Rapido UK USATC S160 'Omaha'

 

28/07/2026

 

Rapido UK USATC S160 'Omaha'

My S160 arrived in the post a couple of days ago and it sounded awful like a bag of rusty spanners. After a prolonged running session on Wednesday eventually the mechanism has bedded in! That’s the longest running in period I have experienced. During the running the front buffer assembly fell off, I refitted it yesterday with a tiny spot of superglue I did notice that only one pin had been glued at the factory. On the whole niggles aside what a stunning model eventually I am very pleased. I am converting it to oil fired as per the real ‘Omaha’, I cannot find any descent photos of the full size conversion but my understanding is the tank fits into the coal space. So with a little artist licence I 3D printed a stepped plate to cover to top of the bunker and added a filler cap. This just sits in place and can be removed with out any modification to the tender.

40 foot Bailey bridge

 

21/07/2026

40 foot Bailey bridge

 

Being an ex Royal Engineer in the 60-70’s and built these beasts for real it was only fitting I should make one. I found some files in the web for a 1:100 scale bridge. That was the staring point each file way re-drawn to 1:76 scale by 131.57%.

The components parts were merged in the 3d print slicer to form one side of the bridge. Both sides were assembled in a card jig to make sure the transoms aligned correctly. 5 stringers were fitted to each bay 30 in total.

I use EMA plastic weld to join my PLA printed parts. The chesses are actually printed as a block of 13 I felt this would give the structure one strength.

 

 

Moving on

 

20/07/2026

 

Moving on

It’s been a while since my last blog post — life’s been busy with a mix of projects and a couple of brilliant holidays to Norway! Back on 22 March 2025, I treated myself to a Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printer and promptly fell down the rabbit hole of learning CAD.

3D printing has opened up a whole new world for my modelling. I’ve been churning out wheelie bins, station waste bins, skips — you name it. By spring 2026, though, I’d definitely outgrown the little A1 Mini, so on 25 June 2026 I upgraded to the full Bambu Lab A1.

I have to say, 3D printing is seriously addictive. Once you start, it’s hard to stop!

New storage sidings coaching stock

13 August 2025

After long deliberation as to where I could site some storage sidings for my coaches; I decide to expand the site adjacent to Westernhills MPD. 2x 4 foot by 6 inch boards were constructed and fitted to the main board.  Due to the mini heat wave work was suspended at 14:15 

14 August 2025

 Work restarted at 10:30 on the storage sidings first a cut though the rails where the new turnout will fit; then a liberal spray of water to soften the glued ballast; with the track pins removed the old track is lifted. I cut the rail slightly under size to enable me to fettle the new turnout into position.  Next job is to clear the debris from the base board and test fit the turnout I had to remove a small amount of rail to ensure a neat fit. Holes are marked for the point motor actuating pin and for the frog wire.

17 August 2025

 Turnout fitted and Cobalt iP Digital motor fitted wired and tested; a power buss fitted to new section holes for droppers drilled. 

19 August 2025

After a pause its still 30c 41% humidity in the loft I laid the 1^st 4 foot of track. Wired up the turnout in the siding to a DPST switch and laid the remaining track.

With the entire track laid cut at the 4 foot board joint all was left was to ballast. Ballasting was completed and glued with 50% PVA; and left to dry overnight.20 August 2025

Vacuumed up Excessive ballast before I air brushed a light coat of black acrylic paint to darken and stain the track and ballast; 

Continuing with the landscaping by blending static grass. Work on hold whist I get fresh supplies of static grass.

31 August 2025

Continuing on with the landscaping with a new batch of static grass 4mm Wild Meadow, 6mm Wild Meadow and 6mm Autumn Mix a smattering of soil (dried teabag) and ballast shows though. a small Ratio hut with the front remove conceals the point switch. All that is needed now is suitable ‘junk’ for set dressing LOL.

Accurascale Hill J68

 

Pix Valley announces their latest arrival, in pristine condition after another extensive overhaul into full running order straight from the factory is an Accurascale Hill J68. BR Late crest Plain Black; what a delightful little locomotive, stunning detail dynamic sound smooth running right out of the box.

Bachmann / Model Rail USATC S100 Tank sound fitting

 This is a very straight forward installation; 2 screws long one the front short one to the back hold the body in place. The Zimo MS500N sound chip and a Minnow4 15x8x4.5 speaker from https://www.youchoos.co.uk/ only have the speaker wires (purple) the remaining wires were removed. The Minnow4 slips in-between the gear tower and PCB riser, it is necessary to shorten the pins on the MS500 to 4 millimetres long pin 1 is to the right as you look down it is marked, and wrap the chip with 20 mm Kapton tape other than that it’s plug and play.

SECR P Class 0-6-0T 323 'Bluebell' sound fitting.

 My Hatton’s now Accurascale ‘Bluebell’ is now fitted with a Zimo MS500N sound chip and a Minnow 4speaker from https://www.youchoos.co.uk/. Except for the speaker wires (purple) the remaining wires were removed.

Remove 4 screws from the chassis to release the body there 2 at the front 2 at the rear. The speaker fits in the Left hand side of the chassis after removing the small weight I stuck a sliver of 1 mm plastic card to insulate the speaker from the cast chassis.

 

It was necessary to remove approximately 3 millimetres from the cast chassis where the chip would fit this was to enable sufficient clearance I also deepened the slot where the interface board sits pin 1 is to the top of the board. I machined mine in a milling machine and deepened the slot with a hacksaw; the casting is quite robust holding it in a vice gently was not an issue so carefully cut it away with a hacksaw is a possibility. 

Finally I lined newly milled area with 1 mm plastic card to insulate the chip from the chassis. It is necessary to shorten the pins on the MS500 to 4 millimetres long and wrap the chip with 20 mm Kapton tape. The Minnow4 15x8x4.5 is held in place on the plastic card with double sided tape.