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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/09/2020 in Posts

  1. D211 'Mauritania' has now had additional pickups fitted in the same way as I did D369 yesterday. Just to illustrate what an improvement it makes, before I began work I placed D211 on track and ran it through an empty road in the storage yard and it coughed and spluttered along the entire length - the sound stopping and starting all the time. I'll be honest, it was the worst I've ever seen it and it was far worse than the symptoms D369 exhibited before it was modified. It was slightly easier today as I knew exactly what to do and so was able to shape the phosphor bronze pickups in a single batch, tin them all on the reverse with solder and then solder them to the existing pickup strip on the bogies. I had a slight doubt that it would be as successful as the day before, especially after seeing how the loco was performing earlier, but it now runs perfectly and, as with D369, the sound hasn't cut out once since. Now I just need to decide which soundfile to replace the factory sounds with as I can't live with the annoyingly repetitive sound currently on the decoder and they're nice loco's so need to be out on the layout running round. I've made another 20 or so small trees and bushes today and inserted them in vacant spots along the embankment. This could be something I'll still be doing in many months time as a handful doesn't go very far and don't at first glance appear to make much difference - though I'm sure they do. It's something I actually enjoy seeing develop. You can see how it currently looks in the photo below. The 2 coal sector 37's still have charge of a loaded MGR set while the 2 Loadhaul 37's have been taking a short rake of Cavalex BBA wagons for a spin - sufficient power on that one for sure. Elsewhere a start has been made weathering the bridge with the application of some rust colour. I've even put a dark wash over the bricks though it's not that evident in the photo. It still needs some vegetation in front of the sidewalls once I've finished painting and I want to try disguise the void you can see beneath and beyond the bridge. The tracks could do with weathering too.
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