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Hi Andy. The photo doesn't show it very well, but the lamp definitely has two electrodes with two filaments in parallel connected to them - it's not a single filament supported in the middle, I'm familiar with those. I'll try and do another that shows it more clearly as the photo I posted is looking end on to the electrodes. It sounds a good idea to measure the current at differing voltages, I'll try and set something up so that I can measure the voltage and current at the same time. It's a pity there's no further information on the lamp, mostly they have a voltage and current (or power) marked on them. Cheers Keith

Umm, to get back to the topic, I removed the lamp from my Marshall III controller and it's a tubular MES lamp, but has two filaments. The only marking on it is 'Vitality X878', which isn't very helpful. As a test, I supplied it with 6V which made it light fairly bright, although I got the feeling that the rating would have been higher than this. It quickly got too hot to hold and so I connected an ammeter and the current draw was 1.5A at 6V - not surprising it got hot quickly. I'll attach a photo of it - I've never seen a lamp quite like this before. Someone may recognise it though. I don't know if it's the original lamp but Vitality bulbs would have been going when the Marshall III controller was manfactured

It's certainly true that there are a lot of small and fragile parts on this model so maybe the less it gets handled the better. Clearly better QC in China is needed as it would obviously be easier to check the pickups before the bogies are fitted. For most people the least hassle way to deal with these things is just to fix the problem as returning the model involves a trip to post it off and of course it also involves the retailer in the expense of refunding postage charges and having to fix or replace the model and send it out again. It took me around half an hour to sort the pickups out and I haven't so far come across any other running issues, the motor is smooth and quiet and the model pulls 11 coaches with no problems. It's just that these little niggles rather tend to spoil things. The only other issues were that one of the pipes had fallen out of the buffer beam and a handrail had also dropped out. Both these were loose in the package and so it was easy enough to deal with them. I seem to remember that one of the DJ model locos was supposed to have had every model personally inspected by Dave Jones - a rather tedious job I should think. I don't buy locos all that often but I think it would be nice to get one that worked correctly straight from the box.

I recently bought one of these and at least four of the pickups didn't work - you could clearly see daylight between the pickup and the back of the wheel. This seems to be a particular issue with this model, although I've had a number of Chinese made models, particuarly the Dapol Class 22 and the Steam Museum special D1000, that have had pickup issues. I think if we're paying £180 for this model then it's not unreasonable to expect that it will work correctly from new. On a point of principle, I was tempted to return it and ask for a replacement but there's no guarantee the replacement would be any better. Kernow can hardly be unaware of this issue, so I should have thought that in the interest of good customer relations, it would be an idea to take a look at every model before despatch - it took me only a matter of seconds to see the faults. Having corrected the faults, the model now runs just fine, it's quiet and very powerful. It would have been nice not to have to spend time dismantling the bogies to realign the pickups before I could use it. My old Tri-ang models never seemed to have these issues... Keith

I never got the headcode lights to work with the sound decoder, although looking at the circuit board it looks as though it's wired to use a logic output on AUX 3 as it has the transistor and the other parts necessary to provide an 'amplified' output to operate the headcode LEDs. I eventually worked around the issue by fitting an additional function only decoder and used that to operate the headcode lights (which I was able to make directional) and the cab lights, although I don't use those often, just for when I get visitors really who like to see them lit up. The sound decoder operates the marker lights, the motor and the sound of course. The sound decoder works very well at controlling the motor and the model runs plenty fast enough for me. Although this didn't solve the AUX 3 issue, it's better to have the headcode lights directional I think. It's a pity taht some people seem to have difficulties with poor running, but mine is really very good with the Legomanbiffo decoder.

The thing is that I haven't been able to get the headcode lights to work using either the ESU sound decoder or the TCS EU621 both of which have logic level outputs on AUX 3. As the circuit board is wired for logic output from the decoder with the transistor to provide the 'amplified' output for the LED, I'm puzzled as to why this doesn't work. I don't have a decoder that has a standard function output on AUX 3 so I can't just try that. I'll have another look at the circuit board and see if for some reason there are different versions of it that require different types of decoder. I'd prefer to get the headcode lights working with the ESU sound decoder, so if anyone has achieved this it would be good to hear what they did! Cheers Keith

I have the' later' version of the sound decoder and it's fine out of the box as far as the running is concerned. I'm also waiting to hear back from Charlie about how to get the headcode lights to work with it as that's a serious issue for me. I have a feeling the situation is that although the Loksound decoders have 6 function outputs in total, only 4 of these outputs are amplified (able to drive loads directly) with the remaining 2 being logical (only supplying a control signal). This is due to the fact the the ESU decoders conform to the NEM (MOROP) Standards with Aux 3 & Aux4 specified as logical outputs. I think that you just need a suitable NPN transistor and a bias resistor to make a 'physical' output that will control a device - in this case the head code LEDs.

