Scalefour Forum

Ambergate Revisited The objective of our October meeting was to help Tony S who, you will remember, has purchased the Ex Em gauge epic layout Ambergate, and is in the process of converting it to P4. See the meeting report for April. I was so unfortunate as to be unable to attend but I have finally ...

As I sit here there is a program on radio 4 about Izal medicated toilet tissue which were medicated with tar extract disinfectant. Why is that relevant here? Well the company that produced Izal disinfectant also obtained Ronseal form from the same source, which they said "is still in use today&...

They've changed the formulation? You don't say exactly what product it is, but the product data sheet for the Quick Drying Matt Varnish says that it's water-based. http://www.ronseal.co.uk/datasheets/ronsealquickdryingvarnish.pdf If you're expecting it to be oilbased, and therefore used thinners or...

The return of Knutsford East Not really a proper meeting, but still worth a report. As a result of the illness of the owner of one of the booked layouts, and at not much more than a months notice, Knutsford East got a surprise invite for a second year to Manchester. No we weren't in the guide, part...

although I'm currently held up for want of a 14BA bolt - will hopefully get one at the local Model Railway show this weekend, although I'm a bit disappointed that it wasn't included with the kit. This is a High-level kit yes? Because I'm sure if it has a 14ba bolt on the instruction then its suppos...

Thanks for the run down on Annealing Allan it was really useful. By the time you had got to the last paragraph I was beginning to wonder about my own habit of using fine PB wire for pickus! None the less it seems to me it is the best material. Anybody any clear ideas why this should be. I've never s...

John As I understand the theory (and I am prepared to be proved wrong!), with an axle with freedom to move up and down and the torque link configured as you have them, the torque reaction will tend to lift up or push down the wheel set, depending on which way the motors turning. This is because the ...

grovenor-2685 wrote:Give it a go. General theorising about problems that might arise just confuses and stops you getting the practice that you need in actually doing it.

Spot on, real words of wisdom.

1. Is there really such a lot of experience out there in springy-land to confirm the expected results Certainly haven't done many yet, but experience to date suggest that the methods is pretty robust and not actually dependent on millimetre precision. 2. My 28+28 wheel spacing should provide a calc...

6. The motor is a Portescap RG4/16M. The need to stop it rotating on its axle will affect the springing on the centre driver, in effect hardening it. John Don't think that's necessarily true John but it can be if you don't do it the right way. This is not just a springing thing, torque effects can ...

The High Level ones look nice (not assembled them yet), but without measuring, I think they will need modification to fit the 0-4-0's. Absolutely, I have them on the front axle of the coffeepot. They need to be reduced in hight as originally they were taller than the frame! I got quite a long way d...

Tim V wrote:I would never recommend plunger pickups for all sorts of reasons, too numerous to mention here.

For starters, work like brakes, prevent free movement of compensated/sprung wheels, collect fluff...

Will

A little unfair, Will. ... Was it, lets look at your evidence. ;) Ok we'll count it as two responses both positive followed by a long pause. Your conclusions. 1. Most aren't particular interested. True but zero relevance to your choice. Many are probably not contemplating chassis building just at t...

Well, I have to say I'm a bit surprised that only two people on this board apparently use the CSB suspension system! I can only think that the general lack of response indicates that most people either aren't interested in it or have used it but with indifferent results. DT Beyond the fact that the...

Err, one actually... - that's quite enough I think! (But I take your point on a degree of approximation - it's just that I feel duty bound on the CLAG reference plots to display an objective.) Sorry Russ, I was looking at the middle one of the symmetrical 3 axle samples at the time, but I agree the...

Go for it and you'll suddenly realise it actually makes chassis easier to make. Despite the 3 decimal point accuracy Russ goes in for on the GLAG website, I reckon it's a good because it actually goes on working perfectly well even if you apply a "rule of thumb" approach with centre fulcru...

I have a combined pressure regulator and moisture trap. Never had any moisture in it, but I have a dry cavity wall insulated workshop and live in the driest part of the UK. The pressure regulator bit is useful. I never see moisture in my trap (which also regulates pressure) either and I spay in my ...

Thanks for the observations, I will study the parts very carefully before committing to any particular system. My first aims (mods) will be altering the body fixing screws to clear the centre line (makes couplings easier),.. Fitting AJ's I presume? Three link are designed in and easy and anything e...

For the GER Coffee pot, I though I'd like to spring mine even though Chris Gibbon (Mr Highlevel himself) is on record as saying it couldn't be done. So Hum. I planned a CSB (Continuous Springy Beam) suspension system. I fitted a set of Highlevel horn block and guides. The guides needed to be cut dow...

I've got one of the similar GER coffee pots in the waiting pile, perhaps this autumn's project. I'm planning to use HighLevel's hornblock kits ... This is a lovely kit, and I had plans on trying CSB's, I too used highlevel horn blocks, but I found them to large and they needed to be cut down to fit...

This is Crewe or P4 in the sunshine Our July meeting was held at Tony's house and was actually an excuse for us all to turn up and admire his newly finished extension. We all felt the newly revised kitchen/dining area presented real possibilities if we need somewhere else to put up Knustford East. ...

Can anybody tell me why the hornguide on this GA is sloped at the rear, surely this would mean the hornblock would be loose. This is from a Robinson B4 - all the B Class appear to have the same detail. Or am I misreading something on the GA? I don't think your miss reading this as I have also obser...

Crewe do Millhouses millhouses3.jpg Our June meeting was another layout visit. This time our host was John Brighton and the layout was Millhouses. And yes that is EM, again, this seems to be becoming a habit. Eight of our members braved a crossing of the wilds of the Pennines to get to Sheffield wh...

Were You There? Well the Crewe Area Group were, or at least a fair percentage of us. In fact we could have represented quite a respectable pressure group had there been any contentious issues to vote over. But as there weren't the whole thing was over in just 24 minutes. This allowed us to spend mo...

Visit to Retford Most of us, but regretfully not me, spent a very pleasant day visiting Roy Jackson's Retford down in sunny (well it was that day) Gainsborough. Yes I know it's EM but it impressive anyway or so I'm told. Along with the Retford as the main attraction, Blakeney was also on view. As I...