rembrow

In fairness to Hornby, during the recent programme when they showed a full rake apt, under test, to determine it's scale maximum speed with one ndm, that test identified a shortfall in speed. They stated that they decided to uprate the motor and a further test with the programme recording, fitted with the uprated motor, showed it achieving the speed of the prototype, on one ndm. Yes, that was on flat track. The programme must have been recorded after the product was announced, as most of the stock used were painted examples, which indicates that the motor change was made late into the development.Time will tell.

Except the 7 car set has the development coach which didn't operate in the 14 car set, so you have to remove that vehicle and add in 4 two car additional coach packs to make a prototype 14 car set. The 5 car set has all it's vehicles available for a potential 14 coach rake. I've gone for tbe 7 coach set as I wanted the later black window surround and have purchased a powered ndm, which I may change the body with tbe unpowered one in the set, if I can get it apart, as the pantogrsph removal looks difficult.

I suspect what happened was a lack of joined up thinking at Hornby. When the apt was announced I contacted Hornby customer services to enquire about the make up of the 5 and 7 car sets and whether the 2 ndms in the 7 car set were powered. They passed this to one of the development team who responded to me and I posted the response earlier in this thread. I was told that the 7 car set had one powered and one unpowered ndm. He said that Hornby envisaged that those wanting the 14 car make up would start from the 5 car set, which was why the stand alone extra ndm was powered and numbered for that set. I suspect Hornby originally intended the 7 car set to stand alone and that the extra cars would be numbered for the 5 car prototype. In the end they decided to make the additional coaches for both 5 and 7 car packs, but didn't change the spec for the unpowered ndm in the 7 car set. Hope that makes sense.

Agree completely. The previous decision was made when George Smith was MD and Dave Jones was development manager. IIRC the last 'oo' gauge new model was the awful Pendolino, (I bought one!!!), where the coaches had a standard lower body and plug in variations for the roofs. Jones had an 'n' gauge background and his role was to develop the 'n' gauge range as the main product line. Dapol did continue to produce 'oo' gauge rolling stock using ex Hornby Dublo and Airfix tooling. Dapol also produced a number of 'oo' gauge commissioned models in this post tool selling period, including Beattie well tank, Sentinel and Stove R.

I've checked with one of the latest 45s which I bought in the summer, BR green Royal Tank Regiment. The drive is on 2 axles per bogie, but unusually, this isn't on both outer axles (ignoring the front load carrying axle). Using the 3 driving axles, the drive is on the centre and front driving axles, the rear driving axle is unpowered.

I haven't got a horse in this race, but what I can add is my recent experience of Bachmann, regarding a significant model livery error. When they released the refurbished Class 20/3 diesel models earlier this year, the one in DRS original livery, had a significant livery error, the DRS logo on one side, was in the wrong place. These logos are full body height. I contacted Bachmann via the Collectors Club and received a prompt reply from Richard Proudman who confirmed the production error and that it was not up to Bachmann's expected standards. He advised they had decided to have new bodies manufactured. Six months later we were advised the new bodies were imminent and asked to send proof of purchase. Replacements came about a week later. They were full replacement bodies, with all fittings and electrical connections, they did not even ask for the original bodies to be returned so I cannot fault them for sorting out that issue.

If you change the chip for the dc blanking plate, it is quite straightforward, as both fit on to the 21 pins in the same direction. Removing the dcc chip is probably the most difficult part as they are a tight fit, so my suggestions are. 1. Both boards have circuitry on one side and a black plastic rectangular connector for the pins on the other. 2. Make sure the dc blanking board is in the same direction as the dcc fitted chip and very importantly the rectangular black plastic chip connector must be facing upwards. If you try and instal the other way round you will bend some pins. 3. Remove the dcc chip by holding either side of the black plastic chip connector, pull and rock gently and it will slide up. 4. Place dc blanking plate over the pins, the black rectangular plastic bar must be on the top and above the pins, (it is the receptacle for the pins, making connections)and gently push down until fully home.

The dcc fitted version is programmed to run on dc as supplied, mine did. The only drawback is the speed control is less responsive and the cab lights up like a Christmas tree. I've replaced tge dcc chip with the dc blanking plate. As stated, the blanking plate comes loose in the box, separate from the other accessories, so care is needed to avoid it dropping out.

I'm the same, see my post of earlier today. As I posted, I'm wondering if tbe factory made more dcc fitted than were ordered. Mine came with an optional dc blanking plate.

Just received my GT3, ordered from KR models when the 2nd batch were announced. Very pleased with the model so far. One strange thing, I ordered and paid for a DC version (DCC ready), but have received a DCC Fitted version. Others above, who ordered from Rails DCC ready have received DCC Fitted at no extra cost. I'm wondering if the factory made way to many Fitted versions, or is there a distribution issue. Not a problem for me, as it comes with a DC blanking plate, but I will let Michael at KR know.

Hattons issued an update yesterday, advising the sound fitted versions were now available to order and still advising delivery of the dc versions is expected in Jan 22

I'm wondering if they've used available production slots for the GWR Mogul, Prairie and Manor models, as they faced more competition with these and gave them priority. Certainly the Manor development has been almost stratospheric in Dapol terms.

