SRman

I have reverted to the darker BR express steam blue, after tidying up the bonnet side doors a little. The roof is still unpainted, and needs just a teensy bit more fettling before I will be happy with it. IMG_20180615_170622 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr IMG_20180615_170543 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr IMG_20180615_170523 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

I still have the PLA one on pre-order from Rails - I don't think the sound-fitted ones are in yet, which gives my credit card a little breathing space since getting a large-ish order from Rails only a few days ago.

A day at the beach, anyone?

I'm sure the CVs involved would be the same for both decoder types. The main thing is, it worked. Keep an eye open for Decoder Pro updates; the newer decoders may appear in that. I had the same thing with the CT Elektronik decoder where Decoder Pro recognised it as a function-only version. However, the correct type was available in the list of decoders, so I was able to manually change it to the DCX74z.

I fitted a CT Elektronik DCX74zD decoder, set it all up the way I wanted it on the programming track, then, using Decoder Pro (JMRI), it was a simple task to tick two checkboxes to enable the lights at both ends regardless of direction. It now works as desired.

The flywheel and coupling rods arrived today, so I have just spent a few frustrating minutes trying to get the coupling rod screws to bite. I eventually got them threaded but they will have to be shortened a little as they project too far out of the back of the fly cranks. Still, it is progress again. Next job will be to wire pickups and the motor to test, with a view to adding a decoder once ot all works properly on DC. I may work on a better way to retain the axles too, and the gear is still binding slightly on the chassis sides, so I'll need to remove a small amount more material from the sides of the gear wheel bosses.

That's a good point. On DCC it should be possible to reprogram the decoder to have the lights on in both directions at once. I think I'll be doing this shortly, as my 07 arrived today and I have run it on the rolling road for over 40 minutes in each direction. Mine seems to have none of the problems reported with grinding noises, and runs very smoothly, albeit with a slight wobble on the rollers, which usually exaggerate any such things.

A few more new items have arrived tonight, in the shape of a Dapol LSWR B4 0-4-0T No. 96, Normandy, a Hatton's Beilhack snowplough, and (from a couple of days ago) a Hatton's P class 753 in SECR livery, together with two of Hornby's 3-plank wagons in SECR livery. I took a short video on my mobile phone to show all of these items off in one go. The B4 does have a slight tight spot, going forwards only. I have investigated and freed it up a bit, but there does still remain a slight hesitation at crawling speed. As can be seen in the video, it is fine at more normal speeds. IMG_20180612_185945 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

DougN and I went to a local exhibition today (at Brandon Park in Melbourne's suburbs), and there were several British layouts on display, with several BRMA members owning and/or participating in operating them. Our friends on the Vale of the White Horse layout swapped over from GWR and SR steam to modern post-privatisation GWR trains while we were chatting to them, but left the Dapol GWR railcar running as before. The modern trains were a Hornby HST in latest GWR colours, and a Hornby IEP class 800. They were being run at a nice sedate pace and I jokingly said "Crank them up guys; full throttle." ... they promptly did so! Initially they weren't game to run the HST at full speed, but raised it somewhat, but then turned the GWR railcar up to full speed, so it actually overtook the HST several times. It was interesting to watch the railcar as the operators reported it as running very smoothly, and I can now add to that and say it is capable of very high speeds as well as very smooth slow speeds. As an aside, there was a near disaster when the IEP derailed after a good many uneventful high-speed laps, but the operators were able to stop the other trains before they could run into the derailed vehicles.

. Oi. Stop giving away my secrets, Rick! p.s. For the record, the Power Cab won!

Could be the way to go, John! I do have some thinner lead somewhere, I just can't find it right now - typical, really. Mind you, can you imagine how sloppy the job will be after a bottle or two of the wine?

I have two Wickham trolleys from Bachmann, and both are a little light-footed, particularly noticeable on gradients such as they encountered on DougN's layout. I decided to experiment a bit with some thin sheet lead. The first test uses slightly thicker lead than I had intended, but I may panel-beat it out a bit further to do the job properly. Anyway, what I have done is to glue a couple of rectangles of the lead into the roof of the trolley, to add weight over the unpowered wheels to improve electrical pickup a little. Then, I used a larger rectangle bent to represent a tarpaulin over the rather unconvincing fake ballast load. First impressions are good, although it does need some refinement, and I definitely need to use thinner lead for the future. The photos show the unpainted result, as it is now. Painting it once I am happy with the final shape will improve the look even more. The main thing is that it has vastly improved the traction of the powered wheels. Wickham Trolley with Lead Load Cover - 2 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr Wickham Trolley with Lead Load Cover - 1 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

You could use an on / on switch, but you would have to have a relay in the line to the signal to give it the pulse of power it needs, while supplying continuous power for whatever other applications you want attached to it (the switch, that is).

I know what you mean about the cranked couplings. I really don't understand why Heljan insist on using them. I always replace them with straight couplings (Bachmann preferred), although I have one exception to this, and even that may get its couplings replaced before too long; the exception was my very recently acquired Metropolitan Bo-Bo electric, Sarah Siddons.

I was going to order an early BR version, but the smokebox door number transfers put me off a bit - I know I could have made up a number plate and reinstated the numbers, but that was just the thing that broke the deal for me. I then looked at Normandy and its lovely primitive cab, so ordered that one instead. I ordered it DCC-fitted, forgetting that I had ordered a couple of CT Elektroniks decoders, one of which would have been absolutely ideal for this locomotive. They are DCX74zD types, pictured below (I took the pic because of a query on another forum). IMG_20180609_164405 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

. Your guess is as good as mine, Phil!

I got into trouble for weathering a Pirate Models Bristol VR after I had built and painted it!. My wife bought me some weathering powders at a model railway exhibition, so I used them on the freshly finished kit and showed her the result. She said that she would never have bought me the powders if she had known what they were for.

That was exactly my thought too, as the Little Bus Company did with their kit, which allowed for Southdown and Midland Red variants to be built from the same kit.. Having said that, I am interested mainly in the Southdown version anyway! url=https://flic.kr/p/27Xp7xJ]IMAG0364cropped[/url] by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

I ordered my Normandy to be already DCC-fitted after reading about the very limited space. However, I had also ordered locally a pair of 6-pin CT Elektronic decoders, DCX74zD, which arrived today, and these look as if they would have fitted the bill admirably.

I've only just caught up with the first batch!! A gratuitous shot of SECR 753 with matching coaches. IMG_20180607_204715 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

I agree about the texture on the H-D signal box, but it still polishes up Ok with a little work. I have used one for my LT lines. It also was bought very cheaply, with paint chipping and a little panel-beating required. Note that I have added interior detail, but the floor is only lightly tacked in place because there is still work to do - it has actually dropped a bit in these photos! IMG_20180607_204736 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr IMG_20180607_204751 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Seems a bit odd to me, seeing as they can offer decoder fitting in the Bachmann Wickham trolley, which is far more fiddly and has to be hard-wired.

Nahhh. Those panniers all look the same! Hat, coat, trousers ...

It seems from the ratings that quite a lot of Australians couldn't be bothered watching Barnaby! I was one of them.

And here was I thinking Tassie is safer than the rest of Australia! p.s. A quick check on Wikipedia showed they are also found in south eastern Australia ... watch out, Doug. 3:)