Tony Walker

My concern is any problem that occurs later on when the locos are out of warranty. Accurascale are doing a great job at the moment with the few of the locos that we are having problems with, but what will happen in 2025 and onwards. I've had over 100 Bachmann locos over the years and only had one problem in all the time. But what will we do going forward with any of the 37's or others that start playing up.

16 hours ago, adamvb said:

 

Interesting - this is the same thing I've had with the Deltic, 92s and 37 I've had - what controller are you using? 

 

Because there are a number of people on this thread who have had the same on some Accurascale models but not other Accurascale models it suggests to me the issue isn't power, but is with the specific locos. Again, I've not had this on any other manufacturers models including Bachmann, Hornby, Dapol, Realtrack or Rapido accross 80 or so different models including the recent Bachmann 47 and other which have the same Loksound V5 decoder - hopefully now more people have reported their issues the root cause can be identified by Accurascale.

 

I'm using a Lenz system, LVZ200 with the latest version of the software on it. I'm also using the LH101 controllers as well, again with up-to-date software. I haven't had this problem with any of my other make of loco either, including the latest Bachmann 37's and 47's. It's certainly strange. I've also had this with a Deltic too.

I know the thread appears to be more about running problems and controllers on DC, but here's short video of 37026 running at 126 speed on DCC but doing about 5mph. This developed one day after running perfectly the previous day. The loco ran really well one day, then used it the next day and this is how it ran.

I now have a problem with 37602. Tried to run it double headed with 37609, but the running characteristics were so different it was unbelievable. I checked all the running CV's to ensure they were the same and they were. At full speed it runs around 60% of the top speed, compared with other 37/6's I have and if you look closely it judders. I ran it light engine for a while to see if it improved, but it didn't. Also noticed that it was pulling far more amps than the other 37's I have. I've contacted AC and await their response.

By the way, I know they run perfectly double headed, see video on the 37 thread.

Do Accurascale 37's double head - yes they do. Here's a video of 37423 and 37609 with nuclear flasks for your delight.

Had cause to speak to Rails yesterday about a couple of orders I've got with them for Accurascale 37/6's. I've received 37602 from Accurascale. So, while I was on, I asked about 37608 and 37609 and when to expect them. I was told they would be sending them out later on in September as they have yet to receive them from Accurascale.

10 hours ago, CazRail said:

Unfortunately, one of mine has developed some poor running, with the speed being inconsistent. It sort of has little bursts of speeding up and slowing down as it runs. I know some people have has this issue with other Accura locos before now, has anyone else had a 37 do it?

 

Anyway, I've contacted Accura by email, and have asked for a video of what's going on. 

 

Shame, as they're cracking locos!

Yes, I've had this with 37026, into which I fitted the Accurascale sound decoder. Mine just started running very slow at full speed, after working the previous day correctly. I too had to send a video but made sure that I got the controller in the shot showing step speed 126 and the loco doing about 5 mph! Anyway, sent the loco back to Accurascale FOC and much to my surprise had the loco back in just over a week. Great service from the Accurascale team, especially Simon.

Just for a bit of fun. How to avoid the problem with an Accurascale 37 when pushing an inspection saloon, when you can't turn off the front lights. Simple - pull another inspection saloon!

Here's a short video of 37602 leaving a red light and pulling away with a nuclear flask delivery.

12 hours ago, Roy Langridge said:

Anybody got a photo of a train with both Revolution and Accurascale FNA-Ds in it? Interested to see how they sit together. 
 

Thanks,

 

Roy

Here's a short video Roy with all three, Revolution in the middle of the others (you know who).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9PHs51CTME

1 hour ago, rorz101uk said:

Hi McC 

I’m also going to buy the speaker from you guys, are the plastic clips part of the pack? I have trying search on the page but can’t see it?

I've been told by Simon at Support that the clips will be available to buy shortly, so keep an eye open from them on the website.

23 minutes ago, McC said:

Watch this space. 

McC - it's the snow ploughs we want please, so we can fit them to our Bach**** 37's, as there's are very poor.

19 hours ago, matchmaker said:

I've changed the decoder from the Lais to an Imperium 1. Despite them apparently being the same decoder, the step lights and search lights now work! I'll now have to try to get the tail lamps working.

 

As for the flickering, has anyone fitted a stay alive to Caroline?

Yes I had a problem with flicking lights, gave the track a good clean and the problem went away.

21 hours ago, KDG said:

Thanks Tony. I've tried those, but they keep uncoupling on curves (radius 3 and 4). I bought them when they first came out, perhaps they've upgraded the magnets since then.

I haven't had any problems with them, think I had more with the original couplings. Found the WHWW ones were a little difficult to attach at first, but once in then they were OK. No uncoupling problems which I did have from memory with the original ones.

18 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Stupid question time again, but where did you get the decoder as I’ve tried looking it up and I can’t find anyone who stocks it.

Hi jools1959, got mine from Ebay, think it was 11 quid or there abouts, plus postage.

1 hour ago, jools1959 said:

Can I ask, what model number Lais decoder are you using as I think I’ll use that instead of struggling with a Dapol Imperium.  Many thanks

I've used the Lais 860019 in the end, as per Butler Henderson above. As I said, I tried several decoders to try and get the upper lights and step lights to work, but they never did. So, I get the Lais 860019 and everything worked first time, I'm glad to say. The body now flies off it's been off and on that many times!

