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Thanks, I am aware of the contractual relationship and to whom I should return the model (as I did, when it wouldn't run) but I wanted Rapido to be aware of my experience and to have some (hopefully) helpful feedback for the factory, something the retailer may not necessarily pass on. Having returned it once, I preferred to sort the cosmetic problems myself.

I also messaged Rapido and received a reply very soon afterwards. They say there are bound to be some 'duff' products in a run of 5,000 and... nothing! No apology, no offer to exchange it, just that it's my bad luck!

The same applies to other makers, the majority of whom manufacture in China, but I have never had such a poor product from Bachmann, Dapol, Heljan, Hornby or Replica. I accept that others experience may be different.

I took delivery of one 2 weeks ago, only to find that it was electrically dead (so much for Rapido's assertion in the manual that all are factory tested). The retailer suggested I return it and let them fit a decoder to ensure correct running - for which I was expected to pay £9.99. The smokebox number is not on straight and, since return, I have had to refit the plastic pipes under the running board, disassemble, re-glue and refit the brake gear, to stop it binding on a rear wheel, and am of the opinion that the best part of the whole thing is the box. No more Rapido for me.

According to Didcot Railway Centre, the 'U' or 'C' shaped part is called a Slide Bar Holding Bracket. I had one missing from a second-hand Hornby Hall and was unable to find a replacement. They are part of the cylinder block assembly, which Peter's Spares have been showing as 'Temporarily Out of Stock' for at least a year. I have several Halls, but have never had a bracket come off. If anyone has one, or more, that they are prepared to let go, I'd be happy to buy them.

I am missing one of the two vertical, 'C'-shaped black plastic Slide Bar Holding Brackets that is part of the Hornby Class 49XX Hall's Cylinder Block assembly (X6640, X6641) but they are unobtainable at all the usual spares suppliers. I will be happy to pay for a complete assembly, or perhaps someone just has a spare brace they are willing to part with for the right consideration.

Practice has taught me to carefully mask the area around the item to be removed, then use a cotton bud dipped in a little T-Cut and rub slowly and gently, especially on a painted finish. The resulting shiny surface gives a good base for the new decal to adhere to. The ideal situation is one where the plastic provides the base colour (i.e., not a painted finish), as a short burst of satin varnish then disguises any ghosting from the old decal and blends the new one in almost invisibly. The first time I wanted a late BR emblem in place of an early one, I paid to have it done 'professionally', but found I could do it better myself. Cabside numbers on BR Standards can usually be removed so that only the changed ones need replacing, and I find Fox Transfers to be an excellent match for both Bachmann and Hornby colours, when satin varnish is applied over them.

Fitted another new motor today and the loco now runs very smoothly in both directions, so RAF96 was spot on. Thanks to all.

Having taken another look at the motor, it runs smoothly in one direction but needs a huge initial 'kick' from the controller to get it to start in the other, which explains why it appeared to speed up spontaneously as it got under way. Strange that it was ok when tested originally, but failed at some point after it was fitted. Thanks everyone for your input.

I fitted a TCS T1 in my 56XX, without too much hassle.

Thanks John, your systematic approach is the right one. I guess I was just hoping someone else might have had the problem and found a solution for me to piggy-back on. I tried the decoder in another loco, and it worked perfectly, so that's not the problem. Then I tried running the loco without a decoder, in DC, and it runs forward with no trouble but, when I switch to reverse, it stalls and needs a huge power input to get going. So, it seems either the new motor is faulty or the motor drive/running gear is binding. Thanks for your input.

Model was purchased as a non-runner, motor replaced with a brand new one, all wiring in loco and tender replaced and checked with a circuit tester. Capacitor was removed. I have done several similar refurbs with excellent results.

Having replaced the motor of Hornby R3205 'Rood Ashton Hall', it ran-in perfectly in DC with no decoder but, when fitted with a Bachmann 36-566, it starts off OK but then speeds up without any further controller input. It runs faster in reverse than forward direction and is more marked at higher speed settings. I changed the decoder for another of the same type (most of my locos are fitted with them and I've never had a problem), without any improvement. Controller is Digitrax DCI51 Zephyr Xtra. Can anyone help, please?

Thanks for the help. I have now found out that the component is called a 'binocular ferrite core' and is NOT an insulator but a means to provide suppression. I live and learn!

Hornby motors are (often, or always?) fitted with a capacitor marked 104, and the legs are prevented from touching by a black plastic caliper or separator. Can anyone please tell me what the correct name is for the latter, and where they can be obtained?

I have recently completed a layout using Code 75 rails and turnouts, which all my locos negotiate without problem, with the exception of Hornby Britannia Class R2272 'Western Star', both loco and tender of which lurch very noticeably when passing over turnouts. It is a tender drive model (not liked by some I know, but it's one of my favourites) and has always run extremely smoothly on Code 100 rail, so I guess it's down to the flange depth of the wheels. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace the loco and tender wheels with those from other suppliers, please? I think the tender may be problematic.

I'm sure this must have been asked many times before, but I'm trying to match the paint colour for the central cab sides of Heljan Class 14, D9521. Railmatch 301, Sherwood Green, looks as if it's the right one, but can anyone please confirm and/or suggest other makes of model paint and the shade number?

I know nostalgia's not what it used to be, but this is great news for me. As a kid my bedroom window overlooked Lydney Town station and the sidings, and I spent an inordinate amount of time watching 1616, 1627 and 1642 running up and down to the Forest of Dean when I should have been doing my school homework. My Grandfather worked at Lydney Docks, loading FoD coal onto lighters, and these engines used to run alongside the access road on one side of the dock, and along the embankment to the coal tips, as far as the dock gates on the other. I had my first ride on the footplate of one of them at the age of three. My lorry-driver Father had the dubious distinction of having his artic trailer almost cut in half by one when negotiating a fog-bound road at Gloucester docks! Can't wait to see the model!

I recently purchased a Dapol 4mm scale Class 122 Bubble Car and, separately, a TCS EU621X, 21 pin decoder. The TCS instructions show that the decoder fits onto prongs on the locomotive mother board, but there are no such prongs on the model. There is a black-coloured block on the mb, with 21 brass coloured dots, which looks as though it might be removable, but I'm not going any further until I know more. Does anyone know if this decoder will fit, and how does it do so, please?