Member postings for V8Eng

There are many people on here who have published books on our hobby, or own companies that supply equipment, they have shown themselves willing to offer advice freely and frequently, if after that they get some orders then I say good for them!

Sometimes they might give advice and somebody else gets an order, or indeed something gets made up instead.

I do not see how that equates to "it's all about ego and money".

Edited By V8Eng on 07/10/2013 14:10:41

**LINK**

I recently obtained some spares from them and their website (above link) says they are going to be at the Midlands Model Eng Exhibition.

http://www.meridienneexhibitions.co.uk/our-events-detail.php?id=0000000007

Edited By V8Eng on 06/10/2013 19:28:13

One of my photos is used on the home page, I was very pleased to see it there.

In fact to use an old expression, "I was really chuffed".

The revamped site works fine for me, well done to all concerned.

Edited By V8Eng on 06/10/2013 18:59:51

Wow Katy!

A No 10 Meccano set for your 30th Birthday, now that's what I call a great present.

Now where's that smiley for green with envy!

Pram plan in the Hobby's annual as well, I was thinking of making one in metal to throw my own toys out of .

Edited By V8Eng on 04/10/2013 20:29:15

Noggin End Metals list it.

You will acquire lots of "friends" if your colleagues and relatives find out you have a workshop, and the ability to repair things!

Edited By V8Eng on 02/10/2013 18:27:55

**LINK**

Got an Email from Maplin the other day about an UP unit they sell online, this seems to have a similar object build size.

Not seen the Sun, so do not know about any other features.

Edited By V8Eng on 02/10/2013 16:06:07

The new look works fine on my iPad, that's good enough for me as I rarely boot the computer up these days.

These cells seem to be used in so much equipment now, the display on my card reader supplied by the bank became dim when I checked it is fitted with 4x44 type cells, the building society supplied one that has 2x 2032 cells.

When I add this to my digital mike and calipers that is potentially a lot of batteries per year.

This certainly means buying cheap packs works for me, some suppliers have SR44 and 2032 in packs of 5 at under £4.

Hi Stub.

Thanks, that is a useful info site.

You are right about it being a Monoperm super, I also have a couple of Decaperms, these were all really good reliable motors.

They were originally bought for use in an SLEC Tank, having decided that flying model aircraft was not working out for me, and ground level models might be less costly!

Two Decaperms drove the tracks through some modified Meccano gears, independent control / reversing was courtesy of PCB type resistance boards fitted on top of The RC servos.

The Monoperm took care of turret rotation (the pile gears were used to get the speed right), and the gun elevation was by a small servo in the turret fed via slip rings / brushes on the turret rotator shaft.

I recently dug the tank out during a major loft clearance, it is a bit battered and corroded, might have a go at restoring it, but with loads of conflicting demands on my time lately even using the workshop is proving really difficult.

Edited By V8Eng on 26/09/2013 21:03:01

Some years ago model motors for 6v & possibly other voltages, were available with multi stage modular epicyclic gearboxes.

The gearbox ratio could be varied by adding or removing modules to suit the output speed required.

the picture should demonstrate things more clearly than I can explain, the example shown dates from the 1980s (I think) and is very smooth running.

I do not know if these are still available.

Nearly forgot, the output shaft was meccano size as well.

Edited By V8Eng on 24/09/2013 20:38:53

Have to admit that when my original glass ones gave trouble I just put new ones on, about £30 a pair (I think) from Myford

I find that particular coolant causes a poor finish due to loss of coordination, and the chatter becomes uncontrollable after a while!

Edited By V8Eng on 13/09/2013 19:55:15

I remember a friend using Spybot S&D, it seemed to work on his PC problem.

Not being picky, but when I was working our IT guy used to frown very much on forwarding potential bugs.

As to what I did today:

Went shopping with the wife for some bread, milk and dustpan/brush, came home with a new combi microwave!

That means I now have an ageing but sound 900 w microwave oven standing idle in the workshop, seems a shame to scrap it so wonder if I can use it for anything (apart from heating pasties and suchlike).

I seem to remember a system for melting metals in a microwave advertised in ME about a year ago, no access to my paper archive to check it at present though.

Must admit that I've hardly used my workshop so far this year, too many things going on with house updating etc.

Edited By V8Eng on 01/09/2013 21:33:00

Channel 5 tonight at 7pm, a programme about transporting the A4 locomotives across the Atlantic to the NRM.

Not able to watch it myself, but will try to catch it later.

Edited By V8Eng on 29/08/2013 18:46:38

Long time since I've been to Cornwall, but this is a good info site.

http://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/history-and-heritage?f[0]=im_46_field_vc_category%3A4764#main-content

I observed the indirect power of lightning last week:

There was a storm rumbling round the area, then Flash of lightning with a simultaneous clap of thunder and the house seemed to fill with light, my Broadband Router stopped working (never to go again), my CCTV recorder lost 3 channels plus I am unable to accesss its settings now

Fortunately we were not actually hit directly and I could not detect any other damage.

That was a couple of hundred pounds lost in an instant, costly business these natural generating systems!

Edited By V8Eng on 02/08/2013 21:18:40

There is an interesting video of jewellery manufacture (sintering) here.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/_KrxCry8_uE

Ah PAL reminds me of my schooldays, it tended to be an instant process involving a rule across the knuckles or the board rubber being lobbed at you!

We use a simple pair of battery powered walkie talkies for this (at about 50m).

Rechargeable types cut down on battery costs as well.