Jintyman

I've had all the models mentioned (except the MOK 14xx) through my hands and I've found pretty much all the RTR offerings are excellent value for money. Minerva 8750 and 57xx Panniers are a little dearer than the Dapol version, but they allow for more of the slight alterations within the class, such as tool box positions, top feed or not, footplate vacuum pipe run positions, and a lot of the other minor differences. as for sound, maybe playing around with different sound files may help in achieving certain sounds you prefer. Here is a Lionheart 74xx fitted with a Zimo MX644D and a Collett 2251 sound project from YouChoos. It has (IMO) a much richer bark, and I had a 2W 8ohm cube bass reflex speaker to hand, which I cut down to fit in the space under the chimney and re-added the small reflex tube to maintain the sound quality. A bit of a fiddle, but #I think it was worth it. I'm busy fitting out 3 Dapol 14xx's with sounds, two are for one individual, so I am going to make the sounds slightly different in each one somehow. The Dapol 14xx is, again in my opinion, one of the best RTR locos out there. The innovative decoder fitting slide out PCB is a hoot. I do adapt it a little to get a twin speaker on a 3D printed enclosure in and a decent stay alive as well. Good luck with the layout. Stay safe all Jinty Sorry forgot to add a couple of pictures of the new Dapol 14xx's.

Without a doubt it would the the Paul Chetter protodrive sound project through Digitrains and would need to be loaded onto a Zimo MX644D sound decoder. Jeremy at Digitrains does some excellent 3D printed speakers and a very good stay alive too!!! Jinty

I've fitted sound to many many Heljan locos, and have never had much luck with the roof fan. They either make a noise from the beginning or start quietly but within a short period of operation, they become noisy. Not sure if it's anything to do with the signal from the decoder causing interference or not, but I just don't bother now. As for speakers, I am currently fitting quite a few Heljan 37/4's with sound and I'm actually using the tanks as the speaker chamber. I'm also fitting a reflex tube between the speaker chamber (tanks) and the inside of the body. This creates a Bass Reflex speaker in essence, and the deep tones are much more crisper, as I'm sure Andy will vouch for after hearing the class 37/4 I took to our meet up. Also Andy's two 'Rat's' have been fitted with two Bass reflex speakers mounted on pedestals facing down over the gear towers, allowing the sound to come out through the bogie apertures. This gives a nice crisp sound, again, I'm sure Andy will comment with his view on this. Jinty

I know exactly how you feel Peter, Talyllyn is going the same way, I need more room and operationally it would be difficult. Good luck with the changes. Jinty

Hi all, I'm looking for somewhere where I can see a list of which 08's were painted into Intercity livery. In particular I'm looking for one which had a standard IC livery with no name, or even one that ran for a while with no name. Rats, 37's and 47's have their own sites, 08's seem not to. Thanks in advance Jinty

Hi John, Thank you for your kind words. As for the ESU problem I'm not going to be much help as I switched to all Zimo a long time ago. I do believe though that the ESU decoders from the V4 onwards have an 'Autotune' feature which may help the running characteristics for your J39. Google ESU Autotune, or put it into the search box on here and see if anything comes up. I know I've read about it on here somewhere. Regards Jinty

A few class 37/4's have traveled over the WB this last few weeks. You've seen 412 above, and you've seen 413 above. 413 unfortunately was wrong. The nose grilles should of been the darker grey, so I've now corrected that as shown below: Next up is 37426 "Vale of Rheidol" in BR Large Logo Blue livery. Next is 37403 "Ben Cruachan" in BR Heritage Green Livery. And finally, the best livery of all, 37421 "The Kingsman" in Regional Railways Livery. That's all for now Jinty

Class 37/4, 37421 "The Kingsman" in Regional Railways Livery. Jinty

Well you got that wrong, you used the word TELL instead of INSTRUCT!!! Only kidding, but it is only 2 or 3 foot (short of the bottom of the garden!!!). Jinty

Garden, garden, garden!!!!! even if it's only 2 or 3 foot!!! Jinty

Well I won't bore you all with another set of RFD 37/4 pictures, suffice it to say that 413 is finished now, and here is one picture. But also here is a video I did of her on test on Talyllyn Junction. Jinty

