Hi there,

I too have recently got a model of 2818 and I was wondering if you could describe to me any key areas where I need to take special care installing decoder. What type of Hornby decoder did you use? Is is the standard one?

Interesting that you mention the colour of the regulator. You'll find that the reversing lever is also silver. Presumably both are intended to represent polished steel. This was something I missed when I wrote up the oddities of this model and its potential for modification in my blog. As I said there

The first thing to realise about this model is that it represents the preserved example in the NRM. In other words, it is a cleaned up and repainted version of the loco that was withdrawn in October 1963. It was the sole survivor with the early square stepped, rather than curved, footplate and inside steam pipes when all others had been either scrapped or converted to use the later smokebox saddle castings and outside steam pipes. Whilst this gives it a certain 'antique' appearance, it must be remembered that this is really the loco that was shown in an Swindon ex-works photo in 1957 and so incorporates many other modifications made since its original build in December 1905.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to the NRM for a while, and don't have a cab photo of 2818 in its current condition, so can't say whether the regulator or reversing lever colour is 'correct' in terms of the preserved engine.

What I don't know is when the practice of painting certain cab controls in red was introduced. Many early photos look more like polished steel to me. Does anyone know?

Nick

Hi there,I too have recently got a model of 2818 and I was wondering if you could describe to me any key areas where I need to take special care installing decoder. What type of Hornby decoder did you use? Is is the standard one?

I used a standard Hornby 4-function one. A bit of overkill for steam by hey ho. One word of warning, don't use the insulating sleeve that comes with he loco, it doesn't fit in the slot! I put a single wrap of insulting tape around the chip and then another to hold the purple lead. The only other thing to watch is that the socket is, to my way of thinking, the wrong way around, ie the leads face outward when installed rather than inward which would make life far too easy.

Put a long load on and you can even simulate slippage, in Pete Warterman's words, "Just like the real thing!"