Simpas
Western Thunderer
For those who don't know. Congratulations to Newton Heath 1st, and Midland in Bristol 2nd and the rest if us who came joint third. Nice way to do it. Thoroughly enjoyable day with lots of positive comments about mine and everyone else's contribution to the event.
Good all round show which I hope to have a another good look round tomorrow.
"Aa love Railex me, even tho itza lang way from yaem.... al see if a kin get some pitches on me foan the morra an post the mora neet. All Etta see how that gains cos av nivva done from me foan afore"
I do like Railex a lot notwithstanding it is some considerable distance from home...I will try and take some photographs using my mobile and post them tomorrow evening, not something I'm accustomed to doing.
Mick S
Good all round show which I hope to have a another good look round tomorrow.
"Aa love Railex me, even tho itza lang way from yaem.... al see if a kin get some pitches on me foan the morra an post the mora neet. All Etta see how that gains cos av nivva done from me foan afore"
I do like Railex a lot notwithstanding it is some considerable distance from home...I will try and take some photographs using my mobile and post them tomorrow evening, not something I'm accustomed to doing.
Mick S
Simpas
Western Thunderer
Tony,
Thanks for posting the picture, apologies for blinking.... that's what happens though isn't it?
As you will see from my post above, I finally managed work out how to do the 'quote' thingy on my mobile. Should add in here that I don't do any of that social media stuff so Western Thunder was my first experience of 'likes' etc. I was a virgin....!
I'm not particularly luddite, "just got nee time - ower many otha things tae dee an layoots tae build."
(time is limited and I have other things I need to do, not to mention layouts to build)
Mick S
Thanks for posting the picture, apologies for blinking.... that's what happens though isn't it?
As you will see from my post above, I finally managed work out how to do the 'quote' thingy on my mobile. Should add in here that I don't do any of that social media stuff so Western Thunder was my first experience of 'likes' etc. I was a virgin....!
I'm not particularly luddite, "just got nee time - ower many otha things tae dee an layoots tae build."
(time is limited and I have other things I need to do, not to mention layouts to build)
Mick S
Simpas
Western Thunderer
Thanks Dave, you may have seen I still haven't managed the bus depot security lights. I did start to make them but wasn't happy so will fix when I and something suitable.
Oh, yes...
"A maita myn teltiz the day me street leet's in the wrang place...!"
(A friend today informed me my one and only street light is incorrectly positioned....!)
I think he's right because in its current position light will shine onto the railway which, he says, would be avoided. In addition to which the flood of light would not light up the bend safely. Very likely the lamp's position should behind the permanent deviation markers facing away from the railway and illuminating the area in front of it with perhaps a reflector preventing light pollution of the railway which might prove a distraction to loco drivers. What a wonderful hobby this is - thanks Richard, watch the space because I will alter this when convenient.
Mick S
Last edited:
Simpas
Western Thunderer
As promised,a couple of phone camera shots of the winning entrants. I'll trying put up the rest tomorrow.
Below - the winner, 'Newton Heath Works' and below that 'Midland in Bristol' which took first and second place respectively. Not very good pictures admittedly but I was operating Callaton at the time I nipped out to take these rather rushed shots, but you'll get the flavour.
Mick S
Below - the winner, 'Newton Heath Works' and below that 'Midland in Bristol' which took first and second place respectively. Not very good pictures admittedly but I was operating Callaton at the time I nipped out to take these rather rushed shots, but you'll get the flavour.
Mick S
Simpas
Western Thunderer
Well done, Mick.
Callaton makes an appearance about 13 minutes in on this video of the event I found on YouTube
With thanks to the creator of the vid, of course
Best wishes,
Jonte
Jonte,
Thank you very much for copying the link and posting it here. The video generally shows what an excellent show it was all round.
Mick S
Simpas
Western Thunderer
Steve,
That's very kind of you, thank you very much. There are one or two very minor things that need attention but you are quite right, I'm satisfied enough with the result especially since some aspects of construction I had not attempted before, such as trees and stonework - not to mention carving Atlantean buses up...!
Mick S.
Simpas
Western Thunderer
I can't believe it's so long since I posted on here. Humble apologies.....
