John Isherwood

Tony, I wouldn't dream of it - my point is that there are more of us than you may think who DO notice incorrect wagon numbers. However - we just shake our heads, but are too polite to voice the fact. (It's a banjo / streamlined dome thing)! John Isherwood.

Tony, What you say is a perfectly reasonable and pragmatic point of view, but it is the position of a modeller whose principal interests are locomotives and correct passenger train formations. It would seem that Roy Jackson shared that position. However, for those many modellers who have a special interest in freight wagons, the correct number, together with numerous other details of brakegear, buffers, suspension, etc., etc. are just as important as the locomotive at the head of the train, or the composition of the passing express. My freight stock will ultimately number something approaching six hundred and, as far as my knowledge and skill permit, each one will be correct in detail and have a unique, authentic number. We all have our priorities; none are 'correct' - just those aspects of the prototype that we cannot overlook. John Isherwood.

Thanks to the generosity of Les Bird (above), a Dapol / Hornby Magazine STOVE R arrived by post this morning; it's the first time that I've seen one 'in the flesh'. It does look a little 'tubby', and could probably be narrowed, but I can live with it for now. What interested me more was the apparent diabolical running characteristics that have been widely reported. Of course, the wheels are too small, and the only realistic way to remedy this will be to fit a Five79 fish van underframe - which will happen when they become available as a separate item. For now, I wanted to see if it is possible to get it running satisfactorily with the wheels as supplied. Inverting the model and laying a straight edge along the wheel treads, it was clearly apparent that the centre wheels have zero vertical movement, and that the centre wheel flanges sit on the underside of the chassis with the tread higher (when inverted) than the outer wheels; no wonder the thing won't run properly!!! Having removed the centre axle and wheels, it was clearly apparent that all of the plastic 'slabs' that connect the centre axleguards to the inside axle bearing would have to be removed; this was achieved using a burr in a mini-drill. In the course of this somewhat drastic and messy job, the axleguards fall free, as they rely on the plastic 'slabs' for fixing. (Panic not - they'll glue back in place in due course)! Having got rid of the two joining 'slabs', and tidied up any resulting 'furry' bits, the burr was also used to deepen the slot for the centre axle until, when dropped into the bearing with the model inverted, the wheel treads were at least 1mm. below a straight edge laid across the outer wheel treads. Satisfied that the centre wheels could now revolve freely, I glued the axleguards to the solebars with cyanoacetate glue - alignment is simple as they fit snugly between other solebar fittings. Once the glue had set, I refitted the centre axle / wheels. A drop of oil on the bearings, and the model was placed on the track - and it ran freely and smoothly! I could even propel it through points with no problem whatsoever. So, the model in question is not beyond redemption and, if you can live with the width of the body and the small wheels, it can be turned into a good runner in less than an hour. Reducing the width and fitting correct wheels will be Episode 2, and is for another day. John Isherwood.

Font - Helvetica may suffice; size - you'll need to measure the number on your model. CJI.

I don't think that that sort of attitude is going to elicit much help here !! CJI.

All I can say is that it was numbered as BR capital stock - which, to the best of my knowledge, indicated that it was BR property. Privately-owned prototypes seemed to have invariably been numbered in separate series; hence D0280 becoming D1200 on it's purchase by BR. CJI.

Don't think so - delivered to BR, always owned by BR - with or without the turbine. Please check before posting. CJI.

A tarted-up 9F then; not a real one, I trust, if it's to "run off" a "partial bridge"! The usual film production company 'guff'! CJI.

Tony, Agreed - but where can one get it now? John Isherwood.

It was specifically converted for testing and driver training, prior to the production 26kv locos being delivered; it was never intended to be a long-term revenue loco. As to any of the production locos having "barely worked"; perhaps you can support this statement? Some classes had more teething troubles than others, but there was never a surplus of 25kv locos, to the best of my knowledge - hence the 86 and 87 classes. CJI.

I'll be happy to take it as the basis of a hack-about - what do you want for it? My address can be found at https://www.cctrans.org.uk/ Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

A shame - I'd have taken it off your hands and rechassised it. John Isherwood.

