murrayec

Amazing popeye It's really coming together, I love the workshop jacks for the photos, inspired.... Eoin

I think I have it sorted! The Class A buffers were also locking with the Craven's in reverse- and sorting this problem lead to the solution. I extended out the NEM socket on the Craven so that the coupler buckle was beyond the line of the buffers, it then came to me that if I opened out the side of the 156 Gear Box on the A chassis to give the coupler a bit more swing it may work, it's done and it does. Now the couplers hit the buffers but it does not lock up, it drives backwards through the short Hornby points OK.... Until next time I have the track up I'll post a few picks n video

Hi Guys 'Rough with the Smooth' The same chap with the €5.00 171 gave me this fabulous €3.00 train set.... It's missing a bit of track, but I know a man who can cast plastic. Was thinking of setting it up on a board at the Bray Train Fair for the kids to play with- 'Big Kids' - 'Chung Chung' Eoin

Hi Dave He's going to be OK! my phone is brutal with light and I pushed the picture a bit as it was quite dark which enhanced all the lights. We do have one of your light control units but we forgot to turn them down...... Eoin

Hi Patrick Finally got to run tests on the chassis mounted coupler- it's fine running backwards through points with wagons, but not with a Craven coach- serious lock with the chassis mounted system. When last testing I must not have pushed them backwards! The way I designed the bogie with the little free truck at the front will not be suitable for mounting the coupler from there so I reckon its going to be some type of coupler plate off the chassis to allow more side swing! like a Keen Plate- but they are two wide. This will also require a wider slot in the body buffer beam as coupler height in within the beam area.... Some drawing is required Eoin

Hi Well on a busy Friday morning last in Greystones 617 setout from the shop with a light train for its first trials, things did not go well and the lads had to limp back to the shop. They did take in the sights and snapped a few shots while stopped at the Breeches waiting for the Wicklow Commuter to go by, and have a chat with Paddy- who has been working on that rock removal for the past year.... Back in the workshop with assessment made it was decided that the electrical pick up was the main problem for failure and I set about improving this- two PB strips were made up to push against the wheel boss from the underside, making contact with the wheels and the chassis improved the pick up immensely. Springs n wheels in place and keeper plate about to go on. Then off to the test track...... Eoin

Hi all Just a reminder that the Train & Model Fair is on this Sunday coming......

Hi David & Mike I thought I'd re-post this here for future reference, I hope yous don't minds.... Eoin

Hi All Thanks very much with the fantastic comments Should have a video of it on the Greystones Layout- it's home, on Friday next.... According to Mr Clements all 5 of this type spent their entire lives banking and shunting at North Wall goods yard. But in our minds 617 'Pioneer' escaped and can be seen shunting in Greystones very soon.... Westhy We need a number for the front buffer beam?- there is a picture of 618 showing it's number on page 202 of Mr Clements book- it seems to be a dark colour on a white drop shadow and numbers would be 2.5mm high.... Eoin

Thanks Noel That's his sandwiches, sure that Inchicore vintage chap wouldn't be able to eat an iPhone.... Eoin

No. 617 is now complete;- Some serious horsing to get the body on over the chip, wires and light board, but eventually got it to work! If one is going to do this job I would suggest taking off at least another 2mm from the top of the chassis to make it easier. A few little touch up will be done- take the shine off the coal and replace the coupler with a shorter one. The lads are having a chat about their new command. and just a picture to remind where this came from. off to the track next week for some trials. Eoin

Hi David Interesting article, the simplest way to extend the axles would be to cut them and sleeve them with brass tube to the broad gauge size, taking note of the square ends and setting them up to run true before soldering- the drive axle would have to be extended off centre, or if the brass sleeve used is not to thick- ream out the drive gear to fit?? Eoin

Hi Paul We used to have them here, two coach, but they kept crashing into things and they removed them... Eoin

Hi David I have considered this several times, the Ixion model is lovely, it's even more akin to 'Erin' (300) a contractors engine used to construct the Wexford to Rosslare Railway and then used in stock on the Waterford & Wexford Railway. Erin had the outside rear bunker, round windows, and the Ixion model only needs the steam dome, sand boxes, and maybe a buffer change. I reckon the wheels only need counter weights installed and its pretty close.. Eoin

Yep, I reckoned you'd be on soon! you must be in need of a horn?... did you get the 100ohm speaker? Eoin

Hi All I'm sure you will be glad to hear Gauge-N-Sean had a successful time in the shop, and is out on the rails running in the new linkage. All is going well for recovery and will soon be notched to full throttle.... Eoin

Hi All Here is the first Class 8100 DART Model with sound. It's a preliminary set-up as it is practically impossible to capture a clean running sound of the train, so I'm still looking for a motor sound that works. It's an ESU Loksound V3.5 chip which is a bit limited in the programming area compared to the current V4 chips, but hay it has a horn.... Eoin

Hi I don't like split chassis, they are not fun when worn a bit! Much prefer a nice brass chassis and the axle type gearbox as there is incredible slob in these split chassis gearboxes- once the gears are up and running they centralise and run OK, but starting off and slow running can be a problem. I find the Hornby chip to be no worse than any of the other cheep chips! It's mainly the running gear on this type of chassis that give the problems- sloppy gearbox, mad plastic axle sleeves that you cant stop the wobble- causing problems with the rods, and of course old bumpy wheels. We will have to see how it runs on the test track Eoin

It's alive! it's aalivee! Installed the chip tonight and after a lot of jiggery-poke it came alive, very messy running at first but some dismantling and changing wheel positions I got it running like a rusty old steam loco on one cylinder. After a drop of more oil, adjusting the quartering to the best spot, and when the motor warmed up it started to run pretty OK, it's probably fairly prototypical!! Its all a bit tight in the electronics cab and not quite going together! some more planning required.... Eoin

Excellent popeye It's looking exceptionally well, some beautiful neat work Eoin

Hi & thanks all for the comments Here are a few shots CM took on Friday after a few more trees were installed... CM & Eoin

Hi jhb Just picked up a copy of 'Rails Through North Kerry' today- excellent stuff, great photos, just breezed through it after dinner- looking forward to the read. My favourite is 'Rails to Achill' , Achill Station is a modellers dream and the book is very helpful in that matter... Eoin