Scalefour Forum

Dave, My main gripe about the Bachmann vehicles was the windows and the pronounced chamfer at the edge of the aperture. I discovered that the glazing strip was moulded to the same profile as the sides, so had the idea of sanding down the outside, remaking the (fairly sparse) detail and gluing the gl...

Crimson and cream seems to appear in photographs in an amazing variety of shades, from a proper deep crimson to a bright rusty looking red. So I think anything you choose will be about right. For a two year old set, I would go for the faded one at least. I will be very interested to see what you hav...

Thanks for the link, Will. Just come back from there, well Hawaii really, still the other side of The Pond.

Philip

Andy, same for me, will make contact when I work out how to, as you’re in the Guest Book, not a member!

Philip

I converted a couple of Bachmann G2s a long time ago and they had gears on the two middle axles. I foresaw problems with gear mesh, so looked at how the gears aligned on the 00 axles before dismantling and marked them. I put the wheels on with the GW press as usual, and then moved the gears as neces...

Tim, that would do nicely (I would get two at least as they will break!) and cheaper than the ones I found at MSC:

mscdirect.co.uk

Here’s a snap from the catalogue, quicker than typing it all! 0.025in comes out about 0.64mm.

I have some very small centre drills which I use almost exclusively for putting the turning centres in the ends of driving axles. I think I got some from Eileen’s Emporium years ago although I have a feeling there was some difficulty when I tried again a year ago. Sorry can’t actually remember! I be...

Tim’s post, for me, is right on the money. If I were starting today (and I’m really sorry to have to say this!) I would be sorely tempted to work in 00, given the abundance of riches we now have. OK I’m a Southern modeller, ex - LSWR in the South West so Hornby have really done the business for me. ...

When I mentioned the overall effect I would be looking for, I should say that a fundamental part of that is the look of wheels and track ie flangeways and the like. From a distance I can still see such things although I admit EM is pretty close. In a different time and a different place... But start...

The thickness of the Peco 00 sleepers is about the same as Exactoscale FastTrack, so I don’t see much problem there. For me, whilst it would be nice to have all the right kind of chairs etc. - I did on the last (small) layout - time means I won’t be doing it this time around. Now my focus is on the ...

It might be possible to wind your own small springs, with very fine wire wound around (at a guess) 0.8 mm wire which would open up to about 1mm or so. The wire you use would not have to be spring steel like guitar string, brass would do. I have some odd bits of brass wire about 0.25 mm. Only an idea...

I think it’s a useful development, but of course how much they will sell depends on the price charged. For someone who would like to try for the better appearance of EM but lacks the confidence to build track, then it’s an attractive idea. Gaining track building skills for more complicated stuff tha...

I have been using the Fast Track bases and the gauge widening is said to be 0.2 mm, therefore 19.03 mm. I think 0.8mm is possibly not right; Steve Hall used 0.5 mm widening and recounted no end of problems. My bases measure 19.10 mm, so
0.27 mm widening and this seems to work well.

Philip

Gavin, The close couplings supplied as alternatives by Bachmann and Hornby will work on ridiculously silly curves very well, and they are currently my standard for couplings within a rake for corridor stock. No need for sprung buffers inside either. Not so for non-gangwayed stock where it is easier ...

I believe a particular problem has been with the C&L HiNi Rail, current stock of which has been shown to have a thicker web than previously, which has given rise to problems with the chairs. I have recently tried many different rails in the Fast Track bases, my standard for the main running line...

Paul, you must have known. Eggesford is quite close to where ’Mellstock’ is set. Okehampton in real life. It was also just up the way from where my old Taw Vale (in theory) left the Exeter - Barnstaple line en route to a junction near Sampford Courtenay on the Exeter - Plymouth. I’ve just been remin...

P4 might be a bit fragile for ‘umbrella rail’, maybe G1 or bigger. I always fancied a garden railway, don’t tell The Boss...

Then you leave one umbrella at the bottom of the garden when it’s stopped raining and before long you have a collection of them at one end of the garden and none at the other!

Philip

For those who have the space (and the funds), a workshop/layout room in the garden can be a good solution and having a working space in the same room is even better. I can confirm that having a big railway room at the bottom of the garden with the fairies is very nice. Not quite nice on occasions l...

It is still possible, although not advertised, to have volumes of MRJ bound by bookbinders. I use Grays in Mitcham, and have done since the birth of MRJ. Cygnet send indices for the binding to Grays each year and the result is very good. The last one cost me £40, carriage is extra.

Philip

Coupling hooks - if these are to be functional my preference is for Ambis as they are a good shape and links cannot fall off easily. If you are using autos, then any brand will do.

Philip

May I record my public thanks to Terry and all the organising team for the customary great weekend. From my point of view, slaving behind a hot camera, it was very enjoyable despite the pressures of having to produce some half decent pictures for us to remember the event by. I was rewarded this year...

Tony,

Sometimes being anonymous is good. You can bask in the praise when it all works but nobody knows who to blame when it doesn’t!

Philip

I am pretty sure there is a coffee machine in the cafe area.

Philip

Probably the clearest and most logical website I have seen in many a long year. Many thanks, Andrew. Even better is that the prices I have looked at have come down!

Philip