Bulleidboy100

Trouble with Sam is that he does not always (??) do his homework before reviewing whatever. There were several situations in his review which would not have happened had he done his homework. Yet despite a fairly positive summary at the end, many of the comments were along the lines of "Fantastic review - will not be wasting my money on this system". So if you review on a public forum, you need to get it right. 

It was ok - one or two little snippets of information. As already said Android app is still a few weeks away - why? It was explained that Apple have about thirty devices that can be used to operate HM7000 - and one must assume all have been tested. It was said there were "thousands" of Android devices - all of which would have to be tested as problems arose - which meant Hornby then had to get hold of that particular device to check it out. So not always the two minute job that most assume it is.

The late start was really inexcusable - if you are going to go live to what could have been a world-wide audience, you don't start late - you are ready to go - on the dot. 

The decoder is upside down - black strip should be on top - I made that mistake🤫

S15 and Black 5 being added today.

I've been running a Hornby 9F Evening Star with the HM7000 21pin decoder for a few weeks and it performs very well - with the 9F sound profile. I have a very basic set-up - Hornby Elite hard wired to the bus cable, as my layout is an end-to-end, a lot of my running has taken place on the rolling road - this allows continuous running for an hour or so. I have still to fine tune the loco, but it runs well, the sounds are good, better than TTS, and the various functions are easy to operate. I can switch to DCC and use the Elite by just pushing (well sliding) a button. I have the sound level at about 25 -  the slow running is impressive. One aspect I really like, especially with my layout, is the coupling movement, you can set your loco to move back and forth, by less than an inch, which when using undertrack magnets and Kadees is brilliant.

I'm not one for playing with CV's , so there is still a steep learning curve with that. Like probably very many, I will not use the App to run trains all the time - I am happy with my Elite (v1.45), but to be able to download sounds and change them, should the need arise is such an easy thing to do. I would add that I use an Apple iphone IOS 16.3.1

I am awaiting the arrival of an 8pin TXS decoder to fit to a Hornby Merchant Navy Class, and download the appropriate

sound profile.

6 hours ago, Darius43 said:

Aeroclub did a 1:48 vacform/mixed media kit that sometimes pops up on eBay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Darius

 

 

The first aircraft I ever flew in - G-AKRS - back in the mid fifties. An open day at Hucknall, Notts. I think my aunt paid ten shillings for each of the family to go for a quick flight over Nottingham.

On 18/03/2023 at 21:23, ColinB said:

Fitted my 21 pin HM decoder into my Hornby Elizabeth loco, reason being it was the only Hornby loco that has a 21 pin socket (I do have a 9F but it already has a working system that I didn't want to take apart). If you look at the photo you will notice that the bottom connecter fouls the screws that hold the DCC socket onto the tender, so it doesn't sit properly. I only noticed as initially the decoder didn't work. I have since replaced the screws to countersunk ones, but it is still not perfect as the PCB is not countersunk. So did they ever test it on one of their own locos with a 21 pin socket?

I have just taken the body off of a late model rebuilt Merchant Navy Class with a similar tender to Colin's West Country Class, and I note the PCB has countersunk holes and is mounted using countersunk screws! May be the assembler just uses whatever screws come to hand? There should be no trouble fitting an 8pin TXS decoder to this loco.

Once Hornby have finished developing the Android connection, I would have thought that most users would be capable of downloading the sounds themselves, without the need for retailer intervention.

As has already been said, the default sound is purely to make a steam sound when your decoder is first assigned to a loco (steam or diesel), You then have to down load the appropriate sound. The HM7000 sounds are superior to TTS - the Britannia chime whistle is superb. Hopefully you will only have to wait a few days before the App is live.

The Hornby speakers are 8 ohms

The list will be available at launch, and is being added to regularly - hopefully not long to wait.

No Class 40 at this time.

No Class 20 at this time - many more to follow in due course.

It's A1/A3. If you wish to load sound into an A1 or A3 you download that profile - do not use the default sound - it is purely for test purposes. This should save everyone complaining that it's not an accurate representation.

A small piece of BlueTac or double-sided tape should suffice.

I gave 92220 Evening Star a run today, and close-coupled the tender - usually done for display purposes. I was pleased to find the loco would run the full length of the layout, without any problems as such - in reverse the part of the rear coupling that hangs down caught on a point frog and stopped the loco dead in its tracks! Kadees will be fitted very soon.

I should have added that as of today (21/3/2023) the loco is under full HM7000 control from my iPhone.

Sources say Hornby not happy about it. I read that SK said they had been sent out to "influencers" - what's the point without the App.

Seeing it is not available to buy - where did he get it?  He was asked in the comments, but would not say!

I have some of those plastic grids, but removed them, as the heron pulled them out of the way! I currently have green garden mesh, cut roughly to pond shape, which rests on top of the low fencing surrounding the pond and supported by green garden canes. It keeps the heron out - I watched him walk all around the pond looking for a way in - he/she gave up and has not been back for a while. The fencing around the edge is low enough to stop the heron putting its head through, but does allow small birds to fly in and drink.

I did as has been suggested above, throw in a small handful of pellets today and they all went. I'm sure the fish have grown over the winter. As I have said before, there are  far too many fish in the pond - I only bought six originally - and they keep doing there own thing!!

Good morning.

Have any of you started feeding your fish in the outside ponds yet? In my pond (puddle) all of the fish are up at the surface every morning. I have resisted the temptation to throw in a handful of pellets. The weather temperature is now in double figures but I appreciate that can change overnight.

43 minutes ago, RAF96 said:

Amazon are flogging them for delivery next week and at a discount price  - apparently.

Buyer beware.

They do look awfully authentic!  I'm not buying.

Latest addition to the collection/layout.

According to the Hornby 2023 Catalogue the Deltic DP1 with sound is limited to 500 models, interestingly there is no mention, in the catalogue, of a DCC Ready version. I assume the catalogue is printed some time before the January announcements?

36 minutes ago, RedgateModels said:

I spotted that too (after I rewound and paused at the right moment)

He did appear to be operating the loco from his ipad?

2 hours ago, Farang said:

The new Merchant Navy sound was being demonstrated in a model of 35025 Lamport & Holt Line. When did Hornby release that model?

If Simon Davies-Kohler is 72 isn't it about time he retired?

It was 35026  - and is due out(?) in the Spring 2023. It also appeared to be fitted with one of the new, yet to be released decoders.