Michanglais

Yet another question! I've now got my complete circuit of Tillig ballasted track and am desperate to run my short rake of maroon Mk1s. I was going to wait for the BR Blue 08 (eeek, I know, what a combination but TT is for play for me!) but that could still be a few months off. So I've been considering the A4 Silver King. As I've previously mentioned, I'm not a steamer but, well, why not? Anyway, I was just wondering, before placing my order, whether there had been the quality control issues on this locomotive as seem to have happened with the Scotsman and Easterner releases? I'm a bit extra wary living in France because of the hassle of returns. And out of my four Mk1s, one is missing its corridor connections (still no reply from customer services after ten days). Any advice/reassurance welcomed! Cheers, Michael

I have a question regarding the HSTs. From what I can gather, there are 7 different coaches in both the BR Blue/Yellow scheme and IC Swallow scheme (tho Hornby's site seems to have a habit of sometimes 'not listing every item per era'). I'm faaaaaar from an expert on HST formations but I'm under the impression that the initial configurations were 7-car on the Western Region and 8-car on the Eastern. I am aware that in the latter years there were a lot of variations but I don't know when these started occurring. If there are 7 different running numbers available, does that mean 4 x 2nd/Standard, 1 x Buffet, 2 x 1st? Does that mean we're looking at Western Region models (and if so, what's the 'E' doing in front of the coach number on the Blue/Grey versions, unless these images really are 'place-holders' (tho, the 'E' number is repeated in the descriptions of the B/G versions)? Anyone got any ideas? I kind of want to build a full-length model of each but would that mean having 2 x one of the running numbers (presumably 2nd/Standard?)? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Michael

Just a quick question. Do we have any idea of the progress on the 08s? They seemed to be at quite an advanced stage but I've not seen/heard anything for a while. They seem to be the only diesel that is still displaying delivery for 'Expected Spring 2023' - nearly here! (Spring!). I'm dying for something to haul my maroon (!) Mk1s! Cheers, Michael

I wonder if someone could clarify something for me? It may have already been posted, but I may have missed it... On the Hornby website, the sound-fitted HST power car sets are advertised as featuring 'TXS Sound Decoders' - does that mean there'll be sound in both power cars? That would be an absolute clincher for me - memories of standing on Newark Northgate station when the HSTs first started coming into service and the 'double-woosh' of the train as it passed by. Not sure the effect will be quite the same in TT given that you'd have to have your head at rail height (and have a decent-length train) to really appreciate the separate sound from the two power cars but... I'd be willing to pay for it! Which is saying something, given that, unless I win the lottery, my living arrangements will only allow for a floor-level roundy-roundy and I'll have to get my head down low with my ageing, creaking bones but I'm prepared to do that!

A scale too far? Part of my collection and how it all fits together... The central lines are Swiss & French N (my intention is, once I've moved apartments, to build a diorama of the SNCF and adjacent SBB lines at Genève Cornavin), the line encompassing the N is TT, the coaches on the 'table' are HO Eurofimas - the coach responsible for 'converting' me to Continental). The fifth N scale line from the top has connectors, so that I can make a running circuit (you may note my love of snap-track - it's just perfect when you haven't got space for a permanent layout). The radius of the N curves is identical to the TT, so I'll never be able to run both N and TT at the same time but I think I can live with that! Currently out of use, there is also a circuit of HO Unitrack that runs round the sofa - all N remains undisturbed even when the HO circuit is in place (thank god, things would get very fiddly otherwise). This is all 'just for fun' - I do intend to have separate diorama/shelf layouts in N, TT and HO scales that will be somewhat more 'prototypical', but that's all on hold until I've moved. The TT circuit will happily accommodate an 8-car HST 'on the straight', which suits me fine. Now to order the remainder of the Tillig track to complete the circuit.... Hornby - what have you done to me!!!!! (Apols for the upside down photo - couldn't work out how to get it the right way round, but you get the picture)

I could be tempted, too, but as I've already got quite the collection of Nez cassés in HO & N, there has to be a cut-off point somewhere! :) For me, TT is going to be UK outline only - a bit of 'pick & mix' - don't care what era, tho I do draw the line at steam (apologies to all kettle fans!). So far, there doesn't seem to have been much of a reaction on the French forums as regards TT - it's really not a scale that has ever taken off in France and with the current 'renaissance' (if I may) of French N, I don't see there being much interest. Also, the French tend towards modelling SNCF only and don't show too much interest beyond the borders of 'l'Hexagone' (I'm allowed to say that now that I've been living here 20 years!). But, that being said, don't give up hope totally - between Arnold TT and Jouef, Hornby have some following in France/on the Continent and if they find the scale 'works' in the UK market, they may get tempted...

