SRman

For anyone brave enough to try the cab window conversion, keep your eyes peeled for suitable glazing material in some of those throw-away bubble packs. As an example, I was given the task of glazing the windscreens for a friend's Langley Atkinson lorry. I happened to open a new computer mouse at work and the curvature of the clear bubble packing caught my eye. When I cut it carefully it had exactly the right curvature to match the shape of the windscreen apertures. I trimmed tiny amounts each time with nail scissors to get a good fit. I glued them in using Micro Kristal Klear (actually a glazing material itself but ideal for this work as it dries clear and fills any slight gaps as well. just an idea, anyway.

Looking good, Mark. I like to do the same thing regarding positioning of buildings and features, although, at the moment very few of the things I have placed on the layout are anywhere near their final positions! That Maunsell coach looks lovely. The full lining out really suited them. I took a few pics of similar vehicles on the Bluebell Railway in 1999. I haven't seen any cheap DCC systems locally but with the very favourable exchange rates currently available, it would be worth your while to check out some of the better US and UK dealers. Even with their expensive postage it can still work out cheaper than buying locally.

Work is still continuing but at a slightly more "relaxed" pace. This is partly due to my having a pinched nerve in my neck which has affected my right arm and index and second fingers. I am avoiding the heavier carpentry work but I have been busy painting the rails and adding card covers over all the baseboard holes under the points. I have completed painting around 80% of what will be visible track on the Underground. I will be measuring up and ordering some code 60 rail shortly to do the third and fourth rails (more @#%$^@&$ rails to paint!!!). DougN, who did the major part of the board construction, is currently winging his way to Britain and Europe; included in that trip is a visit to the ScaleForum exhibition, so I have given him some money with instructions to purchase some of the ScaleFour third rail end ramps (he is a member of that society anyway). The other minor improvement I have made, however temporary, is to prop some of my brick retaining wall mouldings up at one end of the station area, towards the tunnel mouth, plus pasting some old Superquick brick paper to the piece of wood acting as a bridge support. This gives me a better backdrop for photography and I have a few more pictures, posted below. As soon as I figure out how to extract them from the video camera, I also have a couple of videos taken on the layout. My desktop computer is currently blue-screening (yes, that's right, the dreaded BSODs ... Blue Screens Of Death!) due to a hardware fault that I haven't quite pinned down yet. I am working through a process of elimination and I strongly suspect it is the power supply unit at fault. The problem here is that most of the software I need for extracting the video and editing it is on that desktop computer. I am posting from the laptop. which is a competent computer but doesn't have all of my really powerful software (I deliberately keep it less cluttered and encumbered as it is also used occasionally for my work in IT Support at a high school). Even as I type this I can hear the trains running happily around the layout - I have turned the sounds on for both the BR Standard 5 and an Electro-Diesel currently hauling Pullman train and a slightly anachronistic tanker train, respectively. A few days ago, I left the Hornby Arthur Sir Gawaine running with two utility vans and a Maunsell 3-set while I went off and did other things. I came back an hour later to find it still running perfectly well with the locomotive and utility vans pushing the 3-set of coaches around - the coupling between the last utility van and the coaches had obviously let go at some point and the engine had come around and buffered up (no coupling on the front) and just kept going. The sprung buffers on both locomotive and coaches must have absorbed the impact and there was no sign of buffers overriding each other or locking, which means my transition curves must be working properly (which is nice to know!). Firstly a night shot with the Bachmann 2EPBs occupying the station. Also running were a Bachmann 4CEP and a train of Hornby Pullmans, all with lights on. The rear one is running solo but the front pair of units are running in multiple (consisted). Next, a Lima Electro-Diesel but fitted with a Hornby mechanism and Howes' sound, hauling a train of tank wagons from a slightly earlier era. This shows the newly painted track and also the new cover plates of card over the holes where the point motors are fitted. I have also shifted the temporary programming track so it is less obtrusive. And now, two shots of the Bachmann 2EPBs, also showing the painted rails, etc. Painting the rails has alerted me to one advantage of wiring the points fully for DCC with the microswitches: I can paint the point blades and stock rails completely without having to worry about keeping any electrical contact between them.

I have to say that this practice has mystified me too.

