Blobrick

Hi there again adb, sorry for the slow reply, but family+xmas duties have kept me busy today Must be that time of year! Thank you for the advice, l ve spent what little spare time l ve had today looking at photos of Scottish 08s and there does seem to be quite a few with no centre lamp iron on the front radiator grill. Those with it missing seem to have the orange piping feeding a set of electric lamps on the buffer beam and one centrally on the top of the front grill. The version of the 08 l have is D3200, so l m actively seeking a photo of that loco, to see how accurate the Hornby model is. Once l ve found one l ll decide the next step from there. Thanks again you help is much appreciated! Bob C

Hi there adb, thanks for replying` so promptly. Unfortunately the lamp iron has broken off flush with the front of the grill, so cleanly in fact, its difficult to see where the end of the lamp iron actually is. I suspect the solution to this issue is similar to the method of fitting the lamp irons that came with the Heljan Westerns, where you would have to heat up the lamp iron and work it into the small opening, allowing the heat to melt the surrounding plastic. Not something for the faint hearted! Bob C

I ve just unpacked my Hornby 08 shunter from its long term storage. Upon placing the the model on the track l noticed that the front lamp iron that sits half way up the front grill, was looking a bit crooked. I gently touched the lamp iron to see if it was loose, and surprise surprise the lamp iron fell off. Seems its suffered fatigue from being put in and taken out of its packing repeatedly. Strange how such a small thing is so noticeable when missing! The reason l ve mentioned this is that l am now hopefully seeking someone who could possibly fit a new lamp iron for me. Unfortunately whilst l can see its missing, l don't think l could trust myself to attempt to replace it without making the situation worse. Does anyone know of someone or could recommend someone to undertake this task please? fingers crossed Bob C

Hi Brian Thanks for letting me know, judging from above, l don't think l ll be the only one adding to the next "Wish list poll" ! Cheers Bob C

I think as modellers living today, we are extremely lucky in the amount of rolling stock and in particular locomotives which have become available. Those of us who are old enough to remember the 60s and early 70s will all to readily remember that if you wanted to expand your loco fleet beyond the big main line types like "Lizzies" "Castles" and the like, had to resort to kit building or bashing existing models into something else. A classic example, l remember reading, was in an old Railway modeller, where an article explained how to convert a Tri-ang Lizzie into a Jubilee with little more than a junior hacksaw! I found myself musing over how far we ve come since those days and started to look for obvious well known classes that are missing from the model shop shelves Looking at the subject from a manufactures view point, l am surprised that Bachmann has not produced a 2P 4-4-0. I believe they has a suitable tender from either the existing 3F or 4F locos, it seems to be a logical step for them, as they ve covered the other major Midland locos already? The other loco that springs to mind is the B16/2, would have thought Hornby would have picked that one up? I highly suspect that a list like this one already exists within this forum, however l ve not been able to find it, so l thought it would be fun if I started my own, so please feel free to add locos you think are missing that should be available RTR. These are not one off locos but everyday bread and butter types Bob C

I ordered two early livery coaches from Liverpool, and they are fully up to expectations. Detailing is spot on and livery is beautify applied. I only wish there were more available to make up a rake. Very happy with my purchase Bob C

The non DCC version of the L&B coaches are showing in stock at Hattons this evening

Thanks Paul , l appreciated your advice

Many thanks, sounds like a method l could try! Cheers Bob C

Thanks Paul, you are right its Richard, not Roger, senior moment there l think, met him once back in 2012 ish at a show in Aylesbury, nice chap. I ve been thinking of adding another "TAW" in late L&B livery to my collection and renaming it as "YEO" so your suggestion of suitable name plates is a big help. My one reservation is mounting the plates of the model, as if not square they will spoil the look of the loco. I have offered the existing plates supplied with the models up against the printed ones and the printed ones look a little smaller then the etched plates, which is a good. Any advice on a suitable adhesive? Would a small drop of PVA do the trick? it would allow time to position the plate correctly before setting. Bob C

