Gordonotron

Hi all, Started to get into some resprays and looking to get some practice in. Hornby Mk3 Bodyshells (full length ones) would be good as I have some chassis already for them. But will also be interested in any other offerings people are looking to offload. Regards Gordon

To be fair to Charlie and the team I've had a few decoders go, even some I though was down to me but sorted without issue and superb service. I would see if you can read any CV's from the decoder. if that works it's at least responding also check the connections on it make sure their all good and not shorting anywhere. I would also try the decoder in another loco if you can.

Hi all, I'm working on a 37 and had to get the sound chip replace (full credit to Charlie @ Dc Kits for the replacement and top notch service!) and It's not a v5 chip. It was being required on a ESU 51968 board as it was using more aux 3 & 4 for the cab lights which the board has it's magic to convert from logic level outputs to full power for LED's. but since the v5 seems to be full outputs without this. so the real question is, will it be fine as is or should I now ditch the board?

I think this is the sound file I got recently but not sure if its a prototype recording or even officially released. its "ok" at the moment. I can't really say compared to the prototype and I think I need to have a think on the speaker choice to get the best from it which I've not done yet, so I think my opinion isn't complete on it yet. The one thing that isn't right for me is the blower sound which is WAY to loud on the chip and not worked out what sound slot it is to tame it. but that's not a bad list of issues if thats all I have.

Hi all, I'm after a couple of bits, A drive shaft for a Bachmann Deltic (Small plastic bit between bogie and motor) a motor for a Bachmann class 37. (modern 21 pin version) If anyone has either please let me know. Gordon

As an Ozzy fan, I approve that one I thought that but when I found the green wire had come loose - although not used, must be for something.

Hi all, So I'm looking for some advise as I have a Zimo sound chip I picked up from Digitrains maybe 2 years ago. So I was moving it from one A4 into another with a new speaker, initial tests of the tender on its own went without issue and it fired up with the sound es expected. Once the devils plug was put in and the Tender and chassis on was still good. And finally put the body's back on... not so good. So loco body on still ok. But when the tender body went on I then got an odd sound coming from the loco, best described as a mid ranged squeal but it didn't short the DCC system. I opened up the tended and all seemed well but since then it's just shorting on contact with the rails. I have since put another decoder into the loco which works without issue and put the chip in another loco with the same result. Currently the chip just shorts out almost right away regardless of what loco it's in. on inspecting the chip I can't see any damage under the clear cover but I did notice the 8 pin connector the green wire looks to have come loose and I'm wondering if this has contacted another pin and shorted it out. Anyone got any ideas or would we put this down to a blown chip? Gordon

So I picked up a William Stanier version today and I will admit it's a beautiful model to say the least. However while doing my usual of getting the decoder in (I know, I should DC them first to make sure but I didn't have my controller to hand). and then letting it read all the CV's so I can get it going right while looking at the bits in the bag and thinking about fitting brake gear. Anyway, before I started that I gave it a quick run on the rolling road and it seems to have what I would say was a loud motor in it which is a much more audible scratching noise going backwards. Just seeing if anyone else has had this before I speak to the supplier?

Methylated Spirits for the paint - the purple kind. I have a tub I drop the shells into and leave them for a while if needed - scrub with the toothbrush as the paint comes right off.

Dave, Assuming you're on Windows (and 7 or above) go into the start menu and type in "cmd" (without quotes) - should bring up the command prompt window. type in "ipconfig /flushdns" (again, no quotes). Then try the site.

Good to hear it's a good outcome.

To be fair I rarely see them mentioned unless it's with one of the apprenticeships.

Yup - there is the British Computer Society in the UK but I wouldn't say they we're a regulator or anything of the nature. Plus as said IT is normally anything with a plug on it or appears on a screen.

