Stevelewis

The SLW class 24 sound ranks amongst the best if not the best loco sound I have experienced, I actually enjoy simply letting one of them sit on the layout and ticking over whilst I do something else!

Thanks Paul , It looks pretty straight forward, I like Next 18 decoders, I have used quite few of them in Continental Outline N gauge locos over the last couple of years and they certainly do the job without problems. My First Baldwin is in the post as we speak and 2 more should arrive as and when so to speak! Am I correct in thinking that The decoder fitted in the SLW class 24 is ZIMO?, If the Baldwin one is half as good as the 24 then it will be brilliant, who would have thought 20 years ago we would have a sound decoder with FoG Signal/Detonator sounds included? Mind you 20 years ago we did not even have digital ready locos, just soldering iron burnt fingertips!

Is that a sound decoder? If so I need 3!

For info ARCADIA RAIL 01706882900 has just 4 Locos remaining for sale from the initial delivery No 778 weathered version a phone call is suggested should you require one!

Actually the appearance does not actually concern me at all Having been into Railway Modelling for around 65 years now I prefer to be able to run trains reliably and that is what Kadee couplings provide, they work! And by the way my locos do not have screw couplings they have Kadees like the rest of the rolling stock!!

That's just the point, they do work we all know that but not always reliably, and the use of an alternative coupling does allow a passenger train to perform more like the real thing, not like an unfitted freight

Its hardly a real issue if I were to use the TL/s the hooks would have been refitted in a matter of seconds, as a very regular Hattons customer, we often have discussions about things and I am aware that they do observe Forums on a regular basis.

Once KADEE COUPLINGS were discovered in the UK well over 30 years ago I used them, still do, as I write a new 00 project is under way, I automatically discard the tension locks and fit Kadees. Why the Manufacturers of UK stock still persist with TLs is beyond me! As a matter of interest I bought 4 Oxford/Hattons ICE Hoppers last week of the 8 TL fitted couplings 3 already had the hook parts loose in the boxes! Kadees were fitted within a very short time after they were delivered.

TT-3 (only joking of course)

It is strange how some areas seem to get problems with various courier deliveries whilst others do not, I believe it to be the attitude of the individual courier, Some couriers tell me that they can do in excess of 100 deliveries in a day, I would have thought that in an area such as ours where locations are a bit 'spread out' that problems would occur with missed or late deliveries, but for some time now this has not been the case, Everything which has been ordered from our Household has arrived when it should have done. For the record I placed a largish order from Hattons on line just before 2pm Monday which arrived on time today Tuesday at 8-15AM

I may be incorrect here but some of the retailers with whom I deal ( not just Model Railways) have mentioned to me that they have some type of business insurance which covers them for problems with goods in transit, which does not bear a relationship to the postage/shipping costs a private individual pays. In fact when I have returned quite expensive items which were faulty to Hattons ( £150+) locos I have queried their asking me to use only 2nd class standard post , I have been advised that providing I retain the receipt as proof of despatch all will be well in the case of loss or damage ( to date it has been!)

Yes I remember those!!

I don't think 'instantly' is quite the correct word to be using all businesses have a right to attempt problem resolvement in a reasonable space of time.

As a Hattons customer since the late 60s(!) I can assure you that will be looked after it may take a few days to trace the delivery and I suggest you keep in touch with them by telephone. I would also add that I have used the DPD delivery by Midday service many times without any problems occurring Have you checked the DPD tracking yourself to check what info is on there?

Wait until ' Cool it Carol' is shown again class 205 thumpers appear in it plus quite a lot more! (But not Railway related)

Yes excellent shots well worth a look the film is on Talking Pictures TV quite frequently. I watched 'The Elizabethan' a day or 2 ago some very nice shots of A4 Quicksilver at speed Talking Pictures TV SKY 343, Freeview 81.

Well Well, 4 ICI hoppers turned up here today and very nice they are too, Well done Oxford Rail & Hattons Thing is the current 00 layout is BR(S) biased so I don't think I can explain the presence of the Hoppers at all However they do bring back many childhood memories of seeing them in the flesh!

That did occur to me, only thing though is V o R rolling stock, Re the MW I reckon the NEW version will be OK ( For the record I bought THREE OF THEM! all of which failed in the valve gear dept.) In fact the actual chassis of the MW was very good it was only the Valve gear issue and the strange way that power collection to the pony wheelsets was arranged which were the main issues. I will have no hesitation in buying at least one MW when they eventually turn up

My Money is on the V o R loco

ROB Please continue to post your pictures on here, do not let one negative comment put you off, there are retailers websites with photos of the actual model should any one wish to look!! Best Wishes Steve

I have recently started to use an alternative to cork to cover baseboard tops.......underlay for DIY Parquet flooring, it comes in sheets approx. 3' & 18" and costs around £30 for a pack the pack contains around 15 sheets so it does last a long time It is mid grey in colour, around 5 mm thick and extremely easy to cut to size and required shape, white glue (PVA) is used to stick it down, I still use cork or sometimes woodland scenic ballast strips under the track, this provides remarkably noise free running, except for the wheel ​ click over rail joints! Unless of course loco sound is being used!! My source for the underlay is Homebase ( Or Bunnings or is it Dunnings in some locations!!)

ThanksJZ One of my modelling group asked me if I knew, we use Kadees hence the question

Do Current production Bachmann 00 suburban coaches have NEM coupling pockets?

The Magazine reviews are being published in most of the mags around now so far I have only seen the RM (may issue),, some nice pics of a weathered Hummy, one thing noted is the loco weight is given as 59gm which seems a little on the light side, given some of the loco's construction is in metal ( quoted from review smokebox, front part of the boiler, tanks & Frame) As a comparison a Roco H0e 0-6-0T Feldbahnloco weighs 98gm and the Heljan MW weighs 138gm If you wish to know what 59gm feels like 7 x £1 coins weigh just over at 62gm I am quite looking forward to receiving mine though

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