which is easily available (atm) and pretty cheap (around £22 i think from Hattons for 12 axles). The OO & EM gauge have the same axle and profile so there is no need to get worry there... in fact if you do an EM conversion... then decide it's not for you then you can always re-gauge to OO FS! Hope this helps Will

I've used DCC concepts on lots of my diesels... anything that has a 2mm axle as you reuse the gears. Think they're great.. very similar to Branchlines wheelsets and I just file down the pinpoint axles. From your list I've used them for Bachmann 66s and a Heljan 58... and I also use them on Heljan 33s, Vitrains 37, Bachmann 20 & Hornby 60s. Also they are a solid wheel they're very easy to align pickups. TBH I like they for anything that uses a 10.5mm,12mm or 14mm wheel, and use ultrascale diesel disc wheels for 13mm (class 43) or 15mm (47, 56). That little lot pretty much covers most classes that I model. I'm tempted to start a thread on listing diesel conversions if it helps... Cheers Will

I've always seen my membership to hobby societies as a small payment to fund groups that interest me. Some years I get massive amounts of benefit from being a member by ways of support/help etc... other years less so but thats fine as I'm happy that I'm helping to keep it ticking over (sadly very time poor atm. so cannot volunteer etc.) When you get announcements such as this it makes membership even more worthwhile as I know that (in a small way) my subscription has helped. (I doubt that the R&D costs in man hours are even remotely factored into end costings). I think anyone who thinks that joining any society they are interested in is a tax... or a liability is really missing the point of them. I totally understand the reasons (from a company & tax perspective) of continuing to operate as a society Vs a commercial enterprise. This means EM track is only being made available to EM members. As to a wider audience. TBH RMweb and some advertising through magazines is probably enough imo. There aren't masses of model shops around and the internet is key these days. Anyway I just want to congratulate all involved on this fantastic announcement (and of course I know you'd all like the challenge of doing some flat bottom track next Pretty please cheers Will

No paypal then.... I'm curious as to what form of payment you think is ok for a society to deal with and isn't stuck in the dark ages.

I'm finding that I'm needing to clean all of my Hornby locos around the worm in the gear box. The worst offenders refuse to move.... and the better ones do stutter. But these are locos that haven't been run for a while. Cleaning the contacts on the 50s is always a good idea as loads of dirt finds it way there

Now that's a proper shed!

Interesting comments on the distribution of the points... I'd say that most members have built stuff to EM already, and I expect will be interested in the points for new projects (i.e. me). But to increase awareness and expand the usage of EM selling to non members is a good idea. A bit of encouragement to join the society is needed as new blood helps keep it going so I'm all in favour of different pricing. (a kind of EM non member tax... lol).

Looking very smart

A starter pack is a good idea. Tbh membership cost isn't much in the scheme of things and well worth it for the manual alone. If I can bodge diesel conversions then anyone can imo. Yet to try a steam loco... and I took the easy ultrascale route for my 09. Perhaps I'm a little odd in that I enjoy converting my stuff... they all seem to run better afterwards.

Excellent news Flatbottom track next please

I know understand your design - impressive!! Snipping off and re-positioning is ok as this is something I do on all my conversions (or dare I say it leaving off all together!). The bit thats difficult is if the bogie is too narrow and cannot accommodate the wheelsets resulting in needing a fold up etch. Out of general curiosity do you know the profile of the wheelsets that you intend to use? I'm definitely in for a smallish rake - looks fab

I like the sound of this

Excellent choice. Will the bogies accept EM gauge wheels? Cheers Will

Very nice

I haven't seen one in the flesh and will venture out to have a look at one sometime soon. I was planning on buying online but the windows and lump in the roof shown on here has (I admit) put me off. The prices don't put me off. The amount of work to bring older models up to scratch is high and more of a put off tbh as I have other things to do. So it'll be nice if these are good. Cheers Will

Some great photos there - i wonder of there are any cameras small enough to fit inside your boxenby when it's finished

Simply stunning.

This is looking proper tasty

Lee - your 40 is ace

An excellent watch Thanks!

Reading this thread I've realised sleeping is seriously expensive. Just think of how much modelling time I'm losing due to it!

I've personally got no problems with Heljan and like them... the LLC version doesn't exist so is not worthy of comment imo. I think the criticisms of the Heljan model are fair based on the images I've seen so far.... and its not a cheap purchase. It is the closest RTR model of a 50 that I've seen so in that respect Heljan should be congratulated. Doesn't mean it's perfect and think there are improvements to be made.

A very nice line up

It looks a fairly large lump in the roof to me. I haven’t looked at one in the flesh but I'm now beginning to understand the comments on the glazing. Thanks for sharing the photos! Cheers Will