Rhyd Ddu

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Looking forward to Warley

Warley is usually a treat, but this year I have much to be excited about. Enough to even take my mind off a routine visit to the dentist tomorrow. The narrow gauge layouts at this year's show include two of my top 10 - County Gate and Dinas 1869.

The other narrow gauge layouts are not bad either such as Sand Hutton Central by Peter Kazerand Calstock (Cotehele). In 4mm we'll also have the treat of seeing Briding Noora, Nettlecombe and Willesden Junction.

There are also rumours that a certain WHR layout may appear on the FR/WHR stand... and not forgotting the centrepiece...K1! In 12 inches to the foot scale!

The trade stands beat all other shows - check this list:http://www.thewarleyshow.co.uk/trade.htm

and of course there are various standard gauge layouts too.

Can't wait.

Colin

Friday, November 13, 2009

Clean me!

I need a decent track cleaner if I want to operate my DCC sound chip at anything like a sensible level of reliability. Choices choices...

From the top we have the tomix cleaner then the roco clean and finally the CMX cleaner.

The Tomix/atlas cleaner uses the track supply (needs a decoder for DCC) to power either a small vacuum, a spinning light burnishing disc or a wet disc with your cleaning solution on it.

see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECLq7vZJgE&feature=related It costs about £45. JdF of County Gate uses this but claims the wet disc is poor.

The Roco clean is pretty simple really - a wagon with a track rubber attached to the bottom by springs. Pull it along and it cleans. About £20 ish. County Gate use this (masked in an L&B bogie van) during exhibitions.

The CMX (about £80) see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nhCp9zxhFc is a brass container that holds your favourite cleaning solution and a wet cloth pulled along under the wagon. The cloth can be replaced by wet/dry paper too. Passes the white glove test apparently, but us expensive!

So, what do you think I should go for....?

Colin

Thursday, November 12, 2009

sleeper grime and bullfrog snot

Last night I managed to finish off the coating of sleeper grime on the last board. Now it's time to get testing that board after the final hoovering and clearance of ballast in the point blades.

In other news I have also been wondering about bullfrog snot as per this Nigel Burkin post:

http://nigelburkin.wordpress.com/bullfrog-snot/

This could well be the answer to pulling power of smaller engines on Rhyd Ddu.

available for £5 here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bullfrog-snot-3ml-pot-liquid-traction-tyres_W0QQitemZ320444576055QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Trains_Railway_Models?hash=item4a9bfc3137#ht_3918wt_1165

Let me know if you have had experience with it...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Layout work recommences

The house move is nearly over and although there is much yet to do at the new house (picture hanging etc), I managed to get 30 mins to add sleeper grime to the last board. I did the whole of one side and turned the board round so I can do the other side tonight. I then plan to connect this up to DCC power and test the points decoder.

Monday, November 09, 2009

New look

the blog has a new look. Let me know if you like it - this is also easy now - there are three check boxes - cool, interesting or boring - at the bottom of each post.

Colin