mikesndbs

Hi all, new motor has arrived here, just waiting for a day off work so I can fit

Hi Dave Many thanks for the fast reply! That does sound frustrating! wonder why the block. Coreless motor sounds very nice, I am just a DC man myself so DCC stuff does not matter personally. Lights are a must. Can't wait to have this gliding around my railway Only saw a real one once! I was at school staring out the window as usual and one shunted down from the Waterloo line to Havant junction then went back up! Knew it was a 71 by the little step on the front. More power to you Mike

So, how is this development going then? feel like I have taken a punt as never got involved with anything from the start like this! but it will be exciting to have helped get it off the ground. What kind of motor and mech will it have?

Hmm fascinating discussions on the capacitor idea. Think my 10uf will be too small but I'll give it a go and see what it does Thanks for the tips

Getting back to the modeling Just wondering, once I fit the new motor I understand there will be space where the flywheel was. So, was thinking about the possibility of fitting a small non polarised electrolytic capacitor as an electronic flywheel to help when the loco lose contact briefly? Don't think this would work for DCC people??? I have a 10uf 25 volt one here? Thoughts?

Could not agree more and have never understood the point in sprung buffers unless they are actually called upon to do what real buffers do!

Hornby never told me anything specifically.

Don't think anyone is knocking Hornby for making the P2, in fact I think I have said how much I like it many times. And, cost wise I can't see that fitting the expected motor would have made much of a difference. I've seen the reviews of the P2 pulling long trains. Not saying it can't the gear chain should allow the cheap motor to do this. However, not being blessed with the space for a big layout to marshall up long trains my criteria is for smooth controllable running. And this I do not get from my P2 and it seems others are finding the same. It is also noisy. Now, as for X03/4's no issue with them at all, lovely motors and with a 5 pole armature fitted form a Airfix 1001 they produce great performance. So the whole issue for me is that it was not unreasonable for us to expect a nice 5 pole motor as has been standard for some years now to be fitted to this big brute of a express loco. I do not accept that Hornby would have saved much production cost by fitting the cheap one. In fact, as I have been able to purchase a 5 pole for £20, that with the manufacturer's profit, postal profit, Hornby's profit and then the seller who I have purchased it from profit all added up. The actual cost of the unit, especially to Hornby must be about £1. The cost would be assembling, which would be no different to assembling with the cheap motor, in fact, the good one probably does not need a flywheel so they might have had a saving over all. Of course, Hornby are entitled to produce what they want and we as end users are entitled to upgrade as we see fit. So, just to clarify. Love the P2, disappointed at the cheap motor. Seems fair to me?

Hi, Agree with you that too much is almost as bad as too little. Not sure it's good design or simply luck but lets be honest now, fitting a proper motor in a big loco like this should have been a given. I've not seen this since the original Hornby class 58 which had a motor from a Terrier fitted! When you think about the costs to Hornby of fitting the orrible tin can motor or the expected 5 pole skew wound motor, to them it must be mere pence, if it added £2 to the cost to us then I don't think anyone would have quibbled. Very, very strange idea they came up with and I really hope they are not heading down the 'cheap' route which would be a great shame after they have done so much good for the hobby.

Hi Dave Do you have a photo of the new motor in place?

Oh yeah, got to keep all the original models! Still have my first two, Triang L1 and Pannier tank, bit like Triggers broom to be honest but they are still the same engine Yes we have a Smokey Joe and yes he is quite smooth, but! he pulls maybe six or seven waggons and not at any great speed. Where as this P2 is supposed to be a express capable of pulling vast loads at speed. I really think that with 2 months running in this current motor may be run out LOL Once my new motor comes I'll share the results, but it has to be 100 times better than what it has now

Just ordered my new motor, £20 well spent. Wonder if I can reclaim it off Hornby?

Hey Dave That sounds like the answer! how does yours run now, you say sweet? Great guide.

See, I am basically just a bit silly or must be. I see a product I like, can I afford it, yes/no and then I either buy it or wish I could. What I don't do is analise the situation to determine if something will be any good. Hornby say its a long life motor, one bit of paper says three pole another says five. I based this purchase on what I have come to expect from model manufacturers these days. They reap the benefits of dirt cheap labour and materials and produce things we could never have dreamed of in the not too distant past. But, setting aside the imitation plastic valve gear, this motor is a insult to anyone who shells out over £100 of their hard earned cash. A proper motor should have been fitted. Bachmann seem able to do it, and Hornby have done it in the past for around the same money. I don't get the mind set behind this at all, make a very nice model that loads of us want, hype it up, sell it at £130 mark and fit a £1.50 motor to it!!!!! I really hope this is not Hornby's plan for the future? Still love it, but still feel cheated. Here is the issue and what I tried

Respect your opinion but what you say there is that its better than 1980s models, should be really!

Hi guys OK, been investigating my Cock O' and decided to take the body off and check out the motor. Was almost hoping it would not be the 'basic' one I found. Discovered the worm was dry so lubricated that with gear lube. Also put a drop of light oil on the back bearing of the motor where the flywheel is. I'd imagine the extra pressure of the fly wheel at this bearing is something to watch out for? Re assembled and tested and while there was a tiny improvement it still jumps into action instead of smoothly starting off. I can get it to run nice but that requires my feedback controller, which to be honest I don't like to use. Made a short video of my findings and will post here later. How many of you are seeing this issue? One thing I did find was that the motor seems to be a right bu88er to get out. Gave up to be honest. Found a small clip at the rear with two small screws, very lose anyway and won't do up. Anyone removed the motor so far to check it out? I love this engine but feel very cheated by the rubbish motor fitted. http://youtu.be/UdBYbiOTx5A Thought this might show a way to make it better, sadly not really but at least you can see what I mean

The above sounds like a cheap and nasty toy motor to me! With care and lubrication these motors work ok on a toy layout I set up some years back. They seem quite bullet proof. But with chaps using DCC and even quality DC these motors just do not cut the mustard for a big impressive loco like this. I think Hornby are taking the P2 doing this.

Well that is very sad indeed, but does explain why mine jerks into life. What ever happened to 5 pole skew wound etc. A retrograde step this for sure.

My concern is this looks like the cheap motor they use in the 0-4-0 toy locos! One might have expected something far better in this loco!

Please tell me this is not the motor in the P2 http://www.petersspares.com/Hornby-x6644-class-p2-cock-o-the-north-motor-flywheel.ir

Hi Keith Mine does this as well! more of a motor stick I'd say, if its five pole this would be rather odd, but if it is three pole maybe so. I found giving it a spin on my rolling road helped? Any chance of a photo showing what you mean please?

Hi Just put myself down for one, shows a postage charge even in final invoice? guess it will be sorted later. Can't wait for this model, as a Southern region modeller its just what I need

Hi, just had a good close look. Seems that when she is on that point, while her wheels look like they are in contact in fact they are just hovering above the wing rail, a small screw driver makes the connection and off she goes. Could be the wing rail is low, but would be handy if there was some suspension on the drivers so they could drop down a little and keep contact. Still very pleased with her

Mine does stall over my dead frogs, and yes I think tender pickups would be a great idea. Are spare tender pickups available from Hornby so they can be fitted to the R3207 model? You can see mine being very stubborn in this short video!

Hi Item 11 steps, how do they fit on please?