zoomer1979

Not in the market for this model, but in terms of DCC chips, for fine motor control, Zimo wins hands down straight out the box. The ESU needs a bit of work to get smooth take offs. To my mind early EMUs tended to be quite jerky with their acceleration, so an ESU would be fine. I have them in my Class 303s but have Zimos in my Blue Pullman and PWM 165. Neil.

Good that they are getting repaired and seeing some sales, but still not worth the money they are asking. As before, it's a £100 loco selling at a premium. Neil.

I've commented on the video that sounds like a starter motor being used start the engine, when the generator was used. A consequence of them using the 37/9 file. Not sure if that is something that can be changed/improved. Unsure what was changed besides the engine when converted. Neil.

My hope is that the second batch is a good improvement, so that others can get a decent running model. I also hope those that were working on improvements for the accuracy of the model (new parts to add to the body) are still willing to do this for those who want it (me 👋) Neil.

I used 369 on the basis that the APT-P was 370 and the E train was before it. Disregarding any guidance on it not being a conventional EMU of course. Neil.

Absolute joy. I've not seen a bigger smile on my Dad's face! Neil.

I would of quite liked to have had a friendly recommendation not to glue the blue star jumpers in order to allow future body removal, especially if you are still waiting on a crew for them. But putting the details on is quite addictive to me, as it keeps getting better looking the more you put on! Looking at pictures of 027, it doesn't seem to have its centre plough a lot of the time, so might just take it off? Or just rule 1 cause' it looks better! Neil.

Further to this, today I visited my Dad who decided to download the free ESU Class 37 sounds. Unbelievably they have sounds a plenty that some would argue should have been on these unrefurbished Accurascale chips. Things I would of liked that appear on the ESU suite include selectable compressor and spirax valves. And most interestingly a sound for the steam heating boiler! Surely we should have had that instead of some rail joints and multiple different horns? Needless to say with two Accurascale sound fitted 37 and a Bachmann with the ESU files it was a very noisy afternoon today! Neil.

Just opened mine today and was alarmed to see it was not secure in its clam shell, sitting front high out it's stoppers. Sliding the sleeve off the metal fall plate fell (ironic!) out. I examined it and noticed it would be easily put back on. I took the tender out first as it was stuck to the clam shell's top half, I then replaced the fall plate on its hinges. Next I went to pick the loco up and saw a footplate side had come off. Must have been a rough journey for this one. The side was checked and placed back in position to be glued later. The right hand safety valve had also been knocked out its locating hole so was put back in. Everything else was fine and nothing else was loose or missing. It has quite a pleasant weight to it and should be a solid runner. Can't help but feel more than 8 sound functions is somewhat under using the sound decoder for those not wanting the Titfield version. 🤔 Neil.

I'll be controversial and say, I'm disappointed with the sound file for the unrefurbished 37. Multiple horn versions instead of just two slots that are playable is just wasteful. And the horn samples are rubbish, a real squeaker, not the normal 37 horns I'm used to. The real tragedy is no wheel slip effect, a key part of the 37s soundscape and something that other chips for 37s have in abundance. I've tried to use the throttle in a way to replicate wheel slip but the delay between shut off and power up is too long and unrealistic. The rail joint noise is another waste as it only works visually for a certain speed. Another missing sound is the distinctive compressors that you hear in the nose ends, it may be there in the randomised sounds, but I would of liked it to be selectable. Not nearly enough spirax valve noise either, it would be good to be able to select and leave it on for a long time as it's sitting between duties. Am I being too picky? I wanted the sounds to match the attention to detail of the model? The model itself I cannot fault. Best 37 produced hands down. Neil.

Time for a self indulgent post, as I'm constantly running my 37027 with different scenarios. Here is my latest. Neil. P.s Mexican Bean is powered and is just speed matched, no buffer lock thankfully!

@RedgateModelsJust wait until the squealing starts as the pickups find their grove. I ended up putting an extra pair of pickups on my Dev coach with the cable running behind the computer banks. Neil.

New livery samples for the Class 11s and engineering prototypes for the Class 12s in this months Model Rail. Progress made. Neil.

Anyone fancy making up "West Highland Tours" headboards for 027? Neil.

Annoyingly, these are the upgrades as posted on the Hornby facecloth page. Nice for those that don't have one yet! Neil.

Yes, they are starting to be discounted now. At the Perth model railway show last weekend I saw a brand new industrial one marked at £101.95! Feels like that should have been the original RRP. Neil.

Took me a while to figure out what the four small black pegs are in the detail pack, then realised it's for the centre snowplough holes if you fit the NEM mounted versions. Attention to detail is off the scale! Neil.

I was a KR customer for the Fell and got told off for posting a "private email" (nothing marked as such in any way) on the Fell thread on here. Along the lines of "Just so you know" and "we don't appreciate" passive aggressive type wording. I've had it with them, especially him! Neil.

I'm not convinced. The well known ScotRail liveried inspection saloon was DM45020 which is an LMS built example that runs on B4 bogies. This GWR one didn't get a paint job until 1994 and I have not seen any pictures of it in Scotland. Have only looked in the past hour, so I'm willing to be proved wrong. I'll stick with the LMS one Neil.

Mine is still a poor runner, even after fitting new pick-ups. I'm ready to throw it in the bin with frustration. I hate that I have to do anything to it just to have it running reliably after the money we paid. Neil. P.S. I did ask for the Fell thread to be unlocked, but no joy 🤔

Hi Albie, It's a characteristic of the protodrive program on the chip. It says on the user instructions that of you go full power straight away, the gears will jump straight to 3rd or 5th depending on top speed. It then learns that that's the way you drive a keeps it that way. Quite clever. I'm realising I need a stay alive, but there's room in the bonnet for that now. Thanks for the interest. Neil.

I've now fitted sound to my PWM. I was in a bit of a dilemma as I was convinced the offering by Digitrains was the best sounding, having driven one in real life. But their version was based on a 165DS with a single horn. In the end I went for it, when I saw how smooth the Zimo drive was. But their recommended speaker was O.O.Stock. I selected a couple of possible substitutes and awaited delivery. Today was install day. Once into the model I made an "executive decision" and took out the gimmicky and pointless cab lighting and used the cable routes to install an 18x18x13 speaker in the cab. It sounds great and the motor control is superb. I've discovered that the drive controls can be used in a way that the gear change noise will not occur therefore sounding for all intents and purposes like a 165DE. Just missing a second tone on the horn. Kudos to Digitrains for a quick service and for answering my questions. Video shows donkey engine to charge air, then a cold start and a bit of running. Apologies for the focus, it was fine until I hit record! Neil

Giving this a bump as I have found some excellent recordings from the late Alan Vitty collection of audio tapes that have been cleaned up and published on YouTube by Tom. These make it very clear how different the 50s used to sound, particularly stationary and low speeds. I hope there is a separate unrefurbished sound chip being developed to reflect this. @Accurascale Fran @McC Neil.

Hi Rich, I did notice that there is still an issue with the front wheelset. I've yet to decide if I'm going to investigate it, or just live with it. Maybe once I get a sound chip and have to take the body off. Hopefully a simple fix of the wheel onto the axle. Neil.

Oh dear, looks like Sam of Sam's Trains got a bit of a duffer for his review. Looks to be motor related by the looks of it. Neil.