Sun Street

Ask modelU.

If I recall correctly, A previous offering on this film was done using a lowmac, toad, etc and an 0-4-2t. Airfix, I think So has H prior rights held within their organisation? They can certainly expand the loco range easily for additional loco stock. Could be wrong, and expect to be corrected, so....................

I do not see a work-around, or significant comment about the loco, just discussion of how to source a sound decoder, and upgrade the speakers. Also, the thread title is no longer relevant as they are delivered, not just announced.

It has absolutely lived up to my expectations! Thank you Rails! As Buchshee is due to go to Gaydon Motor Museum on 30/31 October, I asked if the delivery could be expedited, it was superbly delivered on Monday, sadly I could not get to Milton Keynes 1 Sound is exceptional, and is appropriate from what I recall of seeing the real thing at Challow ,probably running on the stops - the image has never gone away. 2 Finish is superb, mine's black and silver. there is no overspray anywhere. 3 Performance seems very good, but a full test or running-in has not yet been possible [see below]. 4 My test track, built for most eventualities is second radius, the loco will definitely not run on such a tight radius, so........, let's see what happens when my new extension to Buchshee is completed. 5 The only gripe that I have concerns the whistles. Both were damaged when the loco arrived, an attempt to glue them failed, so.... What to do? I am not that churlish as to send it back when a cure is within my skill base. A ferret around showed that an old Hornby Thomas's safety valves were near enough identical, so out came the pliers and pin drill. Because of the roof angle, the hole was started at 45degrees to gain a purchase, then corrected to vertical. Tweezers and a dab of superglue finished the job off nicely. They are far more robust and appropriate for exhibition rough-and-tumble.

Thanks Jonathan, That's a relief, I've just changed my construction medium necessitating an almost full rebuild. Pete

missed words

Hi Phil, Recycled item? I enjoyed eating the cake and l managed to lick off the jam, so that's my box sourced [not sauced].. ....... What is the specific closing date please? At this moment, l need a week to complete, hopefully. Rusty

The booklets issue is typical of the Black Label product support. I have the distinct impression that Dapol want Black Label to bury itself. I must have had one of the last booklets, as a kind office lady found one in the back of a cupboard and posted it to me, having first said that there were none left. The water tower farrago and signals again typify their approach of insufficient product research and development. Pity. I am planning to fit a modern decoder into my loco, getting rid of a lot of junk within the unit, a Hornby would do it, with relays to protect function circuits from the smoke units' current draw. I would do the same to other premium decoders, as a precaution. Or, can someone think of a better way? Please? Still stuck for heater elements as the model has been on the back burner [no pun intended] for a while. TTFN Pete

Suppose I'd better dust off the old unfinished project then. Also, use the lathe and get my A4 mended.

Hi there, I am still looking, but with no urgency as the competition that put me against the clock has closed. I am now looking into an improved solution. I will keep others informed, but don't hold your breath, please.

autocoach Agreed But when the ideal unit is available without buying other parts and mix'n'matching them, why do it? And yes, I do mix'n' match when l want something that is not available. So many people over here seem to think that once past Kadee #5, the rest is black magic. You're lucky over there, simple postage etc. and no export/import complications. Unlike us, we have to rely on sporadic supplies, but I am trying a new supplier. lt's looking good.

A further thought, with regard to Kadees. Have a look at #178 scale-head whisker coupler. They have a narrower gearbox and a scale head, mounting in the same manner as a #5. the downside is that the gearbox is moulded in a nylon[-ish] plastic, so a sharp knock in transit can dislodge a superglued mount, if screws are not used [l don't]. If l have a joint fail, l then do the re-fit using the good old stand-by - UHU. I use superglue first though, as this creates a superb mounting face for the repair. Me? I am standardising on #178 for general use, cosmetically far more satisfying, and they work well with other Kadees. Obviously every case is judged on merit, and the most appropriate is used, including the European types #17 to #20.

The Kadee is the coupling of my choice, too. My layout is Buchshee, that has been on the exhibition circuit for many years. Over the winter, it has been re-wired [for DCC operation] and re-laid with Peco code 75 and have no problems without the match-truck. My test-track [a figure of 8] is Hornby Setrack [2nd rad.], deliberately chosen to really test out any locos that have been in for repair. In the track plan, the crossing is a dead-frog item, the points also are Setrack [with no continuity clips], the Ruston deals with all of it with equanimity, except at very very low speed on DC, but just ignores any issues with a DCCconcepts Zen Black mini decoder fitted.

Iirc correctly, the Oxford tooling allowed for the vast majority of variants in their tooling suite. Now that there is a link between Oxford and Hornby, then maybe, just maybe there will be an appropriate correct range of coaches progressively developed, albeit some having to be compromised in the name of production economies. As said previously on this site, there are detail nit-pickers that will deride the product, yet have no intention of buying. If the manufacturers are not supported by purchases, then they will not support us. Me? I'm building the HSDT prototype between other projects, everytime that l go back to it, l find my standards are higher than before and have to re-engineer what as been done or compromises reduced. And boy! Are there differences!!!

A comment on light bleed. ''Borrow'' some cooking foil from the domestic authorities and carefully glue it in position as required. I never faff painting the interiors of my bulidings or stock. Also, want to change the colour of your led's? Get the transparent film off Quality Street and use it as as they do in theatres and film sets, try 2 layers as well for some intersting effects, usually for shop interiors. The gold toffee wrapper is very useful, so is the toffee !!!

