Comments for Dublorunner.com http://www.dublorunner.com Hornby Dublo 3 rail layout Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:12:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Neil Medhurst – dublobear by MARK SCULLY http://www.dublorunner.com/2011/11/neil-medhurst-dublobear/#comment-3138 MARK SCULLY Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:12:42 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/?p=1666#comment-3138 Being a very infrequent visitor to this sight.I was shocked to read about Neil as I to have some of his converted 3 rail engines together with getting some individual purchases via internet. My belated condolences to his family and I 'm sure he will well missed by them as he is by his family. Being a very infrequent visitor to this sight.I was shocked to read about Neil as I to have some of his converted 3 rail engines together with getting some individual purchases via internet.
My belated condolences to his family and I ‘m sure he will well missed by them as he is by his family.

]]> Comment on Layout by admin http://www.dublorunner.com/layout/#comment-3114 admin Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:37:32 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/#comment-3114 I have placed here the original comment that Phil is referring to which was from Bill Bolton <em>The problem with Hornby-Dublo transformers are that that the vast majority of them are now over 50 years old. This presents a fairly significant problem in selling them, as “working” items, because of the serious electrical safety implications. At the very least there is a very great risk that the insulation on any original mains power cables will have gone “brittle” and that in itself is a significant electrical safety risk. In most cases, the transformer unit itself is fine, but will need a new power cable and electrical tests for isolation/earth faults conducted by appropriately licenced/authorised person. The cost of this varies a lot but, is often a significant obstacle unless you very specifically want a Hornby-Dublo controller. Any model train controller designed for 12V DC trains, with a power rating of *at least* one (1) Amp will be suitable for running Hornby Dublo 3-rail or 2-rail trains, so unless you do really want a Hornby Dublo transformer, you may find it generally easier to buy a contemporary controller, such as from Gaugemaster or similar, rather than using an old one. As it happens I do have a strong personal interest in having working Hornby Dublo transformers, and being an electronics engineer by profession I have the requisite skills to do my own repair/test work on them. Just about all the Hornby Dublo transformers from 1939 through to 1964 can be repaired to a working state (though for some specific models there is not really much point in trying). Cheers, Bill</em> I have placed here the original comment that Phil is referring to which was from Bill Bolton

The problem with Hornby-Dublo transformers are that that the vast majority of them are now over 50 years old. This presents a fairly significant problem in selling them, as “working” items, because of the serious electrical safety implications. At the very least there is a very great risk that the insulation on any original mains power cables will have gone “brittle” and that in itself is a significant electrical safety risk.

In most cases, the transformer unit itself is fine, but will need a new power cable and electrical tests for isolation/earth faults conducted by appropriately licenced/authorised person. The cost of this varies a lot but, is often a significant obstacle unless you very specifically want a Hornby-Dublo controller.

Any model train controller designed for 12V DC trains, with a power rating of *at least* one (1) Amp will be suitable for running Hornby Dublo 3-rail or 2-rail trains, so unless you do really want a Hornby Dublo transformer, you may find it generally easier to buy a contemporary controller, such as from Gaugemaster or similar, rather than using an old one.

As it happens I do have a strong personal interest in having working Hornby Dublo transformers, and being an electronics engineer by profession I have the requisite skills to do my own repair/test work on them. Just about all the Hornby Dublo transformers from 1939 through to 1964 can be repaired to a working state (though for some specific models there is not really much point in trying).

Cheers,

Bill

]]> Comment on Layout by Phil Bowen http://www.dublorunner.com/layout/#comment-3103 Phil Bowen Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:47:19 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/#comment-3103 Transformers - Hi Bill - interested in your comments on transformers (know it was last June but have just started to recomission a 1957 Duchess of Montrose set so looking for any source of knowledge!). Have been using a Hornby R918 rated at 14V but have bought a Marshall 3 from Ebay. It's rated at 12V DC 9VA as well as having 12V AC and 15V AC outputs. All outputs test OK at no load but the controlled 12V DC shows just 7V on load and a current of 0.6A is drawn when I supply the loco. I also get the red short circuit light on. The loco drives well on the R918 but slowly on the Marshall. Question is do I have a faulty Marshall unit or is there insufficient capacity for a 3 rail system such as this? Would welcome any thoughts. Many thanks. Phil Transformers – Hi Bill – interested in your comments on transformers (know it was last June but have just started to recomission a 1957 Duchess of Montrose set so looking for any source of knowledge!). Have been using a Hornby R918 rated at 14V but have bought a Marshall 3 from Ebay. It’s rated at 12V DC 9VA as well as having 12V AC and 15V AC outputs. All outputs test OK at no load but the controlled 12V DC shows just 7V on load and a current of 0.6A is drawn when I supply the loco. I also get the red short circuit light on. The loco drives well on the R918 but slowly on the Marshall. Question is do I have a faulty Marshall unit or is there insufficient capacity for a 3 rail system such as this? Would welcome any thoughts. Many thanks. Phil

]]> Comment on SCARM by admin http://www.dublorunner.com/2012/01/scarm/#comment-3089 admin Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:17:34 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/?p=1710#comment-3089 Yes the programme is very good but there is obviously a bug in the snapshot function on the 3D page. If you click on the camera to take a snapshot a message comes up asking where to save it and what type of file. After saving you can then find it and Windows says that there is a file there of 2.4Mb but nothing can be seen. It makes no difference which of the file types you use. As you rightly say this should not put you off using this software as it easy to use and the 3D rendering adds greatly to the understanding of how the proposed layout will look. I have had no problems with the screen print function Yes the programme is very good but there is obviously a bug in the snapshot function on the 3D page. If you click on the camera to take a snapshot a message comes up asking where to save it and what type of file. After saving you can then find it and Windows says that there is a file there of 2.4Mb but nothing can be seen. It makes no difference which of the file types you use. As you rightly say this should not put you off using this software as it easy to use and the 3D rendering adds greatly to the understanding of how the proposed layout will look. I have had no problems with the screen print function

