Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

Couldn't resist - wife and family are out this evening, so out came the socket set - WORKS PERFECTLY and very easily, witth careful, judicious use of the vice to press the steel tyre off.

I used a 1" and an 18mm socket.

Al.

 Best of luck. I may have a similar job when Hornby do 30941 BORSTAL !!     

Everything's perfect.

Funny, but I cannot find a Schools beyond 30939 ..... 

Loco needs a little 'breaking in' - a little tight at the extremes of the linkages, but otherwise absolutely perfect.

I've had to find some 'Southern Region' green BR coaches to match now ... limited it to 8 'though I do have a H N15, B Lord N and a couple of Bulleid Pacifics if the Schools cannot handle them ... !!

One thing with the Schools is that some of the 'detail' parts are necessarily 'optional' - cannot be fitted for normal use, like the front steps - unless you limit curves to 6th radius equivalent.

Al.

Visitors this week so no track will be layed unfortunately.

I think it will just handle 8, but with a 'realistic' wheel slip on start-up - I understand what you're saying there - just didn't like the rubber tyres on the large drivers - good application, just 'wrong'.

Might get an opportunity next weekend, when the coaches should have arrived.

Might try the '50' with 30 coaches while I'm at it!! It's a beast!!

Schools is a lovely-looking little locomotive.

Al.

x1 Hornby RailRoad R3065 BR Class 06 Diesel 06008

GNR-Gordon-4

For the time being I've not sought to alter the wheelsets on my China-built locomotives (although have stocked up on spare tyres). I've assumed that Hornby found their hauling capacity was restricted without these (hence their fitment) so have not been rushing into investigating this. However, certainly very interested in your findings. 

THE VERDICT:

Family is out all day so couldn't resist getting some track out and a load of Pullman cars - possibly some of the heavier ones out there.

11 coaches: Wheelslip all the way but can pull away and get up to a reasonably speed - with continuous wheelslip.

10 coaches: Not as bad, but virtually the same.

8 coaches:   No problem pulling away but at higher speeds there is some slight slippage.

7 coaches:   Easy and virtually no slip at all.

8 coaches on a decent-sized layout is quite reasonable without any noticeable problem.

I used 3rd radius curves on a simple near-oval perhaps 3.5 x 1.5 metres (8 coaches just fit on the main straight without being on the curves either end).

Whilst 'playing' I also added some weight to the way-too-light tender - not much room but the coal is 'running light' anyway. If full should be ~2/3 weight of the locomotive - mine is just under half

Al.

For comparison I brought out Sir Kay - King Arthur N15 'Super Detail' locomotive.

It did seem to run easier at high speed but pulling away was no different to Brighton - my Schools with no tyres.

Seems acceptable for me.

Al.

WORD OF WARNING - Schools - no tyres.

I started 'playing' with weight distribution by adjusting the front bogie placement and virtually totally lost traction!!

It needs to be as close to the locomotive as possible, just permitting the spring to lightly maintain it on the track, without any 'weight' on the front bogie - keeping nearly all on the 4 drivers.

Quite an eye opener.

Needs careful work to keep running well - safest bet is probably not to do the conversion.

Al.

I like to have some weight on all wheels - don't fancy having the front bogie too light and might bounce off on points if too light.

I've reverted to stock, and simply pushing up and down the track there's considerably more resistance, obviously, with the rubber tyres.

The other thing I noticed with all of the 'playing' / tinkering, was that the main body weight is in the front part of the body, sealed off, obviously stuffed with ZAMAK - and Hornby had obviously put the weight over the rubber-tyred wheels.

I'm back to rubber tyred now, but the track's back in boxes to avoid potential collateral damage from the visitors - no testing - didn't fancy no weight on the front bogie either.

Al.

One thing I had also noticed was that the valve gear on one side had become too 'loose' and occasionally would catch on the cylinder piston slider.

I carefully tightened by using pliers on both sides - bit of a risk, but seems to have worked - didn't want a 9-10-coach express to suddenly derail in the loft (future plan) whilst I'm downstairs getting a cuppa made!!

Al.