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Riddles

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Everything posted by Riddles

  1. It's great to see the ambulance chasers taking a hit! They are a menace, pushing up everybody's insurance premiums.
  2. Thanks for that. Perhaps the floor polish treatment would work. We just need to know which brand has the staying power.
  3. "The ballast has held nicely in place and is set fast, so more of that to be done as time goes by...." I realise that it was last year when you wrote that but I'm wondering if the ballast is still firmly fixed. Did you use dripped on dilute PVA (presumably waterproof) with the obligatory dash of washing up liquid? Or, did you use floor polish as others seem to have done? I'm still hoping to learn from the experience of others. Dave W
  4. The "Handy Gadget" is still readily available. Search on line for "Pin Pusher" or call in at your nearest Maplin branch if there is one handy. A word of warning though. They only use steel pins, which are attracted by magnetism, and steel rusts. I think Hornby pins are steel but I'm not sure about Peco. Hope your track turns up soon. Dave W.
  5. Presumably you already have a PC or laptop and a wi-fi router. If you also have a iPhone or Android smart phone, the cheapest way into full functioned radio controlled DCC is with Hornby eLink at around £70. Quite a few assumptions there I agree but something worth considering. Having said that, I do personally prefer to twiddle a knob rather than slide my finger around a touchscreen phone when driving trains. The Gaugemaster Prodigy system should do all that you require and very easily. Dave W
  6. There is a lot to be said for something that "just works" without spending hours poring over instructions. The single sheet of instructions with the elink hides the fact that you need to open up a more detailed pdf document which talks about altering com port numbers and baud rates. Not so "plug and play" as I expected. I still derive some satisfaction from using a quadrant lever to alter the speed of my trains rather than sliding my finger across a touchscreen. Keep us informed how you go on with your Z21 (perhaps in the DCC Control and Sound section) Dave W
  7. The TouchCab app for iPhones, iPod Touch, and iPads provides a very similar interface for users of ECoS and Lenz v3.6 command stations and you can try the limited version free. Fully featured it costs £5.49 (Details at http://www.touchcab.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) . I realise the app for Z21 is free but the initial outlay is quite high. The Hornby eLink can be used with iPhones and Android devices but the app for the first device costs £10 and £5 for each additional one (to a total of 8) . It is still very economical way of getting into fully featured DCC at £68 plus an old PC or laptop. I do like the inference from Z21 that there are, or will be, locos with onboard cameras for a live drivers eye view (and not just the cab simulation you can download). I'd like to see how that works. Dave W
  8. It's good to see a really old model still going strong. It must be nearly 60 years old although the mechanism could possibly be slightly younger. 80054 was introduced by the original Hornby, Liverpool company (actually Meccano Limited) in November 1954 as a 3 rail loco and was superseded in September 1961 by 80059. All the 2 rail models appeared as 80033 and some body swaps have occured. Looking at the driving wheels though, I should say that yours was originally 3 rail and has been converted, which would make it between 52 and 59 years old. Incidentally, the original Hornby diecast footbridge, signalbox and stations stand up to outside use very well. Dave W
  9. There is a list of these sites at http://www.communitywoodrecycling.org.uk/buy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Sadly, they are all too far away for me. Dave W
  10. Will you be fitting a sound decoder? If so, do tell us which one you use and if we could hear one on You-tube.............. I'm waiting for Western Courier, specially commissioned by the owners. Dave W
  11. You can get a simple laser device very cheaply these days. The prices have tumbled recently. Aldi and Lidl sometimes have special offers as well. I did try the water in tube method. It took a lot of time setting up and then, wasn't very accurate. However you do it, the best of luck. Dave W.
  12. I'm sure it is possible but I don't think any of the more well known manufacturers have an off the shelf option available at present, although Hornby have promised auto-detection at some time in the future. Heathcote Electronics http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; probably have something which could be used. Hornby's Railmaster might be programmable to do it but that would mean using a computer or laptop and would be more complicated than you would wish. Dave W
  13. Reverse loops are so much easier to operate with DCC than ordinary DC. You do not say which DCC system you are using but most systems have Reverse Loop Modules available and they "should" be compatible. Having said that it would probably be simpler to stick with one from the manufacturer of your system. Hornby's is R8238 at a RRP of £37.99 but you need not pay that. Have a look at Digitrains http://www.digitrains.co.uk/ecommerce/dcc-accessories/auto-reversers/ or DCC Supplies http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/index.php?cPath=459_458 The cheaper modules will use relays to operate the switching and the more expensive will be solid state and potentially more reliable. You will need to completely isolate a section of track within the loop (two insulated railjoiners at both ends) and connect this to the two output terminals of the module. Connect the other two terminals to the main track section. The isolated section should be long enough to contain all power pickups of each train. Remember that a DMU may have pickups at each end so the isolated section will need to be long enough to completely contain it. If you only use loco hauled trains, the section could be shorter (unless you have illuminated coaches taking power from the rails). I look forward to seeing pictures! Dave W
  14. Unfortunately the actual lamps are only put in place on each bracket when the class of train needs to be indicated. The only time there is a lamp on every bracket is when the loco is hauling a Royal train. Also, they are lit by oil or paraffin (kerosene), so its not just a question of switching them on. If you only use a particular loco for one class of train, and are happy to have the lamp(s) in place all the time, you can use DCC to create the natural flickering effect of an oil lamp. They are of course next to useless for lighting up the road ahead. Dave.
