Scalefour Forum

It would seem, on reflection, that by sticking a couple of bits of lead flashing inside each side of a Gresley 8w tender, I've probably created perfect condition for an inside-sprung tender to wobble - it's almost a large balance wheel. A loco with it's more central lump of lead is perfectly stable....

I've also found inside framed tenders try to wobble when they house the motor and normally use outside wagon type springs. Perhaps Adavoyle stock had more damping and possibly softer springs so it would have more effect. A sagging csb might be a better set-up as the wire would slide in the supports ...

As long as it's comfortably longer than a class 5, like the photos.

DaveB

My usual way of tackling such is to turn the axle holes into 2mm wide slots and fit springing. You'd also need to file the axleguard inside faces to give a min width of 23.5. Might such an approach be possible in this case? More details if promising. Mark Tatlow mounts his centre wheels on a tube to...

I expect they put the wagon in the sdg any way they could but the photos show there was space for the loco which was really my point. That Clan Goods has some ominous holes where there should be rivets holding the beam on. Duncraig platform is a fine place for a picnic on one of your jaunts, Julian,...

Hmmm! 9" sounds a bit tighter than the real thing. Surely the engine has to shunt a wagon or 2 into the siding without entering the shed, it will be the big operating event of the day. Looks like it could in the photos. It will be an interesting model. If you want a second station, Julian, I me...

In the small photo above, the shadows give us something - the Black 5 seems to be quite close to the shed doors and there's a good working space in front before the turnout starts. Operationally, this is the important thing.

Some very exotic grounded bodies, too.

DaveB

Can I point out that your blades are still not opening far enough - only about 1mm. The prototype opening was 4 1/4" or thereabouts so you need almost half as much again for safety.

DaveB

Well, the Forum's been quiet for a while so a good old suspension question should liven it up. Here's how it is: a sprung vehicle will always run quieter than a compensated one, although the nature of the springing may just be the resilience of plastic bogies or indeed flexible compensating beams so...

I did discover, while looking for a B12 GA, that GER drgs were difficult. Apparently someone "saved" a load of GAs (bought them) when the works were being closed and these have ended up as a detached collection in a museum in East Anglia - Norwich, possibly. Can someone take up this story,...

Pretty soon after starting to buy them, I lost faith in the accuracy of kits, although will admit there's been a considerable improvement since those days. I avoid the usual modellers' scale drawings which I regard as a form of censorship - somebody takes a real, reliable drawing, redraws it to our ...

Weren't they called "sleepered" turnouts, they were on the NER, although I believe "turnout" is a modellers' word? Isn't "interlacing" something else to do with overlapping pointwork? You might also have a timbered crossing with the rest sleepered due to a replacement a...

Sorry about the lack of a speedo brkt - my Hornby body had one (but I've cut it off recently to do "Sassaby"). Not sure if I have information - I did one for the K1. Boiler bands are always an issue with plastic bodies as they should be around a thou' thick and 0.7 wide wide with 2 lines o...

A very fine thing but it's a pity the bracket isn't the correct pattern - surely not. Can't you do a Megginson and build one up from strip if the correct size isn't available from the D&S range? It'll bother you!

DaveB

Getting closer to my ex day job, I'd ask if the bosses need to be circular and how many you want? What material? Can the top piece A be made thicker so that the seatings can be machined into it and saving 2 fiddly little bushes and an assembly job? I fear that after machining part D it could take a ...

The only trouble with all this is that you haven't a hole of 0.7925mm, there is a drill around that size and the rest is speculation/wishful thinking. We're not really sure how big the shaft is either until someone puts a Mike on it.

DaveB

The seatings for the domed washers are the easy bit - ball ended cutters are available. As to machining something around 0.8 wide, that's clever stuff and the shape suggests cnc or several operations. Take heart that I'm not a qualified machinist so this is just a passing view. Actually, domed washe...

My wheels are never so tight that a hammer is required. If they are narrow to gauge there is a good chance that the axle will be protruding slightly. Hold chassis on its side and place flat piece of metal - I use the handle of some tweezers - on end of axle. With fingers between frames press on meta...

If you're micro-stepping the turntable, why do you want a belt drive? Just mount the deck on the motor shaft. Cut out the middle-man. You'll need a motor with a decent size shaft, of course, and real bearings. Less work all round.

DaveB

If you fancy a search, I believe there's a grade of Loctite that's suitable for overlays. We had some at work (years ago now) and our technician was using it for sticking overlays on etched vans. It seemed thixotropic so the component would float about until pressed down - easier and quicker than so...

Well I found a reamer - £26-70. A hand reamer has a long lead taper so could be used to create a press fit - it's how locating dowels are fitted. All you have to do then is create another press fit in the worm so there's another tight tolerance. It's just not worth it. The motor would have to be som...

It's interesting to reflect that the vast majority of 4mm scale loco models have normal pick-ups despite these things performing poorly and sometimes being very difficult to install. All the "greats" use them and always have. Whatever their problems everything else can throw up that biggie...

It depends whose Pacifics - the LNER types have a Cartazzi rear truck which places an absolute limit on swing, unless you start widening it, of course and I think my own A1 has an extra 0.3 per side at the very rear but the double bend is correct width. I suspect a Stanier or Bulleid rear truck disc...

I hope you number the axleboxes, too.

DaveB

That's looking much more encouraging. The head of the rivet in the eccentric rod/return crank joint will probably need the front filed flat to clear the cover casting. I don't go for a full soldered joint when fitting this and make do with a quick tack with 145 each side. Clean casting joint face ca...