Uk_Steve

@ Steve1023

i had a simular experience as you

i will not repeat it because its all here to see

seems to me anybody which gets the trains back to Margate they

return like little angels

all i can say if anybody has a none runner get it off to Margate because im sure

Hornby regardless of box etc will just do the business and get it running as a goodwill gesture

lets face it there is a problem because between me and you and this board

there is a fact of none runners and runners on this model

soon as the price comes down again on the NSE VEP i will get another so

i can destroy it with paint pens

i could say

"LOOK AT THAT TRAIN GO!!!" Or "BACK TO THE TRAIN YARD TO GET FIXED"

oh wow i love your work

im not brave enough to have a go myself however this has me lusting for 1

even more now in this livery and jaffa he!he!

i have always loved them windows on those trains and the funky interier

on some of the trains he!he!

well done all the best from Steve

there is no secret the cost of postage from royal mail is going up heavy

if anybody has missed this information recently?

From 30th April 2012 a 46p stamp is going up to 60p

is around 30% rise "Ouch!!"

the knock on affect is clear its going to hit all business which rely on them to

ship goods

all the best from Steve

with respect Venator

some of the board members have had a bad experiance with the 4 VEP

so for me i will never say anything to them because i was in the same boat as them

and i know the feeling also some of the board members have done some hrs

trying to get it running more then i did with my 1st model also it helped me

not to play around with my model

However because of their work ie changing / and doing mods on there 4 VEP

i can see they are forced into a situation because warrantys and help from

Hornby is void

i can see the clear dilema

end of the day if all trains worked or either Hornby put there hands up on this situation

there would not be this divide of opinions which is mostly CON Hornby on this board

then again i do so some board members which have no desire to buy the train jump on the

bandwagon PRO or CON of Hornby at the same time adding to the mix

end of the day its Hornby to make future products reliable and price competitive from

this situation, do they take this approach is another matter but maybe they will

also to add for me a DCC Ready 4 coach train for less then £140 is not excessive

IMO at long as it works from the box time after time for each and every customer

Just saw your video, what changes did they do with the wheels?

Did they fit the wheels on the motor bogie so that both rubber tyres are on one side, or diagonally opposite each other?

 

(PS haven't done any weathering yet on my version)

Hi again

here is the pic of the traction tyres on the motor coach

front end boogie on the motor coach has traction tyres this way round none are on the back boogie on the motor coach

also maybe im stating the obvious there is no traction tyres on any other coaches on the 4 piece set

just gave it another spin and also the Bachmann 2epb on the other track

all is well im glad to say

All the best from Steve

Just saw your video, what changes did they do with the wheels?

Did they fit the wheels on the motor bogie so that both rubber tyres are on one side, or diagonally opposite each other?

 

(PS haven't done any weathering yet on my version)

Hi

i have a look tomorrow for you gc4946

so i can help with your question i am intrigued now myself

i didnt even look today i was more intrested to see it working round my track

yeah i am looking forward to doing the weathering in due course no graffiti mind

all the best from Steve

Hi Gang

i am back with my report after coming back from Hornby

NSE 4 VEP is a happy train indeed its running like a dream

all lights are working

all corners are ok the train runs at a level speed not slowing down on corners

they replaced the boogie frame and wheels which was the running issues in my case

i done a little video to show it works on low speeds and my normal speeds, i do another video tomozz with better light

conditions during the day

i can only go by my case,but i just urge anybody with any issues just telephone them "thay are helpful"

they been good as gold to me

they even gave me a free dcc chip because the lights issues was actually a faulty Bachmann dcc chip

which is nothing to do with them hence why i am so grateful to them that was a lovely gesture

All the best from Steve

 

 

 

I do wonder, though, how many people actually contacted Hornby direct rather than just post comments on forums. In this thread I'd estimate only 4 or 5 people have mentioned writing direct. I don't know what the production run is but I would guess this is only a tiny percentage and I can see why Hornby might be reluctant to take this as evidence of a major issue. If it is true that retailers are sitting on large stocks that might also be an indicator - but whether this because of the model's design, market saturation, price or a number of other reasons Hornby will have to judge.

I am off back to Margate today

That was a quick turn around and fair play to them

later today i will 100% update forum about the train

All the best from Steve

Happy New Year Gang!!!

all the best from Steve

Before you start did you have the coaches in the right order for the lights to work. Also when you couple the coaches together you have to be pin point accurate as the contacts as so small the slights miss alignment and the coach lighting will not work and you get crossed head code panels Red on the front and white on the rear.

 

Be there and got the tea shirt for that mistake.