Now that's how I like to see my coaches coupled! Running on Tillig 396° curves and on the straight. I've not got any points to test them with - these are TJ Modèles 5mm coupling heads, I suspect pointwork may require 5.25s/5.5s/5.75s or higher (yes, he makes them in very small increments to get the absolute closest coupling possible!). Not having a loco, I pushed (slowly and quickly) and pulled (slowly and as quickly as possible - not easy to do and keep the coaches on the rails!). No rubbing (and no scraping). The kinematic couplings worked just as they should do. My intention for UK TT:120 is mostly display/diorama (powered, short, end-to-end shelf) but I probably will finish off a decent loop even tho I've got my N to run on a loop. I have got a loop of HO but I like to detail both ends of coaches and locos in that scale and don't have any 'units' so tend not to run the HO apart from on a powered, depot-style diorama (just like to set the sound going and do a bit of back-and-forth running). Anyway, that's getting off topic! These couplers are no good for shunting, tho I do seem to remember talk of an electrically powered version that would 'release' as desired but I'm not 100% about that, nor how it would work. I guess it would make them quite a bit more expensive, too - these come in at a very reasonable €1.50 per coupling head. But if just running trains is your thing, they're the bees knees. Very reliable, pulled or pushed, and with a high force of attraction, I can easily form 12-coach+ trains in N (with the coaches being heavier and not so free-running as the Hornby Mk1s). I don't foresee any unexpected uncoupling. I'll be interested to see what length coupler the Mk3s require once available. Also, I don't know if the couplers on the locos will be kinematic or simply 'swing', so greater length coupler heads may be required to prevent buffer lock. I tend to run fixed rakes with no coupler on the final coach in N but, as you can see, end-on the couplers are very discreet. I've even heard of people painting the magnets in dark nail varnish to get rid of the shine with success. SO looking forward to the arrival of the blue 08 (totally inappropriate, I know, but I'm not a steamer). Ideally a BR green Tractor but I'm not holding my breath! If I can get close coupling between coaches and coach end/power car end, my mouth is absolutely watering at the thought of full-length BR Blue/grey and IC HSTs...! STILL very excited about Hornby's decision to take this leap! Cheers, Michael

If the running qualities of my TT Mk1s are anything to go by (very free-running) no traction tyres probably doesn't matter for hauling UK stock (that is, presuming all the Hornby offerings are as free-running). However, Continental stock (in HO & N at least) tends to be heavier and, in the case of my Fleischmann EWIV coaches, are not particularly free-running - seems Continental manufacturers' standards differ greatly (as does their interpretation of NEM standards...), so it may be sensible to fit the 'Continental' 66s with traction tyres to be on the safe side. That being said, I've got an SBB re460 loco that has lost one of its two factory-fitted traction tyres and it still happily pulls an 8-coach rake of said EWIV coaches. Mind, the re460s are pretty hefty, I don't know how smaller locos would fare. If Hornby fit tyres to UK outline locos for the Continent, I guess it's just that we're used to them over here - in fact they're 'promoted' as 'advantageous' in the blurbs for loco specs. I have to say, they don't seem to present running issues for me and don't seem to leave more residue on the track than I've experienced with non traction tyre fitted locos in the past. Just from my own experience, of course! Cheers, Michael

