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Replace the speaker with an 8 ohm sugar cube 15X11X9 speaker. You will need to remove the 8 pin socket and file down the two supports and hard wire the decoder. The 8 pin socket support block is held in place by one screw. Remove this for easy modification. All enables you to fit the decoder in the boiler and the speaker on the prepared platform. The sound emits from the loco and not the tender. Much more realistic, I have modified all my older Hornby locos in this way. H.T.H. Mike

Any advise on removing the Bachmann cab from the body. Nike

The Hornby Patriot is loco drive same as the Royal Scot, has been for years. I would be interested to see the end result and the method if available. Mike

I have a spare Hornby patriot chassis,or at least I will have. I would like to fit my old Bachmann/Mainline Jubilee body to the chassis. The problem is with the cab. The Mainline cab needs a slot to accept the cab end flat spigot of the chassis. Can anyone recommend a method of separating the cabs of the Mainline Jubilee and Hornby Patriot to enable a transplant. Converesly has anyone fitted a Bachmann body to a Hornby chassis. Any suggestions gratefully received. Mike

The roof grill and fan is from A1 models many years ago. The front buffer beam top step is brass chequer plate and the step iron is brass strip. The running numbers are extreme etchings. To locate the air tanks I took photos of 7017 down on the WSR. If you think it will help I could take some photos for you. Mike

The voyager motor is hung in a dedicated plastic housing and does not touch the metal chassis. I have 2x221 voyagers with Express lighting kits and sound fitted and both run better than scale speed. Perhaps you could check the the collet in the flywheels as they can slip in the recess. I have experienced this with other Bachmann motors, fixed with a drop of Locktite. Mike

I agree about the colour of the air. The Wills kit must be the fiddliest I have built needing the patience of Jove. I have been striving to make the rodding look the part and in an effort to simplify the work I am mounting the rodding on thin styrene sheet and it helps with the curved sections. Thanks for the heads up regarding the economical FPL, interesting thread on point rodding . I think I will use that installation. Looking forward to your progress. Mike

Brilliant job on Tetbury, I have been a casual follower of your progress. As a kid I remember visiting Tetbury by train from Stroud, however it was quicker by bus. At the moment I'm fitting Wills point rodding to a couple of new boards and I am of the impression that the point lock needs a separate rod to operate it and not as you have shown it. I don't know if I am correct but if your interpretation is correct I can save myself a lot of time. Perhaps more qualified members could advise. A photo of point locking at Winchcombe is attached. Mike

Outstanding photos and all in focus. Mike

Servo's are another slow action option and frog juicers to switch polarity; or a micro switch activated by the servo. Mike

Measure the thread diameter and it's length, them count the TPI or TPM as its probably a metric thread. Measure the head diameter them do a Google search for it. Hope this helps. Mike

I think EKM Exhibitions carry spare bogie assemblies, try them on 07780 681405.

Thanks JimFin, The type of feedback I was seeking, I may look at the RocRail software and give the Railcontroller a miss. The demo disk is a bit of a letdown. Mike

Has anyone used this software on their layout and what is the verdict. Is it worth looking at further. Mike

Thanks Nigel, A good descriptive proceedure, I'll give it a go and report back. BTW my DCC system is Digitrax. Mike

I operate quite a few Zimo decoders and would like to operate them in shunt mode. Has anyone any experience of using the above CV's to auto decouple Sprat and Winkle couplings. My loco's with Loksound decoders work a treat on the auto couple feature. By setting CV115 and CV116 on Zimo decoders will the loco push back to drop the hook and move forward to disengage same as the Loksound. Is it also possible to assign a function key for the operation. I have studied the Zimo manual but the setting up arrangement is not clear as it refers to Roco and another brand that operates auto couplers. Any advise gratefully received. Mike

Thanks Keith, just the job. I have placed an order. Mike

Albion Hobbies are a manufacturer/wholesaler. I'm trying to source a list of their customers but they are not responding possibily due to the current Covid-19 situation. Mike

I would like to source scenic ground cover sheets or mats. In particular a company "Model Scene" package a mat for rough terrain reference F572, or even similar. Maybe Jarvis do the same. Mike

The light intensity can be adjusted through the CV's. It's easy with the Lokprogrammer. Mike

I bought kit from SP at the end of January, try the telephone or drop him a line. Very good service. Mike

Why not replace the Mainline "Scots Guardsman" chassis with a replacement chassis. I think they are available on ebay.

Other than ESU recommend doing so in order to prevent the possibility of inadvertently adjusting other CV's within that index, see page 89 of the manual. However the choice is up to the user. Mike

Remember to set CV32 = 1 before adjusting CV63. CV32 being an index setting. Mike

Zimo sound decoders are sold with sounds already loaded. Not so ESU sound decoders. However both suppliers provide free of charge a variety of steam and diesel sounds to download but it is necessary to have access to the relevant programmers. Interestingly both suppliers have a very small number of British sounds against a multitude of European and USA sounds. The sound decoders are becoming more sophisticated thus allowing the purveyor of sounds to take advantage of the hardware and software available. If one does not want to pay the £15 to £22 for the sounds to be loaded I would suggest looking at traders who provide sounds loaded to the decoders, such as Coastal DCC and certain Digitrains sounds. Not so long ago "reblows" cost around £10 to £12 compared to the £20+ now being charged. The costs to record are the same but the charges to the punter have increased double fold, I wonder why. Mike