 

Terry

Hi Terry for the front and back coaches

you know what i dont think i tried to switch them round

maybe thats giong to be a laugh factor with Hornby

if its that i have a laugh with them he!he!

however the other issues was checked closely by myself

All the best and thanks for that ;-)

Thanks zarniwhoop on your post i am hoping i dont need to do anything now

because Hornby have the train so i see what happens via them

thank you so much

------------------

@ tetsudofan

i totally agree with you about the retailers hence why i am trying to get this sorted directly with Hornby

i am really hoping they sort the train because if it does not run i have no choice but to give up on

the VEP i am giving it my best shot in my power

did you have a good day in Faversham yesterday?

-------------

Hi davros909 / Steve

i took a drive to them and left the train with them also below is a note with the train

------------

Thank you for this

I have done a video so you can see the train in action which may help?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5ksY9fESk&feature=youtu.be

Highlights

1. Internal lights not working

2. head code lights are the wrong way round i.e. red is forward and yellow/orange is back

3.where the video was taken train will only go clockwise on the track but not anti clock wise it

de rails at various locations all my other trains will go each way so its 100% the 4 VEP issue

"at this stage" which I am hoping you can resolve the issue in due course

just to highlight my other trains are as follows

x2 NSE 2epb Bachmann / LTD

x1 B & G 2epb Bachmann

x2 B & G Class 416 Bachmann

x1 Blue Class 416 Bachmann/Modelzone

x2 NSE Class 50s Hornby

4.

struggles round corner curves on low speeds, you may can see in the video it slows down dramaticly where all my other trains have no issues at any speed levels its also noticeable on high speeds also but not as much,

just to note my board is pretty flat and is laying on workbench tables when coming down from the roof on pulleys the board is reinforced by fibreglass cover all-round so there is no bends ore dips or flex

Kind Regards

he!he! the letter does not play the video its just text in the letter

--------------

if i was you Steve telephone them because they cant really get out of any issues because

there is a whole load of them being aired on this thread

ie letters or e-mails in my experience is a bit "hit and miss" with Hornby

on another note i pm you on youtube for a natter soon and say Happy Christmas

speak soon

------------------------

@ S.A.C Martin and others Steves suggestion is below

if i was you or anybody else regardless what you done to your trains

ring them and say what you going to do i have a none working train

i tried to get it to work but zilch i know my model is "well" modified"

but i know fellow virtual friends are in the same postion so what are you going to do?

i am not just going to walk away from this!

Many thanks Uk_Steve, for taking the trouble & time out, to film & post that footage.

 

As you point out, that VEP's performance is still a little bit?, as they say nowadays, flakey / shakey ?, especially when entering the straght from the curve (this reminds me of the days of Tri-ang).

Your video certainly shows the difference in performance, especially slow running, between Bachmann's 2-EPB, and your 2 car VEP.

As people have commented on previously, l'm also sure that a Bachmann 4-CEP would have out shone. even with 4 cars

As an aside, have you tried running it through a reverse cross-over, or up an incline ?...

l have,.. hence my reluctance to buy, or recommend this model, or any further Hornby release of this version

 

l could go on whinging, but l'm getting a little fed up / tired with complaining on this open forum, and, especially, to the manufacturer, without getting a satisfactory answer from the main man, namely Hornby.

No problem footage speaks louder then words

Ok i did what i said i would do i telephoned them this morning

so on that note i be driving to Hornby today with the train to leave with them

they are eager to sort out the above issues in due course

which i am very grateful and will update the progress in due course once i have the train returned or

i pick it up

Kind Regards From Steve

I would send Simon Kohler a letter (better email but would it get through) with links to your youtube video and this thread. Its about time he acknowledged the generic issues affecting this model than palming off individual problems.

 

As to tweaking your model, well thats up to you. I understand that people so want this model that they will put up with its inadaquacies, but then maybe thats what SK or Hornby are relying on! I'd send it back and get you money back

 

Bruce

Yeah thats a good idea i contact Hornby directly and see what can be done, im sure their team will get this

up to spec pretty quickly hopefully

all the best from Steve

Hi gang

here i am with my 2nd time lucky "Hornby NSE 4 VEP"

i have done a video because its better to see footage then words i think

link is below

All in all totally diffrent experience then my 1st NSE 4 VEP

Good Highlights

it goes round the track 1 way "big step forward against my last Hornby NSE 4Vep train!!!"