Not that we are in competition here Paul, but my latest delivery has arrived with even more parts detached! My sound fitted "TAW" arrived today. I lifted the box and gently gave it a shake and there was a lot of rattling to be heard. A quick look in the box revealed that not only had the smokebox door come adrift along with the PCB, but the sound chip and speaker were loose as well, in fact l thought l d been sent a DDC only model until a quick look in the boiler revealed the chip and speaker. However in a true testament to Lionheart's quality. all the components fitted back together in a matter of seconds and worked without fault. As hard as l try l can not fault these models, the running and finish are the best l ve ever seen. I hope Roger adds some goods rolling stock to his future projects list, and maybe a Lew and Lyn too? Very happy bunny Bob C

Ahh righty ho, l ll give it a go tomorrow. Fitting your own sound chips, are they better than the standard Lionheart sound fitted version?

Sounds good l ll give the PVA a whirl!! Might work on the Vacuum pipe as well if l can get that to fit into its mounting holes !! That's a struggle for tomorrow lol Cheers Paul Bob C

Ahh thanks for the advice Paul, l did try pushing the two lamp wires back as it did appear that they were springing the smokebox door outwards so l did try and adjust them so there was less tension, alas even with a piece of blue tac on the end of the PCB, it still would not stay in place or fit up fully. I ve just dropped a line to Hattons, just mentioning the minor issue, l m awaiting their reply currently. I suppose the other solution is to use a similar glue as suggested in the instruction booklet to fit the front Vacuum pipe, on the smokebox door, but l ve yet to think of a suitable glue ? Cheers Bob C

Hi Paul I had time today to take another look at my smokebox door, I have not been able to find anything on the door at allows it to be attached to the PCB? Is there something missing from my smokebox door?

Than ks for the advice Paul, its very much appreciated Cheers Bob C

Thanks for the tip re the smokebox door, Paul, l did try offering up the PCB to the door but did not see anywhere the board would fit. l ll take another look in the morning. Also thanks for the suggestion of the PIKO DCC controller, can CVs be changed with this unit? Thanks again Bob C

My sound fitted EXE arrived today, same minor mishap as everyone else as well. I found the PCB board and smoke door loose in the box. The PCB slid into place without an issue but the smoke box door seems a loose fit in the smoke box and will not fit up properly. Does it somehow clip on to the PCB first before being re inserted? Must say what a fantastic model, The finish is superb, detailing is excellent, with fragile pieces mould in flexible plastic. And as for the running, straight out of the box, its far better than any other loco in my collection that's been run in. Top marks to Lionheart for a superb model of an iconic prototype! I would like to ask other members what DCC system would be best with this model ? Currently l m running it on a basic Bachmann DCC controller which has only 10 functions and does not have the functionality to allow you to alter cv s. This is something l think mine needs as it is just a little to slow when accelerating from a stand, plus its very loud at the moment! Any suggestions most welcome.

The sound versions now appearing on the RoS web site

Does anyone know when the sound fitted versions will be available, maybe by Christmas perhaps? Bob C

Thanks chaps, l appreciate your input, so 4 m it is then, which is about 26mm in 2mm scale if my maths are correct lol Cheers Bob C

Thank you so much for replying to my question. The diagram you ve attached is interesting in that the measurement you mentioned seem to be taken from the inside edge of the inner rail of one line to the inside edge of the outer rail of the opposite line. Many thanks Bob C

Does anyone know what the track spacing is between the running lines on the DB system? In the UK we have 6ft between running lines, and 10ft between pairs of lines. Looking at photos of the DB network the line spacing seems a lot larger even allowing for the larger loading gauge. Is there a web site with details of these measurements? Fingers crossed Bob C

As best l can see there is no under lying damage to the moulding itself. Indeed building up layers of a suitable matched colour could alleviate the problem, being further improved with a coat of varnish at both ends to help them match. However in my case age has caught up with me and l do not trust my eyes to such a delicate task, hence my cry for help. Bob C