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#61
Group Reports / Re: Oldham Goup
Last post by Hugh Norwood - March 18, 2026, 20:17Oldham & NW groups meeting 14th March, 2026 cont/d.
Ian has started work on the Fourdees Hudswell Clarke diesel. The supports for the print have been cleaned up, weight added under the bonnet and everything sprayed with primer. There was some discussion around painting the cab interior detail and Hugh kindly offered to get a friend at the Middleton Railway to take some pictures of Mary's cab for reference.
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The second photo shows the kit posed with a Barchmann Baguley to give an idea of its size.
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Ian has started work on the Fourdees Hudswell Clarke diesel. The supports for the print have been cleaned up, weight added under the bonnet and everything sprayed with primer. There was some discussion around painting the cab interior detail and Hugh kindly offered to get a friend at the Middleton Railway to take some pictures of Mary's cab for reference.
You cannot view this attachment.
The second photo shows the kit posed with a Barchmann Baguley to give an idea of its size.
You cannot view this attachment.
#62
Group Reports / Re: Oldham Goup
Last post by Hugh Norwood - March 18, 2026, 20:15Oldham & NW groups meeting 14th March, 2026 cont/d.
Hugh showed his upgraded semaphore tower. Spurred on by the successful upgrade to the Clacks tower for Angst-Lesspork to computer control (reported previously) he has applied the same technology to this Popham semaphore tower, and changed the (slow moving) stepper motors for a pair of servos, which are smaller, lighter and move at a much more satisfying speed.
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Hugh showed his upgraded semaphore tower. Spurred on by the successful upgrade to the Clacks tower for Angst-Lesspork to computer control (reported previously) he has applied the same technology to this Popham semaphore tower, and changed the (slow moving) stepper motors for a pair of servos, which are smaller, lighter and move at a much more satisfying speed.
You cannot view this attachment.
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#63
Group Reports / Re: Oldham Goup
Last post by Hugh Norwood - March 18, 2026, 20:13Oldham & NW groups meeting 14th March, 2026.
The meeting was attended by Alan, Charlie, Frank, Hugh, Ian, Paul M., Peter, Stuart, Tony, Rob and Paul.
Apologies were received from Bob, David E., and David H..
Charlie had purchased a model of a Single Fairlie/Taliesin from Miniature Modellers Hub. He had the print adapted so that the cab was enlarged a little making it appropriate for Bangor (Penrhyn) where there would not have been the loading gauge restrictions of the FR. He'd also purchased a couple of 5 compartment coaches based on the 'mystery coach'.
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The meeting was attended by Alan, Charlie, Frank, Hugh, Ian, Paul M., Peter, Stuart, Tony, Rob and Paul.
Apologies were received from Bob, David E., and David H..
Charlie had purchased a model of a Single Fairlie/Taliesin from Miniature Modellers Hub. He had the print adapted so that the cab was enlarged a little making it appropriate for Bangor (Penrhyn) where there would not have been the loading gauge restrictions of the FR. He'd also purchased a couple of 5 compartment coaches based on the 'mystery coach'.
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#64
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by B.Meldon - March 18, 2026, 16:15Quote from: Andy on March 18, 2026, 11:05Point blades will be either a super fine emery (3000) or a tiny brush with contact cleaner on it.Experience many years ago has shown me that no mater how often or how well you clean the 009 point blades the electrical switching will always fail at the worst possible moment...and then it will do it again just after you clean it!
This is why I always fit frog polarity switches to every point, not just 009 but all my standard gauge 00 points as well.
#65
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by Graeme Dunbar - March 18, 2026, 16:06I've seen many types of track cleaner. As a child had an OO Triang one which was a wagon with a felt pad soaked with methyated spirit. There is fancy one (Fleishmann?) with a motorised rotating pad I think. Another was someone convertig wagon to carry a small block to hardboard (textured side down) and a variation which was a block of hardboard on a stick.
