Class 07 Diesel

[Matabiau]

Some advice to those wishing to install DCC decoders, the Hattons 6-pin decoder is a couple of milimetres too long. I have had to fit a Guagemaster DCC23 decoder. There is enough room in the tray for the larger decoder but there is a pair of lighting wires that crosses the decoder bay and these are too short to reconnect once the Hattons decoder is in place.

[Ouroborus]

That answered a question I had aboutvwhat chips people are using in these

[TRAILRAGE]

This for me was one of those Important releases that I just couldn't justify for financial reasons but with the Cancellation of the 74 gave me an opportunity 

to purchase one through Kernow. Long story short  Downside was wrong model arrived in the post on Weds so shop called , Postage refunded and replacement sent and  arrived today.

That to me is exceptional service from them and thaey have my gratitude for sorting it so quickly. so with anticipation I opened my 07005 today to run it in.

 

Nothing broken loose or missing so good start. My first thoughts to coin a phrase were "Oh Sam what a little beauty"!

Ran it in for 30 mins in each direction and boy is it smooth and quiet. It's mesmerizing watching it trundle round the layout with a train of wagons.

 

The first thing i noticed when crawling up to a rake of wagons is  the coupling sits to low. My remedy was to replace the cranked tension lock coupling with a Bachmann MK2 Mini.

The reason for this is that the Heljan coupling,(although no drooping whatever) was to low with the cranked shaft and wouldn't couple up with other stock . 

When I tried fitting these it was was extremely tight and wouldn't go in completely. What I found was the shaft on these needed trimming down in width as the 

Bachmann coupling shaft is 3.03 mm wide but the Heljan one is 2.77 mm Wide.  Easy to do and just took just a couple of minuets. Once fitted the coupling 

height matched perfectly.  Running wise Shunting with this little loco is a joy with how smooth and controllable it is.

 

This is without doubt one of the best models I own and I am glad I went with this after the cancellation of the 74 and will now take pride of place on my layout.

 

Cheers Heljan for making such a lovely little model.    

 

One extremely happy Trailrage 

[SRman]

I know what you mean about the cranked couplings. I really don't understand why Heljan insist on using them. I always replace them with straight couplings (Bachmann preferred), although I have one exception to this, and even that may get its couplings replaced before too long; the exception was my very recently acquired Metropolitan Bo-Bo electric, Sarah Siddons.

[Matabiau]

Havong fitted the DCC chip I finally got around to testing it. Unfortunately with the directional lighting switched on I get both red and white lights on the leading end at the same time instead of single white leading and sinlge red tailing. Has anyone else encountered this?

[SR Chris]

One red and one white light is correct for a locomotive engaged in shunting duties, although normally they would be illuminated at both ends as frequent reversals are to be expected when shunting ...

[Moxy]

Havong fitted the DCC chip I finally got around to testing it. Unfortunately with the directional lighting switched on I get both red and white lights on the leading end at the same time instead of single white leading and sinlge red tailing. Has anyone else encountered this?

 

They're supposed to be like that, they're shunting lights.  See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91613-class-07-diesel/?p=3192824  posts 143 -145

[chrisjenner]

Obviously it's horses for courses when expecting dealers to provide more specialist services such as fitting sound chips especially where a little thought and experience are required.

I now have my green Heljan 07 fully sound fitted and working a treat as seen here :

 

 https://youtu.be/-ad82HB5Gck

 

courtesy of Wickness Models. Thank you Douglas. Excellent Service - All usual disclaimers just a satisfied customer.

[Matabiau]

One red and one white light is correct for a locomotive engaged in shunting duties, although normally they would be illuminated at both ends as frequent reversals are to be expected when shunting ...

 

Thanks for the info, you learn something new every day. 

[dpearce]

Hi guys,

 

Please forgive my ignorance but does anyone have any info on what the correct use of the headcode discs that come in the detail pack is?

 

Thanks!

 

D

[mikesndbs]

Hi guys,

 

Please forgive my ignorance but does anyone have any info on what the correct use of the headcode discs that come in the detail pack is?

 

Thanks!

 

D

 

 

The numbered ones were placed on the lower irons and designited the duties of the loco within the docks.

 

Here you see a number 7 duty (not on the middle iron lol) 

 

 

The white discs would have been used as standard BR (S) disc codes when the locos worked outside of the docks.

[Owd Bob]

I do hope they bring out a 7mm version in the future. Here are the only pics' i have of an 07 taken in the mid' '80's, i hope they help anyones modeling now that the model is finally out.

 

[ColinK]

Obviously it's horses for courses when expecting dealers to provide more specialist services such as fitting sound chips especially where a little thought and experience are required.

I now have my green Heljan 07 fully sound fitted and working a treat as seen here :

 

 https://youtu.be/-ad82HB5Gck

 

courtesy of Wickness Models. Thank you Douglas. Excellent Service - All usual disclaimers just a satisfied customer.

