Pegleg90

Comparable on price for a current day model but with all the bells and whistles (horns), absolutely spot on - well done Hattons! Cant wait to get my hands on some - think my wallet can though!

Merry Christmas All, Received 68008 Avenger today from my lovely parents, looks really great with the brake discs and the crisp DRS branding, went to run it in on a DCC concepts rolling road and it seems quite noisy/rough running it in in either direction compered to my first batch 68's, any suggestions why this is or send it back? Only a very tiny corner of yellow rubbed off but think i can live with that. Many thanks Ali

Asked Dapol on their forum and sounds like the decoders (non & sound) were delayed so early January for delivery now.

I was thinking that too, message a leading online seller last week who said they were told they’d have them in time for Christmas, must say I’m starting to wonder if they’ll get them right before and they’ll arrive afterwards now.

Great news, weathered set and extra wagon pre-ordered! Will these have any lighting options for night time running? Model of the year candidate next year???

And theres the motivation I need to get the work space area back up and running following decorating my room! Looking good Jack!

Hi Jack, I'm in a similar situation with 68002, pre-ordered it at the same time as 68005 from Rails but to date I've only had 68005 turn up, I've chased Rails for an update and their response was we're contacting Dapol. At the time of the DCC ready locos being released Rails contacted me to see if I wanted to change my order to DCC ready as they couldn't confirm they would be able to fulfil my order for both fitted but didn't say it would be one or the other. I'm not sure if its the returns issue, took too many pre-orders or Dapol changed the retailers allocations or what, I would just like to know whether I'm getting it or not. I have to say though, due to the un-certaintity I was getting, I sourced a DCC ready 68002 just incase but i've since (this weekend passed) gone sod it and fitted it with Legomanbiffo's sound with a base reflex speaker (its really good - bloody loud when I first tried it). Down side to this is its got the rubbed yellow ends - anyone know a suitable off the shelf yellow to match these for touching up? Thanks Ali

Thanks Jack, Good idea on the underside ribs of the box, I don't know why I didn't do that! So probably spraying humbrol acrylic gloss varnish late evening in the garage when the day has been quite warm and not shaking the can enough probably caused this! How did you get over it on your 66? I'm half tempted to have a go with the thinners option as mentioned. Thanks Al

Evening All, Long time no post again, i'll blame work! Anyway, treated myself to class 37 sound decoder & speaker from south west digital, quite happy with it but I do need to improve its air-tightness around the speaker. Not too much done on the salmon/osprey wagons but I have added coupling hooks from brass masters. Also seemed to have misplaced the axle box covers from one of the bogies so started making replacements. MXA front has been slow going too say the least. After i removed alot of the body the remains started flexing so thought I might use some old rail to strengthen the body, only downside is its too tall so got a heap load of filing to do to bring the height down - yay! I've been slowly having a go at weathering wagons, mainly a few MFA's and a JNA i had to hand. Mainly dry brushing using a rail match rust base colour, quote happy with the results. Also had a go at adding buffer grease based on RS4's thread, fairly happy with the results, probably got the mixture on too soon. Happened to be on model masters web side when they had a sale on transfers so thought I'd have a go at renumber a MFA, using T-Cut, absolutely fine, Think I've ballsed up on the varnish though as after applying 2 light coats of humbrol acrylic gloss varnish, the model now has these mist patches, don't know if I didn't shake the can enough, let the first coat dry sufficiently or what (answers below please). I did have a can of rail match gloss varnish which i think i should of probably used instead. Anyway, thats it for now. Thanks Ali

Thanks for the head up Jack, 68014 on its way. I feel legomanbiffo's sound system the next purchase looming but for 68002. Talking 68002, what's the best shade of yellow out there available to buy to touch up the packaging rub marks on the front of the locos? Apologies if this has already been mentioned. Thanks in advance, Ali

Nice work Jack. I know what you mean, before you know it you have the majority of the wagon together, then comes the frame work on top should you be going for that - silly question?????

Thanks for posting Matt, glad you said that as mine was in position 2, not 1. Can't check function 2 yet as prodigy advance 2 but all the others seem to work but... function 1 when I go into push mode (coupled on end 2), the cab light comes on... presume its not meant to do that? I don't want to go reprogramming functions 1 or 2 until I'm fairly sure the others are correct. Also need to have a go at reprogramming my zimo MX634D decoder - won't be able to for a week or 2. I know a guy on you tube has re-programed on. Thanks Ali

Hi Matt, I'm having the same issue with my DCC fitted loco, F1 is no different to F0, can't check F2 as I have a prodigy advance 2 controller which is set for momentum and can't be changed - some CV's to be changed. I'd of thought only one end lights would be working in push/pull mode too. I've got a similar problem with the zimo MX634d which I've set to a C variant, still need to try it with the Other CV changes. Cheers Ali

Got the first of 2 DCC fitted locos today, 68005, really impressed with it, straight plates, no glue marks, no damaged yellow ends. Had to smile though in the accessories pack, had 2 tension lock coupling in the bag plus the one on the loco but no second valance.

Hi Jack, Nice work as always! The PFA's are a nice little wagon to make - granted not finished one yet and have 3 of the 8 I have on the go! what coupling are you thinking of using for them? Regards Ali

I've been using a network rail JNA to gauge the height as I'd seen a photo of the 2 next to each other and they appear to be the same height.

Nice work, and glad to see you back! Makes a change from RHTT sets! How did you take down the height of the BDA wagon? Made bit of a pigs ear on mine!

Hi NaN Take it all the lighting functions worked fine (i.e. as per Dapols instructions) once you did this change to CV8? Thanks Ali

Thats what mine says as well. Dapol digest also state zimo 'D' suffix as comparable. Presume this must be something to do with the function mapping they mentioned, but how do I do it and what values do I need to enter?

I've pre-ordered the DRS livery 2 DCC fitted versions from rails but they cannot confirm they'll be able to fulfil my order as they rung up on the release day asking if i wanted to change to DCC Ready because of this - half kicking myself now.

Hello, I purchased 68006 from my local model shop last Saturday, no issues, lovely model and it runs fine on DC and even better on DCC. I've put a MX634D Zimo chip in mine, all good but the lighting functions are doing this: FN0 on in forward direction (cab 1), head lights, cab lights but no tail lights (cab 2 end) FN0 on in reverse (cab 2), cab light only at cab 2 end, no headlights, red lights on cab 1 end FN0 & FN1 on in forward direction (cab 1), head lights on cab 1 & 2, cab lights cab 1 FN0 & FN1 on in reverse (cab 2), cab light on at cab 2 end, cab 2 headlights on, red lights on cab 1 end FN0 on in forward direction (cab 1), head lights, cab lights but no tail lights (cab 2 end) FN2 on momentarily with red red lights cab 2 I presume I'll need to do function mapping to correct this - correct? how do you function map? Side note in the dark i've noticed there is some light bleed around the door handles and cab side at the base from headlights - still a fantastic model! Thanks Ali

Thought I read the fuel takes changed after 68005 onwards? Digest forum?

What DCC decoders are people using for their locos? I'm considering a zimo one for 68006 I bought to day!

Has yours been supplied DCC fitted from Dapol? Thought these were a few weeks off yet? Not a high enough start voltage?

5k! How many is a normal production run? 350no 68001 limited edition, 775no of each running number, 258no (rounded down) of each decoder version - DCC Ready, Fitted and sound! Note above is based on if all are of equal quantities and my maths is still good this late on a friday evening after a beer!