Scalefour Forum

Some Bachmann RTR vehicles come with split axles with electrical pick-up through the axle bearings. They run very freely but, unfortunately, some types are too narrow for P4 wheelsets. Here’s how I widened the bogies of a Bachmann/Kernow 4TC. 1. The bogie as supplied: DSC_0998.JPG DSC_0999.JPG 2. Po...

There has been much discussion about converting RTR loco wheels to P4 by machining the original tyres on a lathe and press fitting P4 tyres. I thought I would see if this could be done with just hand tools. My guinea pig is a Heljan class 07 0-6-0 diesel shunter with 3’ 6” diameter wheels of a quite...

Very easy, the only slight difficulty is fabricating the three legged ones; suggest making drilling and bending jigs as there are several to do.

The 2019 Wakefield RMS Exhibition is this weekend and we'll be flying the P4 flag with Birmingham Moor Street. Do come and say hello

PS. I know there are a lot of shows in Wakefield but how come this year's show is the 58th if 2018's was the 50th?!

Hi Nick,

You might also consider Colin Craig's modern track products.

Simon

Thanks for the answers. Honeybourne is just down the road from me. There were several boxes for its incredibly complex set of junctions, maybe this signal was repeated in a box the other side of the bridge.

Just curious, what's the rectangular box with wires going in to it?

Is this any help?

How to print from your Android phone or tablet

I'm converting a Heljan 07 diesel dock shunter at the moment. I expect this has a similar chassis to the 1366. The 07 has 3'6" wheels so I'm grinding the Heljan wheels down to 13mm diameter which allows me to press on Gibson coach wheel tyres. So far, so good!

My dentist now uses UV cure fillings which seem a much simpler process than the previous two-part epoxy ones so I thought I'd see if there was something similar publicly available. The most popular product seems to be '5 second fix', readily available on Amazon and eBay for less than £3. It comes as...

I'm not sure, I just happened to come across this article on riveted structures that mentions the hole clearance in the 20 August comment by 'p'. Perhaps a rivet can achieve a higher tension than a bolt. After all, you don't see many bolted together ship's hulls or boilers. Coincidentally, I am in a...

There should be clearance between the rivet and the hole after the rivet head has been formed. The rivet's job is to create friction between the parts being joined by pulling them together, not to align or reinforce the joint.

Intermittent running sounds more like a pick-up problem than a DCC chip issue to me. My first step would be to check for obvious faults, then replace the chip with the blanking plug and make sure it ran properly on DC. It may be as simple as the loco needing a long run to bed in bearings etc. Where ...

This post has links to changing the tyres on Heljan loco wheels and might provide some pointers for the Dapol conversion. I need to do something similar for the Heljan 07 shunter so will be interested in how you get on too.

Can you drill a recess then solder a nut inside?

I expect the burnt resistor acts as a current sensor and provides an input to the control circuit, needs replacing with a higher wattage rated part as suggested.

Could it be the same as the one next to the switch on your working controller? Mind you, that one looks 'thermally challenged' too...

Hi Tony,

I've had success using a 2mm ID, 2.5mm OD sleeve for the gear loctited to a 2mm axle, saves altering the bearings.

Simon

Posting on behalf on Phil Eames, proprietor of Stenson Models: A jig to help align the nose and tail angles of Alex Jackson couplings. http://www.stensonmodels.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_20170903_134313317_HDRs.jpg There is one for EM Gauge. http://www.stensonmodels.co.uk/product/alex-jack...

Use separate springs for each axle with lighter springs for the centre axle.

It wouldn't matter if you did break into the bottom of the axle bore, it's the top half that matters.

Thanks. It looks like this clag design is interesting as it drives two axles on each bogie but only needs one transfer box. My concern is that the transfer box then is in the middle of the loco and severely limits the motor size which is opposite to the whole point of a central motor I built one of...

I am not familiar with Heljan locos, but just out of curiosity, have you checked the drive train for problems, and that one or more pickups are not in the wrong place(s)? I have; everything is fine mechanically and electrically, it runs very well. The problem is purely the motor; it could be poorly...

Paul Townsend wrote:Ugh. Much sparking too?
You must have to clean your track very often!

12 wheel pick up and a very heavy loco so no sparks, just a motor that prefers making heat to torque

Will L wrote:In the good old days of open frame motors some of them could draw up to an amp, but modern motors are much, much less thirsty. You'll get nowhere need 5 amps.

Heljan motors seem to be very inefficient, I've measured my 47 drawing 1.5A.