If the track has been prepared and cleaned and just needs a refresh then plain coarse paper (not coated) or thin card lifts light dirt. I guess the cellulose fibres are just abrasive enough. For a quick buff-up I fold a sheet of paper into a block an use that. When it gets dirty I refold to expose a clean piece of paper.
My usual practice now is to give the rails a good 'bedding in' after laying using a fairly coarse track rubber or fine emery and then work my way down through finer grades until it gets to the stage of polishing at which point barring accidents or long term or poor storage very little needs to be done other than a re-buffing. I learned that having bought a kit that was sold for model making but was actually manufactured as one for removing scratches from perspex sailplane canopies. It is quite daunting the first time. You start with a coarse grit to match the depth of the scratch and completely ruin the finish around the scratch. Then you go to the next grit remove those scratches. And then to next finest and so on. I used it to good effect on a battered second hand fibreglass model boat hull. Starting off doing it the wrong way gave a beautiful glossy surface that highlighted the deeper scratches even more.
I think there is some justification as I understand that in prototype practice rail heads in areas of heavy wear are re-ground periodically to reinstate the rail head profile for correct wheel 'coning' (as are the wheel tyres for the same reason).
If the track has been prepared and cleaned and just needs a refresh then plain coarse paper (not coated) or thin card lifts light dirt. I guess the cellulose fibres are just abrasive enough. For a quick buff-up I fold a sheet of paper into a block an use that. When it gets dirty I refold to expose a clean piece of paper.
My usual practice now is to give the rails a good 'bedding in' after laying using a fairly coarse track rubber or fine emery and then work my way down through finer grades until it gets to the stage of polishing at which point barring accidents or long term or poor storage very little needs to be done other than a re-buffing. I learned that having bought a kit that was sold for model making but was actually manufactured as one for removing scratches from perspex sailplane canopies. It is quite daunting the first time. You start with a coarse grit to match the depth of the scratch and completely ruin the finish around the scratch. Then you go to the next grit remove those scratches. And then to next finest and so on. I used it to good effect on a battered second hand fibreglass model boat hull. Starting off doing it the wrong way gave a beautiful glossy surface that highlighted the deeper scratches even more.
I think there is some justification as I understand that in prototype practice rail heads in areas of heavy wear are re-ground periodically to reinstate the rail head profile for correct wheel 'coning' (as are the wheel tyres for the same reason).
#66
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by B.Meldon - March 18, 2026, 16:04WD-40 can leave an oily residue that attracts dust and it can also dammage rubber like traction tyres and/or some plastics, like sleepers for example!!
So perhaps it is best to keep WD40 away from 009 track?
But I am no chemist, so I may be wrong!
So perhaps it is best to keep WD40 away from 009 track?
But I am no chemist, so I may be wrong!
#67
Scottish Region Group / ScOONs Meeting Summary 16th Ma...
Last post by John Galbraith - March 17, 2026, 15:31ScOONs Meeting Summary 16th March
Chaired by Chris - 9 members attended.
The meeting started off by finalising things for the upcoming exhibition, Model Rail Scotland on the 27th/28th/29th March.
Paul - showed us the society wagon kit he has completed and asked for guidance on positioning the brake lever.
Rik - has re-motored 2 locos and a railcar, including fitting coupling rods. He has posted a video on our WhatsApp showing the railcar going round his test track. Rik has also wired one of his modules ready for the Glasgow exhibition and has started on his HOe double module.
Shonagh - showed us the progress on her WW1 module on which she has now fixed some soldiers.
Tom - showed the progress he has made on his module for the Glasgow exhibition. He has added some 3D buildings including the station building, signal box and also added some scenic work.
Chris - is working on sensors and point motors for the Superloop project. He has also ordered some rack and pinion track.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st April and will be chaired by Ian.
Our next confirmed exhibitions are:-
Model Rail Scotland at the SEC in Glasgow on the 27th/28th/29th March where we will be exhibiting our modules and various 009 items including some of Tom Alexander's 3D printed stock.
