S&DWatty

Hello Scott, you could consider not showing the whole length of the station and make it part of the scenic break. That way you can have the impression of a much larger station that has perhaps 2 or 3 coach lengths showing and the remainder behind the backscene. I did this on my layout to gain more "open country" running length but with a large station to justify the express trains I wanted. I used Bournemouth Central as my inspiration as it fits my modelling region and has the advantage of 2 additional, non-platformed through roads, thus making the modelled bit of the station also a natual 4-road start to the fiddle yard. I also wanted somewhere for the trains to "go to" rather than round and round, so I added a country terminus (based on Swanage but using generic LSWR building scratch-built from card). This allows mainline running on the "roundy-roundy" whislt local trains can arrive and depart to and from the mainline station from the branch. It adds a lot of play value, especially when you add working signals. Just some ideas. dave

Maybe try Tim at Arcadia in Shaw?

I got a MN TTS Chip and fitted it to an unrebuilt BoB and it works fine. Obviously, the massive price difference between Loksound and TTS and that is manifested in the range and types of sounds, but the TTS is ok and the doppler effect whistle feature is one that I enjoy!

Hi Paul, Ive tried the thinner wine bottle foils and they seem to work ok, hold their shape and look ok once painted up appropriately......hic! Some of the prosecco ones are textured and Ive used them as cobbles and grating depending on the texture shape elsewhere on the layout......

This is a related query I believe. Im keen on using a generic sound decoder in a "sound car"- an idea I heard about that is used in the States where a van or other general vehicle is sound equipped and consisted with the train engine to allow multiple use of generic diesel or steam sound. In the case of a TTS decoder Im assuming it would rely on a motor being present in the circuit for pairing in the consist, or could I use a representative load? Ive trialled a sound car prototype using a CCT and MRC sound decoder that has worked ok and that circuit needed a motor to pair in the consist. cheers dave

Ive had a general problem now for a while but it is intermittent. Occasionally, I get read and write errors when programming locos on the Service Track. Ive made sure the track is clean and model wheels clean, but to no avail. Im wondering if others have experienced the same? dave

Seems to be the way of things sadly. I remember going in there with my Grandad in the '70s whenever he was visiting from the South coast and him buying me a wagon or something out of the secondhand cabinet. Still got the Triang small crane!

Ive used "pizza polystyrene" in a few locations for wall tops etc. It seems to work fine mostly and your concept for it looks good. dave

Here's a thought then. If we consider TTS decoders to have good, generic sound are there opportunities to use what Hornby are already doing in other types, thus saving money on bespoke sound chips? I saw a video the other day where someone had fitted a Class 31 decoder to the Bachmann 108 and it was ok. The sound was believable and the fitting of the speaker as described not too difficult. Are there any other classes where the 31 sounds would work ok? That got me thinking about the Class 47 sounds. Could they be used in the Peaks? Similar diesel engines in reality. How about using a Class 40 decoder in other sulzer types (26, 27 etc?). Might sound ok. Hornby do a Class 20 TTS decoder . Im struggling to think of another loco it would work in as the 20 has that distinctive burbling whine. At about £36 each, TTS might be a reasonable way to get more sound on the layout........ dave

Yes, Im doing the same. Good idea. My chassis was from another Lima generic shunter model branded as South African Railways I think. Sits well under the Park Royal body to be fair- I just need to chip the chassis and finish it off. dave

I have done that and I think the results are excellent. I think it's a major addition to the realism of the layout to have working semaphores. I used cheap servos too and they have been fine.

Hi Peter, Ive got the Hornby 4F tender drive and it's fine to be honest. It's really the Airfix model just slightly updated. M7's nice to. Ive got a couple that were unbalanced on their axis between the main wheels and trailing truck. I inserted a thin plastic washer to lower the truck slightly and the driving wheels now contact the rails much more sure-footedly, thus reducing the number of stalls and adding a bit of traction. As for the Q1s on S&D......Rule 1 applies mate! dave

I enjoyed these pictures last week too as a link on the BBC Website. We were living in Hackney Wick until last year and I found some excellent local pictures of the station and junction (now the A12) and even Victoria Park station that was sited about 60m from our flat. Very evocative.

Ive just got a TTS Merchant Navy decoder back from Hornby, re-blown with their latest firmware and it's working fine again. All good. They turned it round within the week too. Hopefully, their latest batches on sale will not have the same teething problems that some of us on here have noticed recently. I use Dynamis by the way for DCC control. Dave

Ive just sent a TTS decoder back following loss of drive and intermittent sounds. Hopefully, its a firmware issue too and Hornby will fix it. dave

Not even going to attempt to move off topic here......when we were in Kuwait the lads solved the problem of the local toilets by taking the canvas folding-flat directors' chairs we were issued with and cutting out the seat. Then, tie-wrapping a toilet seat to the chair the problem was resolved.......simply take your seat to the toilet and all's good. Normal service resumed! Not so much scorpion attack there as massive "hissing sids".....cockroaches. Disgusting beasts! happy days....dont miss them one bit....

Here's one for folk forced to shop and needing a quick refreshment. In Westfield Stratford at the Stratford International end (John Lewis end) is Tap East. It's a micro-brewery that has it's own branded beers and a good selection of guests. I was in there last week- good to call post swimming (Olympic Pool nearby) or shopping if you need a rest/have had enough. International is next door so you can slip out to see the odd Eurostar or Javelin speed through on HS1 if you like too.......

Hi all, Ive just come up with what I think is a new problem. I was running fine on ProBox when I noticed that the signal to/from the handsets was very intermittent suddenly. The symptom is quite weird in that the strength bars on the handset diminish from full to zero over about 2 seconds and the engines do not run, or if they are already running do not respond till the timeout occurs (30 secs set on mine). I paired the unit down to the original Dynamis only and things went ok for a bit but then the same issue has started. Tried a factory reset (and lost the roster int the process!) to no avail. Any experience of this fault guys? BTW, there's no obvious router, pc or other interference in the room. dave

Here's an update with some recent pics for you to see what Ive been up to:

Great shot Larry. "Hill start training" available to the left......oh, and brake testing at the bottom! dave