Class 68 from Legomanbiffo

[charliepetty]

As you may or may not know, the DCC decoders supplied in the sound fitted Dapol Class 68s are from Legomanbiffo and have been programmed to operate all the lighting functions on this model, ANY one who has a Non Sound fitted model an needs sound, I would strongly suggest you pre-order your ESU Decoder due to high demand!!

 

Pre-Orders for collection at Glasgow Show in 10 days time is highly recommended please. NO postage will be charged IF you put in the delivery address 'COLLECTING AT GLASGOW ON FRIDAY'  or Saturday/Sunday.

 

Thank you  Charlie

[Nick G]

have been programmed to operate all the lighting functions on this model,

 

 

 

What are the different lighting functions?

[Gordonotron]

Hi Charlie, will you have some available at model rail? Tempted but would like to see it in the flesh.

[newbryford]

What are the different lighting functions?

 

From Dapol's own forum.

 

 In addition, there are multiple standards of 21-pin socket, this only effects 5 and six function decoders, if you fit one of these then it must be of the 21-pin MTC type (i.e. Loksound, TCS X suffix, Zimo D suffix) Dapol will fit a full function decoder and the factory fitted sound decoder will also operate all functions.

 

DC/Analogue operation: Out of the box the model will operate on DC with directional lighting and cab lights. The two most often used switches are accessible by un-clipping the exhaust,

DCC 2 function decoder: As DC/Analogue operation (above) but of course, lighting can be switched on/off using your DCC controller (F0).

DCC 4 function decoder: will control front/rear lights independently (useful for push-pull workings)

DCC 5 function decoder: As above, plus front halo lamps

DCC 6 function decoder: As above, plus rear halo lamps

 

Cheers,

Mick

[legomanbiffo]

Nick,

 

As you are no doubt aware, the 68's operate in a variety of different scenarios including light engine, pulling trains, propelling trains, top and tail and so on. When you start to think about how the lights operate (eg no reds next to the train, reds at the rear when propelling etc), and when the sounds should operate (eg no horns when propelling) it quickly becomes complicated trying to cater for everything. After giving it a lot of thought and trying various things out I settled upon the idea of operating modes, which greatly simplifies things for the user. There are three main modes as follows;

 

F0 light engine mode. This works exactly like any other loco. Reds and whites switch automatically, sounds all play in both directions. Halo lights can be added with F14.

 

F19 Train mode, train at #1 end. No lights next to the train. Lights st the opposite end reverse automatically when pulling or propelling. Directional sounds (eg horns) only play when loco is leading. Halo lights can be added with F14 (when loco is leading).

 

F20 Train mode, train at #2 end. As above but the other way round.

 

I will be updating my DVT Mk3 project to go at the other end, and the 68 & DVT won't need to be set up as a matched pair, just given the same address.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Bif

[Nick G]

 

Hope this helps,

 

 

 

 

Great thanks Bif, look forward to getting my chip. See you at ModelRail Scotland.  

[Nick G]

All working as it should.

[charliepetty]

PLEASE can you pre-order for the Class 68 Sound Decoder, as we it would seem will be swamped with customers.  It will make things quicker.  THANK YOU Ian & Charlie

[Gordonotron]

Will I be able to get a Loksound V4 reblown at the show?

Would also need a speaker for it?

[The Black Hat]

Nick,

 

As you are no doubt aware, the 68's operate in a variety of different scenarios including light engine, pulling trains, propelling trains, top and tail and so on. When you start to think about how the lights operate (eg no reds next to the train, reds at the rear when propelling etc), and when the sounds should operate (eg no horns when propelling) it quickly becomes complicated trying to cater for everything. After giving it a lot of thought and trying various things out I settled upon the idea of operating modes, which greatly simplifies things for the user. There are three main modes as follows;

 

F0 light engine mode. This works exactly like any other loco. Reds and whites switch automatically, sounds all play in both directions. Halo lights can be added with F14.

 

F19 Train mode, train at #1 end. No lights next to the train. Lights st the opposite end reverse automatically when pulling or propelling. Directional sounds (eg horns) only play when loco is leading. Halo lights can be added with F14 (when loco is leading).

 

F20 Train mode, train at #2 end. As above but the other way round.

 

I will be updating my DVT Mk3 project to go at the other end, and the 68 & DVT won't need to be set up as a matched pair, just given the same address.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Bif

 

Am I right in assuming that in F19 and F20 there should be no red lights working. Just white for the direction of travel, when locomotive is leading with No. 1 end in F19 and the same, vice versa, with F20.

 

Just that I think I am still getting both white and red on when these functions are used.