Yes, the head code lights don't work using a four function decoder. I have emailed Charlie Petty to ask how the ESU sound decoder can be configured to provide an output on AUX3 so that the head code lights will illuminate. It's a bit of a pity that the head code illumination wasn't wired to AUX1 or AUX2 as most people will be more interested in head code lights than cab lights. Keith

That's what I thought too, so I tried it in the Class 71 and it behaved in the same way as the Gaugemaster decoder. I then tested it on my decoder tester and the outputs of Aux 3 and Aux 4 didn't light the LEDs. When I probed deeper it seems that the EU621, or at any rate certain versions of it, is not compatible with NMRA 21-Pin Standards, in particular Aux 3 and Aux 4 are logic outputs rather than amplified outputs and so they won't light an LED. Interestingly though the EU821 specifically says that it provides 8 lighting outputs and also says that it's compatible with NMRA 21-Pin standards, a statement that is absent in the description of the EU621. Thanks for posting the bit about Dave's definitions of what does what, I obviously should have looked at that in the first place. However, what I'd really like to do is to get the Legomanbiffo decoder to turn the head code lights on and off - I'll ask Charlie about that to see if it's possible. If not then it may be necessary to fit an additional decoder just to control the head code lights, but I'd prefer not to have to do that. Cheers Keith

That would make a lot of sense from what I'm seeing. I think directional lights count as two functions - when I've bought a 3 function decoders they've always had front and rear lights and one other function output, so a 4 function decoder would be using all available functions for directional lights, forward cab light and reverse cab light. I've got a TCS EU621 21 pin decoder which I can try as I think that's a 6 function decoder. If the head code lights are directional as well, this will need 6 functions. Thanks very much for your help with this. Dave - could you tell us if this is correct and we do in fact need five function outputs from the decoder to operate the directional marker lights, front cab light, rear cab light and head code lights, or six function outputs if the head code lights are directional? Does anyone know what the situation is with the Legomanbiffo sound decoder on this point, i.e. how many function outputs it has? Cheers, Keith

Thanks for the reply, I've tried the Legomanbiffo sound decoder and a Gaugemaster DCC27, which says it's a 4 function decoder. It looks as though function 3 controls the forward cab light (F1button), and function 4 controls the reverse cab light (F2 button), but I may have got this wrong of course. I was expecting the head code lights to use F3/Aux 1, but it looks as though it's the forward cab light.

I've got mine now, also the sound decoder from Charlie. There's loads of fine detail and the overall appearance is very nice. My only gripe is that one of the works plates is crooked and the other one has traces of glue visible, although that's not very noticeable. It runs very nicely as well but I can't get the headcode light to illuminate, the marker lights come on OK though on F0, and using a conventional decoder (rather than the sound decoder), I can make the cab lights come on using F1 and F2. Am I missing something? Any ideas would be appreciated. Cheers, Keith.

I don't think any of the Class 71s were named 'Flying Scotsman'...

I should think Kernow are very busy sending the models out and would prefer not to be answering the phone, but there's never an excuse for being rude or offhand, however busy you are. If the packing is being done carelessly then it might be better to take a bit longer and make sure they send the correct models as ordered and pack them up securely so you don't get a dented box. They're probably sending them out in order of ordering, I didn't order mine until September 2015, so I'm not holding my breath. That was only one though, I couldn't afford two of them. Having said that, Charlie Petty sent me two of the Realtrack Class 143s although I only ordered one - I hasten to add that I returned one of them! That reminds me that I've still got a credit with Charlie for the return postage on that, maybe I should order a sound decoder for the Class 71 and claim a discount. I'm sure we'll all get our models in due course anyway. I get a certain amount of free train travel so I could offer to pop and collect mine, but that might cause worse problems... Cheers Keith