The Lothians Model Railway Exhibition at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh on 11th/12th April where we will be exhibiting our working diorama Cruive Yard
St Andrews Model Railway Exhibition at St. Andrews Town Hall, Queen's Gardens St. Andrews on the 15th/16th August where we will be exhibiting our working diorama Cruive Yard.
Chaired by Chris - 9 members attended.
The meeting started off by finalising things for the upcoming exhibition, Model Rail Scotland on the 27th/28th/29th March.
Paul - showed us the society wagon kit he has completed and asked for guidance on positioning the brake lever.
Rik - has re-motored 2 locos and a railcar, including fitting coupling rods. He has posted a video on our WhatsApp showing the railcar going round his test track. Rik has also wired one of his modules ready for the Glasgow exhibition and has started on his HOe double module.
Shonagh - showed us the progress on her WW1 module on which she has now fixed some soldiers.
Tom - showed the progress he has made on his module for the Glasgow exhibition. He has added some 3D buildings including the station building, signal box and also added some scenic work.
Chris - is working on sensors and point motors for the Superloop project. He has also ordered some rack and pinion track.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st April and will be chaired by Ian.
Our next confirmed exhibitions are:-
Model Rail Scotland at the SEC in Glasgow on the 27th/28th/29th March where we will be exhibiting our modules and various 009 items including some of Tom Alexander's 3D printed stock.
The Lothians Model Railway Exhibition at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh on 11th/12th April where we will be exhibiting our working diorama Cruive Yard
St Andrews Model Railway Exhibition at St. Andrews Town Hall, Queen's Gardens St. Andrews on the 15th/16th August where we will be exhibiting our working diorama Cruive Yard.
#68
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by B.Meldon - March 17, 2026, 08:35I also have a lot of track.
In regard to track cleaning vehicles I use the Fleischmann N-gauge track cleaning loco chassis with scratch built 009/H0e bodies with as much lead weight in than as possiable. (I have three of these, but usually only have one in use at a time.) These have two revolving disks with fine grade emery paper. I have found that using one of these on the layouts does keep the track clean, but obviously the loco needs to go on every section of track. These chassis also run very well and are still going strong after over 40 years of use! (I understand that the axle gears can split, but so far I have not had this problem myself.
However, this only works when the layouts are in use, it is not any good if the layouts have been out of use for a while. In that case as mentioned I use a fine grade contact cleaning rubber. Even on Westdorf this takes under 10 mins to clean all the track, both narrow and standard gauge. (I also have a standard gauge Fleischmann track cleaning loco.)
At exhibitions I clean the track each morning with the rubber, and always have one of the track cleaning locos in use.
In regard to track cleaning vehicles I use the Fleischmann N-gauge track cleaning loco chassis with scratch built 009/H0e bodies with as much lead weight in than as possiable. (I have three of these, but usually only have one in use at a time.) These have two revolving disks with fine grade emery paper. I have found that using one of these on the layouts does keep the track clean, but obviously the loco needs to go on every section of track. These chassis also run very well and are still going strong after over 40 years of use! (I understand that the axle gears can split, but so far I have not had this problem myself.
However, this only works when the layouts are in use, it is not any good if the layouts have been out of use for a while. In that case as mentioned I use a fine grade contact cleaning rubber. Even on Westdorf this takes under 10 mins to clean all the track, both narrow and standard gauge. (I also have a standard gauge Fleischmann track cleaning loco.)
At exhibitions I clean the track each morning with the rubber, and always have one of the track cleaning locos in use.
#69
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by cnw6847 - March 16, 2026, 19:14Peco don't recommend Track Magic for their products.
IPA or contact cleaner probably best.
IPA or contact cleaner probably best.
#70
Layouts / Re: Track Magic
Last post by JulienW - March 16, 2026, 15:05Quote from: Andy on March 16, 2026, 11:33The WS tool (which I already have and I may buy another so as the wife doesn't feel left out on the cleaning front!) and the WD-40 specialist contact cleaner is a relatively inexpensive option and the latter is readily available at less than £8 a can on Amazon.
I just did - mostly Heptane and other hydrocarbon / petroleum distillates. Not something I'd use for track cleaning myself...