Sun Street

Ask modelU.

If I recall correctly, A previous offering on this film was done using a lowmac, toad, etc and an 0-4-2t. Airfix, I think So has H prior rights held within their organisation? They can certainly expand the loco range easily for additional loco stock. Could be wrong, and expect to be corrected, so....................

I do not see a work-around, or significant comment about the loco, just discussion of how to source a sound decoder, and upgrade the speakers. Also, the thread title is no longer relevant as they are delivered, not just announced.

It has absolutely lived up to my expectations! Thank you Rails! As Buchshee is due to go to Gaydon Motor Museum on 30/31 October, I asked if the delivery could be expedited, it was superbly delivered on Monday, sadly I could not get to Milton Keynes 1 Sound is exceptional, and is appropriate from what I recall of seeing the real thing at Challow ,probably running on the stops - the image has never gone away. 2 Finish is superb, mine's black and silver. there is no overspray anywhere. 3 Performance seems very good, but a full test or running-in has not yet been possible [see below]. 4 My test track, built for most eventualities is second radius, the loco will definitely not run on such a tight radius, so........, let's see what happens when my new extension to Buchshee is completed. 5 The only gripe that I have concerns the whistles. Both were damaged when the loco arrived, an attempt to glue them failed, so.... What to do? I am not that churlish as to send it back when a cure is within my skill base. A ferret around showed that an old Hornby Thomas's safety valves were near enough identical, so out came the pliers and pin drill. Because of the roof angle, the hole was started at 45degrees to gain a purchase, then corrected to vertical. Tweezers and a dab of superglue finished the job off nicely. They are far more robust and appropriate for exhibition rough-and-tumble.

Thanks Jonathan, That's a relief, I've just changed my construction medium necessitating an almost full rebuild. Pete

missed words

Hi Phil, Recycled item? I enjoyed eating the cake and l managed to lick off the jam, so that's my box sourced [not sauced].. ....... What is the specific closing date please? At this moment, l need a week to complete, hopefully. Rusty

The booklets issue is typical of the Black Label product support. I have the distinct impression that Dapol want Black Label to bury itself. I must have had one of the last booklets, as a kind office lady found one in the back of a cupboard and posted it to me, having first said that there were none left. The water tower farrago and signals again typify their approach of insufficient product research and development. Pity. I am planning to fit a modern decoder into my loco, getting rid of a lot of junk within the unit, a Hornby would do it, with relays to protect function circuits from the smoke units' current draw. I would do the same to other premium decoders, as a precaution. Or, can someone think of a better way? Please? Still stuck for heater elements as the model has been on the back burner [no pun intended] for a while. TTFN Pete

Suppose I'd better dust off the old unfinished project then. Also, use the lathe and get my A4 mended.

Hi there, I am still looking, but with no urgency as the competition that put me against the clock has closed. I am now looking into an improved solution. I will keep others informed, but don't hold your breath, please.

autocoach Agreed But when the ideal unit is available without buying other parts and mix'n'matching them, why do it? And yes, I do mix'n' match when l want something that is not available. So many people over here seem to think that once past Kadee #5, the rest is black magic. You're lucky over there, simple postage etc. and no export/import complications. Unlike us, we have to rely on sporadic supplies, but I am trying a new supplier. lt's looking good.

A further thought, with regard to Kadees. Have a look at #178 scale-head whisker coupler. They have a narrower gearbox and a scale head, mounting in the same manner as a #5. the downside is that the gearbox is moulded in a nylon[-ish] plastic, so a sharp knock in transit can dislodge a superglued mount, if screws are not used [l don't]. If l have a joint fail, l then do the re-fit using the good old stand-by - UHU. I use superglue first though, as this creates a superb mounting face for the repair. Me? I am standardising on #178 for general use, cosmetically far more satisfying, and they work well with other Kadees. Obviously every case is judged on merit, and the most appropriate is used, including the European types #17 to #20.

The Kadee is the coupling of my choice, too. My layout is Buchshee, that has been on the exhibition circuit for many years. Over the winter, it has been re-wired [for DCC operation] and re-laid with Peco code 75 and have no problems without the match-truck. My test-track [a figure of 8] is Hornby Setrack [2nd rad.], deliberately chosen to really test out any locos that have been in for repair. In the track plan, the crossing is a dead-frog item, the points also are Setrack [with no continuity clips], the Ruston deals with all of it with equanimity, except at very very low speed on DC, but just ignores any issues with a DCCconcepts Zen Black mini decoder fitted.

Iirc correctly, the Oxford tooling allowed for the vast majority of variants in their tooling suite. Now that there is a link between Oxford and Hornby, then maybe, just maybe there will be an appropriate correct range of coaches progressively developed, albeit some having to be compromised in the name of production economies. As said previously on this site, there are detail nit-pickers that will deride the product, yet have no intention of buying. If the manufacturers are not supported by purchases, then they will not support us. Me? I'm building the HSDT prototype between other projects, everytime that l go back to it, l find my standards are higher than before and have to re-engineer what as been done or compromises reduced. And boy! Are there differences!!!

A comment on light bleed. ''Borrow'' some cooking foil from the domestic authorities and carefully glue it in position as required. I never faff painting the interiors of my bulidings or stock. Also, want to change the colour of your led's? Get the transparent film off Quality Street and use it as as they do in theatres and film sets, try 2 layers as well for some intersting effects, usually for shop interiors. The gold toffee wrapper is very useful, so is the toffee !!!