cowside Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 The Service Sheet enclosed with the loco suggests how to remove the body. But this is no use when trying to fit a DCC decoder. I contacted Rails of Sheffield from whom I bought the loco who advised: **PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WITH THE LOCOMOTIVE ADVISE TO UNCLIP THE BODY FROM THE CHASSIS, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. UNCLIP THE ROOF FOR DCC FITTING** It is easy to unclip the roof, and this exposes the DCC socket ready to use. It also looks as if the only pickups for this model are on the motor bogey, so I've found it sticks on long curved points. I am going to have to fit a stay-alive to the decoder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 53 minutes ago, cowside said: The Service Sheet enclosed with the loco suggests how to remove the body. But this is no use when trying to fit a DCC decoder. I contacted Rails of Sheffield from whom I bought the loco who advised: **PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WITH THE LOCOMOTIVE ADVISE TO UNCLIP THE BODY FROM THE CHASSIS, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. UNCLIP THE ROOF FOR DCC FITTING** It is easy to unclip the roof, and this exposes the DCC socket ready to use. It also looks as if the only pickups for this model are on the motor bogey, so I've found it sticks on long curved points. I am going to have to fit a stay-alive to the decoder. Hi Cowside, There should be pick ups on both bogies of the power car. All ours had them. Hope this helps. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JDW Posted September 4, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2019 The above is correct, there are - or at least should be!) wires running under the floor to the trailing bogie. And yes, the Rails advice is correct. In fact, even if you do need to remove the body shell, it is easiest to remove the roof first, then the glazing, then gently lever the clips that hold the chassis on from inside. I've broken a few trying to do it by levering the chassis down from outside, on both Hornby and Lima 156s (they are essentially the same apart from the motor) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Just thought this might be of interest to those thinking of buying the unit: 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted September 5, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, charliepetty said: Just thought this might be of interest to those thinking of buying the unit: ha ha I can see why you might think that! I think Sams review is actually spot on . 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I like Sam's Trains' reviews, but this one was a tad negative I thought - not saying he's wrong, but does discourage thoughts of purchase - wife will thank him one day !! Al. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
truffy Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) 15 minutes ago, atom3624 said: I like Sam's Trains' reviews, but this one was a tad negative I thought - not saying he's wrong, but does discourage thoughts of purchase - wife will thank him one day !! Actually, I find a lot of his 'reviews' to be of almost puppy dog enthusiasm. The seeming lack of critical perspective, and fawning over trivialities, is off-putting. I found this one to be positively refreshing in its candour. And, with good reason, perhaps it should discourage thoughts of purchase. I give it 5/5. Edited September 5, 2019 by truffy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BR Blue Posted September 5, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) Fair enough review. It is bascially a really old model with a slighlty updated mechanism and a nice coat of paint. The paint job is the only thing that elevates it above the Railroad range where it belongs. The underframe detail, or the almost total lack of it, shows how far the hobby has come in the the approximately 30 years since the model was first tooled. Edited September 5, 2019 by BR Blue spelling 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroborus Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 all correct and of course there is a much better model available, albeit not in the RAF colours. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Something that he does highlight there is the quality of the packaging. I'm surprised Hornby has gone for the "Egg Carton" look. Then again, I was a little disappointed at the quality of the packaging on my ScotRail HST, so it seems to be something across the board at the moment. Yes the 156 is an old and low detail model, and doesn't require super premium packaging, but surely it would deserve something better than an egg carton cardboard for a £120 model. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles73128 Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 I think you’ll find this is an environmental issue. Blown polystyrene uses nasty cfs in production. This new packaging is recycled cardboard and therefore much better for the planet. If I remember correctly, all the Olympic stuff used paper/cardboard as polystyrene was not allowed as part of the contract (?) So this new packaging is superior. 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TravisM Posted September 7, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2019 I just feel you get what you pay for. If you want a budget model, then get the Hornby model but if you want a model that has the “wow” factor, then get the Realtrack one. I’m not being negative in anyway because I must admit that I’m impressed with the paint scheme on the Hornby model and was seriously considered getting one but as I have a Realtrack EMT version, putting the two together only highlights it’s dated tooling. 1 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 (edited) Sadly the model has the 1990s/2000s bodyshell, the current 156s have been rebuilt and one car has less windows!!! Edited September 7, 2019 by charliepetty error 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernowtim Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 I must admit to liking this version but like the RAF class 91 wont be buying it for the simple reason its an ancient model with a nice paint job and too expensive for what it is, will make do with my original Lima 156 I bought new around 30 years ago! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 23 hours ago, miles73128 said: I think you’ll find this is an environmental issue. Blown polystyrene uses nasty cfs in production. This new packaging is recycled cardboard and therefore much better for the planet. If I remember correctly, all the Olympic stuff used paper/cardboard as polystyrene was not allowed as part of the contract (?) So this new packaging is superior. That's true, but even something like a Bachmann style clear plastic tray would have been a little more preferable. Hornby do still seem to be using the Polystyrene though as my ScotRail power cars have just turned up in them. I just feel that for £120, the presentation inside the box could match that outside a little bit more. My other concern with it is how stiff it can be - thankfully the ex Lima 156 doesn't have any added detail that's easily knock able off in this case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JiLo Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 Maybe its time everyone stopped moaning about the models or the packaging and just enjoyed their trains? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIRCLASS80 Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 1 hour ago, JiLo said: Maybe its time everyone stopped moaning about the models or the packaging and just enjoyed their trains? Enjoy models, I think that’s totally uncalled for! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart2day Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 On 07/09/2019 at 13:34, surfsup said: Something that he does highlight there is the quality of the packaging. I'm surprised Hornby has gone for the "Egg Carton" look. Then again, I was a little disappointed at the quality of the packaging on my ScotRail HST, so it seems to be something across the board at the moment. Yes the 156 is an old and low detail model, and doesn't require super premium packaging, but surely it would deserve something better than an egg carton cardboard for a £120 model. How did your Scotrail HST come packaged? Do Hornby not still use the polystyrene tray and tissue paper for the power cars? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 Yes they have the standard packaging. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowside Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 Back to where this thread started, I have fitted a decoder with a large stay-alive and it now runs happily through long curved points and does not stutter anywhere. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JDW Posted September 15, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2019 Ignoring the whole underframe issue, the biggest improvement in my opinion are: - to add snowploughs (I use Hornby class 153 ones, modified to fit), - to paint the light clusters black (rather than just the face being printed black) - paint around the inside of all the window openings an appropriate colour (black or the body colour) to hide the gap between glazing and body all of which make it look much better. OK, you'll never make it look like the Realtrack one, but for the sake of a few minutes with a paintbrush and some very basic plastic cutting on the ploughs, it makes a significant improvement, especially to the "face". 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 The window itself shouldn't be too tricky a fix, matching the colour on the other hand... Then again I'm more inclined to tinker around with one of these than I am to try and fix the lights on the Realtrack version. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroborus Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) It is what it is. A nice coat of paint over an old body, much like their 66s. And nothing wrong with that - I knew what I was getting (apart from the packaging) when I ordered it. I bought it purely for the livery. Maybe the retailers on here would be kind enough to give some feedback on how these are selling. I'd hope that if it does ok, Hornby may think about supplying TTS chips for it.... Edited September 15, 2019 by Ouroborus 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
truffy Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, Ouroborus said: I bought it purely for the livery. Which, I wouldn't be surprised, is what Red will be banking on for most of their sales. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now