Garden Railway Forum

Thanks - Yes I need the flangeless centre wheels on the Harlech Castle to negotiate my curves too! Good to know that the B-D has then now. I'm still contemplating whether to spring for one or not. I'm finding that Diesel Power (or battery power to be precise) is definitely valuable in the winter mon...

Tom, If you are looking for a name for the loco - the obvious one missing from the Virgin set was "Sherbet" - Lady Penelope's Pug (sometimes callers "Sherbert" too)!

On a less trivial note, are the centre wheels flanged or not? Also, have you decided on a control system?

I've done a little more work on the bogies today. The difference in ride height is actually 1.7mm and so I've cut 1.5mm plasticard spacers - 26mm x 30mm and these sit in the space between the moulded guide lines (the ones meant for the SS16 axle blocks) very nicely. A couple of things that I have ha...

My bogies arrive last week and I've built them up today. Locating them on the standard 4 wheel chassis in the same place as is marked for the original wheel carrier will work well. I've only offered it up to check and it will be a while before I complete the job as I still need to paint the coach si...

You could also try the Citadel "Nihilakh oxide". This dries like a weather copper oxide - it can also look like there is an aged 'peel' to it. These technical paints are really designed for detail in the cracks and joints - not for the large surfaces that you have - but worth trying around...

You certainly don't need the dispenser to use the tape - and I don't dispense my tape from the dispenser. I do store the tape in the dispenser though as it keeps the edges in good condition.

That's interesting to know. I am planning to get some Swift Sixteen coaches and was wondering if the 4 wheelers might exert more drag on tight curves. I think the shorter coaches could suit my line better, so fitting them with bogies sounds like the answer. Thanks! If you are running anything close...

I'm right in the middle of a similar project. I've built the S16 4 wheeled coach bodies (2 off) and had attached the wheel carriers to the chassis central to the marked out area. At this point the chassis had not been attached to the bodies. Fortunately for me I then tried the chassis on my track an...

You are correct, there is no Mac support and this stopped me using it. I could have had a go, as I have a Mac with Bootcamp running in a partitioned part of the drive and Windows XP sitting on it, but I pulled out pencil and paper instead. If you want to have a go then the Bootcamp route (together w...

Hi Rik This is a very useful guide. One thing that caught me out with passing loops is that calculated distance (in your case the 2 metres) has to be the parallel track bit - the lead in and lead out of the loop can't be counted as the coaches have no clearance! The other thing that caught me out wa...

There were two or three of converted LKMs on display at the Yorkshire Show this year. I have an unconverted, snail motor version and so am interested too. I talked to Fosworks as I'd probably use the Mamod motor as well. The stand next to Fosworks also had one. I think that it was the stand belongin...

Both builds are very impressive. I'm battling with the windows in a Pendle Valley Engine Shed at the moment - I already know that they are not going to end up looking anything like as well finished as yours!

Hi Rod I'm away at the moment and so don't have a loco to hand. When you say that you've had the spring removed - is that because it was a non Roundhouse Tx? Ideally (even if non-Roundhouse) your Tx should be throttle on the left and this should not be sprung in the up down travel. If the left is no...

Hi Rod If your track is level then you should be able to run slowly without the use of a slomo. I have a very tight and relatively short track - my maximum radius is 39" and there's quite a lot of 30" in there too. I run both a Roundhouse 'Jack" and a 'Lady Anne'. I actually bought th...

Hi Rod There is a good site here: http://jackochikatana.com/car-trailer-dimensions/bold-and-modern-car-trailer-dimensions-14-ifor-williams-eurolight-domestic-trailer-on-tiny-home/ This is pretty good for both scratch building or bashing a lit or pre-constructed model. If using for or behind the UM L...

[/attachment] IMG_0981.JPG Wilf has been beavering away on the Defender that he picked up at the local auction and brought it home today. It still needs a little tidying in places and some lessons have been learned - the whole rear topside would be removed next time and the bonnet would have a furth...

Good Luck!


Makes the Roundhouse "George" chassis that I have here look decidedly easy!!

I guess that you've already seen this:

https://www.16mm.org.uk/2011/05/01/mom2011-05/

but if not then it is probably worth reading and a follow up to 16mm nga.

The subject of scale vehicles for 16mm (or lack of) has found its way into a number of threads recently. I've been playing around with the Universal Hobbies 1:18 Land Rover Defenders as they looked a close approximation to what was needed. I've measured the 110 Defender and compared to my own 12&quo...

I've spent the last six months looking for a Criccieth and finally gave up and took a Harlech instead. I'd decided on FR Grey but without the yellow vinyl. The one available at Derails already had the stripes fitted. However, they had a black that wasn't on the web site. I'd not actually seen it in ...