DavidLong

On 03/12/2023 at 09:10, Yorkshire Square said:

Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt.

 

I'm not quite sure what I'm doing here, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm sure it will turn out okay in the end. Maybe... 🤣

 

Thank you to Ant Yeates for the inspiration and Andy Hanson for the DAS!

 

Most courageous if I may say so. I haven't dared to try it yet!

David

The Dapol 73 has 'conventional' wheels with wiper pick-ups. Pointy axles first appeared on the Hymek I believe. I haven't seen some of the more recent productions of the 73 but I doubt that the axle arrangements have been changed.

David

Well done! Glad your persistence was worth it.

David

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/04/we-feel-forgotten-anger-in-crewe-at-scaling-back-of-hs2

Collateral damage.

David

8 minutes ago, Jeremy Cumberland said:

 

From https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-scotland-and-uk-wide-transport-connectivity:

That's the A75, not the Port Road. No rail spending at all in Scotland.

Thanks. At least that has an element of sense to it!

David

39 minutes ago, APOLLO said:

 

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/government-pledges-extend-metrolink-line-27842632

 

Clueless !!

 

Brit15

Just noticed that map has the Port Road on it! Dream on . . .

David

I've done a 24 and 25. Really basic conversions as I don't do lights. 1960s and 1970s they are pretty much a waste of time - 15w candle power at best!

Bought from YouChoos. MS480 decoder + Micro cube 5 speaker + 2x Tantlums. Circuit board is removed and two of board mounts used for attaching the red and black wires. the advantage of the Zimo sound decoders is that you can connect the tantalums directly. They are mounted on a small piece of thin PCB and connected with the grey wires. The purple wires go to the solder tabs on the speaker. All soldering done with a 0.8mm bit at 350 degrees C.

David

On 13/06/2023 at 08:09, CloggyDog said:

Insul-Fish and a BR Insulated van finished and I've also redone Dounreay's backscene. Correct length this time and applied with more care. The horizon is a few cm lower, giving more sky. 

 

And I tracked down a couple of period poster images online and printed them off to help set the timeline. 

 

Pretty much ready for DEMU Showcase next weekend in Sutton Coldfield, followed by Maidenhead club's summer exhibition in Knowl Hill the Saturday after. 

 

Later in the year Dounreay will be at Bracknell show on Sun 29 Oct and Woolwich on Sun 3 Dec. 

Really pleased to see Dounreay at DEMU, Alan. I'd forgotten that it was on RMweb so I've just been back through all the posts that I've missed. It seems that its next appearances are at a bit of distance from Manchester so it may be a while before I can catch up with it again.

David

6 hours ago, Crosland said:

Discrete component package types refer to the length and width. You need an accurate measurement, but I would suggest something like EIA code 2824 or 7260 metric. The 2824 is in thou of an inch and designates 0.82 x 0.24. The metric size is mm and designates 7.2 x 6.0 mm. 

 

That leads you to https://uk.farnell.com/avx/f751a477mrc/cap-470-f-10v-20-2824/dp/2408402 which is 1.2 mm high. The height can vary with value, voltage rating, etc, ...

 

 

That is a different animal, Andrew. This looks like an E package in length and width but is only 1.9mm high (as measured with a vernier) compared to the E specified height of 4.8mm.

David

9 hours ago, LMSfan72 said:

They sound very similar to the ones Youchoos sell as 470uF 16V flat/wide stated as 7x6x2

Ah yes, I think that may be where it came from. I would still be interested in the package description as it doesn't seem to appear in any package tables.

David

I hope a simple question. I have found that I have a 470uF tantalum capacitor in a package that measures 7.3mm x 6mm x 1.9mm. I have looked on a number of lists of package designations but this one doesn't seem to be listed. The length and width (7.3 x 6) seem to appear but not the 1.9mm height. It would be difficult to buy more if I don't have the package designation.

Can anyone help?

David

16 hours ago, woodenhead said:

And I've driven through that underbridge many times

Tesco Walkden!

David

33 minutes ago, davknigh said:

Dinghams should also be considered. Iain gave them a positive review in his book on Cameo layouts. Available from the S4 society now FWIW.

