Sunday 17 March 2024

Just time for a short running session...

 Took advantage of the mid-afternoon sunshine today to run a train around ...





Sunday 3 March 2024

Sunny Sunday - train time.

 Hoorah, some sunny dry weather today; although a warm coat was needed - a chance to run a train ...



Thursday 8 February 2024

Loco name plates and numbers

 Arrived in the post today a job lot of g scale loco number and name plates purchased off Ebay..

enough for four locos to have a name and number; plus one set of numbers for another loco. Now to choose which loco gets which name etc ....

Saturday 6 January 2024

First running session of the year ...

 Finally dry enough to get the leaves up with my Flymo garden vac..  Gardening job done so time to run a train while it was still sunny ...





Sunday 31 December 2023

K1 Garratt Project (13) - Engine Crew ....

 Finished painting the loco crew .......

Still thinking on the paint colour for the loco - black, burgundy, racing green ? ?

Sunday 12 November 2023

K1 Garratt Project (12) - Running test ....

Today I've been tinkering with the setup of weights on the loco for traction.

Initially I removed the pick ups from the front motor-less motion to allow the wheels to move 'free and easy', thus obviating the need for any weights in the front tank.

To get enough traction for the rear driving motion, I needed to add some extra weight, this was done by positioning it in the cab roof...


Then it was play time, the loco pulls 4 coaches or 8 or 9 wagons; the Radius1 curves on my layout slow the rolling stock down as there isn't much play in the Accucraft wagons' wheels (really should run these on Radius 2+ curves).  Anyway what the loco can pull is my typical train anyway, so success.

Run test with goods train .... (youTube)


I am going to look into the option of powering the front motion again, although I may need a new controller with more oomph to drive the two motors.

Also bought some loco crew (from Modelu).. primed but not painted yet...



Sunday 5 November 2023

K1 Garratt Project (11) - Rivets & Weight holders

I wanted some river detail on the edge of the tanks; found some strips of rivets from Zinge Industries ( https://www.zinge.co.uk/collections/flexible-resin ); tricky to get off the backing - had to stick the strips on user super glue.. 


Made up some weight holder compartments in the tanks....

I had a quick run test with the front motion motor removed, playing around with weights. It does run OK, but the rear motion slips a bit with 5 coaches. I will have to experiment some more to get the weight balance right with enough at the front for the non-powered motion to move and the rear powered one to get enough purchase on the track.