Scalefour Forum

Thanks to all for the interesting and useful suggestions. Wire or headless pins can indeed be used in many circumstances, it's just that a pin is often easier to use: - there's a point making it easier than plain wire to insert into a hole - the point makes it easier to push a pin through things (pl...

Many decades ago I bought some entomological pins and I've now run out of one size. I've tried UK specialist suppliers and searched Amazon and Ebay without success, one specialist also checked with their suppliers and could also not find any. What I'm after is what was sold as No. 20 pins that are v...

It's outside my own particular area of interest, but is the layout typical for the GNR? It appears to be a small station so is the (running) loop for the goods yard normal? Instead of the 2 crossovers at the left hand end I would have expected a trailing connection from the lower main line with a si...

I’ve just seen on BBC’s “Repair Shop” a laser welder being used by a jeweller - looks just the job for fine “soldering” work. Only problem could be the cost... but laser cutters have reduced in price a great deal so there may be hope. Has any one had experience with this technique?

Tony, ... ie the diamond cannot be both ways at once. This is why interlocking is needed. Regards Apologies if I missed mention in an earlier post, but how are the points to be operated? If mechanically the solution is clear as it should be if using computer control. However if using point motors a...

Guy, Thanks for the suggestions that I’ll study carefully. I think your approach to 3D printed brake gear is great for working layouts, but may be a bit limiting for “glass case” models. By the way, I can’t remember if you put the information in one of your posts, but how much clearance do you plan ...

Thanks for the encouragement. David, I have the tools but these days I doubt whether or not I have the dexterity needed - I’ll have a go. Nigel, at first glance a minimum thickness of 0.5mm seems to much for most bits of the brake gear but I might give it a try. I have another project involving unus...

At present I'm slowly making a model of a Rhymney Railway brake van and I've hit problems with the brake gear. Unfortunately there's no commercial product that I'm aware of that is a close match so it will have to be scratch building. (For a one off I think the costs of designing and etching one set...

Apologies for being so slow in posting these, but they may still be of interest. Unfortunately the originals were not very good and also suffered from a stint in the tropics.(So resolution greatly reduced for posting.) The black and white one is of Blaenavon Low Level and was taken in 1962 a few mon...

I was intending to purchase the Bachrus system, but as these are no longer available I bought some from DCC Concepts. I have however made a slight modification to them, having them separately wired rather than relying on contact with track. I've described my new set up in a different thread: https:/...

P1010692.JPG At last it's complete (apart possibly for adding buffers)! Decided on the MERG kits in the end as I was able to buy these when attending the Missenden weekend. Adding meters to the set-up was delayed by my ordering one incorrectly and having to wait for a new one: all mounted in a box ...

I am currently contemplating the purchase of a Lathe .... I was wondering what peoples thoughts might be regarding the usefulness of a Vertical slide? I don't possess a pillar drill or a milling machine ... it struck me that for the size of work we do a vertical slide attachment might possibly be a...

Hello Jol Unfortunately I do not have access to a suitable drawing package to produce the necessary artwork, otherwise I might have a go. Regards Sapper I’ve found Draftsight to be very good for 2D: it has an interface that feels more natural to me than TurboCad (which I also have). Draftsight is f...

Alan, Keith, Nigel, Tim Having done a little bit more hunting around, I've decided to go with the d-i-y approach - thanks for the useful advice. One question now is, could someone let me have a copy of the article from MRJ 11 and the follow-up letter in MRJ 13 (when these came out I wasn't into elec...

Yes indeed, a great day out. Very many thanks to all those involved with organising, running, attending and supporting the show: well worth the six hours driving. (Special appreciation for the stewards outside in the rain to help car parking.) I particularly enjoyed the number and range of demonstra...

... For myself, the hand of god and three link couplings are the most prototypical. They look right in use, and they were after all manually uncoupled and coupled on the real thing Fingers crossed for the development of micro engineered 4mm robots with poles :D Agreed. However this really isn’t eno...

Gents, Many thanks for the informative and useful replies. Plan now is: 1. extend the shopping list for Scaleforum - if this fails 2. get detailed info on Gaugemaster and Modelex units - if this approach fails 3. get a copy of the MRJ article and then DIY. Third possibility seems the most likely at ...

Having consigned very old, rather dodgy, units to recycling facilities during a house move, I now want to renovate my test track and connect it with a new DC controller. As this would be for loco testing only I would prefer pure DC with no feedback or such sophistication - adding a couple of cheap a...

The image in Gareth’s post reminded me of when I went to the opticians for a check and discovered that I did not have to explain my needs as he had jeweller and watchmaker clients. The mention of using power tools also meant that safety lenses were prescribed in frames appropriate to what I do. It c...

I'd look at using Masokit's early PO wagon brakes - the push rods can be shortened easily. I believe I used them when converting the Bargoed wagon to P4 a few years ago - unfortunately the plastic in the Blaenavon wagon had degraded over the years and it broke up while I was trying to convert it. Sh...

chimney-300px.jpg I've not posted anything for quite a while, so I thought I'd better show that I've not been completely inactive. I'm both pleased and disappointed with this latest bit: I didn't think I'd manage to make it at all, but I wish my skills had been up to making something of better qual...

Richard,

Many thanks. Very clearly explained: I'll be ordering some of the bits and giving the technique a try on on my next project using my Sherline mill - unfortunately this does have a bit of backlash so some extra care will be needed.

... Richard M demonstrated cutting hinge slots in etched brass coach sides using a Proxxon miniature milling machine. ... I’d be very interested to learn more about this technique and wonder whether it would work with the thicker Trevor Charlton etches or with polystyrene. The smallest cutter I’ve ...

In addition to the excellent suggestions already made, I’d like to recommend two of my favourites: Len Tavender, Coal Trade Wagons, 1991, ISBN 0951098713 (out of print) Tony Watts, Private Owner Wagons from the Ince Waggon & Ironworks Co., 1998, ISBN 0902835041; HMRS £7. Better value might come ...

For those of you thinking about the artistic aspects of our hobby http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-43119445/photographer-stephen-wilkes-shows-day-to-night-in-one-image is well worth a look.
It’s a “small” step to move from a day to a few decades, and from 2D to 3D.