My transfers are for BR liveried wagons; I doubt that they'd be much use for renumbering Scottish Gas Board liveried internal user wagons. The OP makes no mention of wishing to apply BR era numbering; (which would require black patches. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

DUPLICATE POST

I'm afraid that you are misunderstanding my project; the LV output from the transformer feeds an AC ring main around the entire railway room. This feeds several plug-in points for voltage regulator controllers which convert the AC to controlled DC. Therefore there are ample opportunities for inadvertent short-circuits in the LV AC wiring - as I found out the hard way. No fault whatsoever within the PSU. I am convinced of the need for overload protection within the LV AC circuitry, and not convinced that a low value fuse within the HV primary circuit would solve the overload problem. Let me set out my layman's perspective on this matter - and I am quite happy to be told that it is hogwash! The primary circuit, fitted with a 5 amp fuse, will produce 240 x 5 = 1200 Watts of power. That power, via electro-magnetism, is converted into power in the secondary circuit; in this case at 12V. Thus 1200 watts could potentially generate 1200 ÷ 12 = 100 amps of current; surely enough to destroy any secondary windings? As I said - probably hogwash - but basic physics nearly sixty years ago, plus some logic, is the way that my brain works! CJI.

I'm guessing Dudley (or Doodleh)? CJI.

Tony, Would you mind telling me the source of the backscene in this photo? It is exactly what I need for my current project. Many thanks in anticipation, John Isherwood.

Thanks for that - https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/resettable-wire-ended-fuses/5176900/ ordered.

Thanks for that - but what I need on the AC output circuit is something that will interrupt the current instantaneously - not be reliant on human intervention. As I have found to my cost, a short-circuit across the AC output terminals produces serious overheating, and death to the transformer. Unless someone tells me otherwise, https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/resettable-wire-ended-fuses/5176900/ seems to be what I need. John Isherwood.

Good advice - and the https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/resettable-wire-ended-fuses/7127496/ has too long a trip interval at 15.6 seconds. I note that some of the polyswitches specify the voltage rating as being DC? On reflection, https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/resettable-wire-ended-fuses/5176900/ seems to meet my requirements, and no mention of DC! (I assume that polyswitches will function on AC)? Your views would be appreciated. John Isherwood.

Thank you - very helpful. On the face of it, then https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/resettable-wire-ended-fuses/7127496/ this might be suitable? (I assume that they function OK in AC circuits)? If so, I'll get a couple ordered straight away. Thanks again, John Isherwood.

David, Thank you for this - very helpful. I must confess that I was thinking in terms of the old Tri-ang cut-outs when considering how I should provide output overload protection for the transformers. Are there no modern components that can limit the current flowing in a LV AC circuit, by breaking the circuit if a preset current is exceeded? I do wonder if 1 amp would be sufficient for my purposes - some of my locos have 1960s / 70s motors and I will be using them for double-heading; that was one reason that I bought transformers with a rating of 50VA for two 12V output circuits. The controllers that I use are based on variable voltage regulator circuits - see Having used them for some time now, they seem to cope with the occasional short-circuit within the output to rail circuitry without adverse effect, so I had not considered the need for overload protection in that area. Any further thoughts concerning resettable overload protection within the LV AC circuitry would be gratefully received. John Isherwood.

Have no fear - the transformers are safely encased in purpose-made commercial cases, and are properly earthed. The twin 12V AC outputs are attached to the cases, and comprise proper electrical screw terminals. These are by no means the first power units that I have constructed in my 70+ years; I am fully aware of the potential hazards; an0d I proceed with due caution. As part of this due caution, I am now more aware of the risks of a short circuit on the LV side, and this why I am seeking to install overload protection. CJI.

Having now received the replacement transformers that I ordered, they will be installed this afternoon. I spent yesterday afternoon ensuring that the cable joints in the wiring connected to the two halves of the LV AC circuitry are sufficiently separated, to avoid the short-circuit which destroyed the original transformers recurring. However, I am now acutely aware of the fact that a short circuit in that side of the wiring could be fatal for the transformers, and I would like to install a fail-safe device that will interrupt any such overload before damage is done. Ideally, a resettable circuit breaker would, I imagine, serve the purpose - though a replaceable fuse might also work? The transformers in question are https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/chassis-mounting-transformers/0504672/ I would be grateful if someone could provide a link to a suitable component that could save me the expense of replacing these transformers for a second time! I am assuming that such a device would be installed in series within the LV AC circuitry? Many thanks in anticipation. John Isherwood.

Attached are the instructions for my transfers; I will be posting six sets today in response to requests received this morning. Regards, John Isherwood.