 

Also, is F21 supposed to be red lights on at both ends?

 

I ordered my chip in advance a few months or so ago. Could it be that there have been settings changed for chips and the engine since I bought it. I suspect not at F14 for Halo lights and F8 Drivelock are both working.

[legomanbiffo]

Gordonotron; I will be able to reblow chips at Glasgow, Nottingham & Ally Pally in the near future, not sure which show you mean. We will also have speakers available.

 

Black hat; I wonder if you have left F0 (normal lights) on when using F19 or F20? Only one of the three F19, F20 & F0 should be used at a time, to suit the train you're operating. Please come back to me if that's not it though. When used on their own, F19 and F20 should have no lights at the train end regardless of direction. F21 (parking mode) should have reds at both ends regardless of direction.

 

Bif

[Nick G]

 Could it be that there have been settings changed for chips and the engine since I bought it. I suspect not at F14 for Halo lights and F8 Drivelock are both working.

 

 

 

Switch 3 under the body needs to be in position 1. My DCC ready models had the switch set at position 2 so if you fit Bifs sound chip make sure the switch is in the correct position.

[Roy Langridge]

I see DC Kits have the Bass Reflex speaker and the Super Bass speaker listed as options for the 68. Do they both fit in the clips on the chassis? I believe Dapol have fitted a 58x22mm speaker for the sound models?

 

Thanks.

 

Roy

[The Black Hat]

Dapol / Legomanbiffo Class 68 Model and Soundchip: A review.

​Just some thoughts on the review for this latest purchase. The class 68 has a very different engine note compared to many other engines on the network. The Caterpillar powered monster with 3,600 horsepower can really shift and apply power in the real world. The model is actually no different, as it can really put its power down to the track.

 

On inspection the Dapol model looks great, even with one side of the DRS model being out of place. The access to the model being four clips to the side, makes removing the top remarkably easy and allows for quick access without any fear or compromising or risking the model. Once open, the chip can be placed into the model. Removing the two bars screwed in to place the sound chip first is what I'd suggest. I then soldered a massive super bass reflex speaker to the chip that I had ordered some weeks previously in anticipation. Placing the speaker in first and attaching the bars if needed allows the speaker to be inserted easily. The two wires from the end were gently made to seperate and go around where the decoder would be placed onto the model. Wires were taken to the other end and fastened together so that the joins were well away from the circuit board and they were wrapt in tape to prevent shorting. The decoder was then placed onto the 21 pin socket, which had its previous blanking plate removed in a way that was easier than some others, namely bachmanns which sometimes dont want to come loose. The decoder itself was then placed down onto the pins, but the size of the speaker means that it rests slightly on the speaker at an angle. It isn't by much and it has not affected the chip. I actually wrapt it up in some insulating pad that comes with Hornby engines to provide more security for it.

 

With the body back onto the engine it was time to check the settings. The engine was tested and run with no sound and then the lights and everything else was checked. Having found fault with this, I contacted Biffo, who advised Switch No. 3 needs setting at position No. 1. That way on a system restart for engine and ECoS everything has booted up into life.

 

The sounds of the class 68 are quite different. The engine note is more akin to something between a gutsy class 37 and the clean mechanical sound of the 66, with a rev akin to a Deltic. After starting straight up the engine idles away nicely. The note is immediately noticeable as different, being a new class and different power unit. The sound from the chip and speaker is very clear and accurate. The sound comes across well, particular with the extra bass from the bass reflex speaker.

 

When power is applied on a Biffo chip there are three or four different settings for departure, pending on how quickly power is applied. Lots of power, equates to more thrash, less and its a more gentle departure. With such changes in sound and performance linked to the control of the throttle, the engine is very responsive. This makes the driving ability more logical and easier to control. It also means that operating the engine can be more fun rather than needing lots of complications to make it accurate. Instead its a pleasure to drive and means that you can instead think of what its doing or how accurate you want to be. Biffos Drivelock function also makes driving and getting extra power to sound all the more fun and impressive. Excellent for short runs or over tricky point layouts where another engine would just idle over.

 

The extra functions sounds are well laid out and add extra character. Sounds that are included all are well recorded. The function sounds do sound better than previous other chips, where things like a guards whistle sounded fuzzy. Door slams also sound more like the prototype. Only the Mk. 3 coach wail, draws level with a similar function sound I have used before, which was from Bryan at Howes on his HST sound chip - but for Biffo to reach and match this standard and often on this chip exceed it says a lot. The quality of the recordings also makes this sound chip the best I have used in a model to date.

