cravensdmufan

This series of bookazines is proving an invaluable reference source for modellers of the BR era. Descriptions and attention to detail is fantastic, as are the photographs. Printed on quality paper to keep on the bookshelf for years to come. I have now ordered this latest one, and am really looking forward to it - keep up the good work!

I purchased this product a couple of years ago having watched the manufacturers' video. It is excellent at removing all paint if you need to get back to bare plastic. However, be aware that it has different reaction times to some paints. I purchased the product basically for removing just numbers / lettering, leaving the base colour. They say on their tutorial that this is achievable by neutralising the product with IPA as soon as the number disappears (see at 3:49 on the video) . I applied it to my Heljan Class 58 but in a few seconds the black plastic of the body moulding appeared! I didn't get time to apply the IPA! I haven't used the product since. I found it much more aggressive and quick acting than advertised.

IMO never use superglue. Doesn't allow positioning adjustment and the runny stuff can ooze out if you put even the tiniest bit too much on. Then it is a devil to get off the paintwork without damage. I use good old Evo Stik impact - apply a tiny bit on a cocktail stick onto the centre of the nameplate - keeping it away from the edges and the ends. Position it on the model straight away (don't follow the manufacturers advice to wait - the tiny amount dries too quickly!). Should you happen to get a tiny bit of seepage, the almost dried glue will just roll off with no damage to the paintwork.

Glass spaghetti storage jar, for example: Glass Spaghetti Pasta Food Preserving Storage Jar - 2050ml Clip Top Kitchen 5055512084944 | eBay

Exactly Russ. Most of the projects available up till recently had annoyingly short gentle changes through the gears which are not realistic at all, obviously because they were recorded on preserved railways - maximum 25 mph!). But with Paul's and Bif's latest you can now get much longer revs between gear changes. On Paul's you even get the choice of shunting mode (F6), lightly loaded mode (F5) as alternatives to the default "normal" heavy acceleration mode. No connection with these two suppliers, just a happy customer pleased to have decent first generation sounds at last!

IMO the best (only?) two sound projects that allow for long manual gear changes are: Paul Chetter's from Digitrains (the ProtoDrive version). Legomanbiffo's Class 117/121. Even though both these projects feature lots of different sounds, many would never be heard from even a short distance outside of the train. I just use horns, flange squeal, stationery engine rev up, passenger doors slamming and platform dispatch whistle.

Absolutely agree - Personally I'd be more than happy to pay say £50 or £60 (roughly half instead, of a third of the price of a "full fat" product). So long as it has the facility to do a bit more e.g. advance consisting, remappable functions, and better control of individual sound effects. There must be a huge market for mid price decoders. Also Hornby, if you are reading this - why not invite applications for a small number of volunteer DCC sound enthusiasts to convene somewhere central UK and listen to proposed new sound projects prior to manufacture - hold separate days for steam and D&E. A sort of advisory panel. It would surely be worth your while getting enthusiast's opinion and end up with a superb product. Would only cost travelling expenses (and possibly a lunch!). I'm sure you'd get volunteers. Just a thought.....

I agree with your comments Pete. I found the most annoying thing about my TTS diesel sounds (and I have over 20!) are the relative volumes of different sounds within the project. You make a good example of the spirax valves. So too flange squeal and other sounds. Reduce any of these to minimum and they are all still too loud. Also annoying is the really loud brake release hiss when moving off, far louder than the engine volume! I find that overall sound volume is always far too loud, especially if one's layout is in a small room! Even after reducing CV182, though I have largely overcome this by wiring them with two 8ohm speakers in series. It's a real shame because for the price they are very good. Decent motor control can be achieved by fine tuning CVs. Had better care been taken with individual sound volumes, these good value decoders could have been really great value decoders – and Hornby would sell even more IMO.

I'm waiting for a 31 too. I have three TTS 31s already, but would like one more. Very good sound if combined with an upgraded speaker, IMO one of the best Class 31 sounds available.

Great photo! I remember it well, and bought stuff from there (when I'd managed to save enough pocket money and milk round money!). Would you have any other photos of 60's and 70's Romford street scenes or railways? If Gazza, you wouldn't mind you posting on here? Cheers Vivian

Superb. As someone who spent 5 years 1968 - 1973 commuting daily to and from Romford station I can honestly say you have modelled it absolutely spot on. The 307, RT and parcels van complete the scene to perfection. Vivian

For the official BR tutorial on driving first generation DMUs check out this BTF video on YouTube. It gives a good description of engine start ups and the manual gear changes etc.

