GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

Congratulations Granby Junction. The first to reach 400000+ views! :doublethumb

Well done John, as Granby continues to be a cornerstone of our forum.
Looking forward to your next post.

Best,

Bill

[user=1120]peterm[/user] wrote:

Hi Colin,

I did wonder about the space issue for wiring but as much as it's a nice looking mogul, I wonder why they've made it so innovative that people blanch at taking the body off if they want to fit a stay alive to ensure no hiccups with sound.

I think a way to do it would be found, but at the expense of the warranty.

TBH it seems to me a major oversight not to allow for fitting a Stay Alive when reputable suppliers of DCC Sound packages recommend always fitting one even on multi wheeled / tender pickup fitted locos, Kings for example.

It feels like we've been hit with another "dumbing down" solution, totally convenient for the supplier but not meeting all customers' requirements.

I'm feeling grateful that I have more than enough loco traction power here and discouraged from making additions any time soon.

Colin

I think you have a good point Colin.  Fitting a stay-alive is almost a given for sound locos and a definite plus for non-sound.

I wonder how long before decoder manufacturers build one into their products as a standard - zimo, for example,  already have pads to solder to for that very reason.

Maybe you'll explore the difficulties of adding one to your new Mogul John ……

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I think you have a good point Colin.  Fitting a stay-alive is almost a given for sound locos and a definite plus for non-sound.

I wonder how long before decoder manufacturers build one into their products as a standard - zimo, for example,  already have pads to solder to for that very reason.

Maybe you'll explore the difficulties of adding one to your new Mogul John ……

It can be done by hardwiring with the PCB removed and the decoder in the tender. The space in the smokebox could be used for weight…..even with a die cast body the loco only weighs in at 180 gm.

As it happens I dont need to do anything……the loco is probably the most reliable new loco I have purchased…..it starts without question every time even at speed step one. The weight doesnt seem to be an issue although I havent tested it thoroughly.

It must be be extremely difficult as a manufacturer trying to satisfy the competing demands of all the different modellers. I would suggest that DCC modellers are still in a minority (although I think the gap is closing) and modellers with sound a smallish sub section of that. For every modeller like Colin and I who, for different reasons, fit SA there will many who appreciate the ease of installing a decoder.

Keep well

[user=2172]Claus Ellef[/user] wrote:

Congratulations Granby Junction. The first to reach 400000+ views! :doublethumb

 :cheers   Wow that kind of crept up on me………thanks Claus and Bill…..and indeed all the followers over the past 12 years who have been so supportive…..as I have frequently said when you model alone as I do….no club, no exhibitions…YMR plays a huge role in my enjoyment of the hobby

Keep safe and keep well

 Something different to start



We live on the edge of the North Shore Mountains overlooking the Port of Vancouver and Burrard Inlet. Facing South East, if you are up early enough, you can capture the sun rise. You have to be quick……this was gone in seconds.

600' below us the inlet and most of the Port are shrouded in mist. The mountain at the back is Mount Rainier, 200 miles away in Washington State

Back at Granby the hotel is progressing as I create the foundation structure for both the rear and the roof. Cutting and glueing 2mm grey board isnt very exciting although shortly I should be able to post some photos that show what I have been up to.

As I have said before I have developed the bad habit of focussing on the project of the moment to the detriment of all manner of other repairs and improvements.

You may remember the Metcalfe Warehouse that screens the entrance to the Storage Yards?



I tried to make the scene a bit more interesting by adding some figures unloading a crate from a lorry
.




Its all a bit superficial…..the chains round the crate wouldnt lift much …..they were just odds and ends left over from the Tank/Warwell exercise.

Doug (Chubber), a long time and extremely helpful follower of this thread, pointed out that the unrelieved pressure of the chains would shatter the crate!

He spared my blushes by sending me a PM and followed it up with some detailed instructions of the proper way to do this job

 
I am ashamed to admit that this conversation took place in April! How time flies when you are building Hotels. The warehouse is just behind the Computor Monitor…….I see the scene every time I go to the railway room…..it was a constant reminder of my bad habits.

I finally "got round tuit" last month:



Its not the neatest model and I never did qualify for the Scouts knots badge  but I hope that it is now technically correct




Spreader from scrap 2" x  4" relieve the pressure on two bridles

The bridles have eyes (rings) at both ends. The rings are suspended from the bar of a shackle. The shackle is suspended from the hook of the hoist

A light line is attached to the crate to prevent it from spinning




Everything is a bit overscale. I found it impossible to thread and secure the "rope" to scale eyes. The eyes I eventually used were too big for the coupling shackle I intended to use. I had to scratch build a larger shackle from brass strip. Achieving and maintaining equal tension on the bridles was character building.