Can't really disagree - The problem though isn't so much people being shysters in as much that there lies of ways to do one thing and each has it's pro's and con's. Add to this that the range of hardware, setups, configurations, screen sizes, input devices, you name it that all change for nearly every person it adds a LOT of complexity and possibility for something to go wrong so it's a tough industry to regulate. If we looked at it like a trade, it's like getting a plumber to install a new tap for you. If we asked 5 plumbers to do the same thing there will be difference in terms of how the run the pipes, the type of pipes (plastic or copper?) some might ask you what kind of tap you want others will just pull one out their van. Regardless though what you end up with should be a working tap with reasonable water pressure. Now IT - you want a website (to keep it on topic) first choice is platform (such as Wordpress, Drupal, etc). Then do we host that on windows or linux? then where do we host it? on our own server rack located somewhere. with a third party, on the Microsoft platform? and thats just keeping some of the system specs. on the developer side what do they code special parts in and does that facilitate future plans, have they commented it in a good way, is that compatible with all browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer etc. My point is that while on paper its "design a website" behind that there is a lot more decisions and ideas that get thrown around than most people realise. Even for me in work we can have three engineers in a room discussing a small business setup and get three different designs - sometimes even the odd fight over it I'm a little biased but it still amazes me working with businesses of all sizes how little care is given to IT in the modern world. Some is understanding, some is budgets (we all want too ave some money), and some is ignorance. Yet when email goes down it's like the world collapsed. I will agree though that it's not uncommon to see issues where people haven't taken the time to test. And sadly I think it's at a point now where they expect us to test then confirm (Microsoft, looking at you!). Even with the online world we see websites crashing because they didn't expect the capacity or a new online game not working on launch day because they only ever tested 20 people at once on it and not 1000. It's back to that cost cutting thing though in my opinion. 50/50 here - I agree with both. Yes there is a point but at the same time if the site is in staging for Dave to review and he asked someone else to log in and take a look at it isn't that his right as the customer? If (and I'm using this as an example but not keeping the facts) Dave hadn't paid this person and asked someone to go in, backup the site and move it elsewhere ready to go then I would be in full agreement at that stage. Even if the dev's had gone missing it would still be a questionable ethic and one I wouldn't agree with. You pay for the work, but once you've paid it's owned by the customer unless you've agreed otherwise.

Wasn't meant as a insult, more I didn't want to ramble. I always find the IT community is quick to forget we know what we're talking about in technical terms while leaving those without a clue sitting wondering what we just said. It's a handy life skill I find

Very true on the passwords. That’s why I’ve offered to take a look. Really depends where things are in terms of development:/access that determines how much anyone can do short of developing a whole new site. Security wise I fully agree. Most ecommerce systems rely on a third party aspect to deliver the payment system. Prevents developers doing anything stupid. Most banks/services that underwrite the system don’t allow you to roll your own without a LOT to verification which most wouldn’t bother with. Server side the security certificate needs to be in place but given the likes of Google Chrome is planning to flag up sites that do not connect using a secure link (even the likes of RMWeb which doesn’t take payment information) will come up with warning soon in most browsers. But all of that is easy enormously go to sort if you know what your looking for (spoken from the IT guy view) Gordon

Well I'm not a developer - but more the server/infrastructure side. So if there is stuff thee might be able to get it going.

Hey Richard, Any pics of how you've done a deltic?

HI Dave, If its available for you to see and working then it's should just be a case of making some changes to move it to the live platform. Happy to take a look if you want to drop me a PM. Gordon

Arrived today, Only negative on mine was a loose seat inside it (one of the long couches at the end). any got any hints on opening it up to sort it? seems like a but of a daunting task with the amount of detail on it. Also the recording wheel seems a bit loose and not sure if thats for moving it on EM wheel sets etc, anyone else noticed it? That aside, very impressive in the flesh with the teak effect and the amount of detail on it! Gordon

If it's only one loco doing it it suggests it's the loco - have you tried doing a reset on it by setting CV 8 to 8? I've had a few odd scenarios and that usually sorts it by putting it out of the box condition, but it will also change it back to 3.

I've put an order in and I'm sitting on the first instalment - whats the cut off to get this paid and still get the existing pricing?

Cheers guys, I didn't know Railtec did them. makes things much easier.

I was wondering how you did the grills on the DVT? one of my next projects and couldn't figure out how you did it. Mind sharing?

I think we're mixing up CV's with sounds here. As said each sound provider can store each sound in a different section or slot of the chip but it's the CV's that make it all work (so function 3 is the horn sound for example) but one may store this in slot 3 the other slot 5. so the CV to make that happen will differ. If you asking can you take the sounds off one and copy to the other - then no. You would need to get the chip reblown by the sound supplier of choice but all the good ones will offer this. If you mean the CV values then you could copy these from one chip to the other. At least by writing them down and reprogramming the CV's on the second chip in a lengthy process. This will work fine if you have the same loco's with the same sound files and should give the same effects on both (so if you had two class 37's they would act the same so long as it was the same sound supplier's version on matching chips). opting the CV's though won't change the sounds. It might add some undesirable effects in other places. My advise is if you want a sound chip to act a little differently speak to the sound supplier to se if they can advise on the CV changes you need. Hope that makes sense.