tractor_37260

Indeed, adding new/extra pick-ups makes a big difference to the running quality of all the latest 40's, it's well worth doing.

FO - Lights F1 - Sound On/Off + Fade in/out on the move F2 - Horn 1 F3 - Horn 2 F4 - Brakes F5 - Fuel pump F6 - Coupling F7 - Cab lights F8 - Aux 2 (blank) F9 - Flange Squeal F10 - Guards Whistle F11 - Notch Up F12- Notch Down F13 - Air Dryer F14 - Fan Random - Fan & Compressor F1 On - Warm Start F1 On-off - Failed Start F1 On-off-on Cold Start HTH Ken

Keith Thanks for the info/photos - 418 certainly looks good, and it would appear, sounds well also - I'm tempted ! No sun up 'ere - cold/cloudy and windy - first snow of the winter fell on the Cairngorms yesterday !! I'll leave the forthcoming "frost" to deal with any of my surviving weeds etc ! Cheers Ken

Hi Keith Well well now there's a surprise - fitted with a Loksound Select ! - will have a look at the manual/Loksound site. Have you run it, are you happy with the sound quality/functions etc ? Thanks for the info Not sure if it is still the case ?, but with the Select your stuck with whatever sound/s are loaded, like em or not, as it's not possible to reblow it, apart from perhaps a complete sound file from the ESU website via a Lokprogrammer, and these are mainly for American locos. Regards Ken

Hi Jim Once you receive it, could you confirm if a Loksound 4 decoder has been fitted to 37 418, or perhaps the latest Bachmann Soundtraxx "budget" sound ? TIA Ken

According to the Kernow MRC newsletter 3/10/14 they have the Highlander Set in stock @ £259.99 ?

Thanks for the info chaps. I'm sure I've also viewed photos in books etc of them at Kyle / Dingwall / Garve and Inverness etc

According to a review in the latest Model Rail Magazine, CCT's were not used on the Scottish Region - can anyone confirm this ? TIA Edit: In fairness to Model Rail Magazine, the article actually stated " the CCT's worked on all BR Regions apart from the Southern and Scottish" hence my query

Some Zimo's have 10 function outputs - ie the MX645R , I used 8 of those on a Vi Trains R/F 47 to give multiple lighting options, which included being able to keep marker lights at one or both ends ON when setting back etc, as on real locos the markers/tails don't auto change over each end with direction. My article on this was published in Model Rail Mag issue No 199 Summer 2014. However if using decoders with only 4 functions. you've come up with a clever solution. TCS also have a 21pin decoder with 6 function outputs which is a useful alternative. Regards Ken

Clever use of 4 functions for 5 light circuits - must keep this in mind for my future lighting mods on 20's etc.

Good to see a SB R/F Grey Red stripe 37 - but 068 still needs some red paint on those lower nose edges - perhaps an oversight ? , otherwise it's something different - I'm surprised Bach have not produced more SB 37's especially in R/F Grey and 3T Grey sector liveries.

"Having found that the chassis was broken at one cab end (the body also has very minor cracks at each corner - but that's fixable) on my weathered 31 270 I returned the chassis to Hornby for replacement a few weeks ago. So far I've received a cheque for a refund of the return postage cost, but as yet no confirmation that a replacement chassis will be supplied FOC or otherwise ? Perhaps they do not have any stock at present." Update 17/9/14 Hornby have now confirmed they cannot supply a replacement chassis, due to supply problems etc, however they did send a voucher for £100 to be used on their web-site. Excellent service overall, considering the age of the faulty loco. Very pleased Has anyone had their faulty chassis returned ??

"The buffers are a bit puny, not sure of the correct ones to buy but I was going to have a look in my bits box. 12 packs of buffers might start to get a bit expensive." Good article by (George Dent) on upgrading the later MGR hoppers in Model Rail issue 162 (Nov 11) if you have or can find a copy, includes fitting cast buffers - Foremost Models or Intercity Models - HD split shank oleos or here - http://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.co.uk/2011_09_01_archive.html BTW your 97 407 turned out really well HTH Ken

Having found that the chassis was broken at one cab end (the body also has very minor cracks at each corner - but that's fixable) on my weathered 31 270 I returned the chassis to Hornby for replacement a few weeks ago. So far I've received a cheque for a refund of the return postage cost, but as yet no confirmation that a replacement chassis will be supplied FOC or otherwise ? Perhaps they do not have any stock at present.

