Michanglais

I had wondered the same thing. I may be waaaay off (I really am talking out of my @rse here) but I thought the 2Fs were introduced for WCML use until most services were taken over my Mk3s. Obviously, I stand to be corrected!

I use magnetic couplers (not Hunts, if anything somewhat smaller) and I have had no issue with trains separating. I think you should be fine.

Good question. I'm not quite sure how I'd find out, tho. Would I not need some kind of measuring device?

I was wondering whether anyone else was having the following issue: I've currently got Next 18 Bluetooth decoders in both powered and dummy car of a TT HST. The powered unit makes all the right noises and functions perfectly. However, the dummy remains obstinately silent. The lighting functions are all fine. I've tried a few different speakers in both the side of the decoder and in the special extension socket provided next to the speaker. Nada. Any ideas for what's going on/fixes, please? Cheers, Michael

That's interesting that Hornby will be supplying magnetic couplers for the Mk2s. I wonder if they'll be buffer-to-buffer coupling or leave a gap like the current couplers? I'm guessing the coupling mechanism will be the same as the Mk1s, the Mk3s needing to allow for the underframe detailing (I'm guessing).

Yay! I just received my rake of 7 blue/grey Mk3s and I'm happy to say they are massively smoother running than the IC Exec ones. No need for axle filing this time. I must have just got a duff set last time. Now to get them fitted with TJModèles magnetic couplers to get rid of those nasty gaps (and horrendous to uncouple pre-fitted couplers). Harking back to the days of my childhood with this 'flying banana'...

Thanks for posting that link. Some mouth watering images there. Really looking forward to those class 50s!

Thank you - the move went as well as a move can do (stressful but I got through it!). I've got lots of room for a circuit on a hard floor. I have plans for a TT diorama (powered, so that I can have my locos ticking over in a station). Looking forward to getting on with that project. I've got a couple of long walls which will easily accommodate 8 coach trains. In that respect, Simon Kohler was right - TT can be used to produce a 'shelf' layout. Cheers, Michael

I'm having similar issues with about 10 locos whose numbers I had written down but now have naturally forgotten where I wrote them. I've tried to set CV8 to 8 but it says it cannot find the manufacturer and won't let me program CV8. I have no idea who the manufacturer is as these decoders are designed specifically for this type of loco and may or may not be produced by the loco manufacturer. In the past, I have been able to read back the programmed decoder number but I'll be darned if I can remember how to do it. I've had a look at the manual but can't find what I'm looking for. Any help would be gratefully appreciated! Cheers, Michael

I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times before but is there any way of resetting the decoders back to factory settings so that I can sort out the mess I'm in with assigned decoders not running in correct models. I've tried on the four decoders I've got. I don't really want to write them all off. Any help would be gratefully received! Cheers, Michael

Problem solved! Don't know how many pages back I said my power car was struggling with five mk3 coaches but would haul seven mk1s. Anyway I found the mk3s to lack the very free running of the mk1s. So I decided to 'sacrifice' a MK3 , filing just a little off the axle points. This produced running qualities similar to the mk1s with no apparent issues. So, I filed the points across my rake and the power car has no problems hauling 8 mk3s. Don't know if I got a bad batch but I will now order my blue/grey rake knowing I can fix any potential issues. Few!

I've noticed this too. Hornby seems to be hedging their bets on this one, going for a 'safe' distance...

Did he not also say there would be 'extra' in Hornby Magazine than in a future pdf? (Bit unfair for us not able to pick up a copy...).

Cheers!

That appears to be for OO - I can't find the TT April one, either!

I have to say, I agree with you on the last point. I model Continental N as well and they seem to be able to fit flywheels, speakers, next 18 decoders, etc. in the models. I don't really see why Hornby couldn't do the same (apart from a lack of experience in a smaller scale for British outline - Arnold N should be able to give them some clues...).

Does anyone know whether the same link will work for the Q&A or will Hornby send that later? Didn't realise there would be a Q&A...

On the topic of things coming into stock, I have set up Stock Alerts for all era 7 and era 8 models (nothing on pre-order) but I didn't get any alerts for the HST packs or Mk3s. I've checked my email address is up to date. Has anyone else found this issue?

Aha! Well, that kind of suits me better financially and physically. Shows you shouldn't jump to conclusions with the Hornby website! Cheers, Michael

I see, according to the Hornby website, the Class 50s are now in stock, along with the blue/grey Mk3s (if it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere already). Hoping they don't sell out too quickly (for purely selfish reasons!) because I'm in the middle of a move and wouldn't know to which address to get the parcel posted! I wonder if these will be part of tomorrow's announcement - stuff that's come into stock recently? It has to be said, we've gone from 0 to 100km/h last month for 'modern image' modellers.

Thanks for the well wishes for the move - indeed not fun, lol! I sort of have passed the message on to Hornby. I initially contacted Technical Services thinking there was something wrong with the gearing/motor in the HST powercar but when I realised it was the Mk3s, I contacted them again to say I'd found a likely guilty culprit - the Mk3s. It'll be interesting to see what they say when they respond - I'll be interested to see if other people have found the same issue. Maybe I should drop a line to Customer Services, too. In fact I may as well do that now. Cheers, Michael

I decided to have a little experiment. I filed down the axle points just slightly on one Mk3. The conclusion? A much freer roll in comparison to an unmodified Mk3. I think that will sort out some major issues. Unfortunately, I haven't got the time to do all coaches and test run due to having to pack up for a house move. As all wheelsets have the same issue, I'm probably have to do the whole train of 8 coaches to know for sure but it would seem that the axles are slightly too long or the bogies frames too 'tight'. I shall report back when I can. Cheers, Michael

I can confirm that all of my Mk3s have the same characteristics - all wheels correctly situated, all wheels turning freely. Well, freely... if you try to spin the wheels they stop immediately. My Mk1s keep spinning. One other thing I forgot to mention - I used magnetic couplings to have corridor-to-corridor operations. However, while the Mk1s remain close coupled when running, the Mk3s 'stretch' the kinematic mechanism to its limit and that leaves quite distinct gaps between the coaches. Obviously Mk3s will be heavier but notably, I also run Continental N using the same couplers. The coaches are only a couple of centimetres shorter than a Mk3 and are just as heavy in the hand but they don't exhibit this 'stretching' phenomenon. Interesting...

Curiosity got the better of me and I unpacked a rake of seven Mk1s. My HST is now happily purring around with the Mk1s and the dummy at the rear. Functioning fine at all speeds. Notably, the Mk1s are much freer rolling than the Mk3s so I'm thinking the Mk3s are what's causing the issue. Perhaps I need to apply some graphite to the axle points on the Mk3s or, even more drastically, loosen the axle 'boxes' on a few coaches so that there's less drag. Bit of a pain but worth a try, I guess...

Glad to hear your HST seems to be behaving! I've sent an inquiry to Technical Services to see what they think. Oh, I also tried it on DCC - same issues as with DC. I'm wondering whether there is an issue with the gears and not all wheels are being driven. I guess I could test that quite easily myself... Going back to your test, one thing I've noticed is that the Mk3s aren't as free running as the Mk1s or Pullmans. Well, that's my experience, anyway. Maybe it's the coaches that are to blame. I've currently got all of my other TT coaches boxed up ready for a house move but now you've related your experiences I'm tempted to unpack them and give that a go. Thanks for your detailed reply! Cheers, Michael