That’s excellent, I could be tempted to ask them to add sound to my pair.

[delticfan]

Yes 7mm for me too please eventually.

[ColinK]

Having seen the Youtube video of the DCC sound conversion last night, I emailed Wickness models quite late asking for details. I was amazed when Douglas from Wickness emailed back late last night (on a Sunday too). Excellent service. My two 07’s will on their way to Wickness very soon.

[JSpencer]

I got mine today. Detail is lovely unfortunately mine is going back as it runs like a lame frog. One wheel is off centre and it lifts up and down. Horrible eeeerk....

[miles73128]

I got mine today. Detail is lovely unfortunately mine is going back as it runs like a lame frog. One wheel is off centre and it lifts up and down. Horrible eeeerk....

 It's a stunner! Except mine aslo has a Kangaroo inside !

[JSpencer]

 It's a stunner! Except mine aslo has a Kangaroo inside !

 

Further investigation, I found the oil pump crank fouls the air cylinder tank. There is plenty of down play on the wheels so rather than blocking it hops.Removed the tank and giving her a good run in. She has that famous gear grind noise too. Of the 8 shunters brought this year (5 Ps, 2 B4s and now the 07), the 07 currently lags behind in running qualities compared to the other 7 shunters.

[Jenny Emily]

 

Reviewed mine yesterday. It is a lovely model, with just a few niggles, though all the niggles are a straightforward fix. I too found after filming this whilst running it extensively that the lubricator linkage dismantled itself. It appeared that the joint on the crank was seized but carefully easing it freed it up and I was able to get it back together and it seems okay now.

[Gilbert]

I have an interesting one ..mine arrived today - runs well straight out of the box - as normal I tested the pickup by axle - front axle has no pick up both on track and with test leads upside down. I then test left wheel axle 1 with right wheel axle 2  - all good - it must be right wheel axle 1 not working...not so - when I test axle 1 right  wheel with axle 2 left  wheel that also works..I am very confused.....I'd like to ensure no problem as I'd like it DCC fitted with sound preferably...eek..

Chris

[mikesndbs]

I have an interesting one ..mine arrived today - runs well straight out of the box - as normal I tested the pickup by axle - front axle has no pick up both on track and with test leads upside down. I then test left wheel axle 1 with right wheel axle 2  - all good - it must be right wheel axle 1 not working...not so - when I test axle 1 right  wheel with axle 2 left  wheel that also works..I am very confused.....I'd like to ensure no problem as I'd like it DCC fitted with sound preferably...eek..

Chris

 

The pickups are really soft, either undo the keeper plate and ease the front and rear wheel set out slightly allowing rebending of the pickups or use two fine points, one to hold and the other to bend the pickup out more.

However I have found that in normal use the curves on my layout re-bend the pickups away from the wheels.

 

Sadly this is a poor design. 

[JSpencer]

Having fixed the air tank to the correct location and ensure it was no longer fouling the oil pump crank and then 3 hours of running in, it is now fine.

 

Taking the body apart on the extra pipes and bits version, was ok but you had to pay attention. Putting it back was a hell of a challenge. One of the white pipes popped off as did the handrail next to it. I can see why some shops say "no thanks" to fitting DCC! All of these details are metal though. Having got it all back together, the model is fine.

Those going for plain DCC, you need a very small 6 pin chip. Sound, the only way is hard wiring I'm afraid (or cutting a hole for the chip wires to go into the cab with the chip - which should look great).

 

Here is a pick with those other former Southampton dock shunters:

 

[SRman]

One red and one white light is correct for a locomotive engaged in shunting duties, although normally they would be illuminated at both ends as frequent reversals are to be expected when shunting ...

 

That's a good point. On DCC it should be possible to reprogram the decoder to have the lights on in both directions at once. I think I'll be doing this shortly, as my 07 arrived today and I have run it on the rolling road for over 40 minutes in each direction. Mine seems to have none of the problems reported with grinding noises, and runs very smoothly, albeit with a slight wobble on the rollers, which usually exaggerate any such things.

[Shroomy]

That's a good point. On DCC it should be possible to reprogram the decoder to have the lights on in both directions at once. I think I'll be doing this shortly, as my 07 arrived today and I have run it on the rolling road for over 40 minutes in each direction. Mine seems to have none of the problems reported with grinding noises, and runs very smoothly, albeit with a slight wobble on the rollers, which usually exaggerate any such things.

Can you post your results if you achieve this please would be interested

[SRman]

I fitted a CT Elektronik DCX74zD decoder, set it all up the way I wanted it on the programming track, then, using Decoder Pro (JMRI), it was a simple task to tick two checkboxes to enable the lights at both ends regardless of direction. It now works as desired.