And then there were three... In fact four, in two senses. I took delivery of my first 4 Hornby TT:120 MK1s this morning. Aside from the fact that the corridor connectors were missing on one of the vehicles (shall be getting onto Hornby to see if they've got any spares... not hopeful...), I have to say, I'm rather impressed. Finish and detailing is easily as good as you could expect for the price (as a 'Continental modeller' - CHEAP!), extremely free-running (I had trouble trying to keep the coach in line for the pics), tho I've not tried them on a curve yet and I'm going to be interested to see how close I can get them to couple (provided couplers yanked out immediately to be replaced by the extremely discreet magnetic couplers I use in N from 'TJ Modèles' who offer about ten different lengths. I'm hoping to get closer than the Hornby couplings provided - that will depend on the 'swing' of the Kinematic coupling system fitted, which doesn't seem to be very generous... we shall see). They'll be running on 396mm radius curves. That should be fine for MK1s and MK2s but is a bit tight for the longer MK3s to my eyes. However, it's the 'broadest' standard radius curve I can find in the Tillig bedding-track system (a necessity for me as no room for a permanent roundy-roundy and too convenient not to use). Whatever, as I've stated before, UK TT:120 is my 'play scale' - in the best possible way! So, here are some comparison pics that, FINALLY!, show the true size differences between UK/(most) Continental European stock in the relevant scales. (For info, I've included the now pretty-standard UIC Z length Eurofima coach (orange doors) in HO, the UK MK1 in TT (obviously), another UIC Z length Swiss Euro-City coach in N, along with an older Swiss EWII in N (built 1965 - 1976, as far as I can find out - not to UIC Z standards by any means) - the nearest in era that I've got to a BR MK1.) Lengths are: HO UIC Z: 303mm (pretty much the same length as an OO MK3, despite being MUCH longer in 1:1 - just goes to show...) TT MK1: 168mm N UIC Z: 165mm N EWII: 152mm (I'm crap at maths and can't be bothered to run all the numbers through online calculators but it's interesting how close the TT MK1 and N UIC Z are in length - my minimum radius for my N stock is, coincidentally, 396mm radius and that's just about passable to my eyes - clearly these are vehicles from totally different eras, the TT MK3 is advertised at 189mm, which isn't ideal for 396mm radius curves to my eye but, hey, as I say, TT is for play!) Anyway, here are some pics to put things into perspective (please excuse poor photography - not good lighting and a camera phone I'm not used to): Note, I do not know what 'standards' were used in the design of the EWII but they are particularly low-slung so the (very poor) end shot doesn't compare regular heights in the way a UIC Z vehicle would have done. Cheers! Michael

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting in this part of the forum so I hope I'm in the right place! I've got a few HAG DC re460s I would like to digitalise - mostly just for lighting but maybe one or two with sound. However, I am a total novice! (Foolhardy?) Anyway, I bought second-hand a loco that someone had retfrofitted with DCC. No sound, but lots of different lighting effects. Really, I'd be quite happy with just white lights all round (the loco is for a diorama and you'd never be able to see both ends at the same time). Anyway, I attach a photo with a component - don't know what it is - and wondered if it was a necessary part of DCCing? I don't think it's a 'stay alive' because the loco stalls rather easily at low speeds even on clean track. I was kinda hoping to use his work as a sort of guide but really, I think I could make things simpler with just white lighting (his DCCing allows all the different Swiss white/red lighting configurations, which are numerous). I realise this is perhaps a bit left of field, but any advice/words of wisdom would be gratefully appreciated! Cheers, Michael

I think someone made an entry about cutting and shutting the current MK1s to make different variations a couple of pages back. I'm not really skilled enough to do that sort of work and, fortunately, I'm not particularly looking to produce prototypical formations - TT is going to be my 'play' scale. Anything goes! Those maroon Mk1s will be 'shunted' by a BR blue 08 until something green in diesel comes along (even an 'electric blue' - despite the 'E' numbers on the coaches!). I think this is going to be the case for a lot of people until the range expands/other players get involved. I'm fairly prototypical in my French and Swiss but in UK TT I just "want stuff" - child that I am! That being said, it does strike me as slightly odd also to not include a full second class Mk1 from the outset - in a way, it might have been a better option than the brake composite, but that's a whole other discussion... As an aside, (impatient child now coming out) have any other EU buyers got any ideas on how long it takes Hornby to get 'advertised as in-stock' items on the move and if there have been any customs and duties issues? Cheers, Michael

Yay! Just placed my first firm order for a set of 4 maroon Mk1s to be displayed on my maintelpiece on Tillig snaptrack while I await the delivery of non-steam locos. It'll make for a rather strange rake - 2 corridor composites and 2 brake composites, but I don't care. As per my signature, Swiss and French HO and N are my main focus but I intend to have a bit of fun with UK TT. Anything goes! May just be for display/diorama, I may get more Tillig snaptrak and make a loop for the odd play on the floor (no room for a permanent roundy-roundy layout). I really just want to get my hands on some of the stuff without too much investment (didn't go for either of the sets - not into steam and, given my living circumstances, snaptrack is so much more convenient than standard Hornby fish-plate track - still intrigued as to why Hornby didn't try their hand at some form of snaptrack, it's so damned quick to assemble (and would have potentially attracted these target 'non-current railway modellers' due to its ease of use). Also, if you weather it up nicely, it can make for an attractive display item. I have had a few TT Euro coaches previously, but I'm intrigued to see the difference between UK loading gauge and my Euro UIC Z loading gauge (height and length of vehicles). TT MK1s only come in at about 2cm longer than N scale UIC Z. It'll be an interesting comparison, but it'll all be coherent! At last! Whilst I'm firmly settled between France and Switzerland now, being able to relive my earlier days of UK trainspotting with correct proportions is going to be bliss. I've tried UK OO and N but, despite being far from a rivet counter, couldn't cope with the strange proportions. Wishlist item - a BR green, sound-equipped 'Tractor'! (think I may be waiting a while for that one...!)

