Giles

I'll lay a tenner it's the camera lens.....

Yes, I'm familiar with that - with the lorries I usually have to waggle the steering first in order to enable arming, as the trim tends to inhibit it. The problem with the crane is that one has the same issue multiplied! It could be a dry joint perhaps on the RD itself - certainly the rest of the wiring is fine in that respect. It wasn't 'intermittent' in the classical sense - it always occurred after about five minutes - almost as if a static charge built up (I know that's probably rubbish). It can still happen if the operator holds the transmitter box differently and doesn't ever contact the plate. It's not a practical problem to me, and I shall happily live with the work-around.

If it's my problem (and I'm not saying it is!) All you need do is take the back off, and if it creeps, start touching things! It will just stop and start behaving normally if it is..... at that point you can consider a more practical solution, or if not, start looking elsewhere!

Ive only ever had this with the Tx2 (working the crane) paired to an Rx47. I've never had it with anything else. It's definitely a Tx issue, not an Rx problem, and, as you say, the creep starts, and just keeps going at a steady pace until you switch the power off.... The grounding plate fixed my issue, though. I did once lose the arrival off the Bagnall, but simply measured the correct lengthnoff another receiver of the same type and soldered it on - no problem!

I had all sorts of strangeness going on when I was building my mobile crane. First of all, when you turn everything on, you have to waggle everything until it wakes up. It obviously wants a signal from one specific input in one direction to come to life. After this, it operates normally. I had to build my own four-stick transmitter, using some of the pots from Micron, and also using the little mini joysticks, which I modified individually. During this process, I would find that eventually a winch motor would start to creep - usually with devastating results. This rather lengthened the whole job. After a few weeks of frustration and rdbuilding the crane which meanwhile had torn itself apart through motor creep, I had the transmitter box apart again, looking for loose or shorted wires and finding none (I had the crane powered up) and it started to creep again, so I frantically started poking about. I touched a pot, and it immediately stopped. I was able to test this again later.... creep starting, and touch any pot and it stopped. Not being electronically brilliant, I understood that I was earthing it, and that made the difference - but why it should - I don't know. To cure it, I wired an earth lead to all the pots, and put a brass plate on the outside of the transmitter case where I hold it, and soldered the earth to that. Since when there has been no problem. This may or may not be any help in this instance!

Be warned.... I bought some 1mm MDF from the 4D Model shop, and I still haven't managed to cut through it - though I can breeze through my 2mm from Hobarts!

I tend to cut 2mm MDF at about 6mm/sec and 100% and get nicely through in two passes. When I talked about lowering the laser, I meant by using a 0.8mm gauge, rather than the 1.2mm metal gauge supplied - not by adjusting the the actual laser on its mount. It's true you can successfully do what you are doing, but I suspect you don't need to. I simply use a square of my ply. It's worth mentioning that different suppliers have different quality materials. I get my MDF from Hobarts. I bought some 1mm MDF from the hobby shop, and have yet to cut through it!

The bits I was looking at have radically improved! I don't think I can offer any more constructive comment (I note that one of the photos of the new nose has the nose slightly back down, which may be misleading if not noticed) Brilliant. I wonder how long these will remain in stock, as I can't afford one in the next six months! Well done.....

A superb piece of work...... I want it.

I confess that I haven't updated the software since I received the machine when they were first brought out. I have to say it works very well and i really dont want an updated version!

It was a great show - and the club were extremely welcoming from the very first moment! The never-ending tea was superb...... Maggie won the quiz single handed through her unequalled comprehensive knowledge and first hand experience of chocolate...!!!

....as well as being one of the nicest chaps you could care to meet.....

From the little RC Bagnall to my 10 1/4" Bagnall. Someone has done a nice video of her in service this year. I don't know who the driver is though..

A nice video someone did of her in service this year. I havent a clue who is driving her, mind!

I wouldn't mind betting that in sixty years time, people will be looking back at the people and attitudes of this time with a very similar judgement. I dare say that people of each and every time are blessed with the knowledge that they are much more progressive and enlightened than the one before.

You're all exceedingly kind - and those are excellent photos! We had a really good (though exhausting) time at Uckfield. We were delighted to win the vote, though if it had been for 'Best Modelling' I'm sure Gordon and Maggie should have won.

I'm so sorry - the penny didn't drop when you said your handle..... I should have very much liked to have had a chat - I have a real problem recalling the various handles against the threads and achievements - so I apologise! All the very bendy Giles So glad to meet you Richard - one quiet moment!

We got there fine, to be greeted by a very welcome cup of tea. Set up and ready to roll. Looks like it's going to be an extremely good show.

The Garratt earning a living on Denton Brook Denton Brook by giles favell, on Flickr

I can't remember how I jogged mine up, but this was the result. After I had soldered it in place on the loco, I then cut the bottom half off again, and removed about 1.5mm for clearance, and soldered it back on again! IMG_1597 by giles favell, on Flickr IMG_1599 by giles favell, on Flickr IMG_1618 by giles favell, on Flickr

At Denton Brook we had a very good, but exhausting time! We were working with three (instead of our ideal 5) on Saturday, which meant that we had lunch 'on the job. However, everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate it, which was great. We were delighted to pick up the trophy, especially with the many delightful layouts present - and a big thank you for Farnhams hospitality!

Likewise, we're looking forward to Uckfield, although I haven't a clue as to how Friday night is goingv6o happen! Yes, a 650mAh battery with one gear motor seems just the job for a single day. Somewhere there should be a photo of the A team with a nice big trophy......

I'm delighted to say that the RC Bagnall did a full 7 hours non stop duty at today's exhibition (Farnham show at Aldershot). This without any recharging.... I've just got it back to the hotel and put it on charge, and it's only taken 15 minutes of charge, which suggests it's used very little of its capacity! (I charge at 1S, so a full charge would take an hour....). All in all, it's remarkably successful at it's job. We were also kindly awarded the most voted for layout, which is delightful, and made us feel warm inside - or was the the nice beer they gave us...... Martin and Ken did a stirling job through the day with no breaks - bless them.

I've just added another three cable wagons (well, ordinary wagons with a couple of bits of timber on them....) to ring the changes with the existing ones. Ready for this weekend's show! Chopped out of MDF with a little strapping, but quick and easy. 2017-10-12_05-33-52 by giles favell, on Flickr 2017-10-12_05-34-16 by giles favell, on Flickr 2017-10-12_05-34-35 by giles favell, on Flickr

The Proxxon is a small machine - and the maximum you can clamp down is 9" on the pattern bed, and 6" on the working bed. The Pantograph will be swinging all over the place working to the full extents, but it might manage It- I've not tried. The largest elements I have cut have been the Bagnall frames, which were only 85mm long. This was very easy, of course, and it would certainly do more than that...... At 2:1 The accuracy I have been getting is extremely good, however, that also relies on the accuracy of the patterns, which is easy for me - so I have no need to go to 3 or 4 to 1 for normal use. If I had lots of space and money, I should have a TH or similar, but for a house-bound machine, this has been superb within its limitations, exceeding my expectations. You may not have seen, but I produced an entire Bagnall chassis, including all the valve gear with this thing. I hope this helps! Milled valve gear 0-14 Bagnall by giles favell, on Flickr Bagnall motion brackets silver soldered on by giles favell, on Flickr