That's interesting about your experiences with the Hornby class 153s, Rick. I run two or three 153s in multiple on DCC, using TCS DP2X decoders with no problems of fighting each other at all. Similarly, I have run two of my class 73s ( Lima bodies with newer Hornby mechanisms swapped in, again with TCS decoders) in multiple and they behaved perfectly also. The DCC inertia settings on CVs 3 & 4 compensate for the lack of flywheels under normal use but that is not a substitute when it comes to minor power interruptions caused by dirt on wheels or track. Add to that the traction tyres effectively reduce the pickup wheelbase and real flywheel mechanism starts to make more sense. I have no doubt the VEP motor and mechanism is up to the job but I would still have preferred a real flywheel and more weight rather than traction tyres.

That definitely improves the face, Gareth. You are very brave hacking a brand new model worth well over the ton, though!

I can live with the lack of corridor windows/doors as these would be fairly easy to add using a razor saw to remove the upper half of the corridor partition and replace with card or plasticard which can be cut out easily "in the flat" on a workbench. I do have serious issues with the front ends on all of the photos I have seen of the models. The cab windows are set too far in and likewise the outer edges of the cable recesses. These will be much more difficult to fix but are the important "face" of the model. If that face doesn't look right it spoils the whole model. The rest of the model looks very good, apart from having a motor in the passenger saloon.

As always, Peter, some superb modelling in evidence. I am always impressed by the realism of your weathering. Oh, and the fence looks good too!

A bit difficult for me but I hope you enjoy the experience. I too have a soft spot for Metrobuses, having ridden quite a few London examples and the West Yorkshire Leeds mark 1 and 2 models as well as their Alexander 'R' bodied examples in the mid-'80s (all were regulars on route 63/64 to Aberford at the time). In 4mm scale I have several white metal kit-built examples, several more to build, quite a few variations on the OOC model (some of which I have modified) and also the 1:24 Gilbow model in Metroline livery.

I wonder whethger Hornby may be persuaded to supply replacement interiors for the DMBC coaches. They have certainly come to the party on previous errors or problems, such as the coupling problems with the earlier Pullman releases (of the newer pattern with interior lighting), or replacement smokebox doors for the first releases of Merchant Navies.

... Although Rails have been selling blue/grey and now green ones at reduced prices.

Hi Peter. Many thanks for the kind offer. I may possibly have some already but if I can't find any, I will take you up on the offer. I hope you realise that you have already contributed: that Shark van is wearing transfers you gave me a while back!!

Hi Doug. I did use the power saw and marked it all out first, and I used the proper protective gear, except having the face mask on meant my glasses fogged up so I couldn't see a thing! I probably will need some more MDF so any off-cuts or spare bits you have would be welcomed. And, of course, you are always welcome here, whether it be for work or otherwise!!

Hi Mark. You are welcome to visit whenever you can get over here. I actually built two of the Cambrian kits (they allow for quite a few variations) but the second one is still on the workbench awaiting handrails. Any photos can help with modelling, even after a model has been "completed" - there's always something missing!! Most of the colour light signals are Eckon but a had to use a couple of these VR style ones to fill the gaps as I needed only two-aspect signals for the LT lines. None arewired, as yet, neither are they in anything like final positions. Like the bridge, they are there for show.

I have now been running trains and leaving them to run for several hours a day over the last week. This has allowed me to sort out any troublesome locomotives or stock. Thankfully, I have only had to set aside a few items for fixing, anything from lubricating them to sticking coupling mechanisms to dirty or faulty pickups. I can now confidently leave things running and walk away, coming back later to find all is still well. It has been fun running a variety of stock, old and modern, some of which hasn't had a proper run for quite some time. Today, I cut a piece of MDF and some supports to fill the upper section between the end of the lifting section of the fiddle yard and the fixed corner board. It is not yet screwed down nor is it painted. The train running past has a Bachmann BR Standard class 4 2-6-0 76069 hauling a short mixed goods train of the 1960s. Included at the end of this train is my kit-built SR "Pill Box" brake van, of the type that was recently announced by Bachmann for release this year or next year. Mine is a Cambrian kit. Also, the same train, as seen from the other end of the layout. At the time, I had a Hornby class 50, 50 035 "Ark Royal" running in the other direction with a blue/grey set of Bachmann BR mark 1 and 2 stock. The overbridge is there purely to give an idea of the upper level track alignment. Earlier on, I was running several Hornby/Lima hybrid class 73 Electro-Diesels. One of these, E6012, in the early BR blue with grey skirts is seen on an engineers train of ballast wagons, topped and tailed by "Shark" ballast plough brake vans. The heavily weathered one at the end of the train is also a Cambrian kit, and just ahead of it is a kit-built "Grampus" wagon with no markings on it (must get around to doing that!). The same train at the other end of the layout. And the one I thorughly enjoyed running as being a little different; the LSWR M7 0-4-4T, 252, with a three coach SR Maunsell set (Hornby) in fully lined out livery.

