rencar12

RAF96 - Thanks for your reply on the Hornby Forums. I didn't want to post a link to a rival product, but please could you confirm if this would be suitable: https://www.Dapol.co.uk/collections/imperium-decoders/products/imperium-1-21-pin-6-function-decoder?variant=43341526597855 There seemed to be an Imperium7 and I couldn't see what the difference was! Thanks

Many thanks for that. Was it difficult to get the bodyshell off to fit the decoder? I have a couple of spare R8249 Hornby DCC decoders, so hopefully they'll be room to fit one.

What were your decoration concerns about the R3473? The price from Kernow is very good - does it definitely have lighting front and back? The last Class 56 I had, ran quite roughly and had a model driver in the cab. I think these were the much older design class 56? Thanks

Thanks for the feedback about fitting the DCC decoder. I think these new Class 90's are selling very well indeed. I ended up buying myself a Freightliner and the Railfreight version - they really are a fabulous model (particularly compared to the Hornby Class 90's that I own)! I'd already ordered a specific Bachmann 36-569 Class 90 DCC chip which I fitted myself to the Freightliner model. One screw was a bit tight, but all removed and chip fitted. Working fine, along with pantograph movement up and down. Thanks to my local model shop, who kindly programmed and fitted within minutes, a new Zimo MX638D chip to the new Railfreight class 90 and again everything is working just fine with this (including lights and the pantograph movement). Considering the Zimo was only £20 and the model shop programmed and fitted it for me, I was very pleased. Could have saved money, by not buying the 36-569 chip, but never mind.

Have just ordered my new Bachmann Class 90 Freightliner. Should I be worried about this? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OLI7kDxuVY Really don't want to experience this, when trying to fit the Bachmann Class 90 decoder! Anyone else had any trouble? Incidentally I noticed that Rails of Sheffield have now gone out of stock of the decoder.

Does anyone know when the new Bachmann Class 90's and decoder are due to be available/start shipping? Thanks

I have the latest Hornby 2019 catalogue and its not in there. These part works are a series of how to get more out of the Railmaster software. Two pages per mag. The current edition of Hornby Magazine (March 2019), which I fortunately still have, is all about Railmaster Layout Design. They really are quite useful. In particular one of the parts I threw away, was about setting up Railmaster and sorting out FIrewall settings. Thanks

As a long term subscriber for many years of Hornby Magazine, whilst having a good sort out recently, I've stupidly thrown away the last two months editions (January 2019 & February 2019). As normal, I'd already removed other articles in the magazines that I wanted to keep, however, I was planning to keep the very first two pages inside each magazine, that were Part One and Part Two of a Hornby advertorial on getting the most out of the Hornby Railmaster software. Would anyone be able to help me at all? Thanks

It would be very interesting if we could see these instructions and the parts they supplied (for interest really)? I was very impressed with Hornby Customer Service and their extremely fast turnaround here in the UK. After my call to Mark at Hornby, they sent DPD to pickup (at their cost) my new R3514 complete set from home. I was initially advised to allow two weeks turnaround for repair, once they had it back. The parcel was collected Thursday afternoon. It arrived with Hornby on Friday morning. On Monday lunchtime, I received a text from DPD to say my parcel from Hornby Spares was on its way back! The paperwork accompanying the parcel, says that the bogie has been adjusted and tested. I'm guessing the 'C' shaped clear washer (as shown in an earlier post) has been added to each bogie in my set. The set now runs much better and every bogie can be turned from side to side without catching on the carriage body, which it did before. Not sure if I can see any other modifications, although lubricant I'm certain has been used across the bogies. If I lead the whole set with the dummy power car (with the power car pushing from the other end), it does derail on occasion going off on points, but the other way round is absolutely fine. Thanks Hornby for absolutely fantastic Customer Service!

I took delivery yesterday of my brand new 5 car Hornby GWR Class 800 IEP. Stunning model and looks great once I got the two decoders fitted and setup. However, it ran OK on my oval circuit, but when negotiating through standard Hornby points it would quite regularly derail. I did see another posting about the bogies having got stuck down in the polystyrene packaging, but they didn't appear to be on mine. There is a noticeable click where the bogie seems to catch on the carriage body when moved from side to side. On occasion, you can actually hear this click on curves/points. I've spoken with Hornby first thing today and all credit to them, they are arranging DPD to collect the whole boxed set tomorrow to go back for 'modification'. Up to two weeks turn round. A previous post showed a 'C' shaped washer having been added to, I guess every one of the bogies on the whole five car unit? Has this proved very successful for those who had this Hornby 'mod' done? Thanks

Can I just wholeheartedly recommend Rails of Sheffield to all fellow Forum members. In particular their fantastic Customer Service, where they've absolutely gone above and beyond many other companies I've ever dealt with. I've recently had a complete disaster with a brand new Hornby Class 08 shunter that I bought from them. The model arrived by post and I was so very careful in its handling. These models are superbly detailed, but are so very difficult to handle without damaging them. Trying to get the model out of the box was the first challenge, despite the newer style packaging! Then the supposed simple removal of a couple of plastic tanks and some screws to open the body shell to fit a decoder, was anything but. I've fitted a decoder to a Class 09 before, which was fiddly, but this was ridiculous. It was as though the shell and chassis had been literally glued or sandwiched together. Three hours spent with no movement! It literally broke in the process of trying to remove the bodyshell from the chassis, despite only using proper slim plastic pry tools. Eventually, I was left with a broken coupling rod and bent wheel contacts. The yellow coupling rods are also not available for some reason to buy as a part either. I was ready to give in and bin the loco and just forget the whole experience. After a telephone call with them, my thanks go to Adam in the shop (who suggested returning the model for investigation). Adam suggested something didn't seem right if the model had been so difficult to open. Back the loco went by post to Rails. Rails have helped me out all the way, eventually replacing my shunter with an identical brand new one (fitted with a decoder as well). I would also recommend the Rails DCC fitting service and would say to anyone wanting to get a Hornby Class 08 apart (for decoder fitting anyway), to spend the extra money and use their fitting service as well! Thanks also to Ben, who dealt with the paperwork and shipment very promptly. Previous purchases, have been delivered quicker than others and their prices are very good. I for one, will be continuing to use Rails as my first choice when I need any more model railway kit. Cheers Rails of Sheffield

After returning my boxed Class 31 model to Hornby Service, three weeks later, I have now received a letter back from Hornby with a £100 discount code to be used on their website. I didn't have the original receipt after all this time. Thanks again Hornby. I can't think of any other company I have ever dealt with that responds in this way so many years on. Even car manufacturers reject claims after this long even if it is an original manufacturing problem.

I was absolutely devastated yesterday when I discovered a great split in one end of the outer shell of my Class 31 loco (R2421). There was also a small split at the other end of the shell. I decided to remove the 4 screws to investigate further, but the shell wouldn't seem to budge. In the process of removal, both bogie ends on the chassis literally snapped apart and the top outer shell screw holes also came away. The whole loco appears ruined and there is a strange black sticky substance near the fractures of the metal as well. I stumbled across this forum after speaking with Hornby Customer Care, who have advised me to box my loco up and return it to them for repair! I was relieved to know I wasn't alone. Good on Hornby for supporting their customers some years after purchase. I will get it posted and just wait and see what happens?