So there we have it from my normal viewing position……..another job ticked off the list



Whats this………a bus on a bridge???


Special dispensation …….its in the family:





Keep Safe

Superb shot of the sunrise John - nature is really amazing offering us all these free shows.
Very few can see the coast of America from terra firma in a foreign country - unless one lives in the Caribbean………………

I'm impressed by your hoist scene - far more interesting than a crate on the back of a lorry - another fine example of your clever thought processes and creation of highly realistic scenes.

It's tough having to build a hotel single handed …………….

Huzzah!

D

[user=312]Chubber[/user] wrote:

Huzzah!

D

Thank you!!:doublethumb:doublethumb What a relief!

Looking great John, like it's meant to be there also the cameo with the two men, as for scale, the chains look ok until the close up shot, but that's how it goes :)

Another great bit of detail modelling John. Yet more ideas to go on the list for Tinkers End, although I think I have gleaned so many from this forum they are starting to drop of the end of the list - only so many hooks as we say. I have the same problem learning to speak Spanish, a new word goes in one end but I fear another drops off the other end. Unusually I clicked on the wrong link and ended up at the start of your postings and thought for one minute you had decided to start a new build. Again the terraced houses on the page answered a question that had stalled my build of my own laser designed and cut terraces on a slope.

As for the sunrise - superb shot, be great when we can travel again. Riding on motorbikes in British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska was spectacular but I am not sure I will get approval for a third adventure in that area (flew my own bike in and did it in 2009 and 2014).

A job well done John, at least it will be when it gets up to the second floor, or is it the third in Canada?

Bill

Edit: is that a Hakko soldering iron lurking in the background? I'm just off to do some soldering myself.

Lovely scene.

[user=753]Phil.c[/user] wrote:

Looking great John, like it's meant to be there also the cameo with the two men, as for scale, the chains look ok until the close up shot, but that's how it goes :)

Thanks Phil…..I consider you to be the master of figure cameos so compliments from you make me a very happy camper.

Matching chain,rings,thread and shackle with my clumsy fingers was a right pain……as you say thats the way it goes…you have to live with it.

Keep safe

[user=1886]DaveH_Murcia[/user] wrote:

Another great bit of detail modelling John. Yet more ideas to go on the list for Tinkers End, although I think I have gleaned so many from this forum they are starting to drop of the end of the list - only so many hooks as we say. I have the same problem learning to speak Spanish, a new word goes in one end but I fear another drops off the other end. Unusually I clicked on the wrong link and ended up at the start of your postings and thought for one minute you had decided to start a new build. Again the terraced houses on the page answered a question that had stalled my build of my own laser designed and cut terraces on a slope.

As for the sunrise - superb shot, be great when we can travel again. Riding on motorbikes in British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska was spectacular but I am not sure I will get approval for a third adventure in that area (flew my own bike in and did it in 2009 and 2014).

Hi Dave

Glad you like it. I find having “screening” buildings in easily moveable blocks an invaluable tool…..particularly when testing stop and brake marks. I am experimenting with a camera and mirrors for regular running but it is handy to be able to clear the decks.

B.C. is so large and varied I am not surprised you want to return…….its no surprise it is called Beautiful British Columbia………though its not always obvious on the Coast in December!

Keep safe

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

A job well done John, at least it will be when it gets up to the second floor, or is it the third in Canada?

Bill

Edit: is that a Hakko soldering iron lurking in the background? I'm just off to do some soldering myself.

Thanks Bill

Actually it only had to move a couple of feet from the bench…….never sure what to call the the bottom floor of our house…..its built on a slope so that floor opens on to street level at the front and is virtually underground at the back.

Well spotted with the Hako…….I treated myself a couple of years ago……its a nice piece of kit although I dont use it to its full potential…..I would love to be able to master soldering brass etches rather than relying on superglue!

Keeps safe

[user=1120]peterm[/user] wrote:

Lovely scene.

Thanks Pete:thumbs

Keep safe

A great opening photo, John.  Very artistic.  Super modelling, too.  Everyone else has said it, but it really does look good from your viewing distance, and as always great attention to detail.
Michael

Talking of detail, some constructive criticism. The sheet on the lorry should be over the headboard for keeping the weather out. Also, unless I was dropping the whole load off, the ropes would still be on the front part of the sheet, ready to go. Hope you don't think I'm being picky, but it's how it's done properly and would be the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.  :)