iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I've never looked into it, but I've always assumed that the greens, maroons and browns which were so widespread across Europe until the late 20th century was due to paint costs relating to widely available pigments

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The SDV #tt120 #spurtt #ceskedrahy vans are not painted and have had transfers applied. They're less chocolate brown and more reddish in person. #modeltrains #modellbahn

Two kitbuilt Czech Railways vans. The top one has a brakeman's platform, while the bottom one has a brake wheel on the chassis.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

They've actually tooled up different sides for really tiny differences that I'd expect to have to do myself with a UK kit!

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I realise that, I was giving an example of when I was bitten by buying the cheap option. The other one was Lidl acrylic paints that would soften every time I tried to carry out a weathering wash, weeks after original application.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

SDV models are everything a wagon kit should be. Wheels, couplings, transfers, even a few steel nuts for weights included. #tt120 #spurtt #modeltrains #modellbahn

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I bought generic air drying clay once. Once. I've only bought DAS since!

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I'm with you there. British TT had actually decreased the number of scales I model in, because I sold my British N in favour of it when it became apparent that the models were decent!

010

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I don't think he was even born in this era. David Maxey or Hagen Von Ortloff perhaps.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

New model Monday. A #hornby #tt120 #britishrail class 37. It's currently having the sound profile uploaded to its #dcc decoder. The detail level wouldn't be considered poor on a bigger OO #modeltrain

A close up of the number 2 end of a Hornby TT scale class "split box" class 37 in British Rail blue livery

A three quarter view of a Hornby TT scale class 37 in British Rail blue livery.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I was really pleased to catch an ex- #DB 614 in action at Dulowa on Wednesday. I suspect that the Cargounit loco on a #PKP #Intercity was a rare sighting too. #trains #railways

SKPL Shortlines 614 054 in a three quarter view with trees either side of the railway.

A black Cargounit Vectron hauling PKP InterCity coaches approaches a level crossing. The line has trees on both sides.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I think I can be pleased with the result of chasing a #train today. #vlaky #eisenbahn

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

That's about my favourite version of a V100 West, the ocean blue and ivory being a classy livery with the red of the logo giving a little contrast.

030

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Whether East or West, a V100 is a multi-purpose loco. Good for anything other than express passenger ... rough the last booked passenger turns of West German V100s was IC through coaches to Emden Aussenhafen!

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

They're prone to the contacts point between bogies and PCB getting dirty, and the commutator builds up carbon during slow running.

010

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I haven't got any exhibition bookings at present. I ought to submit an article about it to Continental Modeller to gain some!

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

A rare moment as all of my first generation #Roco #tt120 #spurtt V100s are working. Roco redesigned the chassis after I'd bought all these #modeltrains #modellbahn

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Yeah, I'm steadily upgrading my traction. I started with shunters but these V100s are particularly temperamental so came next. Unfortunately I've now reached the point where every decoder that supports it has one fitted, further upgrades come at higher expense. My Ferkeltaxe will definitely get one.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Another #DCC stay alive added, this time to a #Roco #tt120 #spurtt V100. Needed in these owing to poor pickup reliability, Roco have redesigned the internals since I bought my ones. #modelrailway #modellbahn

The internals of a Roco TT BR202. Under one bonnet is the decoder, under the other sits two capacitors and a charging circuit.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I have an Uhlenbrock DAISY II and a WLAN MultiMaus. I much prefer driving with them to using a touchscreen. The DAISY is great for shunting as I can control a loco and eight points without switching screens.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Both valid, and some with all capital letters too.

020

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

#DCC stay alive in a #Piko #tt120 #spurtt V60. The capacitors fit perfectly in the speaker space. Decoder and stay alive from Train-o-matic. #modelrailway #modellbahn

The internals of a loco, stay alive capacitors on the with the red charging circuit roughly central and the decoder on the right.

A loco held in a hand, its lights lit up to demonstrate the stay alive in action

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It's a bit bloody small on the screen, but I've managed to get Railcom ID reporting set up on the fiddle yard before Calne #modelrailway exhibition. #dcc

A loco occupying one of eight tracks on a Z21 app screen

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

The lawn of the flats has come out a bit bright, but it'll have to do for now. Calne #modelrailway exhibition in two weeks, I have other fish to fry. #tt120 #spurtt #modellbahn

Model railway tracks curve round two three-storey buildings. Most of the grass is unkempt and yellowing, but the grass around one of the buildings is a much brighter green and neatly trimmed.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Just the ticket for my loading siding. #tt120 #spurtt Weimar T174 grab loader by Busch. A nice new toy for my #modelrailway #modellbahn

A blue four wheeled grab loader on some concrete segment road in front out of focus railway tracks.

070

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Plugging away at one of the corner boards. I've added hoses for the oil siding, and ignored all zoning considerations by filling a space with a block of flats. Making the ground outside the hedges scrubbier is the next stage. #modelrailway #modellbahn #spurtt #tt120

Foreground an oil siding with pipes and hoses. Chain link fence separates this from a running line. Behind the railway is a block of flats surrounded by a hedge.

081

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

CrossCountry took over from Virgin Trains nearly 20 years ago... It fits the bill as "a bit more modern", but how old it actually is makes me realise how old I am...

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Reposted by @taigatrommel.bsky.social

BP-TETSU @bp-tetsu.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

最近Ｚゲージの投稿が多いのでたまにはNゲージのジオラマでも…😅www #鉄道ジオラマ #鉄道模型 #Nゲージ

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The visually uninteresting side of #modelrailways as I fit point servos on fiddle yard throat v2.

Servos in MERG mounts await a controller

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

No ready to run on Alan Monk's Vale of Rheidol #modelrailway "Mynydd y Ddraig".

A British rail blue narrow gauge tank engine on a model railway

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I've assembled and mounted this console from Grainge & Hodder to act as my #modelrailway control panel. I'll have to adapt it a bit so there's room for a coffee cup. #modellbahn #tt120 #spurtt #dcc

A model railway control desk bolted on to the side of a baseboard with a row of trees at the back. An iPad with the Z21 app running is on one side, while on the other is a router sat on top of a Z21.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

maps.app.goo.gl/C1xTwLjdd3Rq... Nordhalben may be the perfect BLT. 2m in TT, 2.75m in H0, 1.5m in N, and all the buildings available as kits from MBZ. The only reason I haven't modelled it is that it's not ex-DDR.

010

taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

"No visible progress" says I. What's a blooming 90cm extension in the middle of the station and a bunch of under construction trees then? #spurtt #tt120 #modelrailway #modellbahn

An under construction model railway littered with tools and part made trees.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I wouldn't want to stable anything there when the fire's going!

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I have been creeping along with layout progress, nothing feels very visible but as I'm drawing a track plan for a show guide I thought I'd post it. #spurtt #tt120 #modelrailway #modellbahn

The track plan for a model railway. A passing station with three sidings.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Bad Horn had its exhibition debut last week. I broke my controller, half the fiddle yard was out of use and the layout is unfinished. It was a good day. #modeltrains #tt120 #spurtt #modellbahn #dcc #piko #roco #tillig #peco

Two trains in a model station. A DB BR 228 hauls green Rekowagens, while a BR 201 hauls a mixed freight.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Shown here with a #Hornby MK3 TGS to illustrate what I've designed it to match.

A comparison of a 3D printed corridor connection on a Hornby HST power car to the one on a MK3 trailer vehicle.

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taigatrommel.bsky.social @taigatrommel.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

I've only seen a few examples of flexible connections, mostly on US HO stock where the design of the connection itself allows miniaturisation of the springing mechanism. The tradition in the UK is to make a concertina from folded card.

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