If you want something to fit your existing box size, then getting foam custom cut is an option. I used Potterton Pacs a few years ago.

I started making my own foam trays to fit the Westons Boxes - two trays per box using 2mm greyboard with foam glued on top. Cutting the foam and card was taking too long so I threw some cash at the problem and got the carboard trays laser cut, and likewise with the foam inserts.

In hindsight I should have found a slightly deeper box or had the card bases cut such that the models sat on the wheel tread rather than flanges as they're a little but squashed.

The foam inserts were roughly A4 in size, cut in either 7 or 10 slots depending on orientation. Cost for the foam was about £6-8 each depending on quantity. This was in 2019 though!

Start again.



Unless Johnny Cash is serving, I ain't going 

And I am human.

Very happy with mine and it runs well - although as I commented elsewhere I wish they would make one of the 4 car sets! Now I have to keep my nostalgic running sessions to Alston Branch rather than Newcastle-Carlisle 

Must admit it's one of the first models that has had me considering going over to the darkside and taking the plunge into DCC and sound - memories of the roar from the revving, coughing and spluttering of that pair of Leyland engines when catching an early morning train from Corbridge down to Blaydon - the years fall away! (But don't worry I have not made the move yet - too solidly committed to DC and I haven't the budget!).

5-pole is definitely better all things being equal, but the newer Farish 101s are not bad and their running qualities are quite smooth.

Thank you all!

Trainsporters sadly does not seem to do anything suitable for the 4l boxes (which I already have and have standardised on) and N gauge, their only N gauge product being for the 11l box. KR Multicase also do not appear to make anything to fit into 4l Really Useful Boxes.

Is this the Easyfoam to which Glen referred?

Has anyone had any experience of obtaining customised products from any of these suppliers? For consistency, I should very much like something that works in the same way as my existing 9 slot foam inserts.

Thank you all again.

Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 10:12:55 AM@kusojiji
I've checked your posts going back to last December and can find no post that's been unapproved.
Likewise I've gone back through all deleted threads to last December and cannot find anything related to an HO item. I'm not saying it didn't happen, just that I can't find it.
The Angry/Happy/Unhappy threads are for anything and are not railway (real or model) specific.
One complaint is always considered on its merits. More than one complaint can, and does, result in removal of the post/thread.
If it happens again, please ask the Mods why. We're not here as judge, jury and executioner but to maintain the family standards of the forum and, yes, apart from one I know, we are human

Hi, thanks for the follow up. I don't remember the exact wording of my post, but it was something along those lines. The post wasn't disapproved, it just had a comment made from someone about relating.

My comment this time was about comments being made about how a post was related to either the thread or the site.

Yep, people are people, I understand. If I have an issue, I'll be sure to reach out by PM.

Thanks!!!

Decent 3-pole motors are fine, I have dozens of them in my older European locos and they run perfectly smoothly. 
 
5-pole motors will usually run a little slower and smoother at slowest speeds, especially skew-wound types.

Coreless motors exhibit virtually no "cogging" and draw less current.

There are of course good quality and cheapo motors of any type. Some of the cheapest ones have simple metal brushes (not carbon) and are designed to run primarily in one direction: they wear out and break the brush "fingers" in no time (as Hornby found out with their early TT:120 motors).

I don't think the latest releases are any different to earlier batches of 101s are they?

Quote from: geofff on Yesterday at 06:46:48 PMI've seen the advert for this new model and note that it has a 3 pole motor. I know nothing about motors, but other new models (including Dapol)seem to have either a 5 pole or  a coreless motor which are claimed are an improvement on the 3 pole.

Is the new model worth buying with what I guess/perceive to be an inferior motor?

It's not quite as simple as "the more poles the better..." There are other factors including for example no of windings per pole, stright or skew-cut poles. 

All other things being equal, you'd see most difference in running quality between a 3 and 5-pole in slow speed shunting operation - not a common use for DMUs!

I have found a company that supplies similar boxes called Weston Boxes and also a company called Easy Foam that supplies to pre-cut inserts.

By marrying the two this may be a solution.

I do not know if these are the companies that John used but it perhaps is a way forward to obtain boxes at a reasonable price.

GE