Steam loco or TGV ?

[Paul-H]

Are they all banned? Though it was just lead shot below a certain weight that was banned. Have they banned all lead weights now?

Paul

[Paul-H]

This is from the UK.gov website

Lead weights
You can only use lead weights if they’re .06 grams or less or more than 28.35 grams. This means lead shot weights from size 14 to size 8 and lead weights over 1 ounce.

Lead is toxic to birds, so if you’re using lead dust shot make sure the containers are spill proof.

So lead weights are still legal as long as they are above 28.35g or below .06g and a quick Google confirms they are still for sale, just buy a big weight and cut bits off to use in your locos.

Paul

[RAF96]

If you cant get fishing weights use tyre balance weights, the flat ones for alloy wheels are much tidier and available in different self stick sizes. If you are a tightwad ask for discarded ones at your local tyre fitting depot.
Rob

[Steve M]

Time for a cautionary note.
If using weights you may be tempted to fix it in place with PVA - after all it’s the ‘go to’ adhesive in most cases - but don’t, lead and PVA will slowly react over time and expand causing the models to split and crack.

In the past I have used ‘Liquid Gravity’ which I believe does not react and is easy to pour into suitable areas on the model such as fuel/water tanks and battery boxes as well as inderframes on wagons.

[Walkingthedog]

Most angling shops don’t sell any lead shot, well not where I go. I wouldn’t use it anyway.

With all the building extensions going on try and get a bit of scrap lead flashing. I have quite a substantial roll of it I found under a shed I was demolishing.

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

Time for a cautionary note.
If using weights you may be tempted to fix it in place with PVA - after all it’s the ‘go to’ adhesive in most cases - but don’t, lead and PVA will slowly react over time and expand causing the models to split and crack.

In the past I have used ‘Liquid Gravity’ which I believe does not react and is easy to pour into suitable areas on the model such as fuel/water tanks and battery boxes as well as inderframes on wagons.

Very true. The problem is that lead oxidizes and as it does the oxidization forms on the surface which causes it to expand in size and if that is contained in a confined space it will eventually deform the plastic or crack it. That's why I use Blue Tac because that allows the lead to expand but gives it room to do so. It's a similar process to concrete cancer caused when rebar contain in reinforced concrete rusts causing the concrete to either flake off or crack.

[Montfort]

Many thanks for all your replies gentlemen. They are very helpful and very interesting too.

[RSR Engineer]

That's an interesting effort by Hornby. It seems to be based on this loco, of which I found a pic here -

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/25/ ... ade_25.htm


Dowlais KGV.jpg

From the picture it looks as if the firebox is above the crank axle. That would explain the high pitch of the boiler but it can't have been a good idea to have the big ends under the ashpan. Imagine all that muck sifting down onto the crankpins. Small wonder such locos were so rare.

Cheers,
Artur

[RSR Engineer]

Time for a cautionary note.
If using weights you may be tempted to fix it in place with PVA - after all it’s the ‘go to’ adhesive in most cases - but don’t, lead and PVA will slowly react over time and expand causing the models to split and crack.

In the past I have used ‘Liquid Gravity’ which I believe does not react and is easy to pour into suitable areas on the model such as fuel/water tanks and battery boxes as well as inderframes on wagons.

Very true. The problem is that lead oxidizes and as it does the oxidization forms on the surface which causes it to expand in size and if that is contained in a confined space it will eventually deform the plastic or crack it. That's why I use Blue Tac because that allows the lead to expand but gives it room to do so. It's a similar process to concrete cancer caused when rebar contain in reinforced concrete rusts causing the concrete to either flake off or crack.

Seems lead's a lot more trouble than it's worth. Why not use nice non-toxic gold? It's also denser. ;o) ;o) ;o)

Cheers,
Artur

[Chops]

News I can use, thanks Monfort. I do like my old Hornby 0-4-0, but like the Sopwith Camel it has two speeds: full on and full off. I shall be following up on this shortly.

Update: very inexpensive from Hornby's- if you live over there. 25 pounds shipping! I was able to find one at Hatton's for 7 BPS shipping. Phew!