tarifa

It looks as though Hornby have managed to produce two five car IEP's that have no problems, mine and lochlongside, well done Hornby.  But it does read as though lochlongside has good track.

One time or another model trains derail.  Some more frequently than others and from the content of this topic the Hornby 800 is the worst thing to hit the shops since god knows when.  As modellers we should know there are many reasons for derailments and the most common one in my experience is poorly laid track.  There was a time, and I remember it well when the wheels on model trains were fit for tractors and would ride over anything.  Modellers didn't like this and wanted more realism and now they have the realism and wont accept that their track laying is rubbish causing the fine build they insist on to derail.  I think Hornby are within their rights to tell us all to get stuffed and sort our track work first before getting all righteous and insisting on our retail rights.

I have one of these models and it runs perfectly on my layout.  The other day I run it on a friends layout built using set track and it derailed on one set of points having successfully run through 2nd and 3rd radius track.  My friend also has a Class 800 and it derails at the same points on his layout.  His 800 negotiates my layout without any problem.  He now intends to sort out his track work.

Mike

The 66 and 67 diesels are the same, the alternators and traction motors are the same family with variations.  I would hazard a guess and say they are almost the same but not quite.  I have recordings of both classes running light and the 67 is the quietest but I would fit the Hornby 66 decoder in the 67.

Mike

Do you have a friend with a soldering iron?.

Hello Mike

 

Overton Grange was manufactured by Hornby with vacuum pump and spindle.  Buckleberry Grange was the first 'new', model that came without a vacuum pump spindle (but it did have the correct shape crosshead and plastic cylinder).  The latest incarnation appears not to have the cylinder (more cost cutting).

There were also a couple of other manufacturing faults to be dealt with - notably the body did not sit level at the cab end.  Having moved the digital chip to the tender Hornby had to reroute the wires beneath the cab but had failed to provide any recess / channel to accomodate them.

 

Easy sorted.

 

Ray

Hello ray,

Interesting and knowledgeable comments but they don't change the fact that I'm still looking at my Overton Grange and it is still without the vacuum pump spindle, the state it was in when I bought it.

Maybe I have the exceptional model as the body sits square on the chassis even though it has sound chip installed in the loco.  I have the speaker wires running from the loco under the cab to the tender without them interfering with the alignment.

Mike

Regarding the Hornby "Overton Grange" model I must contradict the post above - they were fitted with vacuum pump spindles as were all the early Sander Kan era releases of the Grange (e.g. Derwent Grange, Hardwick Grange, Frankton Grange). If anyone is interested I recently did a blog article on replacing the cylinders, slidebars, crossheads and connecting rods on an "Overton Grange" showing that they did feature the pump spindle:-

 

Andy.

Hello Andy,

Just to be clear, I am looking at my Hornby "Overton Grange" and it is not fitted with the vacuum pump spindle.  There is a "slot" on the crosshead extension bar to fit one but for now I will give it a miss.  Can't see it when the loco is in motion.

Mike

Bump!!

I have finally completed the mods to Pitchford Hall, but I still need to weather it.  A couple of photos of the finished item attached.

Mike

Hornby Overton Grange (6879) and Paviland Grange (6845) do not have the vacuum pump spindle fitted to the crosshead extension but the cylinder is fitted tucked away behind the running plate piping but it is out of line with the crosshead.  To my eyes the spindle if fitted would not be visible when in motion.  Pitchford Hall (4953) however does have the vacuum pump assembly fully functional and is clearly visible.

The train is driven by electric traction motors. The three non-driving cars have underfloor diesel engines and generators to provide power to the traction motors when not drawing current from the overhead. The derailment problems appear to stem from very minor variations in assembly with regard to the fit of the body to the chassis and the tightness of the screws holding the coupling bars. The silver unit under the doors is the retention tank for the toilets. (CJL)

Thanks for that Chris, so the driving car(s) traction motors are supplied with power from the diesel engines in the centre cars via batteries or is the power generated direct to the traction motors from the alternators.  If this is the case how is the phase balancing achieved.

Mike

Hi Mike,

 

Don't think I agree with you when you refer to "all the negativity comments". All of us who have experienced problems have pointed out the problems but have also said that this is a fantastic model. 

 

Regarding your suggestion that those chaps experiencing derailing problems should check their track and ensure that it is level you might be interested to know that last night I did exactly did that and ran my Javelin Cl.395 at quite excessive speed (which I don't normally run at) and experienced no such derailments - it flew through a number of points and climbed up and down the gradients without derailing just as I would expect my Cl.800 to do and which, once my set is returned by Hornby, I expect it to do.

 

Keith

Hello Keith,

I'm not being critical of the "negative comments" made by the various owners advising of derailments.  Its good to know what the potential problems might be with newly released kit.   A friend of mine returned his set of coaches to Hornby due to derailing, whatever Hornby did the set now runs fine.  In my experience my derailments are usually caused by problems with track or wrongly set back to backs of the wheel sets.

And I do agree it is a cracking model.

Mike

I collected my Class 800 from my local model shop on Monday morning.  Now imagine my trepidation regarding the running performance having been reading all the negativity comments on this topic, expecting the model to fall off the rails at every curve and point.  But no it did not.  The model did however show up a protruding point motor pin causing the power car to derail at this point with the battery box (I think it is, the silver bit) catching on the protruding pin.  Quickly cutting off the guilty protrusion the train ran perfectly at all speeds.  The coach lights were very dim running on analogue as I expected.  I fitted a Lenz gold decoder in each of the driving cars and test run the model.  It runs perfect on DCC (and DC) at all speeds and looks very impressive whipping around the layout.  The coach lighting is now just right with 14 volts on the track.  BTW my smallest radius is 22".

