kintbury jon

So what will happen to all these returned VEPs? Bachmann tend to sort the problems out themselves and then resell them at shows. I've never seen Hornby 'returned' items for sale.

Have just run my VEP on its own and in multiple. Have had no issues with derailing, the motor sounds alright though it did slow down of its own accord a couple of times. I have found that the unit works best with the motor coach as the second vehicle which means that the motor is at the fromt of the carriage. It will only go up my hills (just!) if the motor coach is the second vehicle - can't manage the other way round. A blue/Grey EPB coupled up to it sorted the problem out though! One of the red LED's has stopped working for some reason which is a pain. I may have a look at it in case there's a loose connection. I read on another Forum that Hattons had had lots of returned VEPs, and had decided to sell them off cheap in the shop instead of returning them to Hornby. Though when I called them they denied all knowledge of it - shame though, fancied a cheap second one!

Looking nice. I thought that your red coat looked a little on the light size (in the post further up) but it looks fine in the above shot. The electrics look neat too.

Looks pretty good to me! Don't number it 3008 though as it would then require a larger brake area in the motor coach as per the blue model. Will need to be a 34xx or 35xx series number.

Are the Heljan 33 wheels the same size as the Hornby Vep ones? They didn't look the same size last night when I had a look!

Yes please, i'm quite enjoying seeing this progress. Always liked the 155's - never quite worked out why though!

Yep, definitely. I hadn't appreciated the error until you mentioned it though! Will probably do the same to mine.

I assume one couldn't add pick ups to any of the other bogies as the through wiring is for the lighting and therefore a lower voltage?

The only derailing problems i've had is with the outer bogies. The problem was not with the bogie but with the coupling. A small amount of oil on the coupling unit has sorted out the problem and I have not had any derailments since.

Thanks everyone for the complements. I agree with SAC, I think the thread has been very positive and given people ideas, just what RMweb is all about.

Must admit i've really enjoyed doing the modifications to it. It didn't look right as it was and a bit of farting around with it has made (for me) a really nice model. One thing that has really been done well is the directional headcode lights. It's probably the only part that has trumped the Bachmann CEP and EPB - I don't like running the latter backwards as I think they look a bit silly with reds on the front but the VEP doesn't have that problem!

I can measure them but I don't think they're very accurate to be honest. I had a Bachmann SK interior but as the compartments are too small (as they are 2nd class). If you tell me exactly what you need to know though I can get my ruler out though it won't be the most accurate!

Right guys, i've been busy this afternoon. I'm pretty happy with the VEP now though the compartments look a bit rubbish especially the corridor section in the dark! Fishing around in the scrap box I found a Lima MK 2BFK interior. Pictures will show what i've done: Carved up body: Lima compartment piece glued in: View through the corridor windows: And in the dark: Needs painting obviously but I think it looks better. I'd have thought a mk1 Bachmann FK interior might look better but I don't have one so will stick with Lima ones for now.

Just a slight variation on a theme, I have cut and fitted a pair of Heljan double white blanks to the left DTCsoL using double sided sellotape. The Hornby route numbers and blanks are too high up and I think this looks a little better. I'll do the same to the other vehicle so that they correctly show whites and reds in the direction of travel. As well as colouring around the windows black, you may (or may not!) be able to see that I have tried to thicken the look of the gangway by colouring the inside of it black.

Not VEP model but VEP related, I won a VEP number plate (from inside the cab) off ebay the other day. The chap selling appears to have quite a few for sale and has relisted the auction if anyones into VEP memorabilia! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOUTHERN-RAILWAY-E-M-U-423-CLASS-CAB-NUMBERPLATES-/270822002730?pt=UK_Collectables_Railwayana_RL&hash=item3f0e3fd02a

I had a good look at the axles as I have some spare class 73/DMU and 59/47 axles. The VEP axles are in between the two which doesn't help!

The wheels will probably be available as spares soon. Would it be an option to remove the tyres for now or would that be even worse?

Right, i've done Johns modification of black round the windows and pencil line down the sides of the gangways and am much happier with its appearance. I quite like the red/white lights showing through the double white blanks though this obviously looks odd wen you have a numerical headcode. Having assumed that my unit is DCC fitted, I removed the (what looks like an) 8 pin chip and replaced it with a Hornby 8 pin blanking plate. Whilst the unit still ran, all the lighting ceased to work. I have reverted to the pre-fitted chip for now. Am I happy with the model overall? Probably yes. Whilst it required some tweaking, it does look alright, particularly the body sides and the ends look a lot better now. As well as the other criticisms mentioned, I think it's a shame that Hornby used yellow LEDs for the headlight and headcode box, white ones would have been much nicer.

Picture of the cabs: http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/mjt/1100.php

Afraid I can't take any credit for the MJT CIG on the left as it was an ebay purchase. The TC was my doing though it looks rubbish compared to the other two - could probably do with some replacement cab ends. I think the MJT cabs are two piece but haven't looked.

I'm sure the price will come down closer to the £100 mark in the same way that the blue/grey CEP has been offered at £89 recently. Has anyone noticed that the driving trailers have to be fitted in a specific way? The second time I assembled it the lights worked the other way round (ie red going forwards and yellow backwards). It's a shame that only one pair of double white blanks are offered on the headcode sticker sheet, I may end uo seeing whether the Heljan sheets can be cut to fit and stuck on top.

Photos of the power bogie. Definitely larger wheels than on the Limby 73. Top photo shows Limby 73 power bogie at the top with upsidedown VEP bogie undeneath it.

The bogie frame is a new mould, it is different to the 73 bogie frame. Am not at home to measure the wheel sizes but I seem to think the wheels for the motor coach looked quite 'chunky', they certainly didn't look too small. I'll take a photo of it later alongside a 73 (unless someone else can beat me to it!)

I seem to be taking a lot of credit for this! It was John Upton that made the mods, I merely said I liked what he had done!

How odd that they put the motor in the wrong carriage! At least you have been able to sort it out. I think Johns modification of the cabs is good - I particularly like the black paint around the cab windows and will do the same with mine.