Station Road is an OO scale continuous run compact model railway of a fictitious location and name set during the late 1950's to the early 1970's in Britain. It is an 'T' shaped layout with up and down lines and an end-to-end branch line running DCC locomotives over 2 levels.
This channel is all about railway modelling and how to achieve some great results without spending a fortune. Topics include the re-appropriation of materials vs pricey model making materials, tools for railway modelling, locomotive and rolling stock tips and tricks, kit bashing, scratch building, scenic detailing, layout wiring and electronics, and many more topics.
NOTE: I don't profess to be an expert railway modeller so techniques and methods are just the way I approach projects. As they say, there is more than one way to skin a cat (although I deeply oppose cats being skinned).
Right now i see this beautiful idea because i m new in model train. Very good opinion about IR vs photo resistor, i think i can put a street light up to photo resistor sensor to run night. Much appreciate.
Hmmm, yes, I had heard that the 15xx’s quality control issues were quite poor. The hunslet in general seem more solid. Rapido are an interesting company, they clearly have multiple designers with different philosophies. Some go split shassis, some go for more traditional pickups, some go for spring loaded plunger pickups. They do seem to cram a lot of stuff into these little engines. I gather rapido have had issues with their factory, some models had to be recalled due to something wrong with the dcc chips, others had to be held back for testing, their dynamometer cars had to be recalled to fix something with the lighting… that was after they fell off the delivery truck. I like rapido, they seem nice enough chaps, but their record of issues is concerning
Hi Julian, Glad you like the Rapido Hunslett. I'm not sure why you think you need a stay-alive. Surely it's only relevant when running across points or perhaps wide track gaps that you didn't test on the video?
Hi Julian, I am pleased to see you give your Hunslet a go. I have that very same model S119, but mine has sound..............It is a super runner, although did take a little bit more than 30 mins in each direction for everything to bed in nicely. I think the new model manufacturers coming along today, although you have had some issues with the 15xx, should be applauded for trying to do something different and try new ideas. Your Bachmann USA tank is lovely, but the mechanism hasn't really changed any in the last 10 years or so. It is simple and easy to make, which is why Bachmann stick with it, who can blame them. I think those wipers can still get damaged and then you have issues with pick ups again. I was interested in the change in running quality just changing the DCC decoder, I don't have anything Dapol, but I found that interesting. All the best Dave.
Good review, I will always say in design if the model isn't mechanically designed well, from motor, gears, pickups ect... If its a small model, flywheel, small compact. Split chassis does ring alarm bells, Dapols Hawthorn Leslie has one as well, but Fly wheel on the motor so that's a plus. I don't know why manufacturers have to insist on reinventing things, keep it simple.
Julian, you noted the loco seemed to run better in reverse than forward. Could it be as simple as when running forward it was going uphill? Did you try flipping the loco around and re-running the tests?
Have a look at Zimo decoders and KA’s. Latest vid from ‘That Model Railway Guy’ shows a decoder, speaker and KA install in an 040 Sentinel! The quality of split chassis spacer material has probably improved over older models.
Probably not relevant for your needs(?), but by coincidence I've just seen 'Sam's Trains' review of the new Dapol Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 Tank Engine. This too is a split chassis design, but has received high praise from Sam, not only for the quality of the model itself, but for it's exemplary performance, putting some recent larger offerings to shame.
Hi Julian, I have stuck to the two main suppliers Bachmann and Hornby for my trains and not tried any of the 'others' yet believing that in the new world cost of manufacturing is the first priority and cost 'cutting' appears to be prevelent. Of course B and H will do the same but most if not all my trains are designs/updates of older tooling and in my experience have been reasonable engineered. Yes it does mean some of the finer detailing is not as good as the 'new' suppliers but that is my compromise at the moment.
I believe that factories in China have specific design preferences as regards the number of geared axles, split chassis or power pickup preferences. It would depend on how much of the loco design was done inhouse or left to the manufacturer in China.
All my Trains are from the 70's, I am going to get as many as i can running again. Would love new ones but budget says no. lol , Love your videos and reviews on modern builds, I hope once my layout is complete I will buy a few new ones and your helping me stay away from bad investments. I wish you were over here in Brisbane. Take care and I look forward to your next build update video.
Glad this loco worked a lot better but do wonder if Rapido as doing things differently for the sake of it? I have a couple of faithful old Mainline locos which are great runners but the split chassis design makes working on them “interesting ” so why on earth have Rapido chosen such a potentially awkward design? I have a Rapido Metropolitan E Class tank on pre-order so am wondering what is going to arrive?
Hi Julian, I still haven’t run my 15xx. I’m always apprehensive about running new locomotives, (they often cost so much these days), and my apprehension has only increased as I’ve watched various RU-vidr’s assessment of the 15xx. Thank for your informative videos.
Hi there no criticism of your spectacular model of a beautiful signal box but when you installed the walkway around the building for the little signal man inside to clean the windows from the outside how does he
Bedale signalbox was a bit of an oddball when it came to the walkways. It only had walkways in front on the windows. The signalman would have to open the window and climb through it to clean the windows. Most other NER S1a signalboxes used either a folding plank or a iron bar. Haxby and Kirkham Abbey both used the former, which It's a board the same width as the walkway that would be turned on its side along the wall between the door and the front of the signalbox when not in use. There would be no railing but a handrail fixed to the window sill on that side. Whilst Oxmardyke, which is almost identical to the model used an iron bar set about a third of the was up the window for the signalman to lean against when cleaning the windows, which slide from side to side.
Bedale Signalbox is not that unique. The NER Southern Divison designed and built many similar boxes starting in 1873. Bedale Signalbox was S1a design which came in various sizes depending on location. It had 31 levers. I don't believe that is ever fitted with a gate wheel. The design wasn't perfect as in some places boxes of this design were not easy or cheap to expand, the one at Seamer (no longer in situ) was replaced by an S4 design (still in place but may no longer be in use due to the modernisation of the signalling in the Seamer area).
Thanks for saving me some coin..I almost bought one... Love the.warning about language....All kiwis swear like drunken fish wives.:)...I dont blame.you with this model..showed great restraint... Great Channel and enjoy the content.
Fantastic work! May I suggest you don’t do trees but instead look at large buddleia bushes? They are endemic to the railway now that trackside clearance isn’t a priority and would have been in the 1960’s onwards
