EngineDriver

My son has been taking videos with his camera that he had for Christmas and he did a "cab ride" type thing with the camera placed onto a flat car, I have just watched it again and paid attention to the clock, it takes a couple of seconds short of three mins for a complete circuit of our layout, I'd never noticed before so I'm quite pleased with that! And before you ask, I have already tried to upload it "Youtube" so that I can post it on here but it keeps aborting the upload for some reason. I will get him to make another film and we will try again!

Some really good photo's there Mick, and some very nice loco's as well, you are building a very impressive collection Mick, well done! I love your viaduct, it's very realistic indeed. I was looking at your other photo's and you have quite a decent run as well, I was going to post a few pic's of our set-up but I don't think I'll bother now ........

Mick, this has happened before, when someone like yourself says here's the video this or that I for what ever reason cannot see anything?! is there supposed to be a link or am I missing something else? Cheers Nige.

Hi I can't see the video's what am I doing wrong?

There we go then, another good reason to leave the E.U.! we could have "real" solder back then!

Yes Mick we could, however you would still need to put an expansion joint in here and there as is done on the real thing. I don't know if you have ever noticed on the railway sometimes you will see two short lengths of rail in the four foot and the rails at that point are cut kind of wedge like so that they can slide along each other as the track expands and contracts the rails in the four foot anchor the thing together, its a bit difficult to explain in words Ill try to find a picture!

WOW! all this talk of "bus wires" and "droppers" is it all really necessary? All I have ever done is solder a small wire from the end of each rail to the end of the next rail so that you are not relying on the fish plate to make the electrical connection. I have been running outside for nearly 20yrs now like this with absolutely no problems. With regards to track expansion just leave a suitable gap in the rail joints, you know common sense, not too big, not too small. There has only been a couple of occasions when we have had the track buckle due to the sun, it's not such a big issue as it's usually too hot to be running anyway, but it goes back again when the temp goes down (just like the real thing)

So glad he's on the mend Mark. Family come first every time chap. All the best to you and yours matey.

Oh, do you mean like...............OOooo must have that, and I 've got to get this it's a bargain, and look at this it's a joblot and sooooo cheap! just got to bid on that, and I really have to win this lot!.........................................NO!

Mark, I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure really how to answer you I don't think it's all down to modelling skills though! Some times it's the track layout that's at fault, for example curves that are far too tight to be real, causing both engines and stock to look ridiculous as they pass over them (you know those sort of set track curves they put in "Train Sets") another time it could just be the stock it's self, some of the older Hornby and Lima stuff while ok in it's day is looking a bit dated and toy like today, sometimes very plasticy and with those old tension lock couplings there's about 20 scale foot between vehicles! Taken together it can all add up to the "Train Set" look! This all said though it doesn't mean you have to go out and spend a fortune on new stock and stuff, first of all take a good look at the track layout see if there is any obvious faults there, and if so what can be done, either by re-alignment or failing that could the offending stretch be disguised in some way? ie: a tunnel or cutting etc. If there is no fault with the track then have a look at your stock, vehicles can be re-sprayed or just sprayed with matt varnish to take away the plastic shine, perhaps a bit of weathering would do the trick? then couplings can be changed to bring the vehicles closer together. It sounds a lot Mark but really it's pretty basic stuff. Just try putting two or three coaches closer together, over ride the couplings so that the buffers are nearly touching and you will see the difference. Failing that.......................Model Aircraft Matey..............Aerial Photography...........you'd be good at that!

You've obviously not looked at our layout then Mark! Ours is definitely not what it set out to be! I look at other set up's and wonder just what the hell I'm trying to achieve!

That's no problem Mark!...... You should know better than try to hide things from us anyway ................we always find out!

Brilliant Mick! I thought I had just fallen off my computer chair!

Hi Purbeck, welcome to the forum, Mick has pretty much covered it all there however I would add that I think most of us use Peco code 100 track as opposed to the finer scale versions, also if you decide to install any points outdoors then stick to the Peco brand don't go for the Hornby ones (even though they may be slightly cheaper) as they are not as good a quality. You will also need to do some additional wiring to the points for outdoor usage, but it's not complicated and it is covered elsewhere in this forum. Don't be afraid to ask questions, we always try to answer all of them, somebody on here usually knows the answer! There is also lots of friendly banter on here as well I hope you're ok with that! so please join in ......... and now and again we do tend to drift "off topic" but then we get shouted at and our wrists slapped All the best for now Nige.

Ah, your only jealous cos I did it first!

You're right Roddy he would have fallen over AGAIN, I recken that's why he's had to retire from the building trade,...........nowt to do with arthritis....... just to much of a liability out in the real world! ................Falling from LADDERS, SAWING off his FINGERS, PLANING his other hand Can't believe he's fallen off his VIADUCT though

Ha! wish I had seen that!

Obviously got someone else to take the photo's.............it's the only answer!

Happens it's a good job you have retired then matey!

Mark, go to your personal journal for a reply as I would not like to be "Off Topic" again!

Oh Mark, joking apart mate I know it's not funny. I feel really sorry for you, I'd be totally gutted if it were me, and more to the point I would not have the funds available to put it right. Sorry for taking the Pi$$ it was not meant maliciously

Hey Mark, ......why would I need to "call" you stupid?....................LOTUS CARLTON! ............

Hey Mark I've been thinking ...................... I reckon, instead of buying this motor,...... you should have gone along to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and adopted a PELICAN! ......at least you would have known that would come with a BIG BILL!

The clue was in the name.................... LOTUS Carlton................LOTUS...............Lots .....Of.....Trouble.....Usually......Serious!

I quite agree with you there, I do not understand why they do not build proper scenery when they use the older equipment. My daughter has talked me into building a three rail Hornby Dublo layout with her but it will be fully scenic as you would with any layout you would build today. She just loves the tin plate wagons and coaches, and I must admit the loco's are so easy to repair and maintain and they run really really well. I know they don't have the super high level of detail you get today but I think they are still more than acceptable. It's becoming quite addictive collecting it as well.