Those chaps experiencing derailing problems, check your track and ensure it is level.  I have noted on a couple of videos wobbles at certain places on the filmed roundy roundy.

Now for sound.  I will need to custom make a speaker to fit the allocated spot.  But the actual dilemma is the sound itself.  The driving cars are electric motors and the two coaches (with the battery box I think) have the MTU engines and power packs under the floor.  To operate both modes a switch-able decoder is required indicating a Zimo decoder that allows switching between sound sets.  Next problem, where do I get the sounds from.

Mike

This thread is so interesting. Not so much for the inevitable lists of presenters/celebs, but more for the reasons given. It explains an awful lot both about the penchant for 1950's nostalgia in modelling, but also about something we should not mention.

 

 If you want a society in which the media only supports its rulers, but you also think that Britain was right to fight two world wars against dictators, you seriously need mental help.

I would be interested to hear what your alternative to the two world wars would be.  For one this forum would probably not exist for you to express your views.

Mike (Probably one who needs mental help.)

Regarding fitting the speaker you will find plenty of help on www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85122-Bachmann-class-37-dcc-sound/   I believe the Hornby TTS decoder has an 8 ohm impedance  The beauty of fitting the speaker as discussed, if you don't like the TTS sound you can fit an ESU or Zimo decoder for the ultimate sounds.

HTH

Mike

Anyone on the forum have experience of using the Keen buckeye coupling to replace the 2 pin couplers supplied with the kit.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

There won't be any of these issues when the SLW versions finally arrive, we can have confidence in all variants being correct.......................  .

I would have liked the SLW 25 particularly if it has/had the detail as per the 24.  Maybe, just maybe the Bachmann 25 will arrive way before the SLW version.  I think Mr Sutton has missed the boat.

Mike

This matter has been addressed to my satisfaction, many thanks Lucy.  I am however amazed at the response my request for a telephone number has generated including an interrogation of Modellers Mecca website as to whether it complies with whatever regulations.  Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

Mike

Hi Mike.

Please accept my apologies. I have not received any emails from you. So I’ve just tested the contact form and it does appear to not be working. I am out of the country atm but I will fix that on my return.

In the meantime, email me direct at: lucy@modellers-Mecca.co.uk

Hello Lucy,

Yes I have sent you an email direct but you do you know I also sent you a PM through RMWeb.

Mike

Hi Mike.

Please contact me via email here:

http://www.modellers-mecca.co.uk/contact-form.php

I will endeavour to help you.

Kind regards,

Lucy

Hello Lucy,

I have now sent you three messages and received no reply, perhaps you would be kind enough to get back to me.

Many thanks

Mike

Why don't you look on their web site?

I did.

Since Modellers Mecca closed their shop does anyone have a telephone contact.  I have searched the usual sites and they make no reference to a telephone number.

Mike

That should be sorted, you had selected Members and Items I follow as filters.

Thanks Andy, sometimes one feels like a dope, I thought I had checked all my settings.

Andy can you help on this matter.  When I select "View New Content" - it's empty with an apology.  I have checked my settings and all appears to be OK.

Regards

Mike

Life is not without risk, we just have to balance the risk with the potential reward. For many of us the risk has been assessed as being outweighed by the benefit and we are prepared to part with our cash.

 

I also think the “persons unknown” lacks basis. Both Dave Jones and Durham Trains are known entities...

 

Roy

Life is certainly not without risk.  The risk appears to be paying for something that is not yet available in fact is far from available.  If I buy from Hornby or Bachmann I get the goods.  If I pay for a car it arrives.  Dave Jones and Durham Trains may be known "entities"  to you but not to me.  As far I know Dave Jones used to work for Dapol and Durham Trains, never heard of them.  However I do wish the project luck and if it proceeds it might emerge in 4 to 6 years, this estimate s based on the current progress of the crowd funded Class 92.

Mike

Its just you, the rest of us are bursting with excitement! besides, its been stated on here that payments will be made in part as the progress develops, so you wont be handing over £1000 up front with nothing to show for it. 

Yes but!  One could be handing over a tidy portion of the £1,000 sum upfront to persons unknown with nothing to show for it.  What guarantees are there the money will be refunded should the project not take off or go belly up further down the line.

Thanks for all the suggestions for fitting the fairing , but as the coupling is not an easy nem pull-out and is screwed in can you gain clean access to the part that appears sandwiched in (I'm talking Bachmann class 42 not the new 43 here sorry I didn't make that clear) can prising off the bottom of the bogie "cover" be the answer to access the coupler plate . I know bogie covers on some models do "flip off" if prised , but I dont want to risk this operation without knowing the out-come. can anyone say if this will cause any damage to the bogie /cover.

It's really very easy to do.  I modified 3 version of the model you have.  Invert the model in a cradle and remove the two screws securing the coupling to the bogie.  Put the scew's by for any future use.  Then place the tip of a screwdriver into the slot between the bogie frame and bogie bottom and gently prise up the base from the main frame.  If you are careful you will not damage anything.  Then take the opportunity to clean the wheels and grease the gears.  Replacement is a reversal of the removal.

Have fun

Mike