Giles

the completed wheels with stub axle assemblies (silver-soldered together in a steel block)

Converting the Ford Thames has a few differences to the Morris. One is that the front wheels need building up internally to accept the flanged bearings. I did this with Milliput, and when hard, machined them back down, and bored them 5mm to accept the flanged bearings.

Tim, Many thanks for that link - I've read most of that information before - but never in such a consolidated and well laid- out fashion. Extremely valuable and clear. Much appreciated. I can't wait to see how yours develops - will you please post your progress???

Nigel, I use iPod Nano batteries, and a small Lipo charger I picked up off eBay which has LED charge indicator lights. I haven't been using timers on the process (but I have periodically checked to make sure there has never been any change of temperature). Different generation of iPod nanos have different size batteries..... I'm using approx 240mwh The current draw on the motor/gearbox units I'm using seems very low - though I've not measured it. Micron RC, or David at DelTang would be able to offer more advice on chargers if necessary, I'm sure.

Hi Tim, I used one of the cheap 4 channel Blade 2dsm (Spektrum) transmitters, that you can pick up fom eBay for between £10 and £20 new. I only use two channels, although you can use the others easily enough..... In conjunction with the DelTang receiver, the RC side of it is very straight forward. At last weeks exhibition, I was getting three and a half hours use before re-charge on the lorries!

Yes, absolutely - my momentary confusion... a model FTG -7 even, I believe..... :-)

And a video

I've just completed a second lorry - its a Ford Thames (based on another die-cast model from EBay). Mechanically, it's very similar to the Moris Commercial, but radio-wise, it's fitted with a 2.4GHz DelTang receiver/ESC! Which is much better than the micro Tiny, and only costs about £28! The original model Now 'anglicised'

My Lady has always been very practical (she managed to change a cylinder head gasket on a car by herself, and had no bits left over - before I met her - out of necessesity, not fun) so she wasn't too worried about my railways - particularly as I was finishing a 10 1/4" live steamer at the time. I taught her how to silver-solder, and so she started doing some silver work for fun. She now spends more at exhibitions on tools than I do...... This year, for Christmas, I bought her the stuff to do delft clay casting - a technique for casting silver (a finer version of sand-casting) and coincidentally, brass..... So if I need to cast any little brass items, I can just ip upstairs, and in 30 minutes.....

I've just found this wonderful thread - and if Paul ever puts on his own exhibition, I'm going to pay money to see it....! Brilliant, brilliant!!

...... Have a look at this - scroll down and look at the N Gauge Minitrix 0-4-0.....now you know what's possible! http://www.deltang.co.uk./video.htm

I normally use the standard Evo-stick PVA. I'm certainly not saying that a 'conductive glue' won't work better, though! The soil I use in normal garden soil, dried, crushed to dust and sieved - this tends to look like soil....... Very often, you do see bare patches between the grass, and this works very well. The large growth on the bank is part of a Polak 'bush'. I also prefer to use the Polak range of grasses were possible, as they are matt, and do not have that inherent gloss that most others do. I also use pieces of real moss for small plants as well.

I don't tend to have a problem using normal PVA, which I dilute down a bit - but I do always mix the grasses. The base grass here is a mix of 4.5mm 'spring' , 4.5mm 'autumn', and 6mm straw. I then usually sieve by fine soil or ash over it while it's still wet to kill the gloss and 'bed it in'

Ah.... Headlights are in the grill in the series II position though....... Love the Manning Wardle - wish I could justify getting one! The buffers need dirtying to match the rest, but I'm by jealous. Best, G

That series II truck cab is excellent. We had one when we were kids, and I hated it (previous Landy was a pre-series I). One of us had to take turns riding in the back, and I always felt out of it and lonely when it was my turn......... (I didn't have to share it with a PTO driven welder, though!). Your model takes me right back. That Pecket is looking the Dogs B....... as well!

Absolutely - you feel you could live in both those places.... (and would want to....). - that goods shed - you can imagine a rat scurrying for cover amongst the posts!

Your usual excellent work Dave - love the glass, and the building. Keep it coming - please....

S*d the baseboard! I'd quite like to go and live there.......

Dave, it's a lovely addition, and it'll look great when it's been there for '30 years' or so ! (you could always stop the back and ends bowing out with the weight of coal by sticking some posts of old rail down behind the timbers....)

Just exquisite . All one can say, really......

Glad you like, sir! All good harmless fun...... (but more fun than the Faller type stuff!)

Thank you all very much! I'm glad you've found it all interesting! Nigel, thank you - I've come across Microflight on my trials and tribulations - and although they do excellent stuff, the main stumbling block was that the receiver/speed controllers didn't have reverse (being intended for aircraft). But that other site, MicroAntrieb, looks extremely useful, and I've not found it before..... The prices also look good...! Thanks!

Thank you Gents.... hi Stephen - thanks to your help..... That one was 1:100, but I'm still going to try and replace the pot in the transmitter for a better direct rotary one to give more control at the lower end.... Take-offs are a it jerky. I get half an hour or so continuous out of the Lipo, with a recharge time of less than that - so two lorries can work continuously (one on, one off) the second one, I'm thinking about putting a 1:150 box in. Of course, with normal radio gear in a van, you'd get better performance all round!

The latest video - the lorry working on my unfinished layout 'The End of The Line'

Very, very beautiful... I particularly like Bude Quay! But consistently stunning work.... Even more photos would be nice, please !