  15. Since July 2008 the ultimate owner of Freightliner Group Limited has been an investment bank called Arcapita which has offices in Bahrain, Atlanta, London and Singapore. It was originally formed in 1996 as the First Islamic Investment Bank. A little bit of research will reveal why they can only afford second hand locos at the moment! Dave
  16. Presumably the momentary switch is held over for long enough for you to be confident that the switch blade is fully thrown. If you let go of it too soon I suppose there would be a danger that the switch rail is not tight against the stock rail. Conversely, if you hold it in place too long, I suppose the motor could burn out, or am I missing something? Ideally, I would like to be able to operate the motor by DCC to save a long length of wiring to a switch, which could be in the wrong place anyway. I envisage controlling "wire-free" by ECoS radio or iPhone Touchcab. Can anyone recommend a DCC decoder which just reverses DC polarity for a short length of time, and then cuts off? I am pretty sure that such a thing must exist. I think I may have overlapped into the DCC Control and Digital Sound section of the forum, but I don't think that can be avoided! Interesting stuff. Dave
  17. Thanks for the "heads up" about these fabulous units. I ordered mine at 9.30pm on Wednesday and it arrived at 8.10am on Friday. I usually consider Modelzone rather expensive but these are fantastic bargains. Also, they must be the easiest models to fit with a decoder ever. I fitted a Hornby 21 pin Sapphire decoder in less time than it took me to couple the two units together. With pick up off every wheel it will crawl like a snail on speed step 2 (128 step setting) over any point work. Thanks again for telling us about these bargains.
  18. I'm sorry to hear of all your troubles with the Class 22 but I must say that I am very pleased with my Dapol manufactured steam locos. My Beattie Well Tank and BR Y-3 Sentinel are lovely little runners. Also, they are so very easy to fit DCC decoders into. If only the "Big 2" would make it such an easy and quick job! Just my personal experiences.
  19. Why not consider an LGB large scale bridge? They are intended for outdoor use so should not be affected by sunlight. I am planning on using the 50600 Truss Bridge which is designed for single track but I am going to raise the trackbed to the same height as the side walkways and lay double track OO gauge. LGB 50610 looks even more impressive but I have not seen one "in the flesh", and it does cost a lot more at around £125, not as bad as £300 though.
  20. Chris, I am wondering what made you change your opinion between 5th January and 11th February? Your first impressions were very positive. Two weeks ago I bought a Zimo MX644D Sound Decoder which came with a Stay Alive capacitor. Unfortunately there is not enough space in the 3F tender for the capacitor so I will be unable to use this feature. It would probably fit into most OO gauge diesels though.
  21. There's a super picture today (30/01/13) at http://www.mremag.com/news/bulletin.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; of Julian Martin's Hornby Class 29 in the real snow 10 days ago. It' about ⅔ of the way down the page. That link will change after today. That's not a name I recognise from this forum but I am sure Julian would feel very much at home here.
  22. A clip of the Richard Briers scene is at for those interested. 3 minutes 4 seconds in, if you don't want to watch it all. They don't make them like they used to do!
  23. Interesting to note that in the last 24 hours Hornby have announced that they will be making the Brighton Belle EMU in N gauge. It will be packaged as an Arnold product. Going even smaller, has anyone considered T-Gauge for an indoor layout? Definitely too small for the garden!
  24. It has definitely been done. I've seen it on a video and I had been contemplating doing the same thing myself. I've decided against it for the time being as the wiring would need to be kept totally separate from the DCC bus. You say that you wouldn't bring any of the points into play but you would need to make sure that your circuit didn't rely only on the point blades to carry the high amps. I would suggest that you avoid any gradients. Hornby live steam is difficult to control under perfect conditions due to the difficulty of setting the steam valve accurately. There is a useful article at http://www.scottpages.net/ReviewOfLiveSteam.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Otherwise, go for it!
  25. Of course the problem all these revelations have created is that few adults will now wish to become involved with voluntary youth organisations. Many, if not most, of the UK heritage railways have junior sections to encourage young people to become actively involved in railway restoration and operation. It's safer not to put yourself in a position where you could be unjustly accused of wrongdoing. It's already happened at a railway I have volunteered at, but not to me I hasten to add.
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