0 Gauge Class 33 Scratch Build - Part 9

Since I started my 0 gauge journey back in March I have waited for the Guildford 0 Gauge Group Trade Show to come around on 7th December. Being a beginner in 0 Gauge I was keen to see what was on offer and I had a small list of items to buy.

It was held at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading. The first thing to say is that it has a large Pay and Display car park but only two ticket machines in operation! Consequently 15 minutes was wasted standing in line to get a ticket. At least the first 3 hours are free of charge. Ample time to peruse the show.

The attendance was very high. 0 gauge seems to be popular, unless it was busy because the show is held only once a year. Well over 100 trade stands occupied by businesses large and small.  Surely I could get everything on my list? What struck me was the extent of locomotives and rolling stock available, both RTR and kits. I think these dominated the show. Surprisingly, there were few stands offering track work. I was after some Peco code 124 rail - none available. I did find a loco crew for my Terrier, some electrical connectors and most important of all BR loco green paint for my Class 33. I looked at Phoenix Paint offerings, my fist choice, but their green paint and spray thinners together were more expensive that the RailMatch spray can I found on another stand. This product was purchased and I am happy with its colour match and quality.

The end of the class 33  project is now in sight and I can count down the remaining tasks.

• Apply a coach line
• Apply BR totem and numbers
• Make and fix windscreen wipers
• Make and fix side window glass and frames
• Anything else I have not thought of.

To Part 1 of this series.  

December website cover

A saesonal scene at Hewish Gates.

View the cover here:

0 Gauge Class 33 Scratch Build - Part 8

There is more than one way to add accessory control to a model locomotive. I am not intending to use DCC as the track plan and range of locomotives will be very limited. It has been suggested that a small Raspberry Pi  computer is a good way of providing remote control of the loco accessories. I might consider that in future but for now I purged my existing stock of components.

This is my second implementation. The first had a pulse width modulator electronics circuit for adjustment of LED brightness (Search 'led dimmer circuit' for examples). This was driven from 4 x button cells with a separate AA cylinder battery to drive the fan motor. The dimmer circuit was not really required as the LEDS gave best light on full illumination so, to simplify matters it was removed. LEDS are now driven from 2 x AAA batteries with the fan power drawn off of 1 of the batteries.

Below is a view of the controls through the hole in the roof with the translucent access panel removed. You would not believe I spent nearly 25 years in electronics design and manufacture when you look at this birds nest of wiring. I'm not proud of it but it does work!

The switch bank is for power, leds and fan. The bluetooth speaker has an internal rechargeable battery and is controlled remotely from an iPad.

When it comes to operation, the fan and appropriate LEDS are activated/deactivated manually from the switch bank before/after the journey and the sound controlled during the journey.

I am not concerned that 'the hand of God' is evident because it mimics the prototype where the roof panel was removed for some maintenance jobs on the engine.

To Part 9.

To Part 1 of this series.