That looks nice. Do you use a horse or a windlass to get wagons off the turntable? (I'm not just being mischevious!) I have a concept of a P4 horse with Jackson couplers..........
Allan F
Search found 322 matches
- Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:51 pm
- Forum: Where to Find?
- Topic: Wagon turntables
- Replies: 14
- Views: 872
- Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:23 pm
- Forum: Track and Turnouts
- Topic: Turnout construction - Question here please.
- Replies: 220
- Views: 48862
Re: Turnout construction - Question here please.
Isn't all this ply and rivet construction just a bit old hat now? Surely most people are using Exactoscale or C&L chairs and sticking them directly to the sleepers and I'd certainly like to see a bit more about how that is done, including the positioning of chairs in the more awkward areas and ...
- Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:08 pm
- Forum: Area Groups
- Topic: Area Groups and Zoom
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2640
Re: Area Groups and Zoom
I don't think of myself as an expert, but I am the licence holder for our branch of the University of the Third Age. The licence cost us approx £140 back in July, but I understand that renewal next July will cost us approx £120. We have about a dozen groups who use the licence for their meetings. Th...
- Sun Nov 08, 2020 1:46 pm
- Forum: New Products
- Topic: Who would want a form tool for re-profiling wheels?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7325
Re: Who would want a form tool for re-profiling wheels?
I think I would have one, please
Allan Ferguson
Allan Ferguson
- Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:12 am
- Forum: Demonstrations and Talks
- Topic: Earning a Living talk
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1090
Re: Earning a Living talk
There is also, of course, Crianlarich, where the Oban and Mallaig trains join / divide. I took a turn on the platform once when waiting for the other portion, and fell into conversation with the guard. (Whatever he was officially, he was still THE GUARD). He was telling me of watching a female emplo...
- Thu Jul 30, 2020 3:52 pm
- Forum: Other Workshop Practice
- Topic: Solder paint
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2272
Re: Solder paint
It may not be entirely relevant, but I have had a tub of Carrs 188 solder paint for many years. Some years back it had gone fairly solid, so approached Carrs for advice, and was told to use Carrs Green Label flux, which certainly worked at the time. I've never used Green Label for anything else, and...
- Wed May 20, 2020 9:10 am
- Forum: On My Workbench
- Topic: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
- Replies: 59
- Views: 9409
Re: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
Lindsay My apologies --- I was getting confused between your engine and Steve's. It was late at night. When you see the two engines together the difference in the chimney tops is quite marked. We not only have "the Rules" to be careful of, but also a daughter who is a headteacher; we're re...
- Tue May 19, 2020 9:47 pm
- Forum: On My Workbench
- Topic: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
- Replies: 59
- Views: 9409
Re: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
Oh, and I meant to say that my bunker is 30.8mm wide; the footplate under it is 31.8mm wide....
Allan F
Allan F
- Tue May 19, 2020 9:17 pm
- Forum: On My Workbench
- Topic: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
- Replies: 59
- Views: 9409
Re: Socially Distanced Challenge – CR Class 488 Build
I also did one of these --- not to the standard of either of you two. It was scratch built, and a week or two later, it seemed, John Boyle's kit appeared But it did appear on the front page of "Railway Modeller" as part of our "Bonnybridge" layout, so it was at least painted. It ...
- Wed May 13, 2020 6:54 pm
- Forum: Painting and Weathering
- Topic: Brass preparation for painting
- Replies: 29
- Views: 7359
Re: Brass preparation for painting
We used to leave pennies in a glass of Coca-Cola overnight and in the morning they were like new. I now know it was the phosphoric
acid which did the job, but would it still work?
Allan F
acid which did the job, but would it still work?
Allan F
- Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:03 pm
- Forum: On My Workbench
- Topic: The Socially-Distanced Challenge - Registration Thread
- Replies: 47
- Views: 10501
Re: The Socially-Distanced Challenge - Registration Thread
Well, I wish you luck. I see it was 2001 when I disentangled the parts for this loco from the parts of two other wee tank locos with which it was mixed. I assembled the superstructure down to the footplate, but couldn't get a chimney or dome. I never started on the frames or mechanism. I always felt...
- Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:04 am
- Forum: Layouts and Operations
- Topic: Swanage (again)
- Replies: 99
- Views: 20397
Re: Dorset 1937
I admire your choice of malts, though for sentimental reasons I try never to be without a Lagavulin. But the 21 year old!! Do you have a rich uncle? I hope you don't do what I have been known to do ---- anoint the joint with the whisky and take a sip of the flux …………… Allan F
- Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:27 pm
- Forum: Baseboards and Carpentry
- Topic: Plywood disaster
- Replies: 64
- Views: 11258
Re: Plywood disaster
My layout, built 6 or 7 years ago, is entirely 12mm MDF, supported at 300mm centres throughout, and has shown no sign of warping, either on the bare boards, or where foam is attached to it (with spray carpet adhesive). Interestingly, in view of other comments made, I found that trains running over t...
- Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:34 pm
- Forum: Track and Turnouts
- Topic: Best technique for curving rail?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2429
Re: Best technique for curving rail?
PhilipT wrote:Has anyone tried using the GW Models roller? It would be a bit cheaper than the item suggested.
I have, and it worked well on curves down to about 1m radius. There's always the wee bit at each end which has to be discarded, but that's no matter
Allan F
- Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:58 pm
- Forum: Starting in P4
- Topic: Making a Start - The Peak District Midland / Monsal Dale pre 1903
- Replies: 1221
- Views: 260931
Re: Making a Start - The Peak District Midland / Monsal Dale pre 1903
I think a wire torque reaction link is ideal but it needs to be fairly long so that any movement of the axle is as near as possible straight up and down. This can cause problems fitting it round everything else. I do feel that a very little movement can give the jerk needed to start a slightly stick...
- Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:24 pm
- Forum: Other Buildings and Scenery
- Topic: Road and platform surfaces
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4220
Re: Road and platform surfaces
Hardwood "cobblestones" were, I think, used in towns and cities which were otherwise surfaced with granite setts. The purpose was to make the traffic, which was mostly iron clad wheels or iron shod horses, significantly quieter in sensitive areas, such as beside hospitals. I remember them ...
- Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:41 pm
- Forum: Starting in P4
- Topic: Track Laying
- Replies: 32
- Views: 7403
Re: Track Laying
Not making any recommendations, but in the very early days (45 years ago), with no local model shops, and unable to attend the big shows where traders were, I used cellulose thinners from Halfords to weld plasticard. It worked, if not as well as the butanone I use now. I think the point is that anyt...
- Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:20 pm
- Forum: Starting in P4
- Topic: Track Laying
- Replies: 32
- Views: 7403
Re: Track Laying
As stated, butanone dissolves some of the plastic. But it is important to keep some weight on it for a wee while (a few seconds for sassenachs) to force the softened plastic into the grain of the wood. With plastic sleepers you need just make sure the components are held firmly together until the so...
- Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:27 am
- Forum: Exhibitions
- Topic: Scaleforum 2019
- Replies: 249
- Views: 50374
Re: Scaleforum 2019
The poor souls who man the desk have enough problems without me. But when I tried to collect my (preordered) badge it appeared to cause a minor panic behind the desk -- and a bit of a queue behind me. I really felt I shouldn't bother -- but then they found it. But evidently name badges were not part...
- Mon Jul 15, 2019 12:12 am
- Forum: Exhibitions
- Topic: Scaleforum 2019
- Replies: 249
- Views: 50374
Re: Scaleforum 2019
Some years back I took up the offer of a name badge and wore it for the day. Nobody else seemed to have one (other than exhibitors), and nobody greeted me by name who didn't already know me. So I didn't bother again. I still think it's a good thing, though! Perhaps everyone could be given (not "...
- Mon Jun 10, 2019 3:17 pm
- Forum: Railmotors, Railcars and Multiple Units
- Topic: Why the big windows?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7206
Re: Why the big windows?
Back in the early 60's there was a bit of an epidemic of British drivers in France running off the road or into a tree, having apparently fallen asleep. It was eventually concluded that the constant flicker caused by the trees at the sides of the road could be close enough to a natural frequency in ...
- Mon Jun 03, 2019 12:44 am
- Forum: Track and Turnouts
- Topic: Joggled Stockrails
- Replies: 65
- Views: 15134
Re: Joggled Stockrails
"My general point is this. In general terms - on the prototype, the switch rails, as they get thinner towards the tip, cannot take the weight of the vehicle and descend below rail level, and gauge level. On the 4mm scale model, the point at which the prototype cannot bear weight is the point at...
- Mon May 20, 2019 5:40 pm
- Forum: Track and Turnouts
- Topic: Joggled Stockrails
- Replies: 65
- Views: 15134
Re: Joggled Stockrails
I think it is true that joggles are relatively rarely, if atall, to be found on Scottish lines; perhaps this is true of some English lines also. The set is another matter, and is always necessary (unless your switch blades can taper to zero thickness). Certainly I have never used a joggle, and have ...
- Tue Feb 19, 2019 11:00 pm
- Forum: Railway Buildings
- Topic: early platform height?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1679
Re: early platform height?
There wasn't a standard, but many early platforms were much lower. This picture, taken about 1900, shows a station built in 1847. In this location, as in many others, the platform was raised later, but they couldn't raise the bit with the buildings on without unacceptable expense. There are still a ...
- Mon Feb 18, 2019 10:33 am
- Forum: Layouts and Operations
- Topic: The Burford Branch
- Replies: 398
- Views: 124275
Re: The Burford Branch
Possibly a slightly niaive question. The big pipe is to let water out to the various columns; but where is the (presumably smaller) pipe to let water in? There might have been a pump, possibly steam driven.
Allan F
Allan F