With regard to lighting. Remember operating protocols were different in various eras, as was the intensity of light emanating from the interior. Basically, if it's steam-hauled then coach lighting would often be turned on only for tunnels to preserve the batteries for use at night. No shore-lighting in those days, modern lighting presumes a feed from the air-con/heater power circuits to perform. Cab lights are rarely turned on at night, so as to preserve night-vision away from the station. Often a driver used to use the station lighting for any paperwork as the cab lights if they worked were probably too bright. Just because it's fitted to your model does not mean that it is realistic to turn them all on. Of course, if you want to brag about what is fitted then do turn'em on, but expect criticism from others, particularly where cab-lights and tail-lights on locos are concerned. What brought me here today is wiring Heljan railcar lighting in their earlier 4-wheel railcars. I wondered if anyone has looked into this issue? Their wiring [imho] is atrocious.

34C sorrynameistoolong , polybear Many thanks for the advice and contacts. I shall follow up after Christmas now. Merry Christmas to one, and all. Pete

polybear, Many thanks for your input. I am now in conversation with Dapol at their request regarding the service levels given. Anyone else's experiences wll help us get better service. With regard to using Seuthe spares, it's a possibility, but the unit is bespoke, with 2 fans, 2 smoke chambers, one being for the cylinder exhaust, the other for the whistle. a system that is very effective when working. As you say, it did not come cheap and l do indeed expect better product support. It does not matter a product's price, a decent evel of support is to be expected. Would you buy a car with no spares back-up? The Japanese in the 70s had cars designated as ''showroom queens'', which were robbed of spares as a source to give fast service to the customer, the spares being air-freighted out, generally within 72 hours and refitted to the dealer's car. A pity that no Black Labels were treated thus.................................. The smoke unit was made somewhere, with components made elsewhere, that source would be so helpful, and it may be that this will be divulged. Sadly Christmas has intervened. Have a good one, one and all. Pete aka Mister Rusty

Many thanks for the above advice. There are issues as to why I cannot get my old unit back, including the length of time since the repair was effected 12months+ ago. The exchange unit was placed into storage until last week. When tested before storage, its smoke output was noted to be poor, and thought to be a blocked passage, or insufficient time to heat up. My mistake, l trusted the service engineers. The fault was found when the loco was dis-assembled to effect a repair. Yesterday,I spoke initially to Dapol's service agents who told me outright lies that l knew to be incorrect. I then telephoned Dapol for their view on what had been said, and this confirmed the lies. So, in the short term, l have no working smoke unit and need the loco for a demonstration in the New Year, which has been built around its full functions being in working order. This means a diy repair, which is within my capabilities if only the parts source can be found. Any help with parts will be gratefully received. In the long term, having spent 50 years involved in warranty matters, both physically inspecting parts, procedures and operations on various items from heavy earthmovers to models and also various manufacturing processes I intend in seeing this through for the benefit of all of us. The service agent is known to us all, and locally, few modellers cite satisfactory service from them. I do not hold Dapol responsible for their service agent's actions. The original fault? 2 of 9 broken wires between the loco and tender. In my view, a fault that does not warrant an exchange of units. At the time, l did not have a wiring diagramme, since acquired. If this had been readily supplied, then l would still have my original unit. Merry Christmas, one and all. Pete

Looking for help sourcing a pair of heating elements for the above locomotive. Any ideas? PLEASE? A complete unit could be acceptable. I know, l know, hen's teeth are more common, but................ Any advice gratefully received. Dapol's service agent unlikely to help after their attitude to enquiries re: spares at the N.E.C. This is not the model that l bought, it is an exchange one from them after mine went in for repair. Loco has only been used for less than 5 minutes since, and has a burnt out smoke unit when investigated as to why no smoke. Thanks in advance Pete

Yes, And they have hiked the price. When asked at Warley about the issue, we received the response, well, just send the price through in stages, you won't notice it then. Another version of crowd-funding? Enough people do, and the model goes ahead, otherwise stock purchase vouchers will be issued. DJM have gone yesterday...............................................

IIRC the Oxford tooling drawings that were released prior to the tool tests showed various slides which included the prototype catering cars, as well as flush-fitting windows and the correct roof vents,doors too, so there is hope.l spent several hours studying the tooling to ascertain if it would save me converting Jouef models. Whilst it is said that there are dimensional issues, l am yet to see them published, any offers? I have put a hold on the construction of my rake at present, but anticipate contiuing with the proje t later in the year.

By the way, are we not railway modellers,not buyers. It is a fascinating hobby, open to all, but I for one cannot afford to have such high-handed principles as being upset that a grille is wrong, or the odd millimetre is not correct. I will accept these issues as not being a collector per se, but an operator, if something looks ok from 3' then that's near enough for me. And the window rim is visible at that distance, as are the cable connectors, but much else is not. As for running solo power cars, there are plenty of precedents, more than we ever realised, thanks to t'interweb. Also, while you are counting rivets, just look at the differences in the 2 power cars after the first few months. I would think that these and our proclivity for critique are the reason for no firm production, not what they tow. Just my views, admittedly. Pete

It is not readily known, but no one's mark 3s are suitable for the prototype hsdt set unless modified. Forget roof vents, cable connection points, doors and buffers, they were flush-glazed, certainly not having a rim around them. It's a filing them off as well. Of course,they could be resin cast or 3D printed. Almost worth it for a single rake.