 

Cheers,

 

David

Agreed. I should have mentioned those. Kylestrome of this parish has used them on his West Highland P4 layout. Sadly not available in 2mm scale but I would certainly consider in the larger scale

David

I'm surprised that Jerry didn't suggest DGs. As they lie in line with the buffers they are relatively unobtrusive and allow delayed uncoupling. Used on 'The Depots, Rosedale East' as seen on this 'ere forum. They also don't have the 'harpoon' of the S&W type and no goalposts required.

Please , not Kaydees, absolute sacrilege on this layout.

Lovely work on the layout.

David

8 hours ago, yaxxbarl said:

 

Jerry, David,  John,

 

So I took the plunge and ordered a pair of Recreation21's 3d Austerity prints, and here's one with Farish body for comparison.

 

Initial verdict is that, given some work on the body, there is potential.

 

The underside of the boiler needs cutting away to accommodate the mechanism, and there is plenty room for lead sheet inside the boiler and the bunker. The bunker is an actual bunker too, so scope both for the lead weight and a suitable pile of coal on top. I'll be adding some 44swg wire round the top of the bunker to represent the beading round the top edge. On the print there's no representation of any lamp irons so on the bunker and elsewhere these will be added using scrap bits of nickel silver etch.

 

The foot plate does bend easily, so this will be reinforced with some nickel silver sheet and some strips of scrap etch underneath. Length wise the body is longer than the Farish one, but this is because it is actually the correct scale size for 1:148 N Gauge, rather than being sized to fit the Farish 08 chassis/4P Chassis block. There will be a need for a suitable bit of packing between the association chassis and the buffer beams, I envisage this being sleeper PCB onto which I'll solder the DG couplings.

 

There is raised beading around the front and rear cab windows, this will be cut off to allow the RT etches to be used. On the rear cab etch, if using the as-built round spectacle plates trimming the RT Etch round the edges will allow it to fit whilst preserving the slight overhang both front and rear of the roof which is missing on the Farish casting. A nice feature of the 3d print, that! For the BR/LNER bunker cabs a bit more modification to the cab back is needed, for the Cromford and High Peak examples sans bunker I'm going to splice it in 3 to keep the central door for access to the lamp iron intact.

 

For the cab side opening, this is much more like the real thing though possibly still not quite round enough in the corners. I'll be widening the door aperture slightly and using some nickel silver strip to add the beading round the cab sides and I'll be adding in some handrails.

 

The tank and boiler has no representation of the handrails printed on, which is actually a good thing in my book as it'll make marking out the holes for handrails much easier.

 

Also, the printed steps will be cut off and those on the RT Etch used, together with the reversing rod and a spare N Brass lubricator casting will complete the footplate.

 

The buffers will also be chopped off and replaced with brass ones BUT there does seem to be a representation of the bolts printed on so the buffer beams will, for now, be kept. 

 

Hopefully, I'll have something to show in a week or two/three's time...

 

Cheers,

 

John

 

What is the layering like on the print, John? I'm not much of a fan of Shapeways prints as they tend to have a lot of visible layering.

David

9 hours ago, JeffP said:

What's at Worksop that would interest an electric loco?

I don't think Worksop ever had a depot, although locos did stable there over weekends during the 70's.

Harry Needle Railroad Company depot is at Worksop and also Barrow Hill Possibly there for initial checking. It has self-power (battery + diesel) so doesn't necessarily need OLE.

https://twitter.com/Platform5Rail/status/1673960809758707713

David

As I understand it ASLEF are looking for confirmation by 1st August that Scotrail have a firm plan to withdraw the HSTs at a date prior to 2030. I expect that the union recognises that to withdraw the prime Inter7City stock now would leave the railway in an impossible situation. If a date of, say, 2025 when the 222s are likely to be available, could be agreed then I believe that ASLEF would accept that as a practicable solution.

The problem comes back to Scotrail's so far undefined replacements for the HSTs at the current lease end-date of 2030. They have said that the Meridians don't fit with their decarbonisation strategy by taking on more diesels but they haven't actually come up with an alternative. Unless they can miraculously wire the Stirling - Aberdeen - Inverness triangle in the next seven years then the solution is probably going to involve diesel in some shape or form. The 222s are at least good to 2040 which would buy Scotrail/Holyrood the time to come up with a practical solution to their decarbonisation strategy.