 

The extra way in which all the lighting functions can be controlled by the chip also sends realism into a whole new level. Finally a Ready to Run DCC Sound engine is released with the lighting also taken into consideration. Now the engine can be parked up on shed with red lights displayed at either end, or it can show red when on the rear of a train, with only white when working the train too. Theres no sign of lights being on like a light engine displays when hauling stock. As a result, this makes the price of the engine excellent when you consider the detail and accuracy that this model can run with, when going with accurate lights, realistic sound, excellent capture of the prototypes shape and outline, as well as good livery application.

 

A lot of this comes from Biffos sound chip which really catapults the realism and operational ability into another league. From now on the Class 68 will be the new benchmark for new diesel releases. Other manufacturers and sound chip producers have a very hard act to follow.

[Steve Brammer]

Just thought I'd let you chaps know that the first Merlin "Commercial" fit of an EM2 speaker fitted 68 with Legomanbiffo Sound has been completed and will be sent out to the customer imminently. 

 

There will be a Beast out there!

 

If the Government hear this sound fit they will attempt to License it!!

 

Cheers,

 

Steve,

 

Part of the band of reprabates known as the "Sound Team" AKA Charlie, Bif and Steve.

[MRDBLUE17]

Hi Steve,

 

Was that the EM2 in the 68 you brought to Glasgow? The sound on that was superb, the best I've heard in 4mm and the baseboard vibrated it's that incredible.

 

Thanks

Mark

[Steve Brammer]

Hello Mark,

 

It was indeed the EM2 installation. I received the 68 the day before the show and I was working till 2340. So the 68 was done at 0345 the morning of the first day of the show. Then had to drive up. From Notts.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve.

[MRDBLUE17]

Hi Everyone,

 

I got my sound decoder for the 68 at Glasgow thanks to Charlie/Bif and went for the bass reflex speaker to fit. Following a couple of tips from Charlie I have unscrewed the PCB so it can be slid along. I opted to snip a couple of notches where the screws went at the left hand end so it would fit along and secured with a couple of blobs of white tac. This allows the decoder to sit flat once plugged in. I added a bit of electrical tape underneath as normal just for extra protection. The small middle switch is slid across for DCC operation and the bass speaker soldered to the tabs on the PCB. Just thought to share in case it's of use to others. The loco is smooth, quiet and powerful and sounds great with Bifs sounds.

 

(not quite as great as Steves installation mentioned above which is outstanding in 4mm)

 

Thanks

Mark

 

[big jim]

thanks for that post MRDBLUE i was puzzling how to fit the bass reflex i got with my 68 chip, i think i'll retire to the shed in a min and have a go at that (its currenly installed with the standard speaker)

[Nick G]

thanks for that post MRDBLUE i was puzzling how to fit the bass reflex i got with my 68 chip, i think i'll retire to the shed in a min and have a go at that (its currenly installed with the standard speaker)

 

 

 

The bass reflex makes quite a difference over the normal 40 x 20.

[blanman27]

Hi Everyone,

 

I got my sound decoder for the 68 at Glasgow thanks to Charlie/Bif and went for the bass reflex speaker to fit. Following a couple of tips from Charlie I have unscrewed the PCB so it can be slid along. I opted to snip a couple of notches where the screws went at the left hand end so it would fit along and secured with a couple of blobs of white tac. This allows the decoder to sit flat once plugged in. I added a bit of electrical tape underneath as normal just for extra protection. The small middle switch is slid across for DCC operation and the bass speaker soldered to the tabs on the PCB. Just thought to share in case it's of use to others. The loco is smooth, quiet and powerful and sounds great with Bifs sounds.

 

(not quite as great as Steves installation mentioned above which is outstanding in 4mm)

 

Thanks

Mark

 

IMG_4953.JPG

Hi all

 

Just thought I'd post what I feel is an improvement to this setup in both terms of the fitting and the sound. I have the exact same configuration of decoder and speaker as this but while I am happy with the sound files by Bif I was not happy with the speaker sound, I think it's rather harsh compared to other loco's I have fitted with Zimo speakers. So I decided to take the Zimo speaker from my Bachmann class 55 and try it in the class 68. The result is not only a much improved sound (deeper and more rounded)  but it fits without having to relocate the PCB!

 

I am now super impressed by Bif's sound as I can hear much more detail than before. As a retired musician (ok I mean drummer  ) I am all too aware of how important speakers are when it comes to getting the best sound. I have another class 68 on pre-order which I had ordered pre-loaded with sound. I am now going to change my order and fit the sound myself along this this speaker.

 

 

 

Hope this is useful to you all.

 

Paul

Edited November 5, 2017 by blanman27