OP says that it's a Bachmann model so I'd guess ESU so Charlie will help. If it's a Zimo decoder in it (but I doubt it) then Digitrains have excellent sounds for Zimo. (No connection with either organisation, just a very happy customer of both).

Definitely not. Both the Legomanbiffo 117/121 project and Digitrains Leyland DMU project are much better programmed in that you can just do a quick blip of the throttle for slow movements around the depot; on both projects you can manually change the gears for the main line. On the Digitrains one it also has a "lightly loaded" mode (F5) which gives shorter acceleration sounds going through the gear changes. Not sure if you can get your factory fitted sound decoder reblown though. If it's a ESU Loksound then Charlie would be able to advise you.

As Russ says, "1st generation" DMUs should have two engines fire up with a short pause between each. Digitrains one is spot on for that. The driver activates each separately, The new Legoman one (advertised as for the Class 117/121) needs the throttle to be increased before the second engine fires up. Strangely my Legomanbiffo Class 153 does the same - though the real Class 153 only has one engine! It may be that's it's a generic sound project that also covers Classes 150 155 156 and 158 which will have an engine in each car, but there shouldn't be such a long delay. The 153 is a nice sound, so I can live with it!

The loco looks fantastic Paul. Like 97406, I'd like to know what cable boxes you used please? I feel the ones one the Hornby 87 look a little undernourished - yours look just right! Cheers. Vivian

Three models in Rail Blue. All manufacturers have the shade spot on to my eye. I'm delighted with all three locos.

Really excellent progress Mark. I always enjoy your updates and also the videos on YT. Great inspiration. Cheers. Vivian.

F0 I'm afraid. And yes, both red lights are illuminated (brightly despite reducing the CV!) I'm going to disconnect or block off mine.

Yes the 86 has a great turn of speed. I was a little worried as my other Heljan locos (58s and 26's) are much slower but that's okay because those locos don't need high speeds anyway. You certainly won't be disappointed with the 86. I have now pre-ordered an 86/4.

Bachmann 85: 400g, scale 105mph Heljan 86: 460g, scale 112mph Hornby 87: 480g, scale 110 mph (spot on!) Bachmann 90: 480g, scale 108mph All tested and max. speed calculated with rake of 9 Bachmann coaches, using NCE Powercab DCC upgraded to 5amps. Standard ESU/Bachmann non sound decoders at present. I hope to upgrade to sound over the coming months. Hard to choose which projects as yet. All locos handled the rakes with ease - no slippage on starting off. 86, 87 and 90 all very quiet indeed. 85 just very slight motor whine but still super smooth and quiet. As gar as general performance is concerned they are all very good; but if I really had to vote I'd give Hornby's 87 best, followed very closely indeed by Heljan's 86. Top marks to all three manufacturers!

1. DEMU Showcase (layouts and trade satisfy my own modelling preference). 2. Warners Peterborough (excellent venue for a large show. Plenty of space to move about along with good catering). 3. March, Cambridgeshire (My favourite small local exhibition. So friendly).

Received my 86 036 from Derails today. I am absolutely delighted with it. Even though it ran superbly straight out the box (thanks Dan and the Derails team who routinely test locos before dispatch - excellent service) I ran it in at medium speed for an hour each direction on the rolling road. Then I temporarily fitted an old spare 21 pin ESU Lokpilot decoder prior to ordering some sound. Test train of 9 Bachmann Mk1s. Super smooth at all speeds right up to maximum of scale 112mph.* Delighted with the turn of speed as the LMR drivers used to really push these locos! Very well done Ben and the team at Heljan. It's a brilliant loco IMO. *Edit: I have a section on my layout with markers to calculate scale speed.

Major disruption on UK rail network after 'cracks found on high-speed trains' | UK News | Sky News Sorry folks can't seem to copy and paste link into here.

Meanwhile, 6 years later..... Now having the same problem with my Bachmann Class 85, so it's out with the soldering iron this afternoon. I'm more confident with the iron nowadays!