Ely_South

Hello Paul Not definitive or based on direct experience - But: Martin Claydon's excellent website details fitting sound to a Hornby Class 31 (http://s374444733.websitehome.co.uk/class-31-umt/index.htm). Around 1/6th of the way down this page, he describes a harness-fitted ESU PluX interface Loksound V4, in which he finds that there are six amplified function outputs, rather than the four amplified/two logic outputs seen on the 21MTC interface version. This seems to be backed-up in ESUs Loksound manual; section 6.10.4; specifically 6.10.4.2; which states that there are six amplified outputs on the PluX interface versions of the standard Loksound and on any interface version of the M4 Loksound (the translation isn't as clear as it could be, but I'm pretty certain that's what it means). Hopefully of use, although I suspect you'd prefer direct experience. Cheers Rob

More to come next week though - It's celebrating 15 years of the shop's opening, so we're to check from 15:15 each day, starting on Monday for 15 days.... Perhaps one of those will be Sorrento, which I also bought this week at full price. Do I sound bitter yet? :-) Rob

KMRC have 15% off of 15 of their exclusives: http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/c/1654/15th-Anniversary-Offers One example is their Freightliner (de-branded DRS) shed. Just so happens I bought one at full price on Monday this week....... Hey ho Rob

If you subscribe to Model Rail, you generally get 10% off those prices too..... Just let them know your subscriber number (although I can't guarantee it applies to that Class 37). Cheers Rob

Good call:

I hadn't spotted that. Phone pic out of interest:

56049 in Colas livery Cheers Rob

I know nothing about this system, but I see you mention a hub. Do you mean you're connecting it via a USB hub to your laptop/PC rather than directly into a USB port in the side of the laptop/PC? If so, it would be worth giving it another try connecting directly (without using a hub) before giving in and buying a new cable. Apologies if I've mis-understood. Cheers Rob

Yes - A nice plastic certificate (credit card-style) that got the owner the offer of a ride from Moorgate to Watford and Amersham and back whilst chatting with LTM & LU staff and freely wandering in and out of the driving cabs whilst in motion. I'd happily pay RRP again to have a similar experience with other model launches. It was a fantastic coup by LTM :-) Rob PS. As an aside, there was whispered mention of a VERY small number of individuals being offered a ride in/behind one of the LU-liveried Class 66s a couple of years ago when they were launched at Warley. I presume nothing came of this in the end; they would have been rather popular...

Likewise (along with Poppy also) - Pleased to see Rails join the list of retailers supporting limited editions of these less common liveries too. I'm going to need a new shed to store all my sheds in...... Cheers Rob

Okay: I know obstacle deflectors have been discussed briefly before (lack of a second 'complete' one; the occasional missing one). But does anyone know what SHOULD be in the box, and is there any variation depending on the model? My DRS one (68005) came with a 'complete' one fitted and a slotted one in the spares bag. My Chiltern one (68014) came without any fitted, but an unslotted one in the bag.... Seems random to me.... I'll chase the retailer for what I reckon must me a missing one (knowing that spares are on their way via Dapol), but wondered what other experiences there are out there. Cheers Rob

Paint it blue, stick a pantograph on it, and call it a Class 88...:-)

Quoting from Dapol's Digest (Andy@Dapol; 5th December last year - in response to a query about MU socket availability): "[There have been] More changes than you may expect: Fuel tanks, 'battery' boxes, land-line connector, grab handles (with, without, reinforced), 'tea strainers' in front of horns etc. to name a few. That's without considering such thinks as the retro-fit of MU connectors to the earlier examples of the fleet. The next release will feature some of these changes as appropriate for the time that is being modelled. - At the moment there is no final list of what is to be produced since there maybe livery changes that we could model. The final list will be released around 1st quarter next year." I have to agree; it's impressive what their research has thrown up, and what they're aware of (and consequentially; what people might see as a possible error perhaps isn't always what it seems). But yes; 'nuff said about the green swoosh :-) Stunning model overall (in my view) Rob

Just opened mine and popped online to state the same thing - Both wires originate at one of the pins of the 21-pin socket, with one going to D4 and one going to D8 (just about visible in the photos in this thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/120024-Dapol-class-68-light-mods/?p=2620753 If you've snipped one off, then I can only imagine that something isn't going to work....

Aha - Great stuff. So it's okay to add one of these:

Re availability of the sound fitted versions; I noticed that Charlie (DC Kits) has all six of these up for sale pre-fitted (by Charlie rather than Dapol) at £230 each - undercutting Dapol themselves - and undercutting Hattons/Olivia's even further! No affiliation; just a messenger. Cheers Rob

If ever there was a reason for the most modelling-averse of us to try renumbering, then this surely is it. Fox do the plates for £6. Anyone can have a bit of fun, and sit smugly with £70 in their pocket. Certainly my plan (and it means I don't need to rush in the same month that Kernow surprised my wallet with 97304). Cheers Rob

As has been reported on the Rapido thread - Rapido have announced that they and Locomotion have put this project on pause for the time being. Not dead, but not going anywhere for now. Shame. I hope the project's brought back to life at some stage. But given that I'd bought the bits to make one before it was announced, I'll just have to get off my backside and get on with it! Cheers Rob

I'm in for both. Given that 66779 was named on my birthday and I took the day off to travel & attend the ceremony on the day, I can't really miss this one. Cheers! Rob

According to the Dapol Digest, there's a couple of production samples of each livery flying in, expected this week. Photos to be posted there in due course. Would be nice to see the rumour about 68001 come true. The only things I can see new on the DRS site right now though are six real 37s and a 47. I wonder if they'd accept my £145 for one LOL Cheers Rob

Great pictures - In 1993-95 or so; I used to live in a farm cottage within sight of your middle of nowhere shots when I was a student - I used to wander up to the test track regularly, although as it was the early-mid nineties there was b**ger all going on there in those days. Well before electrification of the section up to Stanton Tunnel of course. Shame I don't live there now - Perfect for seeing unusual stuff Cheers Rob

Decision time.... The Hornby VEC Mk3s are showing as in stock in a well-known Cornish shop. No doubt soon to be joined by all the others. Cheers Rob

It's even worse than that in the case of Royal Mail - Solvent-based paints simply cannot be shipped via them at all; they're prohibited roughly since privatisation (not sure if that's coincidental).. So the universal service is not available, and Phoenix are at the mercy of the courier services. So where P&P for a £75 order was a tenner for me a few months ago (darn sarf), those in Scotland get charged £30 for not much more.... Worth waiting and instead paying for travel to a show!

This thread is not only a brilliant TMD; it's becoming a general modelling master class also. The ballast bags look great, and the buddleia is superb. Both are on my try-it-out list now; thanks! And to really cap it off, I've taken the recommendation and am also currently listening to ABGT whilst browsing here :-) Cheers Rob

It's www.phoenix-paints.co.uk. Looks like it's stuck in mobile mode though; it's pretty awful to browse currently (wasn't like this earlier in the year). They seem to know, as there's a banner acknowledging problems. You'll be stung getting enamels shipped by post these days. Royal Mail won't touch them I believe. Not too bad though if you're filling a basket. Cheers Rob