Thanks for clearing that up Dave. I knew about the Hattons ones, but I was under the impression that it was just the weathered ones that were a Kernow exclusive. It's just that I had a problem with the Dapol D1000 where there were pick up issues and the heads of two of the screws holding the body to the chassis had been chewed up on assembly thus making it impossible to remove the body for repairs or decoder fitting. The box was lovely though and also contained a Lion and Wheel pin badge. Of course, as all the models had been sold, the only option on offer was a refund of the purchase price, hence my worries about limited editions generally. Cheers Keith

I think the things is that we've all waited such a long time for this model that a few more weeks isn't going to make any difference. There may be further delays of course so I'm not holding my breath. I hope there will be a some spare models made in the event that some models are unsatisfactory for one reason or another, but presumably there will be as it's not a limited edition so if you get a duff one it can be replaced. Keith

I thought the CNY festivities lasted until the Lantern Festival which this year falls on February 11. I'm not holding my breath on the shipping date, but it's bound to be good when it arrives! Keith

I don't think you are stuck with it if you don't want it. Kernow's website says "You can also cancel at any time, without penalty, and receive a full refund, right up until the model is sent to you." So if you prefer you can cancel the DJM model and get the Hornby one with the number you want. Cheers Keith

Thanks for posting the photos Andy. It really does look stunning. It's definitely going to be worth waiting for!

Sorry to get you out of bed this morning Charlie, I think we're sorted now. I hope my card has worked OK this time. As long as you've taken payment, it doesn't matter how long the model takes to arrive. It certainly is some going if you've been posting models off at an average of 65 a week, obviously the ones that need decoders fitting will take a lot longer to process. I thought that companies such as SagePay verified the card by charging £1 and promptly refunding it but maybe that's not the case any more. I've had problems in the past where a card gets declined incorrectly, and then this happens repeatedly with the same retailer for no better reason than it's been declined before. That's why I was doubtful about just giving you the same details again, but I'll know in future. I would have called later in the morning, but I get quickly bogged down with work soon after 8.00. I was actually trying to avoid pestering you on the phone, but the advice from forum members was to phone and that seemed to be the best thing to do in the end. I never realised Leeds looked so exotic - on the way to post off 143s no doubt... Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. Cheers Keith

Hi Baz, I do fully understand that Charlie has been very busy getting the models out and that's why I haven't been pestering him about the model that I ordered. The one I have was bought from Kernow as I thought I'd better get one quickly before thay all sold out. At that time (11May, before post #126) it was looking as though I wasn't going to get one from Charlie as I'd had no communication about it. There's no doubt that it's a superb model. I have known them run in two sets between Bristol TM and Severn Beach so it would be nice to have another set. I've also known that service run with a 143 set coupled to a 153. Yes, I did read Charlie's posting above but that was posted after I'd noticed that Kernow had models in stock. I'm only too well aware of what it's like fielding endless phone calls and emails as I work in IT support and I do sometimes have to ask complainers if they want me spending my time fixing their issue or replying to endless emails asking how their job is going. I too have to update our support website and it's only the work of a few minutes to add a note, or change some details. Reading some of the posts above, I can't help but feel that if Charlie had spent a few minutes putting the odd announcement on the website it would have saved more time in a reduced number of enquiries. I may be wrong of course. I'm not complaining about the delivery time, it's much better if each model is tested before despatch so you know you're not going to get a non runner. The price is very reasonable also when compared with other two car DMU sets, especially considering the awesome detail of the model. I specially like the way that Charlie has hidden the motor below the floor so that no interior detail has to be compromised - it really does look superb. I have an update on the buying issue. Charlie's words were 'for some reason your Credit Card has not worked, no idea why! Could you ring us on 01132 563415 with NEW card details please.'.This means to me that the card has been declined, so I spent some time on the phone this afternoon to the card issuer to ask why this had happened. Their response was that they had not declined any payments and that no application for payment had been received for this amount from SagePay, DCKits,Trustwave or anyone else in the four weeks before Charlie told me that the card had been declined. So, on the one hand I have Charlie saying that the card has been declined, and on the other I have the card issuer saying that he's never applied for payment. They can't both be right so I have emailed Charlie to ask for an explanation. If we take what Charlie says as correct, then he must have the card details (number, CVV, expiry date etc.) and we know that the card details are correct as this was authenticated by SagePay last November. I can't provide Charlie with 'NEW card details' (his caps), only the existing ones so I can't see any point in phoning to give him details that he already has - all he has to do is to apply for payment to the card issuer or instruct his new payment processor to do it using these details. Am I missing something here? The only other explanation that I can think of is that, in spite of what he says, Charlie doesn't in fact have my card details and so can't apply for payment from the card issuer. If this is the case, why on earth doesn't he just say so and save himself and me unnecessary work. The ultimate irony in this debacle is that other orders I have placed with Charlie have arrived with amazing speed - using the very same card! I can't phone Charlie on weekdays between 8am and 1pm on weekdays as I'm at work fielding phone calls and emails myself! Yes, I could visit Charlie in person and pay him in cash if needs be - although I'm in Oxford I get a certain amount of free train travel so Leeds isn't out of the question and bizzarrely that would save me £5.40 in postage but would take up even more of Charlie's time. I can't go to Chatham this weekend as I'm doing something else. I can't remember why I said that I found it hard to refit the seat casting as I glued the springs to the axles and chamfered the holes in the seat casting to make it easy and not to damage the springs. I think it was a bit of a fiddle to try and hold the lighting unit out of the way while putting the retaining screws in. Charlie's photos were very helpful with the decoder fitting. Anyway, it's back together now. It doesn't specially like my code 75 track as there's a miniscule amount of clearance under the axle boxes. It also repeatedly derailed on my diamond crossing until I adjusted the back to back wheel distance on the offending axle. It's fine now. I hope you understand that I'm not trying to criticise Charlie - he's brought us a superb model at a great price. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of what's gone wrong with the ordering process. What I would say is that I'm not happy with merely being told that my card has been declined when this doesn't appear to be the case, and that I should provide new card details, which I can't. Best wishes Keith