While I'm here and having mentioned it - does anyone have any insider info on when the next batch of The Easterner set is likely to arrive? (If it's a while off, I may just order randomly from what's available now and buy a circuit of Tillig ballasted snap-track, which I was going to get in the end anyway if The Easterner passed muster (for me!) It'd work out more expensive but, what the hell, no holidays planned this year!)

I wonder if Hornby will strike a similar deal with pierredominique.com in France who already stock quite a bit of Hornby? (mostly steamers) They're a bit of a 'go-to' for French modellers looking for 'rarer' items (they do stock just about everything - from the big domestic/international players down to local artisinal). That being said, they don't seem to have the 'greatest' reputation in that they can be a bit slow because they go to just about every swap-meet in France and I get the impression their online stock system isn't always up-to-date, also on the French forums, I've read claims that people have received items that were clearly returns/second-hand without this being stated, etc. I've had them send me wrong items/taking their time replying myself. Could possibly put Hornby off but most major French dealers I know of (I am happy to be corrected!) seem to cater mostly to France/mainland Europe modellers. There is also star-boutique, but I think they have similar issues as pierredominique and their ranges tend to be rather sparse/on-off at times. I've not compared the Hornby prices on pierredominique/Hornby OO direct (with/without membership discount) but I suspect, with the possibility of free shipping from Hornby for 'relatively' cheap purchases and (in the case of TT) those having free Club Membership with 15% discount, they might not be much of a better option except for, say, the purchase of a single coach/wagon. Time will tell, I guess. That being said I've yet to receive my pre-ordered Easterner and am intrigued to see whether Hornby manage to deliver DDP as claimed or whether French customs will nevertheless ignore any paperwork (assuming it is correctly provided...) and slap on VAT and duties at the time of delivery , tho I have enough faith in Hornby that they would reimburse me should such issues arise. (Am I being naive on the latter point?! - never bought from Hornby direct before!)

I'm getting too impatient to wait for the release of the HSTs later this year! (Possibly next...) - Does anyone have any idea when there are more 'The Eastener' sets due in? I've never done steam before but I'm dying to get my hands on some of this scale! Cheers, Michael

Hi all, I've just taken delivery of a Hobbytrain Re IV/IV II. I was just wondering whether it's supposed to come with accessories (like a front skirt in-fill à la Fleischmann re460 because there's an empty slot in the foam casing for the loco? Or maybe it's just for storage of removed couplers? Anyone else got one? Cheers, Michael

Tillig do offer concrete-sleepered, pre-ballasted, snap track (if that's your thing - I use it because I've got nowhere for a permanent layout and even a temporary set-up gets in the way at times, it's so easy and quick to build a quick layout). But I understand that may not be for the 'serious' modeller, tho it can be made to look decent if weathered, etc. Some US modellers swear by Kato Unitrack (which the Tillig design is identical to) and if ballast is laid between/around the track pieces, it can look quite respectable. Could do as an interim until one of the manufacturers come up with unballasted concrete-sleepered track?

Thanks for the info. It'll be interesting to see what Hornby produce, then. The image (I don't know if it's an OO placeholder or whether the number is what will be produced - I'm kind of new to more 'recent' Hornby - haven't modelled the UK scene for at least 20 years... god, I'm old...) shows 43062 with 'Guard' clearly printed on the door and (I think) fitted with exhaust deflectors (I'm no expert in this matter, but aren't they the black 'lumps' on the roof, slightly overlapping onto the yellow?). Would this indicate a modified exhaust deflector unit with the wording 'Guard' left in place? Would that place it at a very specific period? All conjecture of course because there's no indication of the 'final' running number in the item description... Fully prepared to be corrected due to my lack of knowledge in this area!

