Swillybegs

[Colonel]

 It's been a while, but Swillybegs is back in the frame over the next few weeks, with a late invite to the Chatham Show in under two weeks time, then Hornby/Margate on 15/15 August, the latter alongside their full size collection. So,  have recently been working on the layout and stock to get things ready.

 Fingers crossed, everything seems ok, but note my last entry, back at the end of January! 

 Otherwise, it has mostly about integrating the newest item of stock, Donegal Railcar 8, into proceedings. Turned out to be a tale of two controllers at the moment. My go to has always been a Gaugemaster hand held, feedback model [the black one], with the Model W as standby. However, some motors, especially coreless ones, don't like the feedback model. The result is what might best be described as 'cogging' - hesitant running, almost as if there's a pick up astray somewhere. The Model W, being simpler, doesn't give such problems, but the payback is not such fine control. 

 Anyway, whatever motor is in Railcar 8's bogie, it certainly doesn't like the feedback controller and though  things are smoother with the W, they are very 'two speed'. The model crawls along up to about 'notch 5', then suddenly bursts into life. I must have had the W for 30 years, so I've ordered a new one. Yes, I know they come with a lifetime guarantee, but time is tight. The alternative is to run Railcar 8  in reverse, where, for whatever reason, the cogging effect is less. So, shades of Skibbereen, where trains arrived in the headhunt, before reversing into the platform, then likewise reversing out after turning. 

 Have also added a bit of detailing to No8 in the form of luggage, both on the roof and inside - the latter being white metal to give a bit more weight over the motor bogie. The train is deemed to be running on the North Donegal Tramway & hence uses the front platform, so at the moment, the two ex Clogher tanks will act as spare engines.

 

[Colonel]

My new Model W arrived today and seems to have solved the problem, so guess that will be my 'go to' controller from now on - at least for Swillybegs. The feedback unit works well enough with my Northport Quay stock. The W is still needed for the mobile crane and as back up for the broad gauge of course.

[Galteemore]

That railcar looks terrific 

[Broadstone]

Following our email exchange I have read through about Swillybegs - it is absolutely brilliant David, well done! Its obviously given you a lot of pleasure and is an awesome achievement. The Donegal lines really were amazing railways and in your engines and stock you have captured their unique beauty. I hope to see it an exhibition one of these days, but for now, your pictures are keeping me going.

[DLTaylor]

Lovely stuff David, I've just had a good catch-up, thank you for sharing it with us.

The Swilly stock looks terrific, my initial thought was that the bigger stuff might dwarf the layout, but not at all.  Unless a certain 4-8-0 appears???

Interesting about the Gaugemaster Feedback controller.  I found much the same, and now use the standard "W" type exclusively, with ALL types of motors.

All the best, Dave.T

[jhb171achill]

Swillyish pic of Senior's - no idea where, 1940.

Edited Wednesday at 16:12 by jhb171achill

[Irishswissernie]

Letterkenny.

[airfixfan]

1 hour ago, Irishswissernie said:

Letterkenny.

The decrepit carriage shed is the tell tale sign

[Colonel]

14 hours ago, DLTaylor said:

Lovely stuff David, I've just had a good catch-up, thank you for sharing it with us.

The Swilly stock looks terrific, my initial thought was that the bigger stuff might dwarf the layout, but not at all.  Unless a certain 4-8-0 appears???

Interesting about the Gaugemaster Feedback controller.  I found much the same, and now use the standard "W" type exclusively, with ALL types of motors.

All the best, Dave.T

No 4-8-0, or indeed 4-8-4T David. They will neither fit the headshunt, nor the turntable. The new W controller has proved disappointing though, as it has the same issues as the old one: VERY slow up to notch 8, then full speed after that.  Given I use a Gaugemaster transformer, no idea what the problem might be, but they will have to go back after the show.

[Colonel]

 Can't quite believe I'm writing this, but when setting up Swillybegs at the Chatham Show today, found that all three of my controllers are now useless! The two Ws as previously reported, but now the Feedback unit has a problem with a loose wire, inside the casing, which I can't access.

 So, what to do? Then I remembered the Morely controller we use on the Club 0 gauge layout. So, cut the two 12v wires from the back of the Gaugemaster socket and joined them to the !2v output from the Morely. This unit has the provision for a handheld unit and this is what I'm now using over the weekend. It has no feedback feature, so works well with all motors. Fingers crossed.

Wish me luck - there will be a bit of rewiring needed before the layout goes out again in August...

 

[Irishswissernie]

Fingers crossed for you!! Brings back memories from the 1980's which is a bit worrying because I can't remember much from last week!