Just had notification from KR that the 2nd run GT3s have arrived at the UK warehouse and processing for dispatch to UK and overseas customers is to commence shortly. UK orders will be sent by Royal Mail.

I've made the same modification to the axle slots of the rear pony and I'm now getting a couple of mm of lift of the truck, without the driving wheels lifting. I have reinstalled the springs, reduced in length, which ensure the axle stays on the track, but with less pressure than originally. I extended the axle slot gradually, as there is not much room between the wheel tread and the underside of the cab floor so I wanted to avoid the wheel tread scrapping the floor. As posted last night, the loco has been tested on a makeshift incline, reverse first, and the driving wheels are not lifting from the track.

I've looked at the rear pony truck and initially, I was surprised that the wheelset didn't have as much free rotation as I would expect. Unlike the front pony truck, the springing for the rear pony is on the axle, rather than the truck, so I'm wondering if this could be causing the problem, if the pressure on the axle is too much, in some cases, restricting rotation and leading to issues on points. I also found that the rear pony axle, when the whole wheelbase is on the rail, or on a flat surface, is fully depressed and the pony truck top is against the cab floor, giving no further upward movement. I can see that if the pony wheels are pushed up, there is no play to stop the chassis lifting. What I've done is twofold. Having seperated the pony truck by the two screws, I've removed the springs and reduced their length by a quarter. This relieves the pressure on the axle. I've slightly extended the half circular end of the axle locating slot, with a round file, to give more up and down movement of the axle, particularly when the wheelsets are down on the track. I may have to lengthen the slot more, but it has given the wheelset more free rotation and there is some upward movement ability, when the wheels are on the track, so it should now be able to handle the upward movement on some points without lifting the driving wheels. From what I've found the loco may have problems in tackling gradients while in reverse, due to the lack of upward movement available in the rear truck wheelset unless the axle and truck are modified. Addition. I've now successfully tested the modification on a created incline.

I've tested mine through 3rd radius points and have had no problems forward or reverse. I'm using dc operation. The rear bogie is free moving left, right and up, down. The springs in the rear pony are fairly light in tension so there is no real resistence.

You're welcome. I should also have said that Dulcote leaves an even sheen finish, which can be made more matt by additional coats. I used one coat, which has left a satin sheen comparable with the green and black finish.

I used Testors Dulcote, which although a spray I regularly use brushed by spraying some into a can lid. It is not sticky like some varnishes, and brushes on easily.

I consider your post as very helpful, and has alerted me to check the authorised status if buying from a new supplier. It is because of your post that I've thought of the recent change to Bachmann's warranty for Club members, increasing it to 2 years, provided the purchase was from an authorised retailer. A non authorised retailer may be prepared to honour an exchange or refund for the normal warranty, but unlikely to agree to the same for the second year.

Not necessarily, there is a well known large retailer in the north west, who had their Bachmann retailer agreement withdrawn a few years ago, who regularly list new Bachmann stock on their website. Most are not new to market items, having been released several months previously, but are sold as new. It is believed they have a relationship with an authorised retailer, who supplies them with surplus stock

As far as the gearing goes, I've checked the Prairie and Mogul parts list and the gear part is the same ref number so no help there. As the parts list confirms, the chassis parts are identical for the two models, except for the rear pony on the Prairie, so I've run them together and the Prairie has slower speed across the whole range of my controller settings, with a very slow crawl. I tested it against my Bach 94xx and it was slower at the lower settings than the 94xx, so I would say that the gearing has been adjusted. As far as rivet detail, the footplate rivets are more pronounced than with Hornby, however this is a drawback on using a cast metal footplate, the benefit being more weight lower down. I think this really shows with the crawl that I'm achieving with no running in, bearing in mind Dapol don't suggest models need to be run in. Again I've compared rivett detail with the 94xx and they seem comparable to my eye. The handrail knobs are thicker than other recent models, including the Mogul.

The running plate to tank join is interesting, my BR late crest has a snug join over the whole length of the tank and running board join on both sides.

I've received my BR late crest this morning and it is a great looker, with very fine detail. The lifting rings on the tank tops look to be individual parts, but are fixed. They may be moulded but are superbly detailed if they are. The only thing that jarred was the brightness of the safety valve bonnet, so after testing, I toned the shine down with Testor's Dulcote applied by brush to the brass effect, has made a huge difference. Running is excellent with good slow speed and realistic top speed, it certainly seems that Dapol have fitted revised gearing compared to the Mogul. On the issue of the slide bars with bent up/down ends, when I checked mine, two of the bars were horizontal at the ends, one lower on one side and one upper on the other. Using those as benchmarks, I checked that the connecting rods would clear the two horizontal bars, which they did. I then adjusted the other two using small fine/bent node pliers. The metal bends fairly easily. I now have four horizontal slide bars. I must compliment Dapol on the price, I ordered as soon as announced and in the subsequent 3 years the price increased by only £5. My retailer also maintained the original price so thanks to both. Now tempted by the BR lined green early crest!!

Seems that Rails are packing orders quickly, my BR late crest pre order has been processed and packed already, due to be with RM today.

Rails have added a further post, that they are expecting the prairies to arrive with them today. They are also expecting a Bachmann delivery, so a lot of models to dispatch.