----------------------------

Unsatisfactory Highlights

1. Internal lights not working

2. headcode lights are the wrong way round ie red is forward and yellow/orange is back

3.where the video was taken train will only go clockwise on the track but not anticlock wise it de rails at various locations

all my other trains will go eachway so its 100% the 4 VEP issue "at this stage"

just to highlight my other trains are as follows

x2 NSE 2epb Bachmann / LTD

x1 B & G 2epb Bachmann

x2 B & G Class 416 Bachmann

x1 Blue Class 416 Bachmann/Modelzone

x2 Class 50s Hornby

4. struggles round corner curves on low speeds, you may can see in the video it slows down dramaticly

where all my other trains have no issues at any speed levels its also noticable on high speeds also but not

as much

5. very noisy train between all my other trains

i like to think i am fair person and the last 2 issues i will be happy to accept however the 1st 3 issues i would like a resolution if any board members can help let me know please

because i am hoping i can get this sorted via here maybe sorting out the 4th issue would be brilliant

Kind Regards From Steve

Well after reading this thread a little while back i took a drive to the Shop today

Harvey was very polite and made me feel welcomed i also come away with NSE Train.

also being there for the 1st time its a very nice location and town in my view

all the best from Steve

Today i went to the Hobby Shop in Faversham Kent

1st time i been there its lovely location and lucky for me i could park near the shop after trying to work out how to get there because of my Sat Nav wanted me to park elsewhere he!he!

the shop was fully stocked and while i was there i did ask if they had a NSE 4VEP

and they had 1 in stock so here we go 2nd time lucky for Steve, Harvey gave it a quick check

on its single carriage track tester all is well i did stress i had a duff 1 b4 elsewhere but i like these so much i really

wanted to give it another go, he was very open and honest he did say there has been a couple of issues on the all Blue version but to date NSE been ok "so i am now hoping i can be in the NSE Ok Club"

i be opening the box on Sunday and do a test on my layout then,also gives me time to read the board again on any tips if needed to get this running. because there been a few diffirent tales on the way since these was first launched

come on make my christmas Hornby with this 4VEP

Speak soon

great news!! fair play!!

Something l've been working on, the past few weeks.

Drawn, and brought up to date, using Google SketchUp. They're based on photos, drawings & notes made back in the '80s, when l did a stint of pattern making for MMP.

 

 

As you can, hopefully, make out there still many details to be added, but it does show the basic character.

 

Cheers

that looks brilliant!!

wow i am impressed

RE the names, either Simon or Martin is fine. At school, they always called us by our surnames anyway...!

oh i didnt relize either

i change it to Simon in the future i think 1st name is more polite.when speaking

all the best

you getting a response is good enough for me Martin

i dont need a reply now because i clearly stated i have sent the item back in the letter

so now for me after seeing working models on videos youtube clips via members

i am going to wait to see if there is any plan of action on the 4 Vep

if not i will go and try before i buy with a modelshop in the Kent area or

after looking at Hornbys website i may even turn up to the visitor center shop and cafe

in Margate

if i see it work on a layout i buy plus its good excuse to go there for the day even its just

ends up having something to eat at the Cafe "easy pleased me"

hopefully i dont look like a nerd in the flesh i would like to think i am a cool dude!! he!he!

Okay chaps, have been examining my cast MJT ends and the makeup of the Hornby model this evening. The MJT recesses are deeper than the Hornby ones by about .5 of a mm. Not enough to make a difference, I'd have thought, and yet there's several people here who think the MJT recess is shallower. I am wondering whether by removing the moulded pipework, and using the Hornby set, it would make the MJT end look better, as well as the windows modification.

 

I've been beaten to the rewheeling exercise, it seems - Nigel Burkin's superb modifications can be found by clicking this link.

 

It seems we were on a wavelength there - he has pretty much done the modifications to the unpowered bogies as I'd intended to, albeit for EM rather than 00.

im glad you done a link!!

not showing direct pics i got a right telling off not long ago from this guy

lesson learnt Stevie

great video metadyneman

Just to add my apologies chaps - I fear I have been like a dog with a bone with the 4VEP, so on the subject of said letters, the quality of the model and so on and so forth, I'll retire,

No need to explain yourself Martin i think you been pretty sane under the circumstances IMO

 

If you watch the video I posted on here you will see that the 4VEP running qualities aren't actually too bad. Radius 2 curves are no problem, multiple points connected into very sharp curves are no problem. It even travels over my settrack diamond when other locos / units stall on it. Watch the video, there's my proof!

Venator just thinking out loud here

keep good care of your model because if your train is in the bracket of "exceptional circumstances" you could

be sitting on a goldmine

example

a full running model which on the 2nd hard market like E Bay could make you some good money

i know if i could buy a working model i would or may be tempted to pay more for that model thats for sure

but like the rest i prefer to hear what Hornby got to say about the models in hand which clearly dont work

i would even go to Hornby as i am based in Kent if they offered to show me a full test on a lay out if i could

do a lucky pick from the batch and see with my own eyes it works without fail

all the best from Steve

To be fair guys you only sent them off the other day...

if its aimed at me i think you have missed read my post

i was not expecting a reply now that be fair too quick!

all the best from Steve