David

3 hours ago, queensquare said:

Agreed, a new generation austerity would be nice. Mine is a hybrid of white metal (Marsh?) and a brass footplate on an Association chassis. Bit crude but looks the part - I really must put a bit of paint over those wires!

 

Jerry

 

That Austerity has an excellent name, Jerry. I thought that you were a Gas man rather a fellow Gooner😄

David

The sad fact is that Scotland's rail policy is in a bit of a hole.  There will soon be available a whole fleet of Meridians from EMR which would be perfect replacements for the ageing HSTs. However, replacing one set of diesel trains with something similar doesn't fit with Scotland's long-term decarbonisation strategy. As always though the missing element of the strategy is the unpleasant aspect of cash. The three main lines forming the triangle of Stirling - Inverness - Aberdeen have a lot of miles and electrification would be expensive, the money for which Scotland doesn't have. The economics of the railway in Scotland has never been good. One hundred years ago it was decided not to form a separate Scottish group as it was decided that it wouldn't stand up financially and Scotland was subsequently divided between the LMS and LNER. Even in BR days, after the Glasgow area electrifications, it was never a priority for wires and it took until this century to bring them to the E & G main line.

How this all plays out will be interesting to say the least but those Meridians are still there waiting . . .

David 

On 04/07/2023 at 10:00, yaxxbarl said:

As I've said already my Austerity is a reworking of one of my first 2FS models - here's a photo of it from 2008 compared with now showing what 15 years of progress makes...

 

2008 - Ballantine wheels on Farish Chassis...

 

 

2023 - Association chassis to correct spacing, RT Models detailing etch

⁷

 

Ultimately there needs to be a new generation of Hunslet Austerity Tank model as a basis, but it's probably still years off since the proposed DJ Models one failed to appear.

 

Cheers,

 

John

Couldn't agree more, John. Absolute plethora of choices in 4mm scale but no sign of an N version since the aborted Jones project. I always hoped that RT would do a 'normal' cab etch to consign that ridiculous Poole cab side cut-out to the dustbin of history but it has never happened.

David

On 12/05/2023 at 20:29, woodenhead said:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/11/27/the-glasson-dock-branch/

And here:

https://rail-books.co.uk/products/lancasters-line-to-the-sea-a-history-of-the-glasson-branch-9780957038790

David

38 minutes ago, Nigelcliffe said:

The Seep/Gaugemaster electromagnet is superior to the PK - the Seep has more pull from far less current.   

 

 

- Nigel

Nigel,

I'm well aware of your views regarding PK magnets but I repeat that I have used them for some 35 years and they have always performed efficiently to operate DG couplings. The Seep are at Gaugemaster prices compared to £8 for a PK, unfortunately not available, and the GOG price of £5 for the Dingham.  Prior to me locating a friendly GOG member I have taken up Redgate Models kind offer of two which I can trial.

I still find it odd that one can buy 4mm couplings but the same supplier doesn't seem to provide the electromagnets.

David

A short question. Is it possible to buy Dingham Electromagnets without being a member of the Gauge 0 Guild. I expect that the answer is no but I thought that I would ask. Unless I have missed something it seems strange that the company selling the 4mm version of the coupler doesn't seem to list the magnets, only the couplings.

The reason I ask is that after a recent conversation with Andrew Hartshorne it sounds unlikely that the PK electromagnets will reappear. I have been using them successfully for around 35 years and I am looking for something similar as a possible replacement.

David

22 hours ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

 

25271 at Ryecroft Junction, Walsall, on 22/09/78 (my photo)

Another classic, perfectly composed picture, Steve. Your website has been much missed these many years!

David

11 hours ago, Yorkshire Square said:

I do so enjoy throwing a bit of flock around! Having formed the groundwork around the new factory, the terrace and the drainage ditch, I dug the electrostatic sieve out and made a start on the grass. The basic  covering is in, now for some weeds and brambles and bushes.

 

 

 

Looking good, Tony. It's really starting to come together.

David