]]> Comment on SCARM by Brian http://www.dublorunner.com/2012/01/scarm/#comment-3085 Brian Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:51:51 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/?p=1710#comment-3085 don't know what happened there, but the message went before I finished. I can only get a screen shot from the keyboard on my tower unit. it could be they are both using ATI graphic cards. they do state on their website, there are problems to be ironed out with this part of the program. anyway it's nice to see a 3 rail dublo design in 3d after using xtrcad to design various ideas. well worth the effort to use. don’t know what happened there, but the message went before I finished.
I can only get a screen shot from the keyboard on my tower unit. it could be they are both using ATI graphic cards. they do state on their website, there are problems to be ironed out with this part of the program. anyway it’s nice to see a 3 rail dublo design in 3d after using xtrcad to design various ideas. well worth the effort to use.

]]> Comment on SCARM by Brian http://www.dublorunner.com/2012/01/scarm/#comment-3084 Brian Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:40:22 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/?p=1710#comment-3084 Scarm gave exactly the same problem with my laptop. It wouldn't even allow me to take a screen shot from the button on the keyboard. Scarm gave exactly the same problem with my laptop. It wouldn’t even allow me to take a screen shot from the button on the keyboard.

]]> Comment on Links by admin http://www.dublorunner.com/links/#comment-3074 admin Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:35:59 +0000 http://beta.grahamdavies.net/#comment-3074 The link has been added. The link has been added.

]]> Comment on Links by Michael Badger http://www.dublorunner.com/links/#comment-3068 Michael Badger Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:55:03 +0000 http://beta.grahamdavies.net/#comment-3068 If you think it suitable please add my website to your links page, adding this text "Overlays for Hornby no.1 open wagons, no.1 chassis and Hornby-Dublo 5 and 7 plank metal open wagons" Thanks. If you think it suitable please add my website to your links page, adding this text “Overlays for Hornby no.1 open wagons, no.1 chassis and Hornby-Dublo 5 and 7 plank metal open wagons”
Thanks.

]]> Comment on Layout by muir http://www.dublorunner.com/layout/#comment-2873 muir Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:53:22 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/#comment-2873 Well said Roadrunner - <em>what have we got to lose?</em>. Just to give an indication of my soldering ability - I still don't really know whether to put the flux paste on the iron or solder or bit that I'm soldering, and for every successful soldered joint that I do, it tends to be about the ninth attempt at the one join. I just take my time, and not get frustrated when it's the eight attempt and it still isn't right and realise I have to do it again. Just make sure that the phone doesn't ring or cousin Daisy doesn't visit. <em>...then found two metal shavings crushed into the sleeve, so they... </em> Good discovery - I wonder how many people would've just sold it on ebay (probably to me) rather than look at what the problem is, and have a go at fixing it... Well said Roadrunner – what have we got to lose?. Just to give an indication of my soldering ability – I still don’t really know whether to put the flux paste on the iron or solder or bit that I’m soldering, and for every successful soldered joint that I do, it tends to be about the ninth attempt at the one join. I just take my time, and not get frustrated when it’s the eight attempt and it still isn’t right and realise I have to do it again. Just make sure that the phone doesn’t ring or cousin Daisy doesn’t visit.
…then found two metal shavings crushed into the sleeve, so they… Good discovery – I wonder how many people would’ve just sold it on ebay (probably to me) rather than look at what the problem is, and have a go at fixing it…

]]> Comment on Layout by Roadrunner http://www.dublorunner.com/layout/#comment-2856 Roadrunner Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:57:15 +0000 http://www.dublorunner.com/#comment-2856 muir gives us encouragement to look into and repair the smallest item. Not all of us can do it, but for those brave enough - what have we got to lose? A recent experience here was an intermittent power loss and poor running ringfield motor in a Castle, this despite a new neo-magnet and my excellent power supply. I took the motor off and bench tested for several minutes and was shocked to observe a red glow inside. I thought I was burning out the commutator or windings and in a process of elimination I found it was neither. The glow was coming from around the insulated brush, even with no armature installed! I pushed out the brush holder and sleeve (gingerly, hoping to salvage them) and then found two metal shavings crushed into the sleeve, so they were intermittently shorting the brush cylinder against the housing! Never seen this before and after refitting the cleaned sleeve the motor fairly zooms again now, no other damage. It just proves, give it a go. With magnifying glasses, fine tools and a steady hand I have fixed a lot of things. muir gives us encouragement to look into and repair the smallest item. Not all of us can do it, but for those brave enough – what have we got to lose?

A recent experience here was an intermittent power loss and poor running ringfield motor in a Castle, this despite a new neo-magnet and my excellent power supply. I took the motor off and bench tested for several minutes and was shocked to observe a red glow inside. I thought I was burning out the commutator or windings and in a process of elimination I found it was neither.

The glow was coming from around the insulated brush, even with no armature installed! I pushed out the brush holder and sleeve (gingerly, hoping to salvage them) and then found two metal shavings crushed into the sleeve, so they were intermittently shorting the brush cylinder against the housing! Never seen this before and after refitting the cleaned sleeve the motor fairly zooms again now, no other damage.

It just proves, give it a go. With magnifying glasses, fine tools and a steady hand I have fixed a lot of things.

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