letterspider

In that case I will settle for an APT TTS sound chip, and it would be nice for Hornby to do the 87 while they are at it. In case Mr Kohler is reading this thread...

If avoiding the use of powered connectors is a very considerable cost saving - perhaps Hornby would be generous in providing a pair of cheap function only decoders for the trailers?

Anyone considering the Heljan 86 - it is a very fine model. The steps do look chunky on these photos but 'in the flesh' I don't think they are quite so offensive. Looking forward to the next batch...

Hi David thanks - I have seen the PC200 but I had already purchased the ESU. In the end I decided to keep the points separately controlled from the signal. I told eLink the signal is controlled by a port on a non-existent Switchpilot (DCC 101) and successfully programmed it to that address. The feather is cotnrolled by point 1 switching to the right. All I can say is this is the first DCC concepts signal I have bought and I will be getting more. The only minor snag is you cannot use the built in power clip if you want to site the signal on the right hand side of a track (as I wanted to do here) However removing it and using soldered wiring was straightforward. Here is the result

Well - I was thinking of the lifetime of the S Stock not the customers!

I was very surprised that Rapido have taken stock of the demand for their APT and are going to do a second run. I would also like to see Bachmann and the LTM do the same and take another look at a further run of the S Stock model. Despite what appeared to be high prices at the time - they have proved to be very popular - selling out. The Museum is likely to have many new visitors in the next 5 to 50 years and they will be interested in buying this model The prices on eBay at this time are crazy and scary

I am using peco motors and ESU Switchpilot I was wondering whether the following wiring digram to the outputs would be permissable - this would mean the Y point left/right switching is a slave to the points one and two. The idea is to free up a DCC address for the signal

I would like to synchronise the signal in the bay platform with the points The signal is a Traintech programmable DCC signal two aspect with right feather

Interesting announcement - hopefully a retailer may now commission Bachmann to do a Teak or Metropolitan liveried 4TC

I was just wondering whether Bachmann would do a Class 24 RTC again and it appears they read my mind. The SLW model is excellent but I find all those fine extra details fall off, or are easily damaged; consequently don't run it as mich as I should. Also it is difficult to modify or scratch build rolling stock for the tribometer train at the same level of detail to match the SLW model. Bachmann seems to strike the right balance for detail, quality and durability - prices are rising but the 2nd hand marketplace is competitive.

I know the cab steps have already been discussed - they really are too chunky when you consider how much finer they are in the previous incarnation and this photo proves it. I am sure that Heljan Ben said the chassis was very good indeed and required only minor modifications - obviously the bogies differ in this variant - hopefully they will retain the previous tooling when the later variants are released Q3 /Q4. Looks great - just waiting on mine to arrive...

Buying any OO model direct from Denmark, so far considerably more expensive than the usual channels.

Further to my previous post I contacted WestHill wagon works regarding the fragility of the 3D print and they said they would look into it and offered a replacement. The problem is with the horns which are in the rectangular frame - the stems are very thin and any kind of torsion (for example when removing from the spru) caused them to snap. However as the interior of the frame is not directly visible - I was able to make a reapir using superglue and after painting and attachment - here are the results These are really good replacements and considering none are available elsewhere with equivalent quality - I would recommend them.

You can also buy Tamiya tape in a variety of widths, so it is possible to use it where you want a line with the same colour on each side

Yes it does look like English Electric prototype does a good job of capturing the character of the Heljan model!

that may well be plastic...

At least with those you could put in a cranked Kadee version to lower the height and recycle the ez mates somewhere else. I have 17 MBA rake and those EZ mates couplings are very good but you are right they slip when coupled to a (lower) Kadee

Is that the Class 86 which had the Coco bogie?

Perhaps he is the Gingerbread man?

There is something about electric locos that brings out the beast in RMWeb members. Here is a quote from anydman7 when he saw an EP of the Bachmann Class 85 - "Lovely - another model that I would have eaten my own grandmother to have when I was a kid"

Tidying up the girder bridge.. Slaters brickwork, drying before I apply a plastic strip to represent the reinforced concrete bridge. support.

Sounds like it's time for some conscious uncoupling...?

Maybe Bachmann should be asked to produce a cranked NEM Kadee type coupling to deal with this problem - they already fit straight buck eye couplings to their MBA wagons...

Doesn't Kadde do cranked couplings both up and down?

Some more on the viaduct. Reference pictures for ideas