ruggedpeak

Here are the joins between the modules, the top two include the siding ends and the switch is indicated by the yellow arrow. So working fine, when I get some time during the week I will get all 4 laid out together in the hall of the flat to have a full run. Then onto some form of scenery, and think about how I control the two lines, probably a simple switch box that switches the controller between either line.

After the MBC trip, today was an hour long TPG bus trip from Cornavin over the border to Gex in France for the Exposition-Vente Lego Gex 2024. This is one of two locations that the 'Les Briques du Leman' run their events, the other being Evian-les-bains - https://www.lesbriquesduleman.fr/fr/ One of the Lego train layouts had an excellent selection of SBB trains running, including a 460 with a cattle train (!), push pull set and PW train. I'm always impressed with what the Lego fraternity can do, here's some photos and videos. The SBB trains were modelled by LE LUG. They take Lego pretty seriously in this part of the world. I was in Evian a few days after their event there in September 2023, and on at least 2 of the roundabouts in the town were 2 giant Lego figures. I haven't reported on that trip, from Geneva to Bellegarde then on the French side up to Evian-les-bains, as it was mostly French but Evian is an interesting station. Will do a post on it in due course as SBB operate there.

After several trips to DIY stores, I settled on a very simple mechanism for connecting the 4 Mosslanda modules that I have now finished. Small metal right angle brackets are fixed to each end and are held together with a bolt and wingnut. To keep the metal brackets from scratching the floor a short length of wood is fixed at each end as a leg. I have found that the modules don't need screwing together as long as they don't get knocked. Nothing remotely scientific or engineered about it but it works. Electrical connection is via wires soldered at each end with bullet connectors. This ensures power along the length of each line. One module has 2 siding ends rather than a through line, so the two ends are through wired with a switch, so that top line can be powered along it's length or the sidings operate as a isolating break. The switch is mounted in the module floor tucked inside the lower wall, ensuring it is protected during storage etc. Successful running has taken place and will post videos later. So concept works. Obviously there is scope to make a more engineered joining

Excellent news. The hobby appears to be in rude health. It is clearly going through a period of change but the omens are good.

Looking at his feedback profile, he's a trader. My guess, probably thought buying one of these would be an opportunity to make a quick buck not realising nearly everyone who wanted one pre-ordered. Same thing has happened with AS 37's, loads on Ebay from those thinking there would be a shortage. Just coming up with an excuse why he's selling, no one cares about the drivetrain if it works.

Cavalex have managed to avoid the fanboi following that AS seem to have generated in some quarters, it can get a bit "Life of Brian" on those forum threads at times. Cavalex have also delivered a model that has made everyone in the market sit up and take notice.

So not OO then.......

it is well worth the trip to Chelmsford just for the rummage factor.

Yes, there were models where the driver pops up and down and coaches where the doors open in stations made by continental manufacturers. However they are not features that have continued AFAIK in the contintental scene, presumably as no one wants to pay the extra. Some stuff people just don't want, like Bachmann putting passengers in coaches and charging a premium. The bulk of customers want qood quality trains that work, have longevity through reliability and spares availability, and are reasonably priced for the detail and function.

I can't speak for Rails but can speak as someone who has run mail order operations. The Cavalex 56's were a massive pre-order by any standards and we know that Rails had a huge quantity (two trucks worth) of locos to process. Only Cavalex and Rails will know the numbers but that is hundreds and possibly a thousand or more locos (we also know Accura sold 18k 37's across their SKU's so you can do some guesstimating off that). I am also told by people in the trade that some other manufacturers also sent out large shipments of product at the same time to retailers, so they may have been trying to manage the avalanche of 56's and all the BAU stuff. I would also guess that Rails is one of the beneficiaries of the Hattons closure, so demand may have spiked hugely. Remember model trains is a small business sector with low margins, this is not Amazon style logistics as the margins and volumes is not there and Hattons apparently couldn't make it work. Do the math, Rails and others are trying to cope with an exceptional volume of this hugely successful product, run BAU and absorb the fallout from Hattons. If Rails have screwed up (and there are sufficient holes in the story presented to suggest that we have not had the full picture) then they, and graciously Cavalex as well, will sort it out in due course.

Just had an email from Accurascale: "Great news! Our much loved 4 ohm "Accurathrash" speaker is now back in stock! We also have both lokpilot and DCC sound decoders for our Deltics, Manors and Class 37s in stock too. So, if you're looking for a simple upgrade of your Accurascale DCC Ready locomotive, check out our range below. With simple plug and play, and easy access, switching your loco to full fat digital sound is a doddle!" Somebody at AS has a sense of humour 🤣

Still don't understand why this DCC debate is happening here, it is a hobby wide issue limited to those who want to do their own custom thing on models, and it affects many manufacturers and models, not just the AS 37. If you still want to discuss it please move it to the DCC Section. With reportedly 18,000 AS 37 model's (plus all the other AS models with presumably similar systems) in circulation there is highly likely to be digital aftermarket support for them and worthwhile for the likes of Charlie and Biff to support it. I have little doubt that they can or already have figured out the full system.