Were any BR Maroon versions painted with yellow ends / have air horns fitted ? I can find photos of yellow ended LMS versions but not in BR Maroon. TIA

I'd also agree - top service indeed - cheapest Bachmann 47 price I could find anywhere - and at the moment FREE Next Day RM Special Delivery postage - 10/10 - well recommended

37 116 featured a smooth plated boiler roof panel - unlike earlier 37/0's which had riveted strips - so that's one mod perhaps worth considering, another being the filling in of the boiler filler door recess and some of the footholds, including the tumblehome one below. Then there's also the matter of the "trench" under the cantrail grille's - the tooling having being altered to suit 37 003 - (37LG) L/E , but now sadly incorrect for the majority of other 37/0s. At the end of the day, it depends how accurate you want to make it - and in Lee's case what his customer has requested. Either way, I'm sure it will turn out to be another one of his excellent reworks.

Clever idea, I've considered doing something like this on a number of occasions. Nice selection of speakers, the 28mm round, would also be worth considering/including.

No just leave CV32 = 0 : until any further changes may be required to CV257 and above.

Try the Loksound 4 auto tune feature - you'll need at least 4-6ft of clear track - ensure you know which direction the loco is set to travel, then set CV54 = 0 press F1 the loco will shoot off at speed and then stop on it's own, this should help improve slow speed running. It's always worthwhile running-in a new loco in both directions, preferably on DC, only fitting DCC once happy with its running qualities. HTH Ken

It's not possible to dim the tail lights only on the model as supplied. The markers at one end and the tails on the opposite end are linked to the same circuit. The wiring would require altering to separate the tail lights from the markers and then use Aux 1& 2 to control them. On a standard model Aux 1 is already used for the cab lights, so they would no longer work. However if your happy to dim both markers and tail lights together at opposite ends proceed as follows: Firstly set the Index CV's - CV31=16 CV32=0 CV262 controls one pair of marker and tail lights - Range 0 to 31 Default setting = 16 To dim try setting to 8 and view the results and adjust to suit etc CV270 controls the other pair " " " - Range 0 to 31 Default setting = 16 " " " " " " " " CV278 controls the cab lights - Range 0 to 31 " " = 16 " " " " " " " " Once happy with the results re-set CV31 to 0 If possible, use POM as you can view the results instantly. HTH Ken

Looking really good Peter - captured the details really well, especially the end plates etc, you certainly made good use of the photos ! Regards Ken

Starting to take shape nicely, would it perhaps have been easier/possible to mod the headcode box/etched plate etc and then paint them prior to fitting to save awkward masking etc The Vi trains MU jumpers look so much better that Bach's "lump" of plastic.

Good head on comparison photo here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/84231-latest-Bachmann-class-40-32-481/ - see post 6 - draw your own conclusions !

Interesting comments. I found that on first using D211, it ran well with no problems - so far, however the default CV settings of CV3/4/5/6 "out of the box" were far from ideal. With the loco idling, using the 16/128SS button it moves off too quickly and ends up thrashing in 2-3 feet or less, and if the large brake button (Lenz) is then used, it ends up stopped with the engine still thrashing away. As shown below, the braking was set higher than the inertia as supplied. As supplied CV3 = 100 (range 0-255) changed to 255 settings: CV4 = 120 ( " 0-255) left at 120 CV5 = 255 ( " 0-255) changed to 128 CV6 = 128 ( " 0-255) " 64 What is strange is that both the Bachmann loco leaflet and the Lok 4 manual show CV 5 & 6 as having a MAX value of 64. However on reading these CV's "out of the box" CV5 was 255 and CV6 128 - hence the near scale 200mph ? max speed. Perhaps this is an error in the Lok 4 manual, and Bachmann have simply just copied it ? Nice sounds/multi start etc, although personally I don't like the air brake and the train brake ? linked on the one F key using on/off. Anyone else notice a couple of small issues on this model - no hole (both ends) in the light housing for the lower centre headcode disc to fit, both buffer beams also appear to have one (same) pipe missing - and these are not included in the detailing packet either.