The only thing of any consequence that has happened since Railex (apart from this dreadful virus and all that came with it) is I have now managed to motorise the gate into the explosives siding using a MERG kit from their Pocket Money Projects range. (Oh yes, the real allotment has been tended like never before during our confinement)
I'd thought about a hand cranked system involving wheels, gears and very manual handle, which would have been quaint, but because I had not been able to devise what I really wanted a chance encounter with a MERG Pocket Money kit started me off on a different route. Through the good offices of a friend I bought a couple of these and found the kit relatively simple to put together - alright, I need to improve my electronics soldering technique but I do have a result. This little board allows control of a servo throughout 180 degrees and also has two controllable end stops. At around £1.50 the cost of the kit is negligible but it does do exactly what I want it to do. If MERG offered taster kits like the 2mm Scale Association sells wagon starter kits, this would attract many more new members to their ranks; as it is I don't think they do.
This picture below shows the components on the board, electronics students will immediately identify the bits but in simple terms some of them are; a voltage regulator, three potentiometers, a few resistors, a PIC controller and some other bits. You will gather this is not a strong subject of mine!
On the left an AA battery pack loaded with 8 x 1.5volt batteries; for test purposes a 9 volt PP3 type would be just as good but not last for very long. In use I notice that even a stack of 8 x 1.5 AAs doesn't last too long either but if a separate switch is included, once the unit has done its bit it can be switched off until needed next time with no drain on the batteries.
Below is the servo mounted very simply on a piece of shaped plywood. It has a 64DP gear force fitted over the shaft that normally has the operating arm attached to it and this meshes with the gear wheel that can be seen. The relatively large diameter piece of brass has a grub screw which enable attachment/detachment from the hidden part of the gatepost seen just protruding. It seems to be adequate and the grub screw does allow some more adjustment.
Now if I've done this correctly it should be possible to see the gate operating here. I wasn't sure how to mute the sound so you get warts and all!
Mick S.
The only thing of any consequence that has happened since Railex (apart from this dreadful virus and all that came with it) is I have now managed to motorise the gate into the explosives siding using a MERG kit from their Pocket Money Projects range. (Oh yes, the real allotment has been tended like never before during our confinement)
I'd thought about a hand cranked system involving wheels, gears and very manual handle, which would have been quaint, but because I had not been able to devise what I really wanted a chance encounter with a MERG Pocket Money kit started me off on a different route. Through the good offices of a friend I bought a couple of these and found the kit relatively simple to put together - alright, I need to improve my electronics soldering technique but I do have a result. This little board allows control of a servo throughout 180 degrees and also has two controllable end stops. At around £1.50 the cost of the kit is negligible but it does do exactly what I want it to do. If MERG offered taster kits like the 2mm Scale Association sells wagon starter kits, this would attract many more new members to their ranks; as it is I don't think they do.
This picture below shows the components on the board, electronics students will immediately identify the bits but in simple terms some of them are; a voltage regulator, three potentiometers, a few resistors, a PIC controller and some other bits. You will gather this is not a strong subject of mine!
On the left an AA battery pack loaded with 8 x 1.5volt batteries; for test purposes a 9 volt PP3 type would be just as good but not last for very long. In use I notice that even a stack of 8 x 1.5 AAs doesn't last too long either but if a separate switch is included, once the unit has done its bit it can be switched off until needed next time with no drain on the batteries.
Below is the servo mounted very simply on a piece of shaped plywood. It has a 64DP gear force fitted over the shaft that normally has the operating arm attached to it and this meshes with the gear wheel that can be seen. The relatively large diameter piece of brass has a grub screw which enable attachment/detachment from the hidden part of the gatepost seen just protruding. It seems to be adequate and the grub screw does allow some more adjustment.
Now if I've done this correctly it should be possible to see the gate operating here. I wasn't sure how to mute the sound so you get warts and all!
Mick S.
Last edited:
Simpas
Western Thunderer
Peter,
You're very kind, thank you. It's nice to see the cameo layouts that were constructed, because of the competition, appearing in MRJ and I imagine there are a good few models that have seen the light of day that wouldn't otherwise have been built.
I'm looking forward to seeing as many of them as possible in the flesh when we eventually get exhibitions back. I attended a small local club show at Birtley (just south of Gateshead) as a demonstrator last weekend and it was brilliant to get back into the swing of it. Full marks to the Birtley club members who were determined enough to do it. The usual time for the show is March but 18 months on from the first lockdown they went for it.
Mick S.
You're very kind, thank you. It's nice to see the cameo layouts that were constructed, because of the competition, appearing in MRJ and I imagine there are a good few models that have seen the light of day that wouldn't otherwise have been built.
I'm looking forward to seeing as many of them as possible in the flesh when we eventually get exhibitions back. I attended a small local club show at Birtley (just south of Gateshead) as a demonstrator last weekend and it was brilliant to get back into the swing of it. Full marks to the Birtley club members who were determined enough to do it. The usual time for the show is March but 18 months on from the first lockdown they went for it.
Mick S.