Damo666

Oh good grief! The coin on the front takes it to a whole new level. At least it's HO gauge and not OO like us serious modellers. 😀 "Only available from The Bradford Exchange - you won't find this edition anywhere else". You mean it's not stocked by Rails, TMC, Widnes? How disappointing. Maybe there'll be a layout at Model World Live next weekend where I can see it before committing myself (to the asylum).

Same company (The Bradford Exchange) and telephone number as the watch. Wonder what else they'll be offering?

Thanks Ray, I thought I had replied to you last night before I headed off for the week on work. I'll try what you've suggested but will also swap the (potentially) errant RoS decoder with another loco which also has the same type of RoS chip and see what happens. If the decoder affects the other loco, then I'll know its the decoder. If the swapped decoder affects my MM CIE loco, then it's a loco problem. I'll tackle this at the weekend and will report back.

I’ve been adding some DCC decoders to a few of my locos over the weekend. Mainly using Rails of Sheffield 21 pin decoders as I had 4 spare. Type: Rails Direct RoS-218, which I understand has its basis as a DCC Concepts Zen Z218 chip, of which I also have a few already installed in other locos. Last loco and last decoder this afternoon was a Murphy Models (MM0088) CIE Loco I got from Hattons new. Loco runs fine both directions on analogue. I put in a new Rails decoder RoS-218 and loco ran well in one direction, Forward I think. Changed directions and as soon as the loco slowed down to go into reverse the loco stopped and my NCE PowerCab did a reset. At first I hadn’t spotted the PowerCab reset, so when through the same routine, Forward was OK, but as soon as it went in the opposite direction (not when I sent the command, but when it slowed to a stop and then changed direction) it stopped. I put in a spare DCC Concepts Zen Z218 and the loco ran fine in both directions. Returned the Rails ROS-218 and PowerCab reset again. Where should I start looking at where the problem is, Decoder or Loco?

Hi Keith, Have you tried NoScript as an add-on / extension? It’s a bit of a faff initially, as it blocks a lot of scripts on pages, and you have to selectively ‘allow’ each script access (either on a permanent basis which will allow it on all websites in the future, or on a temporary basis, which is just for that browsing session. The next time you fire up your browser that particular script will be blocked again). I really like the extension, been using it for a few years. As a head’s up, you’ll initially find that a lot of pages won’t load fully, and can be a slight inconvenience when making payments, but it will learn as you use it. It is amazing how many scripts there are on website, gathering who-knows-what. I like taking some control back on what my PC sends to 3rd parties. I’m not sure if NoScript will be the solution to this problem, but it might be worth a look.

When I did this a couple of years ago I had to refer to a YouTube video. I thought it was Charlie at Chadwick, but I cannot find that video now. I remember the presenter saying that they had to cut a little out of the cab, between the cab and loco body, to fit the decoder and it wouldn't be noticeable. This is what I ended up doing. My google search for the elusive video came up with this alternative: https://www.cvmrc.co.uk/fitting-dcc-decoders-in-08-shunters.html This isn’t the Chadwick video I was looking for, as I had to fit an 8pin chip on a small wiring loom, but if you have a 21 pin loco, then this is the one for you. It’s also a lot easier.

Hi Charlie, In quoting me in your post, where did I say that ESU decoders were inferior? My limited knowledge of decoders would suggest they are anything but.

Hello Ron, I've installed the Bachmann 36-569A decoder to my Bachmann 90041 loco, and am adding it to my JMRI Roster. JMRI detects it as a ZIMO but offers 5 possible models: MX634 Version 40+ MX634C Version 40+ MX634D Version 40+ MX634F Version 40+ MX634R Version 40+ Would you (or anyone else) know which one is the most suitable candidate? Or does it matter? Many thanks D

Looking to add my 56049 to the JMRI Roster, DecoderPro autodetects lots of ESU chips. Narrowing it down to LokSound v, as the manual states, there are still 13 variants to choose from. Would I be right in that the ESU sound chip (factory install) is the LoKSound 5 DCC, as opposed to basic 5 or 5 L 5 L DCC 5 XL 5Fx, or 5 MKL? I'm aware that Cavalex had added some additional functionality, I'm not sure if therefore they have used a variant of the v5. Thanks D

I'm going to have to look more closely at the supporting ribs under my fiddle yard

At Waterloo lunchtime I saw this 4 car SWR in the old BR Blue livery attached to a 4 car in their previous livery. Got off at Twickenham and grabbed a few more pics.

Hi Andy, I’ve noticed this trend too, especially with the younger 15 second attention span generation. I rent accommodation to two individuals, one is a young mid 20 year old lad, a primary school teacher. Nice enough chap, but never thanks you or has time to even acknowledge your presence. I gave both lodgers a small gift at Christmas, got a ‘thank you’ message from one, but not the teacher, even though I see him every week. In previous years, others who rented of similar age would text me a question on where they might find a dentist ASAP, or other request for information. I would always try to give a comprehensive reply but rarely receive an acknowledgement, never mind a thanks. I believe it is the TikTok / YouTube Shorts generation, if it’s more than 15 seconds long they lose interest and swipe. Don’t have time for social interaction (or manners it seems). Regrettably I even recognise this condition in my teenage daughter, who tells me I explain too much when she asks a question, normally interrupting me before I’ve even finished the sentence.

I remember coming from Ireland to London for a holiday in my late teens with a friend and going to this! Thanks for the memories.

Regardless of who I voted for, what’s fascinating for me in reading the results is the discovery of new layouts and suppliers. Work takes up too much of my time such that, when I visit RMWeb, I tend to dip in and out and don’t see a lot of the excellent work by others. I visit the familiar and then leave, no time for exploratory browsing. From the results, I will now explore Making Tracks 3 (What an incredible picture in the OP, I wondered if it was a photoshop station and model loco, only thing that gave the loco away was the glazing, otherwise I would have been convinced it was prototype). Also will look at some new (to me) suppliers, like Scale Model Scenery.

What scale is OOS? I didn't see that option. 😁

Well..... who tested the changes? Unless I'm doing something wrong or illogical, I'm seeing the exact same problem. Screenshot taken a few moments ago, selecting just Era 9 this time.

I think Rails said they won't be undertaking a Trunk system. Pity, as I found that very useful, being able to buy lots of small items (not in any hurry) and then get them post free. Hatton’s Trunk was the main reason I used them more than anyone else over the last few years.

And if Irish the two missing letters would be an e and c.

I do worry that you've tagged my post 'Informative/Useful' 😀

Idiots! Ladder on a scaffold tower will create an outward force at the bottom of the ladder, which is at the top of the tower, so there will obviously be a rotational force.

Hi Phil, I commend you for such an ergonomic handset. Not just that it neatly fits in your palm but also that the control wheel is easily used by left and right-handed people. Did you say you were a product designer in another life? I could never fathom why anyone would produce such an unsightly block as the DigiTrax DT402 (to me it looks like one of my projects from a 1970’s Everyday Electronics magazine home project), and the new Bachmann Kinesis hand unit is just dog-ugly. (No offence to any dogs). Seriously, have the designers got no aesthetic or practical usage skills? It like someone said to them “Look at what Apple designs and do the opposite”. (PS: I’m not an Apple fanboy, very much PC and Android at the moment). Pity its just vapourware, hope someone pick up the phone to you to progress the concept.

Maybe the model shop was just a cover.

Cookham High Street.

Close.

Will I put you out of your misery, or leave it until after the Rugby?