A pity, as Hornby seem to have got the angled "crease" at the bottom of the door right.

I spent most of Thursday evening, after work, rewiring and soldering two DPDT switches in to the track feeds, to allow me to connect a DC controller to each track. There are no isolating switches at this stage and the DPDT switches were what I had to hand and don't have a centre off position - ideally, when I set up the conrol panel, I'll add even more wiring to allow each section of track to be isolated as well as being able to switch each circuit to DC or DCC. The DC controller is an old but very reliable Hammant & Morgan Duette. The reason for all this was that I hosted a BRMA meeting on today. I volunteered at short notice because the original host, my very good friend Roger T (BRMA members will know who I mean) suffered a heart attack at the Brandon Park exhibition in June. While he is recovering well, we thought it was not wise to put on him the extra strain of holding the meeting so soon after the event. Incidentally, I bought the previously mentioned H & M Duette off of Roger a good many years ago. It was nice that Roger was able to attend today, too, so he is recovering nicely. While I was not entirely ready to host, I managed to fumble through. The main thing is that the trains are operable and those who brought along normal DC locomotives were still able to run them, although it meant clearing any other locomotives or motorised items off the selected track. As I refine things, though, I intend to tidy the wiring properly. At least the colour-coding helped me to do the reconnections without too much difficulty. We had nearly 20 people here today and the layout behaved perfectly, including the DC operation. I got to run Gwiwer's new weathered green 2EPB from Lord and Butler for a while. It made an interesting contrast to my pristine green EPB which arrived two days ago but to which I only fitted a decoder last night. Mine was actually still doing a running-in turn as the first guests arrived. This morning, before anyone arrived, I trimmed the upper board at the end to nearer the correct shape and part-painted it. The bridge in the foregound and tracks curving round to the left are purely to give a rough idea of the alignment of the upper level tracks when I get to lay them properly. The bridge will, of course, be double tracked. The "proper" curves will be a little gentler than the third radius ones I have used for show. Here's another shot but with the green 2EPB still running-in - it had been running continuously fo a couple of hours by this time but still exhibited a little tightness that was not apparent in any of my othe EPBs/CEPs. Here are a couple of overall views showing how it now looks, as prepared for the BRMA meeting. Once again, the green EPB is travelling around. And finally (for now), the temporary switch panel. It is a piece of 20 thou plasticard, hot glued to the boards, with the two DPDT switches screwed in. I printed up labels this morning to help avoid any confusion. I know the village "road" sort of peters out into nothing but, until I start getting some real scenic modelling done, this is purely for effect - a sort of window dressing, if you like.

So it wasn't just the weight of the 40 going through the baseboards, then??

I'm at work at the moment but I had a brief look at one of the clips. I'm really champing at the bit now to see the rest! Excellent stuff, Rick.

Yeah! Wot 'e said. I can't add anything better than that (I'm not imaginative enough!!!).

Thanks Rick. That's exactly what happened!! Cheers.

I have now fitted mine with Howes' sound in a LokSound 3.5 decoder. At this stage it still only has the 23mm round speaker on board but I will improve on this before I video it in action. I did demonstrate it (amongst others) on the BRMA stand at the recent Brandon Park exhibition in Melbourne but it wasn't especially loud with only the standard speaker so I could only really use it to advantage at quieter times.

I've been holding off pre-ordering; I wanted one with sound but was not too keen on it being the blue one. So, the announcement of an extra green version with sound is good news. However, I went straight to Kernow's website to place a pre-order for the green one with sound ... it ain't there yet!! I'll keep a close eye on the websoite and take the plunge as soon as thy get the extra item online. I'm still glad for the delay though - my card has really taken a hammering recently!

Not to mention the very promising Kernow Beattie Well Tanks.

I love that face just inside the tunnel mouth! Can you imagine the expression on the train driver's face as he approaches?? TT3, DougN and I are both in Blackburn South, only a few minutes from each other. The baseboard construction for Doug's layout and mine are both the same in principle, using the 'L' girder structure with cross-beams for board supports, although mine has the 90 degree bend as well. Doug put both layouts on castors so they can be moved, although neither could be said to be truly portable. If you are able to get to Melbourne on Saturday, Doug is hosting the BRMA meeting so you could have a look at one or both layouts.