Thanks for this. I understand about card details not being everlasting, but my understanding of Charlie's email is that he's putting the card details in and the card isn't being authorised. I can't see how giving him the same details again will make any difference to this. if the reality is that Charlie actually doesn't know the card details as these were supplied to SagePay, then he should say so. I see from the website that the card processor has changed to Trustwave, so this may be something to do with it, but this is just speculation. The trouble is that I can't phone him to clarify the situation during the hours he's available to take calls as I'm at work then. In any case, I know he's very busy sending models out and won't want to be talking on the phone. It doesn't look as though everyone has had to re-order, and I wasn't one of those affected by the price change although I think the price is very reasonable when compared with other two car DMUs. The issue here is a lack of communication, it must be quicker to update the website than to be endlessly fielding emails and phone calls - if this forum is to be believed, then I'm not the only one affected by this. I'm sure it's not my card that's the issue, apart from the balance being less than one tenth of my credit limit, it's working just fine for everything else. I only use a credit card for online purchases as the protection is better than using a debit card.

I think this an unfortunate lack of communication, which indeed left me wondering if my order had ever been received and/or processed. I hadn't been looking at this thread and so I had no idea about any issue with SagePay, although my pre-order was long after the price increase. The first I heard was an email from Charlie on 25th May which reads 'Your order for First Great Western Class 143s is ready for despatch but for some reason your Credit Card has not worked, no idea why! Could you ring us on 01132 563415 with NEW card details please'. No mention of any issue with SagePay. I have no idea why the card details were rejected as they were authenticated by SagePay at the time of the pre-order last November. I don't have a new card so the details are still the same and applying for payment using the same details is just going to be rejected again and again. In any case, my card has been accepted elsewhere with no difficulty. I did take this up with Charlie and the response I got was to re-order via the website or call with the card details. As these would be the same details, presumably they will be rejected again. I think Phis S does have a point that if there's no communication then there's always the risk of missing out on an excellent model because we just don't know what's happening. I don't want to end up paying twice for one however good it is! Keith

The models are certainly worth waiting for, the detail is really awesome. Fitting the decoder is a bit of a fiddle, the body comes off easily enough, it's getting the seat casting back on that i found most difficult. I glued the springs to the base and put a chamfer on the seat casting and they went in just fine. The current pick up is good too from just four wheels per car. Keith

This is interesting as I ordered one using SagePay back in November last year and the price was £120 then, so that must have been after the increase. This price was also on the SagePay confirmation. I never received an email about re-ordering, although I emailed Charlie to ask about a different delivery address on 9 February this year. I never had a reply to this email either and I know they would have been very busy at that time, so possibly this explains why I never received a model. I did keep an eye on my spam folder in case any emails from Charlie went there. I was wondering about the release date last weekend, as I know these tend to slip, and I noticed that Kernow had them in stock so I guess my order just got overlooked - it's easy for things to slip through the net when you've got loads of work on, or maybe there was a loss of communication somewhere. It looks to be a very fine model anyway. Keith