RE: Leisure

[Fulvio]

I had an interest in model railways

Ooooohhh... you in the NMRA? There's an Australian region, and although NSW is the busiest division, every state has one. Bound to be some locals where you are.

So what do/would you model?

N-Scale 1960's AT&SF here... love those warbonnets! Esp. PA-1's

[autocoupler]

So what do/would you model?

NSW railways in HO was my scene a few years back and have kept a hoard of built kits, ready to run models off the shelf, as well as a few scratch built item of rolling stock.
 
In the late 80's I had access to plans of the then new Werris Creek locomotive shed that was completed in 1986, and set out to build a scale model but ran out of steam (no pun intended), about 3/4 finished, so to justify the hundred hours or so invested so far I need to complete the thing.
 
Sounds like you're familiar with the American scene Fulvio, this outline appears very strong in Brisbane. In the past there's no doubt this product was superior in quality and price compared to that produced locally, much of which was in kit form hence the many that abound in my fallen empire.
I do still visit the Brisbane model railway show most years and it's good to see there is an increasing number of local suppliers of high quality Australian outline these days, so that may make it easier if I decide to take the plunge.        

always soak up those special moments
they are what makes life so beautiful and at times awesome

the long sicky is even better!!

Yeah RG, I agree with that and remember you commenting in another thread about your lingering thoughts of finishing up. Spring is a nice time of the year up our way so I chose then to pull the pin, but if I lived in Canberra the weather may have encouraged me to finish in the autumn and enjoy some long wintery sleep ins. :sleepy:

[Fulvio]

Sounds like you're familiar with the American scene

TBH, I'm way out of date. 40 years ago I was really keen.. we 2/3 built a massive N-scale computerised (quite an achievement for the day) layout in Coburg, before the owner pulled up stakes, sold the house and moved to warmer climes.

I've been a member for that long of the Melbourne Model Railway Society, now into its 6th large HO layout under Auburn Railway Station, but lost almost all my HO stock (five large storage cases of it) when the 3rd layout, which was in the crypt of a church in East Melbourne, burnt to the ground (on my birthday, no less). My interest sort of waned from then on, and I'm lucky to go along twice a year now.

I'm a life member of the NMRA, and I do read the monthly magazine, get the AR emails (mostly about conventions in Sydney, and online publications). I haven't bought a commercial magazine in probably 30 years though, and I rarely go to a hobby shop. The prices are too scary, given that I was buying those gorgeous Atlas locos for $11 back when our dollar was worth something. They're now $200+ according to http://www.trainworld.com.au/ Heck, we didn't pay that much for brass locos back then!

[Coiny Chris]

Hello,

I have a few Trains. Triang-Hornby HO Have been gathering dust for many years though, same as my Scalextric Cars.

[autocoupler]

A couple of my scratch built efforts from the eighties. I'm happy enough with these although this is the first time I've photographed them and it sure highlights their shortcomings when compared to something off the shelf or even kit built.
 
First pic is a plough van used to evenly distribute track ballast.

Second pic is a sand wagon used to deliver sand to the various loco depots which is carried by locomotives and deposited on the rail head to provide traction when the wheels experience slippage. It may be of interest to note that the four spherical vessels are actually bakelite nobs off the locomotive drivers seat height adjustment lever which I re machined to suit. A bit naughty but they can't sack me now.  

I must admit to still buying the occasional item off the shelf over more recent years, the third pic is a NSWGR 35 Class loco . The main reason for me buying it is that I have fond memories as a child of seeing this class of loco at the front of the Northern Tablelands Express when we lived at Murrurundi in the fifties and sixties.    

[stevo1962]

Very nice Auto I bought an old Hornby trainset at a market a few weeks ago for my son.It looks pretty old ,probably 1970's
and the loco and transformer work but I cant transfer the power onto the track.I'll have to bring the multimeter home from
work and try to figure out what's going on.The track and connections do look a bit tired though

[Fulvio]

photographed them and it sure highlights their shortcomings

Very true. The camera is unforgiving, unlike our eyes. I'd be very happy to have made these. They're much better than my own scratchbuilding attempts... or even my kitbashing, come to think of it. I remember shortening a PA-1 to about half size and putting it on a switcher chassis as a bit of a joke. Apparently I was off by about 1° or so when I was sanding the cut flat, and didn't notice. Well, no amount of body filler could hide the fact that the end result was bent like a banana. It instantly earned the nickname SLUF first time I put it on the track at the club. Short Little Ugly Fella! :dodgy:

I bought an old Hornby trainset

Keep in mind that mass-market gear like Triang, Hornby, etc are toys, not serious models. As such, the engineering is a little wonky. Designed for rough handling by small children, not fidelity, performance or reliability.

Test your transformer with a single piece of track. If that works, all's good, and the problem lies in the rail joiners. Add sections one by one until you find the failure. And beware of reversing polarity, such as with return loops or crossovers.

In a 'proper' model railroad, its fairly common to individually power each section of track. Not as onerous as it sounds, since either metre-long sections of flextrack or hand-laid rails are used, not sectional track pieces. Each length has a thin wire 'dropper' soldered to it and passed through a hole to a bus wire under the track. Makes it all very reliable, something rail joiners aren't.

[autocoupler]

Even may be something as simple as dirty railhead from a build up of oxides etc. New track these days is made from nickle silver which is a better conductor than whatever material was used in the early days. A light touch up with wet and dry, or believe it or not, a good hard rub with a rubber eraser should help remove any  contamination.

[robbiegal]

floriade train - fun!

[Fulvio]

floriade train - fun!

That's actually very nicely done. Better than most.

[robbiegal]

it is on wheels not train track though

[Coiny Chris]

Stevo1962,

How did you go with the transformer ? Jaycar used to have a cheap Multi for about $5 At that price it is worth having one around to test Globes and Fuses.

[stevo1962]

Stevo1962,

How did you go with the transformer ? Jaycar used to have a cheap Multi for about $5 At that price it is worth having one around to test Globes and Fuses.

The transformer is fine as the loco will run directly off it but it wont transfer
enough voltage onto the track for the train to run properly so I think the track needs
some work and my son is onto me about getting it going so will have to have a good look at it in the next couple of days.The track will be the problem as it is in fairly crappy condition and there is nowhere that the transformer wires can connect to it

[autocoupler]

floriade train - fun!

Love the brake booster on the draw bar, and if we succumb to our imagination the white flowers could easily be puffs of steam escaping past the piston rod packing and drifting off into a child's wonderland :shock: OK, and a big kids as well

[Coiny Chris]

Hello,

I have dug out some Triang Hornby HO stuff I got as a Job Lot. I am happy to swap to help people fill Gaps, like for like. I will list them later.