cravensdmufan

Many thanks. Will do that today.

That is very useful information, thank you. I'd like to try one of your new projects in one of my older Bachmann Class 105 models which has an 8 pin socket. Can you supply on 8 pin please?

I see this video from 2010 features the original version of your DMU project (which I did purchase at the time). Whilst the sound was quite good, it featured an unprototypically short length of first gear acceleration (which can be heard on this video) that couldn't be "held". It sounded good when moving around the depot (or on a low speed preserved railway!) but not for the main line. Does your latest version enable the user to change up through the gears manually, and vary the length of acceleration sound between each gear?

Nice DMU sounds; but is it possible to change up through the gears manually, and vary the length of acceleration sound between each gear? We can only hear first gear in this video. To be able to gauge whether this one is an improvement on your previous version or other projects, it would be good to hear the DMU in action on a layout if possible, rather than just on a short piece of track.

Ah, Clive they were a lot more than a suburban EMU! The fact they were outshopped from BR Workshops, York in lined maroon spoke volumes! Definitely built as express passenger trains with headcodes proudly displaying the 1F prefix! The officially designated top speed of 100mph said it all. IMO the best express EMU ever (until "Essex Express" / NSE refurbishment made them less comfortable and spoilt them) - so much more quality than the SR ever knocked out. Incidentally, I too remember standing where the units were joined, peering in at the driver's control desk and watching the speedo needle hit 100! Chelmsford - Colchester section being the racetrack! Exciting and happy days!

Indeed they were, especially in the early days when trains were made up of 2x4 cars plus 1x2 car. I believe the 2 car units had the same power as a 4 car. I remember my old dad stopwatch timing on the "red electrics" (as he called them) between Witham and Colchester and speed was well up to 100! The 307's were slow. 306's were lively both in speed and ride. Occasionally you'd get them working Liverpool Street - Southend Vic vice a 307, or to Chelmsford and they'd certainly bomb along where they could stretch their legs! I was sorry when the 306s finally went.

We'd like to hear your experiences of driving them (and any other GE EMUs).

Unfortunately not a working OHLE. I just have masts but no wires - always thought off the shelf wires look too chunky, and I certainly don't have the skill to build my own finer scale version. I do like AC electrics so they occasionally feature in my operating sessions, but the 90s spend most of their time in the sidings with pantographs down.

I have two locos and although one arrived in perfect condition the other had to go back twice with the loose bogie problem which was only resolved by buying a replacement from a different supplier. Because I know they are fragile I'm now wary of unboxing and re-boxing so I tend to keep them on the layout all the time. So I hope Bachmann assemble the second batch better.

Yesterday I collected my saved copy from my local newsagents. An excellent edition, Upham Market and Boston Frodsham being just up my street! Both beautifully modelled and very well photographed. (Boston is just up the road from me!). Oulton TMD looking as good as ever. Great inspiration from Jamie Warne with his construction site - some good tips there. A very informative view of the Bachmann 117. IMO there's nothing quite as good as studying and poring over this type of article in print. I know it sounds strange but for me I feel I can absorb it better. So much so that I have now ordered a 117! Fair play to the manufacturers who supply their products for review in magazines. A brilliant issue of the magazine, which I am enjoying very much.

LED battens are excellent. I have Screwfix ones in my garage. For the layout room I have these; https://www.ledsupplyandfit.co.uk/shop/led-commercial-lighting/led-dimmable-batten-light-5ft Not only are they dimmable but you can change the "colour" of the light. Ultra bright, daylight or warm light. All by remote control! I have it set on a warm light for running sessions or switch it to ultra bright if I'm using the workbench or laying track etc. Quite expensive, but when you consider you never need to buy replacement fluorescent tube and starters it's worth it and much less hassle. Very to easy to wire up too, Best bit of lighting kit I ever bought.

Interesting and informative replies there from @keefer and @Ken.W A pet hate of mine are models of older diesel and electric locos with two rear red lights which even after CV adjustments are always too bright anyway. I have modified most of mine that have LEDs in a very Heath Robinson way - small blob of black tac over one to block it entirely, and masking tape coloured over with black Sharpie pen to further dim the other, so it just glimmers. I use the tape method for front marker lights as well. Very crude, but it works. Electronics experts will have far better work arounds I'm sure!

