Retro_man

I use the same method for pipe flanges and use spare DJH etched shed code plates as works plates - there are plenty on their kits and they are not much good for use as shed plates. Once painted the numbers are virtually unreadable without a magnifier.

You say it has sound so this could also be a decoder issue - I suggest you replace the decoder with a blanking plug and try again with regular DC control. If it runs well, the problem is the decoder/settings/controller compatibility - if it shows the same problems - then you need to look at the loco electrics/motor. Steve

This looks really interesting - what wheels does it need? Steve Canada

If I really wanted to 'prosper' I would have purchased a Starbucks instead of a model railway business, or perhaps even just stayed in my previous employment! But like most model railway business owners I am in it for the love of the hobby and for the benefit of my many regular customers. Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

Hello Barry, Could you post a link to this please as I cannot find it using the search function? Thanks in advance, Steve

Perhaps the thinking is they can make more money by selling the licence to Bachmann than continuing to sell the trains...

The margin hasn't been 33% for quite a while!

That sounds very interesting - any pictures? Steve Canada

It would be very useful to see those - can you post them here please? Thanks in advance. Steve

Samantha is the current owner of Falcon Brassworks.

Sorry for my confusion. I have the Jidenco instructions - not sure if you have them - but there is not much there in any case. Samantha at Falcon Brassworks did say they will email kit instructions if anyone needs them - perhaps they have been improved :-) The Jidenco sketch does not show the coupling rod. Thank you for posting photos of your build, they will help me when I start on mine. Steve

The kit I received from Falcon Brassworks last November (see post #1 above) included the valve gear etch - you could ask Samantha if it is available separately.

I cut thin slivers off a brass tube using my 'lathe' - a 3/8" electric drill clamped in my bench vice. I use a short piece of tubing projecting perhaps a 1/2" from the chuck and make a groove with a junior hack saw near the end. I then file the end of the tube so the groove is the thickness of the spectacle away from the end. I then insert a drill shank into the tube and finish the cut with the saw. The drill shank prevents the spectacle flying off into oblivion and also prevents a burr on the inside which can be tough to remove. If the tube is slightly too small, I slightly taper a drill shank and hammer it into the tube end to stretch it to the size I need before starting to cut. This method works well with round spectacles but is useless for other shapes. Luckily I still have a couple of the Mainly Trains etches.

Hornby's RRP in 2014 was £6.80 - 2018 RRP is £16.99. I wish my pension had increased that much in 4 years!

I still have a few Cooper Craft kits in stock including 4 3 packs of the GWR Benches. http://www.modelrailwayimports.com/products.php?q=cooper+craft&s=5 Shipping to the UK for these small kits is quite inexpensive - usually CAD$12 for Small Packet Air (no tracking or insurance). Steve Model Railway Imports Canada Edit due to sale.

Spare parts for Bachmann USA models including Mavis are readily available on-line direct from Bachmann USA. They will also do the repair if you mail it in - the details are on their website. I have used this service several times and they are quick and reasonably priced although I do not know what the shipping cost to the UK would be as I am in Canada. http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=mavis Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

I don't disagree with the benefits of plastic - but why is the packaging so much bigger than it really needs to be? It is a full 4" longer than the turnout and 2" longer than the Code 100 equivalent. This requires extra space for storage and extra cost for shipping as the plastic packaging is also a lot heavier than the old cardboard. Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

Thank you Tony, I did make the parts for the lubricator drive but in the end left it off due to clearance problems with the footplate. Malcolm Graeme was the only D11/2 that I ever saw so that was my reason for building the model. Steve Canada

I built a Bec D11 kit a few years ago but converted it into a D11/2. The chassis is from Perseverance. The kit was crude by today's standards but with a lot of detailng and effort I think it turned out well and due to its massive weight can haul just about anything.

I was taking some photos of the new bullhead turnouts for our website this morning and took this comparison shot of Peco's large right hand OO/HO products. From top to bottom - Bullhead, Code 75 "Finescale", Code 100. I also took this photo of the different packaging - why the extra large size for the Bullhead turnouts Peco? This adds to the cost of shipping - at least here in Canada. Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

Peco also has Code 75 Electrofrog crossings - SLE193 Short and SLE194 Long which require switching.

That is great news - what is the publication please? Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

An upgraded Hornby D49/2 4-4-0 Hunt would be very useful as they were to be found over most of the former NER lines.

What Brossard says - post #2. Canadian Tire primer followed by Canadian Tire gloss black top coat - preferably same make/type as primer to avoid incompatibility issues. Gloss so the decals go on better - you can finish coat with satin or matt varnish to get the final finish you want. Steve Model Railway Imports Canada

Hello Simon, It will be some time before I get around to the build - I just made sure I got the etches while they were still available. Thank you for the tips on the books - I found British Railcars on AbeBooks but the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Locomotives book was a little too expensive. I am not too worried about minor dimensional inaccuracies as long as it looks like a Hughes Railmotor when it is finished! Cheers! Steve