1 hour ago, KDG said:

Great looking layout Tony. Thanks for video of Caroline. Can I ask what couplings you've used on your Dapol MRA's?

KDG, thanks for the comment. The MRA's are coupled using West Hill Wagon Works magnetic MRA couplings. They work very well on the Dapol MRA's.

Not sure it's been covered so far, but I've discovered that when you push a train (for example Caroline), there is no combination of settings that allow you to turn off the front lights but leave the taillights on. If someone knows of the function settings to do this with an Accurascale 37 then please let me know. The settings on a Bachmann 37 do allow you to turn the front headlights off and leave the taillights on. 

Caroline on track inspection work today, pushed by Accurascale 37419. Runs really well, but have had to do a few mods to get things running like this. I've taken out the kinetic coupling mechanism both ends. Isolated the pads at one end of the circuit board, so there's no "engine end" lights on at all. I tried ESU Lokpilot, Imperium 6 and 8 output decoders and had no joy with any of them when trying to get the lights working. Purchased the Lais decoder as recommended on here and all worked straight away.

Quick video of 37423 pulling the FNA's empty to collect waste. Can you spot the odd one out? Here's a clue, it's not the first one, an old Bachmann FNA by the way. Smashing wagons that run really will on my layout with no derailing problems at all.

23 hours ago, Great Waterton said:

I'm quite interested in the incoming Inverness 37 but I've read several times on here that it's difficult to have both the ploughs and pipes fitted at the same time without running issues. Can anyone confirm if this is the case please? 

 

Many thanks.

I've fitted both Bachmann and Accurascale ploughs to Bachmann's 37's. Yes, there are problems with both sets of ploughs, but I've had no running problems at all. And I fit all the details to both ends by the way. 

The Accurascale ploughs on an Accurascale 37 all fit really well, but you need to cut back the NEM pocket otherwise it fouls the centre plough, and the bogie won't turn. Don't take it out of the kinetic coupling though, as this also causes derailing problems, as the socket in the coupling holder fouls the bogie, again causing derailing problems.

The Accurascale ploughs work well with the Bachmann 37, but you need to use the holes provided behind the buffer beam, for the white pipes, for the outer ploughs. This means you then have a problem adding the white pipes. I cut the attachment pip off them and just glued them to the underside of the buffer beam.

The Bachmann ploughs on the Bachmann 37 are a real pain! I usually use two small lengths of brass wire fixed behind the centre plough. Then I drill two appropriate holes in the underside of the buffer beam to match. The problem you have with this is that the outer ploughs sit to high and so interfere with the ETH equipment on the outside of the buffer beam. I've had to notch the outer ploughs to get things to fit nicely, which does look a little strange. I think, if Bachmann had put a little thought into this one area, they could have made a much better job of it. Hope that helps.

11 hours ago, St. Simon said:

Hi,

 

I fitted two Dapol Class 73s with the decoders this noon and have came across two issues / questions:

 

1 - Is there anything special that needs to be done beyond enabling the ‘DCC’ mode in the app to allow a DCC system to control the loco? I was using a Prodigy and couldn’t get the loco to respond from it (either under the default address or new address), even after ‘recycling the power’ and turning the phone off. The decoder responded perfectly on Bluetooth with the Prodigy providing power. Not a massive issue really though.

 

 

I had the same problem with my 73 and a 56. Set to DCC mode and pop it on your program track and set the address again. Should be OK then for both Bluetooth and DCC.

Does anyone like the way the air horns are set up on the class 37's? I for one would have wished they were configured the same as the class 47's, where you get a choice of set up. When stationary the horns on the 37 sound very toy like and at speed they sound daft. As I don't have a Zimo programmer there's not much I can do about it.

I've recently taken delivery of 37414 and have found out that the engine control air pipes (thin white pipes) haven't been included in the accessory pack. I've contacted Bachmann only to be told they weren't fitted to the loco. I find this strange. I've sent a photo to them showing that the pipes are fitted to the loco and requested a set of pipes. Just waiting to see what happens, unless someone on here knows otherwise?

3 hours ago, RedgateModels said:

 

Think Tony said he's tried this too, might be wrong though ....

Try doing the CV29 change from your dcc controller.

Yes I have and it still doesn't work.

Sorry lads but I've been using DCC now for 20 years and know how CV29 works. All the instructions under the sun doesn't alter the fact that by either adding one or taking one away from the recorded value of CV29 doesn't alter the direction of travel of the loco, as it should. I've even tried changing it using DCC programming and that doesn't work either. Yet if I pop in another decoder make and change CV29 so the direction of travel changes then it works. So, it looks like the option of changing the direction of travel with these new Bluetooth decoders doesn't work! Yet if you read the notes under the CV editor it does say "adding 1 to the value will change the direction of travel" or words to that effect.

I think you've missed the point here guys. Yes I know the lights are wired wrong. Using the previous decoder I added one (1) to the value in CV29 and it changed the direction of the loco to match the incorrectly wired lights. So no problem. I've added one (1) to the value of CV29 on this new 21 pin decoder but it hasn't changed the direction of the loco, it still goes the same way as before. So adding one to CV29 hasn't made any difference and I don't know why.