Garden Railway Forum

That's running much better now Mark.

I would of thrown it in bin ages ago so I admire your determination to get it working!

Tom - there has been a lot of swearing involved!

Its annoying when you build a great model and then you can't get it to run - I'll report back on how long the 9V rechargeable one lasts after a few tries - may have to get creative with my battery block shapes if I end up back at 4 AAA's like use on the other RC locos. Someone on the 16mm facebook site has managed to get 5 AA's in there - my challenge is that whilst popping the DPDT switch under the boiler hides it away from sight, it does mean the backend of the switch sits inside the boiler, making a bit of a nuisance of itself when you are trying to cram batteries and deltangs and spaghetti wiring in there!

Do you have to have a FB account to view the 16mm group (this is not the Association one is it?).

Yes - it is the 16mmm association one - I think you do need an accounts its a closed group - your loco featured on there yesterday - David posted 3 great pics - that I have seen on the google docs site you set up - great photos

Pleased to see the rechargeable PP3 seems to have got it moving ok. I'll be interested to hear how long it lasts on a charge.

Rik

Cheers Rik - yes I'm going to test it over the next few days and will report back - managed 10 mins tonight but was stopped when the worm came off the motor - oops blame the builder for not tightening that screw up properly - to be fair thats the furthest its run so is just a bedding in issue - back to workshops Wellington goes!

markoteal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:30 pm yes I'm going to test it over the next few days and will report back

For any given battery chemistry and battery volume there is a trade off between voltage and current.

NiMH 9V rechargeable batteries are low capacity, about 200mAH, compared to around 900mAH for the average AAA size 1.2V NiMH battery. The 9V rating is fairly nominal as well, usually closer to 8V in practice for rechargeables.

I've no direct experience using 9V rechargeables in models, but if the motor in Wellington has a typical current draw you should get about a 1 hour run I think, more if the motor is a low current type. I get +4hrs out of my works train using 4xAAA NiMH cells and a simple electronic speed control.

Regards,
Graeme

Cheers Graeme - thats a good benchmark for me to test to - I agree my AAA's will give a much long runtime and i may end up with those as a solution but the space in the boiler is limited so thought I'd try the 9V approach as that fits JUST nicely into the space.

When I have re-fitted the worm, testing can resume!

Here’s Wellington running smoothly, her rechargeable is still running well

https://youtu.be/_h16BiMde8M

If we get more track down might be able to do a circuit!

I run mine on 9v rechargeable batteries. 800mha ones I grabbed off amazon. I have to say, got the chassis running freely and the battery lasts forever.

Hi Mark, good to see this thread revived, I had forgotten about it until now. As mentioned early in the thread, the PDF 'Alice Class' kit, bought by 'Just Julie', is now built and running ( I volunteered!) and I was so impressed with the kit that I bought a 'Port Class' for myself..... In both kits a 12v motor was supplied and I have managed to fit eight 2600 mAh (AA size) batteries and Deltang receiver in the boilers of each. They run well and make a welcome addition to the loco fleet.
It is true that lots of preparation work is required but a really good paint finish is possible. Yours looks excellent, well done!

Thanks Peter- those two look great examples - with 12v they’ll have plenty of power to call on - yes I was very pleased as it was a few months since I’d run this one and it performed perfectly out of the box - now fancying doing the Ruby

http://pdf-models.com/steam-locos/ruby/ (Picture credit PDF models)

I'll be well pleased if my Hunslet (when postal restrictions from Switzerland let up) comes out as well as your Hunslets have.

The Leanne is very nice, or in my case 'Katherine'..
Mine runs on a small Li-Po battery as they designed the back to have space underneath to hold it. Runs quite nicely but my Hunslet certainly has more power.

Nice looking loco though "Katherine"

I’m intrigued by the 7/8ths version of the quarry hunslet, has anyone out there seen a completed model?