4494 and CQBYs arrive in time for Christmas

Last week (Thursday I think), the Trainorama Class 44 model '4494' arrived. What a fine looking model. On Sunday I took it for a spin on DC around Illavearf just to make sure there were no problems before the missus wrapped it up to place under the tree. It ran very well. A couple of things though that I thought could have improved the model were a switch to turn the lights off under DC, and the possible lighting up of the marker lights. These are not show stoppers however under DCC. And depending on the room available in the shell the marker lights might be able to be lit via fibre optics. If no room, no bother as it is still a finely modelled engine. Now I just have to wait for the Loksound Select decoders to come into Oz so that I can have sound.

This morning I took delivery of the Auscision CFCLA CQBY container wagons from Mr Mackie. VERY nice detailing. Now my Auscision CFCLA EL51 has something to pull around!

4464 weathered and club competition

Well after a dry run on an old piece of kit with the DCC Concepts weathering powders, I took the plunge and went ahead weathering 4464. For a first attempt, I think I did fairly well. Possibly a tad heavy handed around the bogie frames, but hopefully some feedback might improve things for future weathering projects. As for the club competition on the weekend, I submitted 4464 in all its splendour. I know I voted for it but have no idea whether anyone else did. Even my son Lachlan voted for another model. Well done to John Kennedy who received my son's vote along with the majority of members to win Most Popular. Also congrats to Daniel Bella and Tony Caston. Truth be known, I was considering voting for Tony's Southern (UK) steam loco but thought I best vote for myself just to know at least someone voted for 4464! Last week I also ordered a Trainorama Class 44 (4494) loco as my Xmas gift from the missus (mostly paid by myself!). Some photos of weathered 4464 below.

Article on 42207 conversion written

Last week I completed the fine tuning of 42207 (see photo) and took it for a spin around Illavearf. I also completed the article in draft. Just have to read it with a fresh set of eyes. I will then give it to PK for a RMCQ Semaphore article. Once I have had feedback from AMRM on the first article (Class 44) I will then make a decision on whether to submit this one for AMRM's consideration as a follow on article. As for weathering 4464 for the club competition, I got as far as saying to the missus I am going to the shed for an hour. It was at this point that she said she had to go to the shops to get a few things, should only be ten minutes. Famous last words! Half an hour later she had retuned but by then I was feeding the baby. My hour dwindled to less than fifteen minutes before I had to get ready to take my eldest son to a birthday party. So in the end didn't get anywhere near it! Hopefully tonight I will do a trial run of the DCC Concepts weathering powders on some old stock before committing them to the real model by the end of the week.

42207 wired up

Sorry I didn't have an update for last week as nothing happened. This week I was able to finally get the sound decoder wired into my Lima 422 class, number 42207. This was basically a cumulative effort of small portions of time throughout the week. Sunday morning I was finally able to get to the layout and test the decoder. I obviously stuffed up something in setting up the decoder ID from the factory default of 03 as only the background sound was coming out of the speaker. After much ginning around and not getting anywhere, I reset the decoder to the factory defaults and started again. This time things worked correctly. Forwards, backwards, lights, horn (CV changed to reflect 5 chime horn). I still have to fine tune the CVs. Now I have to try and fit everything into the body (there seems to be a lot of wire leads!), fine tune the CVs, and take it for a spin around Illavearf. Throughout this project I have also been taking notes and photos to write another article. I will have to massage the notes and photos into an article before I forget to much before the end of the year. Once this is done, I will have to get my @rse into gear to weather 4469 for the club modelling competition which is only a matter of weeks away now.

Club meeting at Craig's place

This afternoon saw the monthly club meeting of RMCQ held at Craig Mackie's place. Fourteen members and a visitor made the trip across to the southside. I saw Craig's layout in May 2008 (from memory) and a lot has happened. All praise to Craig for his modelling efforts. I have included some of Craig's modelling that I was impressed with.

There was a serious side to the afternoon, namely the monthly meeting, so we convened under Craig's pagola. Some pictures of the membership, PK and JC, and the three wise men.

Once the meeting finished and we partook of Craig's hospitality with a fine afternoon tea spread, I was able to have 30-45 minutes track time on Craig's layout. I had won my first club raffle, and what a fine prize. A NSWGR GLV wagon, OnTrack Models I think. Photos below of the GLV wagon behind 4464 and EL51.

Then it was time to pack up and make the trip back to the northside. Craig, once again thanks for an enjoyable afternoon. I must get back to your place another time when there is not as many bodies in the shed (not so squeezy!!).

On another note, my rust oxides from DCC Concepts arrived through the week. Once again thanks to Richard Johnson for sending them gratis. I did get to 42207 through the week. Not as much as I had hoped but I did manage to glue the front bogie power pickups on to the bogie, and thread the power leads into the chassis ready for connecting to the decoder's leads. So maybe this week coming up I will get to the front and rear headlights cabling. I am starting to learn not to plan too far ahead with this conversion. I might have to put it to one side while I weather 4464 for the club Christmas modelling competition. Until next update, happy tooting!

Weathering powders and signals arrived

My Eckon OO gauge signal kits (four of them) arrived last week (or was it the previous week?) from the UK. So I have to put these together and work out the best way to activate them on the layout. I have also been waiting for a loco weathering kit from DCC Concepts. It arrived through the week, but it was the wrong kit. Richard Johnson took it on the chin and is sending over the missing rust oxides at no cost to me. These kits seam to be much better value for money than say the little Tamiya kits. So once the rust oxides arrive I can start weathering 4464 for presentation at the club Christmas party competition. This weekend I am heading over to Craig Mackie's place for a looksie and hopefully have 4464 do a lap or two. I might even bring along my CFCLA EL51 for a jaunt! If I get any spare time of an evening this week, I will attempt to get 42207 converted so it too can come for a trip to the southside of Bris Vegas. Unfortunately I got no spare time last wekend to spend in the shed as I was getting the yard and garden in shape so that I can go to Craig's place next weekend.

Club B&S Open day

RMCQ's November Buy and Sell, and Open Day was held on Sunday 1st. To my untrained eyes it looked a better turnout than May's was. Quite a range of items for sale. However after haggling with my good friend and fellow club member Craig Mackie, I was able to purchase two FS class NSWGR candy liveried carriages for a very good price (CM would probably say it was daylight robbery). He also provided a great gift of a large selection of past edition AMRMs for me to go through. Other than the Sunday event, no modelling was done this week.