I'd like a full set of 3726x models from their Scottish period please! Only issue is that 37264, for example, in large logo livery 37264 had multiple versions with Scottie Dog or Highland Stag logos, extra headlight in different positions etc etc!!! Obviously we will need all variants 🤣

Going round in circles. And yes, the examples are based off common standards, for example in cars this is a legal requirement so that diagnostics can be carried out, for smartphones they have to adhere to standards for Apple or Android etc. Within that are oddities and exceptions, as the emissions scandal showed. I will say it again, if you are genuinely concerned about this issue, raise it in the DCC section. There are more likely to be people there who can help you. That is perhaps the crux of the issue. You have got it back to front. AS provided a clear spec for the model and delivered it. For reasons best known to themselves some people have decided that AS models must comply with an ad hoc specification they personally decided upon, despite AS (and indeed other manufacturers) never having suggested they would do. Somehow some have decided that AS are at fault for not doing something they never suggested they would do. Your logic is flawed and expectations are not aligned with the reality of digital tech or the product. If someone wants a guarantee that all DCC systems are 100% compatible across all brands then purchase a 37 or other loco from whichever model manfacturer offers that 100% compatibility guarantee. If anyone thinks that the model train digital sector is going have 100% compatibilty in the future then they are going to be very disappointed. Compatibility is a nice aspiration but delivering high spec digital within tech and cost envelopes means compromise, and that applies all digital sectors.

100% The issues here are entirely normal for 'tech' of all sorts. Worthy of a discussion in the DCC section if its not already there, custom v standard compliant etc. This issue is not limited to Accura or their 37's. Pushing the hardware and software creates risks but is how tech moves forward. All very much BAU for anyone familiar with digital tech. Ask the manufacturer of a smartphone, TV, car or whatever for the detailed programming details of their tech and you will get short shrift. However someone somewhere independent of the manufacturer will have (legally or illegally!) figured it out and how to play with it. Same with model train DCC tech. Expecting personal consultancy on the proprietary technical details is a bit much in my view.

So the Mods have to do extra work to compensate for those who can't be bothered to start a new thread in a more suitable place on the forum, who feel their personal wants and lack of understanding and/or competence needs one to one attention, and who won't contribute towards the costs of the forum?

just filling in time until the next news/issue/incident/legal action involving WCR occurs.....

This thread is already 328 pages long, and no one in a few weeks, let alone a few months or years, is going to trawl through hundreds more pages of stuff about CV's, paint colours, warranties, deliveries, liveries, the position of an ETH cable, and all the other stuff to try and locate the answer. And there are DCC experts over there who haven't bought an AS 37 so won't be on this thread but may be able to assist. You can then just link the DCC thread in here so the AS team can see it. "I'm getting concerned with the lack of information on this loco. I really don't want to have to take the loco apart, pull the PCB out and reverse engineer it ... purely to find out how to actually make it work properly." "our decoders. Two months with open support tickets." "The people manning the support email know less about the loco than the Accurascale representatives in this thread, and are a lot less active than the Accurascale representatives in this thread, too." "Sadly, it's an unfortunate fact (that I wish were not true) of the modern world, that if you want a problem fixed, you have to air it somewhere it can impact future sales."

I have no idea what's going on, just glad I bought DC versions! 🤣 However, since the Cavalex 56 thread is rapidly going the same way into arcane IT/digital stuff, can I suggest those who want to discuss Susi and her connections create threads in the DCC area rather than clogging up the main model thread with stuff that is irrelevant for many/most customers? I'd also suggest to the Mods they create a Wiki area where people can put documents such as lists of CV settings for locos/chips etc to reside for further reference. I have found this invaluable on other forums where definitive technical documents can reside for all to refer to.

For info Bachmann do a working BSI NEM coupling 36-074, designed for their 150's but may suit.

On the assumption Youtube doesn't magically enhance sound that is excellent!

Out of curiousity and for the layperson like myself who understands safety principles but not running a railway, does TORR detect/know a train is clear of the route being released, or is it (using the wording from an earlier post) 'assumed' and therefore not known whether it is clear/safe at the point of route release? If 'assumed' then presumably this requires drivers to be aware of TORR and drive accordingly e.g. proceed but be aware there could theoretically be a train blocking the path whilst you are in the TORR area? If this is a highly technical point that requires a lengthy and detailed explanation for uninitiated, or I have completely misunderstood it, then please don't feel any need to respond! Thanks.

Was the paint mixed properly before applying or was it a dab of the thickest sludge in the pot? Was it fully dry before being photographed? Dark Grey paint has been painted onto a dark grey base colour etc etc. Given the humungous rabbit hole that is paint colour, that the issue has been discussed in detail on RMW many times, that Cavalex have made clear they have spent a lot of time and effort properly colour matching, that any image of paint is an inaccurate reproduction, and that we've already had the "it didn't look like that in the 1980's, I know I saw it" approach to colour matching, that BR et al used various colours and mixes etc etc is there much benefit to paint discussion in the absence of an Oxford Scotrail Mk3 type howler?

That looks rather nicer than the current redecorated RBDe 560! And inside Maison Cailler they have a model of it going around their layout 😊

Just for info the Chocolat Express is still operating from Bern to Broc should anyone want to visit! https://www.chocolatexpress.ch/en/ https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/ideas/offer.html/tagesausflug/maison-cailler-la-chocolaterie-suisse