Class 166 Turbo NSE

Re release by Bachmann of the 166 DMU in NSE weathered livery, but again, still not DCC ready???

What i meant by this is, why is the unit being re released without a plug for DCC use?

My early release NSE 166 (and 158/159) has LEDs for the lighting, although the Turbostars (class 170) have bulbs.

Regardless of that technicality, the lighting circuits are presently not geared for DCC. The motors themselves are very easy to hard-wire for DCC (I have done Bachmann classes 158, 159, and 166 for motor only and am still trying to rewire the LED lights to suit, whereas I have converted a 170 completely, lights and all - that one is a lot easier because of the grain of wheat bulbs where polarity doesn't affect them.

In view of Jim's post above, I am wondering whether Bachmann have changed the lighting on their later production class 166s.

Whatever the answer to that, it would be nice if they would upgrade the chassis for these units to DCC-ready standards. Once they bring out the new 158s, hopefully the other classes will follow as the Bachmann chassis for all of them share a common design.

The Bachmann Class 166 has another realistic feature it's air con never works! LOL!

XF

Maybe it will work on DCC, Nigel!

My early release NSE 166 (and 158/159) has LEDs for the lighting, although the Turbostars (class 170) have bulbs.

 

Regardless of that technicality, the lighting circuits are presently not geared for DCC. The motors themselves are very easy to hard-wire for DCC (I have done Bachmann classes 158, 159, and 166 for motor only and am still trying to rewire the LED lights to suit, whereas I have converted a 170 completely, lights and all - that one is a lot easier because of the grain of wheat bulbs where polarity doesn't affect them.

 

In view of Jim's post above, I am wondering whether Bachmann have changed the lighting on their later production class 166s.

 

Whatever the answer to that, it would be nice if they would upgrade the chassis for these units to DCC-ready standards. Once they bring out the new 158s, hopefully the other classes will follow as the Bachmann chassis for all of them share a common design.

The Class 158 is actually very easy to wire the lights, I used two decoders..

Reverse white and yellow for opposite trailor car..

I think I might try that wiring on one 158 and the 166 but for the 159 I am rejigging the lights completely with warm white LEDs replacing the yellow ones and new small 'sidelights' (the small marker lights). I am also linking all three coaches to one central decoder but that should not affect the wiring as you guys have shown it.

Thanks for posting the images, Martin.

I do have to wonder about this rerelease of the 166, considering the most popular livery on this model so far seems to be FGWs Dynamic Lines livery than Network SouthEast, and having lived on the fringes of the Thames Valley since the 90s I never recalled them getting that dirty. Indeed the now old purpose built washing plant at Reading Depot always seemed to keep the Turbo fleet rather clean. So it'll be interesting to see how Bachmann handle the weathering on this, without doing a repeat of the Modelzone 171 case.

Even looking through Martin Loader's images it's difficult to find an 'actual' weathered example.

http://www.hondawanderer.com/Class_166.htm

Oh, I dunno. The NSE ones have been doing reasonably well on eBay , probably because you could use them on both children lines and paddington with a bit of licence...

I'm not sure children ones would sell that well as it then becomes very specific to a particular line / time

I should imagine adding a dcc socket would mean a retool of the existing chassis plus the existing lighting may also need to be sorted, it currently uses grain of wheat bulbs and when i DCCd my chiltern unit they were very bright as standard

 

Also if it were dcc ready then it would probably need some sort of inter car connection for the dummy car head/tail lights or a 2nd decoder in there for the lights

Nail and Head come to mind there Jim.

Mike

Oh, I dunno. The NSE ones have been doing reasonably well on eBay , probably because you could use them on both children lines and paddington with a bit of licence...

I'm not sure children ones would sell that well as it then becomes very specific to a particular line / time

Hi Rob, I suppose as they are TOY trains they would be ideal for CHILDREN lines!!! :-)

Stupid apple phone...

Spurred on by Martin's advice on lights earlier, I have now wired in two cheap Gaugemaster decoders as function-only ones to control the lights on my NSE class 166. I wired the motor in the centre coach long ago, so it is now running in the fashion it should, with headlights and tail lights operational!

I did try swapping a white LED instead of a yellow one but that failed. When tested later, the white LED worked perfectly. I am now wondering whether it was a "DCC friendly" LED with reversed polarity to the usual. Will have to experiment further ... later.  

Anyone heard anything about the 166s apart from the cancellation of one livery for GWR instead?  Been waiting a while now...

I think it was stated in latest Rail Express that the new low slung motor being developed for the new 158 was hopefully going to be fitted to the 166 and 170  which would also at the same time make these DCC ready for the first time. The down side of this I would imaging will be further delays until the chassis is redesigned for the new motor.

I think it was stated in latest Rail Express that the new low slung motor being developed for the new 158 was hopefully going to be fitted to the 166 and 170  which would also at the same time make these DCC ready for the first time. The down side of this I would imaging will be further delays until the chassis is redesigned for the new motor.

Thanks!

Suppose I should but £300 aside by the time it comes out then!