Nooooooo! I'll want them all! (the re 4/4 IVs), probably the Bpms, too! With that, all the Arnold N SNCF stuff and Hornby's UK TT, I'm going to be in financial ruin!

I have a question regarding the BR blue/grey HST. Would it have run with a Tourist Guard Second or an ordinary Second next to the power car? I ask this because I'm not sure about when the Guard's compartment in the power car was taken out of use and the compartment added to the Mk3 coach. From the images shown of the blue/grey HST, it looks as tho the guard's compartment is still in place (presuming this will be the final version released) - did the sets run with this still in place even tho the guard's compartment had been added to the Mk3? I'm generally a continental modeller but HSTs were my first love so I'm keen to get my hands on one but I'm not familiar with UK 'Eras', which are different to continental ones and I'm not sure where I could find this information out. Cheers, Michael

Hello Tony! Lucky you! In and of itself, central Geneva is relatively small considering its international importance (depending on where you come from, of course!) but it has a charm that makes me want to visit a few times a year - its position on the lake, the surrounding mountains, its multi-culturalism. I love where I live, but I would have no problems moving to Geneva. It's very well connected (airport and rail). I would imagine roads, too, but I don't drive in Switzerland. Obviously, you're not far from spectacular scenery - if you like doing anything outdoorsy, there's all that rambling, hiking, skiing... Be prepared for some cold in the winter (that wind off the lake...!) and some quite intense heat in the summer (that's when the breeze off the lake can come in handy). And Swiss trains are great. From my experience (and compared to the SNCF) incredibly clean, frequent, punctual... They can be very expensive but I think most people hold some kind of annual pass that makes them much cheaper to use and you can buy tickets in advance at reduced prices. There's a decent amount of variety and lots of services are still loco-hauled, albeit often in push-pull formation. Often quite 'unique', too, with single and double-deck stock mixed in one train, a loco at either end of the train, loco(s) in the centre of the train. Obviously, lots of international services - generally the more you approach Zurich - but there are quite a few SNCF services from Cornavin to places like Paris, Lyon, Valence - maybe some more destinations I don't know about. I'm quite jealous :) I hope you'll enjoy your new home!

Once more, many thanks, John! I've yet to work on the loco that's over-heating, but I did strip down completely a relatively new sound-equipped re465 model that was completely and utterly dead. Cleaned the brushes/commutator (again...), wheels, pick-ups, removed some of the masses of grease that was in the gear boxes and gave the track a good clean (my track is Kato Unitrack, which tends to stay 'magically' quite clean except when you've been running in new locos, which seem to dirty it considerably, and I've run-in a few new locos recently). Machine is now happily pushing a rake of Dostos (perhaps not very prototypical!), without hesitation and making all the right noises! (I could probably do with servicing the wheels on the coaches, too, the Dostos seem to attract an inordinate amount of fluff...). Now to carry out the same process with the mini microwave! That's an old model, tho it did run okay when I first got it - hopefully the same process will help. I don't know how long the motors on these things last for. It could have seen heavy use before I got it, no knowing with this one. I've got a couple of re460s being re-motored with coreless motors (didn't fancy trying to do that myself). It'll be interesting to compare running qualities, tho I've heard coreless motors can be problematic on DCC. Fingers crossed on that one. Obviously, the wheels/contacts/track will require just as much attention, I guess. Once again, many thanks! Cheers, Michael

Hi John, I just wanted to pick your brains again on this subject, if that's okay. One of the locos I got running successfully again started to judder and then came to a dead stop so I carried out the cleaning procedure, this time turning the motor a bit so that the spray got all the way round the shaft and I also replaced the brushes with new ones that I cleaned first. The loco is now running again, if not as smoothly as I'd like, but the motor gets quite hot to the touch (I'm testing with the body shell off, so I'm touching the motor sides, not the plastic shell). Is this normal? Perhaps I need to apply a little oil here and there because I presume the spray is 'cleaning' off any lubricant as well? As usual, any ideas would be much appreciated! Cheers, Michael

Thanks for the link! A bit off topic but there's quite a lot of French N in that Arnold catalogue - with my new interest in UK TT and on-going interests in SNCF and SBB N, I think I may have to get a second job this year!

And with my interest in French N, alongside SBB N, this year promises to be somewhat expensive... ! (Not to mention their UK TT:120 - which has piqued my interest... but that's really a whole different topic!)