Great to see you back again as I have missed you! Speaking as someone who never worked in the rail industry - I find your channel interesting and very informative! Cheers Malcolm
Hello Barrie,1 / I have just been watching this video for a second time, and I notice that both of your pantographs appear to have an additional brass (conducting ? ) wire running from the pantograph into the plastic roof. So, has your model been modified, or partially modified to collect current from the pantograph ? And if so, how is the changeover switch arranged please ? 2 / Subsequent to your first broadcast of this video, I have had the opportunity to view this model up close. The one I have inspected has each pantograph secured by a brass bolt and nut, so it would be possible to run a strip of phosphor bronze strip, being secured onto to holding bolt with an additional nut, and then soldering a wire near the mid point (avoiding the body securing bolt ! ) to enable a connection to a change over switch attached to the central body weight with cast metal air tanks, which would allow for an option of overhead collection. If this modification was done, I suggest that the phosphor bronze strip and its attachment points to the pantographs be covered with a strip of paper based masking tape, to prevent any possibility of the prosper bronze strip touching, and thereby shorting out due to contact with the metal bogie tops. 3 / I am under the impression that Hornby Acho did not make provision for overhead collection, however, your model displayed above may either have been modified, or perhaps it is a latter production version which did provide for overhead collection. 4 / By the way, your running HA models have out lasted the in service prototypes ! 5 / you make very informative videos, and I have learnt a lot fro your videos, as I am sure have others have, and we have gone on from pure entertainment to being informed, probably without even realising it. 6 / best wishes, and regards to you and your family, from a retired signalman in Australia.
Hello Scottmcneil1150, check the locomotives Back to Back with an accurate BtB gauge (DCCconcepts of Settle supply good gauges), and adjust as necessary with a large flathead screwdriver to ease the effected wheel out, or a large vice, with cardboard protective layer to carefully close up if too wide. The BtB should be 14.5mm, however, if you use a digital calliper (available from a good hardware, or electronics store), also check that the wheel gauge where the flange curve starts is 16.5mm. If either of the above dimensions are the same on all wheels, then your loco should be able to run thru your points, regards from Australia.