I need to re build my layout, specifically the lift out section. I need to have sections of track either side of the lift out board with proper buffer stops when using the layout as an end to end. These are not “set up and posed” photos! It’s exactly how the DMU ended up after I’d hit the red emergency stop button on the Powercab! My fault of course for forgetting to place the stop pins in the track when the lift out section was removed. It was a close call. One of my favourite DMUs nearly hit the deck. Lesson learned. Roll on the layout upgrade.

Absolutely superb. Roll on the 306!

Fingers crossed for that in October - I would certainly like to come.

Yes, that's me in my Clarks College uniform! Absolutely brilliant, can't thank you enough! And above me, a poster for the very shop where I purchased my first 45rpm single with my pocket money! Downtown Records, who also had a branch in my hometown of Brentwood. Superb modelling - you have the barrows, railings and circular windows spot on. Even the light cream tiling in the stairwell. I just can't believe it! With your permission I will download your image to save on my laptop please. I would love to see the model "in the flesh" sometime. Will you be taking it on the exhibition circuit - hopefully if they return in 2021? Thanks again - it has really transported me back! Vivian

I have enjoyed following this topic - I love hearing folks' memories of old buses. Whilst finding occasional topics and posts here on RMWeb, I wonder if anyone knows of a forum just for old buses? Particularly Eastern National and Eastern Counties. I've found a few preservation websites, but no forum / chat sites. I'm not on Facebook or Twitter - but perhaps those sites are where folk chat about such subjects? Any links would be appreciated. Thanks.

A few "in the landscape" scans from prints. No dates unfortunately, my pre digital photographic record keeping was woefully inadequate! 101 at Chappel viaduct, 142's Cumbrian coast (Arnside?), 150 150 at Hest Bank and 150 227 at Whitlingham Junction.

I have fitted a good few TTS decoders to Bachmann and Hornby diesels and, after fine tuning CVs as per my post above, they all run nice and smooth at all speeds. I didn't remove any capacitors.

Thanks for flagging up that thread Bernard. Lots of information on there and it's associated links.

I have speed matched a few DMUs. Widest discrepancy with speeds, accelerations etc was a Bachmann 150 (very slow) and Hornby 153 (too fast). Playing around with CVs got them pretty much the same; now they don't snatch and fight with each other! My top tip - set up a temporary circle of 2nd radius set track on the floor and connect your system to that. So much easier than trying to adjust speeds with both trains on the layout!

May also be worth fine tuning some more CVs. Although I don't have a Class 66 (too modern for me) my TTS fitted Bachmann 37s and 47s run beautifully at very slow speed with the following settings: CV3=35, CV4=20, CV150=1, CV153=215, CV154=0. Also, by turning off DC running in CV29 it cures occasional sudden "take offs" when powering up the layout, or after a short circuit.

IMO the Class 92 was great, along with the 73. And the HST. All sit well alongside more modern models on my layout. The 156 can be made to look excellent with just a small bit of painting, mainly around the windows edges of the driving cabs. I've seen a few Lima 156s at exhibitions in the past where modellers have picked out engine, exhaust etc. with different shades of paint to great effect. I intend to have a go at that myself. Re: the Class 101. This model was really nice but the shape and size of the front windscreens let it down very badly IMO. The windows were rounded and too long, and it showed up badly, especially on all yellow liveried fronts, A difficult area to fix, though Shawplan made a detailed etch to replace the windscreens but I didn't buy one yet, nor have I seen any photos of models that have been treated. Anyone got one to show please? The front window issue was the only reason I "upgraded" to Bachmann, Photos showing comparisons:

A very interesting photo. I've seen quite a few liveries over the years that IMO haven't sat too well on certain rolling stock, but this one takes the award for the worst ever I think! I wonder if BREL had painted it as an experiment for evaluation by BR(S) management? If so, thank goodness they didn't adopt it! IMO the Met Camm Mk1 Pullmans looked quite nice in reverse blue/grey; the Blue Pullmans less so. But this one is almost criminal! Would be really interested if anyone has any further information on this particular repaint.

Sorry, but I feel that is a very unhelpful and rather curt comment. My Lima 156 runs very well with extra pick ups and the motor is in fact nice and quiet. I have detailed it and am happy with the way it looks and runs. I have not "wasted time and effort" on it. We are all aware of your modern and far superior Class 156. You have been pushing your products on this forum for years. But some of us are either unwilling or unable to buy them at the premium price - and are happy to upgrade our older models.