Another RFD 37, this time 413.............................. Jinty

37412 in RFD in StBlazey days Jinty

Thanks Andy. Ok, the finished article........... Heljan Class 37/4, Finished as 37412 in Railfreight Distribution Sector Livery as she was whilst working the China Clay trains. I've added the extra WR lamp iron at each end next to the headcode box. She is also fitted with a Zimo MX696KS loaded with a Paul Chetter Activedrive sound project. I've fitted two 3w 4ohm speakers wired in series inside the fuel tanks. The fuel tanks are sealed and a short 4mm diameter pipe utilised as a reflex tube. I've weathered this as an 'In Use' locomotive for a customer and will be on its way home later this week. Here are a few pictures: I've got her sister 413 waiting in the wings as well. Jinty

Here's one of the Heljan 37/4's finished as 37412 in Railfreight Distribution Sector livery. Extra Western reigion lamp brackets fitted to the side of the headcode box, as it was when working the china clay traffic. This one's been done alongside its sister 413. Short video to test the sound project. Just awaiting weathering now...... I'll post some more pictures when the weathering is complete. Jinty

Paul, You should find on the Zimo MX645R that there is a live volume function on F27 Volume down and F28 Volume up. As for the extra chuffs F26 according to the chart supplied above, is Shunt Mode which may give you what you require. If that isn't what you want to achieve, than Pauliebanger is your man. Jinty

That's looking good George. Yes we must have a get together soon, life can get in the way a bit sometimes!!! Jinty

Totally agree George, for a start the holes for the handrails are 'drainpipe' size, you may find it easier at this stage to solder some brass behind and re-drill 0.7mm holes to suit the correct handrail size!!! The ploughs are the other pain, bit by bit is the best way!!! Love the T9, looking very good George. Jinty

Peartree wheels Simon, not like Slaters, somewhat more difficult to do that with. I have some ideas for some low friction sprung pick-ups anyway. Thanks all the same. To the next room from the garage and eventually to the bottom of the garden to the shed!!! Jinty

Not a lot been going on due to summer stuff and recently car trouble in bucket loads!!!! Anyway here is the Gladiator Ex LNWR M52 Driving Trailer with a coat of paint on. LMS Crimson Lake and awaiting the weathering stick. I haven't painted the bogies yet as I've been trying to fathom what to do about DCC lighting of the coach. The lamp is a YouChoos bi-color unit which is white/red and this will work in conjunction with the Jinty loco. The driving cabin and the saloon all have lighting fitted, one glowing warm white over each compartment. My dilemma was, do I run the wiring to the Jintiy's decoder via a plug, or do I give the coach it's own pick-ups and it's own decoder? I have now decided to give the coach its own pick-ups and decoder and will run the Jinty and the coach with the same DCC running number so that they work in harmony with each other. This decision was pretty much made for me by the Dapol Jinty not having adequate space for a 5-pin plug/socket under the rear buffer beam. Anyway a couple of pictures, unfortunatley the light had faded so it all looks a bit darker than it is in the real world. Now to fit the bogies with pick-ups!!! Jinty

The 25/3 is the one I did They both look great together. Jinty

Yes Hal Nail is quite correct, early 50's till the 70's I believe. There aren't many around at the box shifters, but they can be found on Ebay and the Facebook groups. They are also short of a little piece of pipework at one end which can be purchased from MM1 models (Ex JLTRT) Here is a link: https://mm1models.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=108_117&product_id=557 Craig (Muddy'sblues) was selling a couple of there style of tanks but in another livery and including the Ex JLTRT pipes. Might be worth asking the question! Jinty

Here is a little example of the AK products on a Heljan tanker. You can clearly see the sheen after drying. I'd put a bit of preshadi g on with fhe airbrush before hand touching up various bits around the vehicle. Please excuse the artificual light in the Phone photograph, it had gone dark so in the garage under LED's I'm afraid Jinty

Try AK Interactive Fuel Stains, it may need a number of coats and a little bit of pre-shading with a darker wash, but it gives a sheen like appearance when dry. Another one is the AK Engine Grime. They are both enamel washes and can be thinned more and worked with white spirit. Jinty

The Zimo decoders pretty much all have active braking now on F2 As you let off the throttle (either drop it a few speed steps or back to zero) I have set the coasting to quite high, so effectively increasing the effect. This allows the loco to 'coast' and by pressing F2 the brake is applied. The longer you press F2, the more severe the application. Live volume control is on F27 to decrease volume and F28 to increase volume. I'm not sure on the NCE Powercab how you get these particular functions. Hope that helps Jinty