LNERandBR

Hornby had a period where they tried to do their own thing with programming didn't they. Maybe that affected their controllers as well? I know early Hornby decoders cannot be read by other makes of controller. I've had no issues reading back the Zimo decoder my Linda is fitted with on my Lenz DCC system.

My main issue with the C4 coverage comes when you get to the races in the Americas. USA, Mexico, etc. They are forced to put it on at silly o clock in the morning due to how late the live coverage will be and the amount of time that they have to wait before they can show it. I believe it even has to come behind Sky's own highlights coverage. I do agree that what C4 produce seems to have gone down in quality year on year. I also agree that it appears to be contractual to push people to get the sky package. What's annoying is I think F1 renewed the current contract. I hoped they'd insist on better free coverage given that is what they've done in other markets.

As the two LED's seem to function separately under DCC Sound it would make sense if they were separate functions on a standard DCC decoder. If you are just getting orange then that's the glow as the flickering is done by the yellow LED it seems.

My DCC Sound fitted Linda (with tender) arrived today. The firebox flickers in time with the exhaust beats and I'm very impressed. Admittedly, if you open the firehole door all the way then you can see straight into the firebox and the LED's from many angles on the tender version. That being due to the open back of the cab. However, close the firehole door a bit to obscure a direct view and it works extremely well. It even flickers more when you activate the blower which I'm most impressed about. She has a slight click when running slowly but to my ears it's a pickup catching on a wheel. I've therefore released the keeper plate and adjusted them a little but didn't have time for another test. She won't get fully run in until I get her up the club on Thursday night as I've only got 3ft of correct gauge track and no rolling road.

Nesta arrived today and running wise she doesn't appear to have any sort of limp. Already looking forward to running her in fully at the club next Thursday.

Personally, I think I'll pass on the sound onboard version and stick to my DCC Ready one. I'll see what project options are available from other suppliers. Main issue of course will be sound recordings. Any project is going to be pretty generic given you can't go out and record an actual A5.

My Dorothea arrived earlier this week after being stuck in the post. Only having around 3ft of straight track to try her on there was a noticeable limp at low speeds when running forwards. However, running in is highly recommended as I took her to my local club last night and she spent most of the evening doing laps of the room on our test track. 30 mins in each direction before I hooked up a short rake of slate wagons. Very pleased to say that the running in has cured the slight tight spot and she's now very happy at low speeds. Looking forward to Nesta arriving as she's also somewhere in the postal system atm.

I agree that the cheapo controller could be a cause of the issues you are seeing. It's one of those situations where the power delivered might actually be what is pulsating which causes the erratic running.

Getting both excited and apprehensive. I have a 'tendered' Linda with sound along with Nesta and Dorothea on their way but it's looking like they will spend christmas in a Parcel Depot. Admittedly, the reports of people having issues have me on edge. 😕

Same, I presume it will be down to the postal strikes. In honesty, if they wait until after the weekend that would be no issue with me.

Maybe Squires? I seem to remember they had a selection of such materials on their stand at Warley.

Personally, I think you will never change some opinions of Thompson. The whole debate will just spin round and round in circles much like the whole DC vs DCC debate. In my opinion, he did what he felt was required. He was working under trying circumstances and rather than debate his more controversial decisions lets celebrate his achivements like the B1's.

I'm sure I've seen a layout based on the PQR Mainline but cannot remember it's name or who built it sadly. Think it was at one of the GCR Model Events before Covid. I can't remember exactly which one unfortunately. I've walked from Penrhyn Harbour to Bethesda on the Lon Las Ogwyn path, although that sort of jumps from the Narrow Gauge to the Standard Gauge branch to Bethesda. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/lon-las-ogwen I admit, it was strange as I didn't realise it did that until I was walking under bridges and through a tunnel which clearly were Standard Gauge size.

Indeed, although Takamoto Katsuta will still be running at all events. He just won't score manufacturer points at those events Ogier is at. We don't yet know exactly which events Ogier will be at or indeed how the rounds will be shared between Craig Breen or Dani Sordo. Submissions for entering Monte Carlo closed on the 16th so we should hear about the 3rd M-Sport Car soon. Unless they have spent so much on Ott's contract they are just running 2 cars. There is still speculation that Seb Loeb will do some rounds again and any 3rd car is expected to be Gus Greensmith. In WRC2. Oliver Solberg has been confirmed as running for Toksport in a Skoda. It's expected that Emil Lindholm and Sami Pajari will also be in that team. Also, Adrian Formaux has been demoted to a WRC2 drive for M-Sport which will have 2 Fiesta's with Gregoire Munster in the second.

Ah yes, because I'm normally changing the direction when editing CV29. That's why I instantly said number 1 🥴 So that means you 'turn off' the number 3 on the lenz system and that will be 'Bit 2'. That being because 'Bit 0' is number 1 on the keypad just to make things more confusing. It's still easier than trying to work out the binary or hex to change the part you want. I was taught binary at university but even after 13 years in IT have never needed it. 😄

Or on the Lenz system you read cv29 then turn 'bit 1' off the same way as you would turn a function off when controlling the train. That's the most useful part of programming using a lenz controller I find 😄

I would love to see the faces on some of these collectors if you ripped off the wrapping and opened the box!

Assume that the mods would be to better represent the original A1 tenders as Tornado's is modified from the original LNER design. From the photo, the rear around the water filler is the LNER spec. I think there's differences in the equipment cabinets on the footplate too given Tornado has lots more electrical gubbins.

I beilve all this another example of how diverse our hobby is. There will be people who are very happy with their pristine RTR A3 flying around an 8 by 4 board with some Virgin Mk3 coaches behind the tender. Meanwhile, those who enjoy this thread will take their RTR A3 out the box and begin modifications. Those will be different depending on who is doing it. However I expect it would at least include weathering, real coal, crew and appropriate lamps 😉

I also had arguments with my parents about weathering when I was little. As mentioned they had the 'that'll devalue it' mindset. I do think that this is another case of 'each to their own.' I tend to push my freinds at the club into letting me weather their models but some are very much against it. I still poke them when they are admiring some of my weathered stock. However, it's very much in their hands.

If they had just purchased them then it could be that the two people in question have since carried out modifications to their purchases. One can only hope that one of them has renumbered! Sometimes people are too eager to run their new purchases when exhibiting. I've sometimes done this but only to make sure a new purchase works before taking it off the layout. Normally at the end of the day or before the show opens. I agree that running two locos with the same number for the entire show is a little silly.

Is that before or after they put the post on their website? If it was before then the status could have changed, it seems things are altering very quickly. Sound fitted Charles isn't even shown as arrived on Bachmann's website yet retailers now have it in stock for example. 🥴

https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/three-oo9-locos-incoming Rails reporting that Nesta and Dorothea are on their way shortly.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/Bachmann-391-126sf-mainline-hunslet-0-4-0st-charles-penrhyn-quarry-lined-black-late-dcc-sound Yep, product page says he's in stock. Tempted now I've moved my Linda pre-order to the new FR version. Still would really like a PQR version but not sure my wallet could stand it! EDIT: Rails now reporting that PQR Linda is incoming on their website.

I'm not sure how you measure it sadly. All I know is get the wrong speaker on a DCC decoder and you'll get 'realistic' smoke effects if it's a diesel. 😅