4mm Monks Ferry LNWR

[Phil O]

Hi Jonte,

I and several others have found attending at least one of the Missenden Abbey modelling weekends a great help in breaking in the novice kit builder.

Build a scale locomotive kit with expert tution

A practical course where you can construct a brass, white metal or nickel silver locomotive or rolling stock kit in 4mm, 3mm or 2mm scale with tuition on hand.

www.missendenrailwaymodellers.org.uk

Location – Missenden Railway Modellers

Moor Hall Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 9QH +44 (0)1628 427500 reception@cim.co.uk

www.missendenrailwaymodellers.org.uk

Other courses are available. I have just signed up for the autumn course, there's no pressure to complete something, you work at your own pace, but there's expert help and advice both from the experts and other attendees, it's not a cheap weekend, but it is full board, I have yet to sample the catering at the new venue, but it was very good at Missenden, I never left feeling hungary.

 

[daifly]

I have yet to sample the catering at the new venue, but it was very good at Missenden, I never left feeling hungary.

You had your fair share of the Goulash then!
Dave

 

[jonte]

Hi Jonte,

I and several others have found attending at least one of the Missenden Abbey modelling weekends a great help in breaking in the novice kit builder.

Build a scale locomotive kit with expert tution

A practical course where you can construct a brass, white metal or nickel silver locomotive or rolling stock kit in 4mm, 3mm or 2mm scale with tuition on hand.

www.missendenrailwaymodellers.org.uk

Location – Missenden Railway Modellers

Moor Hall Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 9QH +44 (0)1628 427500 reception@cim.co.uk

www.missendenrailwaymodellers.org.uk

Other courses are available. I have just signed up for the autumn course, there's no pressure to complete something, you work at your own pace, but there's expert help and advice both from the experts and other attendees, it's not a cheap weekend, but it is full board, I have yet to sample the catering at the new venue, but it was very good at Missenden, I never left feeling hungary.

Much appreciated, Phil

Unfortunately time is of the essence of late and for the foreseeable.

Will plod on when the time comes; hopefully with the help and guidance of my fellow WT-ers when I (inevitably) get stuck!

Cheers, Phil.

Jon

 

[jonte]

I posted a recent purchase earlier in this thread namely a Precent class loco in LNWR livery, a Bachmann/Rails joint enterprise or so I believe.

This morning, I got round to opening the box and having assimilated the accompanying instructions and diagrams, set about running it in as proscribed (it’s DCC Ready and I purchased the chip separately, however it remained DC for running-in).

Quite satisfied with this relatively smooth and quiet runner, I decided to exchange the factory fitted rubber tyre driving wheel set for a full metal rimmed version included in the box:



Still with factory fitted rubber jobs in photo.

Having done so, I cleaned all the wheels and pickups and applied a tiny amount of lubricant to the points illustrated in the instructions. I then reassembled it. Then I disassembled it: the conduit securing the wires twixt loco and tender were loose (the conduit thingy is also The two bar and hadn’t been located when I replaced the cover) bit of a fiddle.

Replacing it upon the test track, it moved off purposely as before in a forwards direction. Then I did the same in reverse, only nothing happened. I switched it off then gradually increased the power. Still nothing. Then I turned it off again before turning it onto full blast whereupon it burst into life! Each time I had to do the same to get it to go again.

Perplexed, I put it back in the box and wrote an email to Rails (from whence it came) asking for ‘help’.

I await a reply.

Cheers.

jonte

 

[Phil O]

Hi Jonte,

Have you tried replacing the original set of drivers, as a check? that'll prove that it's something to do with the drivers or some other problem.

 

[jonte]

Hi Jonte,

Have you tried replacing the original set of drivers, as a check? that'll prove that it's something to do with the drivers or some other problem.

Thanks, Phil.

It occurred to me but with new items I’s prefer not to mess.

Had a reply earlier from Rails who have asked me to complete a returns form and then they can investigate

Cheers

Jon

 

[jonte]

This evening I but the bullet and ventured out to the model room, not knowing how the layout had fared after its lengthy abandonment. With the valuable help of my wife, we managed to release it from its incarceration at the furthest end, where it had been hemmed in by two other forgotten projects, but it proved a bit of a struggle. If only I’d known then how my agility and strength would depart……

Considering it had lain for so long, it went back together fairly easily, although I had to borrow a bolt for a board connector from the GWR branchline which had been its fellow inmate (Sod’s Law, I found it afterwards!).

On the downside, the awful looking boards were soon apparent, despite having had the benefit of much remedial work (still not properly finished), although in my defence, I must remind you that this was mainly the work of a relative who insisted on helping. Sadly, patience isn’t/wasn’t a virtue although they were best intended. If you look back somewhere amongst the pages you can see the remedial work.

Anyway, a couple of photos of stuff I’ve noted thus far; no doubt more will come to light as I progress.

The first is of the joint between end board and fiddleyard:



I’ll need to revisit with the soldering iron (probably) although the addition of hinge connectors alone might rectify. This has been caused by the fact that only one brass dowel was used, relying on those catch thingies to hold it in vertical alignment. They haven’t. This was also the case with two main boards hence I soon replaced them with four sets of hinges with removable pins, supplemented by specifically designed bolts in barrels for accurate alignment:



Also, the joints on one of the tracks between the two main boards has failed. Scrutiny reveals that despite having drilled the sleeper ends on either side, I’d forgotten to add the pins!:



Otherwise, it appears okay. Just unfinished.

The delicate removable station roof has also sustained damage which I’ll also add to the list:



I think one of the first tasks will be to add the top section of the proscenium arch to each board.

Frankly, I should have preferred- starting again - to keep to C.J.’s original presentation of merely a frame to keep it in keeping with the spirit of the original theme, but I suppose it’s a case of ‘I’ve started……’.

Lighting will be LED as per the GWR branchline:



Finally, I’ll leave you with an overall shot of the layout on the bench:



Thanks for your interest.

jonte