Scalefour Forum

I suspect that the date may have something to do with this thread Rod!

Ted.

Further to Nick's reply in another thread recently on this subject, some answers to questions anticipated, that haven't been asked yet. On batteries there were some references on supplier websites that I found confusing, like 'C' and 'S'. 'S' stands for cell - (yes, obvious!). Each cell provides a n...

I have read, and re-read, not only this latest post but also the other posts under the subject of Radio Control on this forum and find the topic fascinating. I wonder if there is further guidance or available tutorials on the matter? There is some guidance on websites from component manufacturers l...

Familiar territory for me - I spent quite a few years commuting to Liverpool Street from Forest Gate. So did I, but more often changing at Stratford during my commuting to work. A lifelong resident of F.G., living in Odessa Rd. for my first 24 years, now as you may have guessed, Sebert. From age ab...

Work on the tracks between Stratford and Forest Gate Junction this weekend.


Hmmm, not seen one of these before. The train is parked across part of the ladder junction between the local up and down lines.
Ted.

Hi Dave, the original question was, I think, about whether fitting secondary suspension to carriage bogies was worth it, and I feel that we have agreed that it is. If you wish to discuss the pros and cons of different designs, such as the Bedford or Pendelenton ones, I would suggest that you start a...

Are you adding much extra weight to these coaches? And what do you regard as the ideal final weight using this approach? David Murrell Ahhh, weight of our models... we did this to death on the old E4um... a can o'worms lined with bones of contention... Few, I suspect will agree, but I 'scale' weigh...

I am now even more convinced to go down this route! All the best Neil Neil, this might be helpful:- http://www.clag.org.uk/beam-annex5.html The 'planes of freedom' diagram is important, and the application of the rotations of the bogie frame relative to the carriage body can make a difference; in t...

Secondary springing tends to be a personal thing. Some people think they are the bee's knees, others can't be bothered with them. I'm afraid you are going to have to do your own experiments and decide for yourself. Thanks Bill for all this. Does anyone have any other views on secondary springing fo...

Are there any recommended wires for current collectors? I have tended to use 0.35 phosphor bronze in the past, but with steel wheels am wondering if steel on steel might be a better option? Steve I have used pb without probs for years.. the date on this :- http://www.clag.org.uk/tedpick01.html was ...

It's not going to happen now, but it would be possible, and an interesting challenge. I would use an RX63, a smaller 4v coreless motor, leaving room for the Rx in the tank, and a button cell 'somewhere'! That's the configuration except that the Rx is under the roof of the the High Level 'Husky', whi...

Winander, you say you haven't built track yet, but have you invested in any DCC kit? I steered clear of DCC myself, not seeing any advantage for me, and the prices... Plus you still need track wiring, pickups etcetera. Therefore I have no idea what there might be in DCC that is desirable but not ava...

Though I welcome choice, I would personally not be interested in non-metal rails or wheels. Plastic track in sidings, possibly, but all-plastic rail and wheels on running lines would be a step too far for me. The rail or at least the railhead needs to be conductive in order for track circuits and cu...

It is also true that wheels and axles can be all-metal without the need for insulation. This is true whatever the rail material happens to be. Radio control and battery power opens up lots of possibilities, some of which probably haven't been thought about yet. It's a bigger step than it first appea...

Double heading. The simplest way is as described earlier, to have both receivers bound to the same selection on the Tx, but that means that both locos do the same thing at the same time, if they are both powered. If already coupled together, no problem, they will drive as one unit. Or, with one loco...

Quick answers. A Tx22 can control as many receivers as have been bound to it, each responding to being selected when they are active/powered. Any number of Rxs can be bound to a specific selection, but only those that are powered will respond. So Nick is correct in that you could have as many sets o...

Mea culpa! I know I shouldn't rely on my memory, but sometimes I forget... The drawbar pull theory was that it takes about 2g per carriage to keep it rolling, and a little more, perhaps 2.5g, to lift one from rest. So JackBlack's 45xx should be good to lift 20 carriages or more on the straight and l...

Dave Long wrote:- I'd certainly look at the Pololu regulators, I've never seen the point in the adjustable versions or having a step down function, plus they are even smaller. Many thanks for this info Dave, I/we hadn't discovered those. the RobotShop was out of stock of the 12 volt ones, but I foun...

The simple start is working on an assumption that most, if not all of us, have some sort of 12 volt DC supply, or an AC supply for DCC, available. A DC controller isn't required, just the power supply, an old-fashioned transformer with a rectifier, or a switched-mode 'wall wart' will do. On the test...

Forget batteries for now, the idea is just to see if radio control is a viable option. Our locos already have pickups and generally, 12 volt motors. So I wanted to try to fit radio control to one to see how difficult it would be, and if it would be worth the effort. My Bachmann diesels have very rel...

I don't think the camera was being false, on the contrary. One of the great dangers of model photography in this digital age is the light source. I reckon one was taken in tungsten light, and the other in blue sky daylight.
Ted.

Starting with radio... Forget batteries for now, though the elimination of the dreaded pickup hiccup is the ultimate goal, controlling the first loco by radio does not require a huge commitment. The Tx22 transmitter kit is £38.00 and an Rx61-22 receiver £32.00. For those not comfortable with solderi...

Members and guests, Nick and I were very pleased with the positive responses to our demo table at this year's show. The number certainly exceeded my expectations! For some years in my past employment, part of my job was as training instructor on our products, and I never ran a course without learnin...

Will and Dave should call their 2-8-0s 'Bumble Bees'... some blinkered theorists say that they can't fly!

Dave Bradwell wrote: I just questioned whether the design was optimum. Ahhh, optimum for what? Current collection, weight distribution, haulage, ease of assembly/adjustment, or something else? Perhaps it just needs another csb for the pickups to get the downward pressures all the same - or simple c...