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mick

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Everything posted by mick

  1. It's the price we have to pay for demanding scale wheels etc... I had exactly the same trouble with my RevolutioN log wagons although fortunately they run fine up in the attic - outdoors it was a completely different story. I put it down to my tracklaying and spent a couple of hours over a few days attempting to remedy the problem by packing the track in places where my minature spirit levels indicated it was required. I was able to improve the running a good bit but didn't completely eradicate the problems so those wagons are no longer allowed outdoors. One major flaw with the log wagons is the bogie retaining screws working loose through the swivelling action and dropping out but that's another story. I imagine there will be many disgruntled modellers experiencing similar problems because up to now we haven't had to have perfectly laid track in order to run our trains. Gone are the days of laying track on the living room carpet for a running session! Today's fine scale models demand perfect trackwork and there's no other way round it.
  2. That's the problem we've been having for some time and no matter how great or innovative the systems are, if we can't fit them into our existing loco's without resorting to extreme butchering then it isn't an improvement on anything that's gone before, at least not until they start manufacturing loco's with the necessary space inside the bodies. Yes, good luck with the class 20. With the Bachmann models I have there's barely room for anything in there leaving you with few options for speakers. I'm not knocking Hornby over this because I've resorted to cutting into a number of loco's in the past and modifying them in some way in order to fit better speakers. I didn't mind doing it if it resulted in improved sound quality as I had no intention of ever selling them, at least not for the forseeable future.
  3. We've just had a week on the west coast of Scotland heading up there last Friday when several roads along the way to the Scottish border were closed due to the overnight snow. In fact when we got up on the Friday morning we weren't sure whether we'd be going or not given the news reports but we're so glad we decided to ignore the warnings and get on our way because there wasn't a problem at all, other than having to divert away from the 'closed' A66. We had a nice quiet week, using the car only occasionally during our stay. There was further snow while we were up there which was really nice to see and experience, though it didn't last too long and by the end of the week it had all disappeared from most of the tops across on Skye. I had high hopes of seeing a lot of wildlife but unfortunately it was disappointing on that score and apart from a group of Eider ducks shortly after leaving Oban and an otter on our first full day at Glenelg there wasn't much to interest the camera. But never mind, it wasn't a holiday solely for photography or even for trains, it was just about enjoying the area and you should have seen the look on George's face when we took him onto the beach for the first time. The drive home took us 9 hours with just a couple of short breaks along the way and it's extremely tiring but well worth it to be able to spend some time in that area. The last time we were there would have been 2010 so it's been a long time coming, however, next time we'll be trying somewhere just a little closer to the border.
  4. Welcome to the forum Paul. As Barry has already pointed out the forum tends to be pretty quiet over the colder months but does, as you might expect, liven up once the weather improves. Unless you've got a very large space available in order to accommodate O gauge loco's and rolling stock I would certainly recommend OO gauge so you can take full advantage of the available space in order to create large radius curves. I note that Barry has also mentioned this in his earlier response. Not only does that make the layout look much more realistic it also aids better running. The layout of your garden will likely dictate the shape your layout will take but a circular plan would be my preferred option so that you can sit back and watch trains circling the garden, crossing bridges, through tunnels etc. A bridge over the pond would be great if you're able to do that and a decent shed makes a great stabling/station area. I would recommend using DCC for train control but if you are anything like me then I would use analogue for point control and other accessories. I'm all for keeping things as simple as possible outdoors, even down to using my 2 sets of outdoor points in 'sprung' fashion so I don't have to touch them at all other than a prior clean. There's nothing wrong with manual control of points either if they are easily accessible - just keep it as simple as possible. Providing your track is suitably secured to the track base it also stands up pretty well to being trodden on by the dog, in fact it stands up to more or less anything and I wouldn't worry too much about it. Hope to see some progress in the near future.
  5. Probably not. I've certainly not missed my occasional visits but I would imagine I'm no great loss to them either as I never had anything to contribute myself that isn't already on here.
  6. Well you've persuaded me to take a closer look via some of the available online reviews and yes, I can see why people are getting excited about it. I'd still be inclined to wait and see how it develops because if it's the game changer everyone believes it's going to be then the competition will doubtless have to follow suit and there's only so many control systems and apps you can comfortably manage at any one time. Personally I'm not a lover of using a phone or tablet as a controller anyway - I've become far too accustomed to a proper handset with buttons and dials! The suggested prices for the sound decoders are certainly attractive but I'm a great believer in "if something appears too good to be true....". I have yet to come across a factory decoder with a speaker that's been up to the task and at this price point I can't see that being any different. Despite the advantages that this bluetooth technology offers, and I have to agree there are some really great things promised, the sound quality in particular is going to have to be little short of amazing before I would even consider it. We'll just have to wait and see.
  7. If I was in the market then I'd be inclined to wait and see what the quality is like and how it develops. These things tend to be released with a great fanfare and then slowly fade into memory. If, as you suspect, the initial soundfiles are likely to be to TTS quality then it wouldn't be a selling point that would tempt me into parting with any amount of cash and even if it worked out cheaper than purchasing traditional sound decoders we still have the problem with many model loco's of finding a suitable space for a good quality speaker. To be perfectly honest though, even after looking at the Hornby HM7000 page I'm still not 100% sure of what it's all about! I think I'm at the stage now where I'm about to be left behind as the hobby moves forward but over the years, having spent so much on models and control systems that often failed to please, I can't bring myself to continue doing that.
  8. It wasn't my intention to post any more photos just yet but I have come up with a couple that are different from those that have gone before so you might just find them of interest, or at least a bit less tedious. The first is a general view over the sidings during a somewhat busy period with 56003 on MGR empties standing on the down loop waiting for the passage of the Gypsum empties while a loaded MGR is passing on the up main. 58041 is waiting its next turn of duty on No.2 down siding I managed to get a better vantage point as the Gypsum empties passed through, hauled unusually on this occasion by a class 56 No.56095 due to there being no available class 60s. 56095 will take charge of the gypsum loading process and be swapped for a 60 on departure. Again a busy period with some nice action. The above is a view you'll rarely see on Skew Bridge unless it's in one of these photos as the right hand side has the exposed attic timbers and of course the roof above as you can see in the original photo below.
  9. Yes as with most things it's just a case of trying things out and seeing what works best for you. I'm going to hold off a bit now as I think I've posted more than enough images already and there's only so much that viewers can put up with before it becomes tedious. I'm not about to stop taking photos and editing them because it's something I've really enjoyed doing and it's an alternative to just running trains round so I'll be back up in the attic with the camera this afternoon for sure. I actually took a bit of video the other day but it didn't feel quite the same and so I discarded the idea of publishing anything.
  10. I've done 66022 before but here it is again with a rake of loaded HTA hoppers. I've made the driver figure more prominent because the cab looked empty and I've also 'illuminated' the marker lights. With a replacement sky, some light exhaust and a bit of dust before light cropping, it's an improvement on the original image.
  11. mick

    Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    Photographs taken on my attic based OO gauge Model Railway, 'Skew Bridge', depicting the railway scene from the 1980's through to early 2000s with the emphasis on traffic between the Yorkshire coalfields and Aire Valley power stations.
  12. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    EWS liveried 66022 passes Skew Bridge sidings on the up main hauling loaded HTA hoppers
  13. A trio of class 37s on the Cawoods PFA containers. 37692,37698 & 37514 which has been added to the consist as an engine movement and will be detached en-route. A bit OTT with this first one I think as I try to improve my technique, but it still feels satisfying to see a dense exhaust The next one is a bit more restrained and once again shows my desire to include some of the track components in the photographs
  14. mick

    Class 37 triple-header

    From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    37692 & 37698 carry out an engine move as they are temporarily joined by 37514 while working the loaded Cawoods PFA containers.
  15. mick

    Trio of class 37s

    From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    37692 & 37698 are joined by 37514 as the trio haul the loaded Cawoods PFA container wagons past Skew Bridge. 37514 will be detached en-route.
  16. On Xmas Day we took George out for a walk along the river down as far as the lock. On the way we heard some noisy chattering from the top of some tall trees and a couple passing by told us they were Parakeets. As any photographer will tell you, whenever you venture out without your camera it's odds on you'll come across something you would have wanted to photograph. When we arrived at the lock there was a Kingfisher fishing and we watched it for a good few minutes as it grabbed fish just to rub it in! Today we walked the same route down to the lock and the Kingfisher was there again in the same spot as before. I managed to take a few photos of it as it watched for prey before diving down into the water but it was too dull to use a shutter speed fast enough to capture the dive. While my eyes were focused on the Kingfisher there was the same chattering we'd heard on Xmas Day and when I looked up into the distance there was a pair of Parakeets flitting between the branches. I managed to take half-a-dozen photos before they disappeared further into the distance but at first glance they appeared too dark to make anything out but back home I was able to lighten them and bring out some of the detail. Ring-necked Parakeet Those of you further down south will most likely be familiar with them but it's the first time I have seen them up here in the north though it seems they've been here for some time now.
  17. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    Colas Rail Freight 60087 heads past Skew Bridge with the loaded log train

    © Michael Norfolk

  18. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    After emerging from the tunnel Colas Rail Freight 60087 'CLIC Sargent' accelerates away with the loaded log train

    © Michael Norfolk

  19. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    Colas Rail Freight 60087 'CLIC Sargent' heads away with the loaded log train

    © Michael Norfolk

  20. mick

    60087 'CLIC Sargent'

    From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    60087 'CLIC Sargent' in Colas Rail Freight livery approaches Skew Bridge sidings with loaded IWA log carriers

    © Michael Norfolk

  21. 'Practice makes perfect' so they say. Well if that's the case then I'd better keep going. The thing with the more modern diesel loco's is they didn't tend to throw out as much dirty exhaust, in fact in many photos and video clips there doesn't appear to be any of note. But photos look a bit dull without some although I have tried to restrain myself. 60087 on the log train. What is it with me and wonky buffers? Why don't I see them until after I've taken all the photos? This second photo is evidence of the fact that I've pasted in a photo of a driver due to me having to flip the image horizontally. The wiper marks on the windscreen are in the opposite orientation to the wiper blades. The exhaust should be more of a haze rather than that of smoke and I've found that smudging along the line of the bogies creates a nice dusty effect that gives a sense of travel.
  22. I've been back trying to improve on some previous photos and this one of 56084 I feel has turned out pretty well with a more 'blue' coloured exhaust though I'd still like to blend it a bit smoother.
  23. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    56127 passes over the mainline cross-over with loaded 100t TEA tank wagons. To aid traction the driver makes use of the sanders
  24. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    After emerging from the tunnel 56127 accelerates away with an application of sand to aid traction. 56049 can be seen in the distance idling away on the down loop.
  25. From the album: Skew Bridge - Attic Railway

    Coal sector liveried 56127 passing Skew Bridge with loaded TEA tank wagons
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