Scrooge

1 hour ago, stewartingram said:

retailers take note - I've been told (don't ask who) that stuffing £20 notes around the loco is far superior packaging than bubble wrap....

 

Stewart 🤑

Hi Stewart,

I wish Hattons had taken note of your suggestion, but they just used bubble wrap.😄

The replacement Princess has now arrived without any damage.

I have received the pair from Hattons, a bit the worst for the journey. Hopefully they will follow the example of Kernow, for the replacement Princess. Unfortunately Prince had sold out at Hattons so I will have to fix it. I was going to fit figures anyway so it saved me taking the cab off.

13 hours ago, GWR57xx said:

Have you had a reply?

I’ve ordered a sound-fitted 121 with speed whiskers, so I spoke to the folks on the Dapol stand at the GOG exhibition yesterday and they were very non-committal regarding a fix.

Didn’t sound promising.

I also mentioned it to Dapol at the GOG and was told they had only two complaints about the speed whiskers. In their opinion O gauge modellers were more tolerant and are more likely to reline the model. In fact one customer bought an example while I was there and said he had no problem with relining it. So I don't think a fix will happen.

Noch extras Holcim & BUGA are in the shops now. Just received my invoice from Train Trax.

3 hours ago, admiles said:

 

Worth trying to find out if it's just one motor/set of gears causing the noise. If it is might be worth taking out the defective motor and just running with one. I've had to do this with my 122 and it runs fine on a single motor.  Might be a better option?

Thanks for the suggestion. Both motors are noisy, but one unacceptably so. I have a ticket raised with DCC Supplies so we will see if they progress it further and I will let you know how I get on. Now the exhibitions are due to start up it will be interesting to see if Dapol get any feedback on the 122 and 121 at Kettering or Alexandra Palace. 

On 20/02/2022 at 07:56, Hal Nail said:

I don't profess to be an expert on their production process and wary of repeating comments on here as fact but it has been posted regularly across the forum that, with overseas batch manufacturing, there is little or no QC attempted. I think it's worth heeding the warning.

 

Instead they offer quibble free returns and therefore it's always advisible to check promptly, especially as the trend is towards 7mm selling out more quickly so you can get caught out. 

 

 

I agree with Hal Nail. I had a Dapol 14xx, with sound, in my hands for a few minutes before it was sent back due to damage in the post. Hattons offered to order a replacement as no more were in stock, but it was several months before they realised they could not get one and cancelled the order refunding my money. I never did get a 14xx, hopefully there may be a rerun. In my lifetime?

I also have a 122 with poor running and noisy motor or gears. I contacted Hattons within a couple of days but they were sold out. The only option they offered was a refund. I did not want to loose out again so I said I would consider it and hope it might improve with running, no such luck. After reading this thread I realised other people had the same problem and were trying to get them repaired by Dapol via DCC Supplies. I am still waiting for a reply from Dapol to see if it is possible.

7 hours ago, Adam_W said:

I found that my sound fitted class 14 wouldn't operate on DC straight from the box. The sounds would ramp up with voltage but there was no movement from the motor. Same issue occurred with a second example passed to me for numbering. Both operate fine on DCC. I found that changing CV13 from 19 (as supplied) to 1 fixed the issue and allows it to run on DC with sound operational. Setting CV 13 to 0 will allow operation on DC without sound. Hope this helps anyone experiencing similar issues.

 

Also good to see that the stay alive works on DC as well as DCC. 

 

Thanks

 

Adam

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the information. My sound fitted class 14 arrived yesterday and I have spent today playing with it. I was getting worried when I found it would not move on DC but had sound. Everything worked fine on DCC. You have saved me an email to Minerva as I am just getting started in O gauge and DCC.

Is it just me or has anybody else noted that the head code numbers supplied seem a bit large for the glass? I presume an 8Vxx may have been a typical code.

Am I the only one confused by the 2022 models listed on Hornby web site.

Initially I read

R30104 5 car sets 370 003 and 370 004

R30229 7 car sets 370 001 and 370 002

Then I looked at the individual listing for each pack and the pictures show the opposite numbers especially the 14 car diagrams show

R30104 5 car sets 370 001 and 370 002 yellow front with coach packs R40210 etc

R30229 7 car sets 370 003 and 370 004 black window surround with coach packs R40210A etc

This would then agree with R30105 NDM being compatible with R30104.

Please accept my apologies if I have missed a post, as I am new to this community.

If anybody is thinking of placing an early pre-order for the new sets they may end up with the opposite running numbers. Also R30105 NDM may not be livery correct for the current 7 car set.

44 minutes ago, WestRail642fan said:

Just got the email from Hornby and its preparing for dispatch!

Same for me and according to the pdf invoice on their website they are honouring the pre-order price of £484.99.

9 hours ago, Markwj said:

So having seen a couple of pics of the 5 car on layouts- how are we finding them -running ok (apart from the extra ndm issue), light bleed ok or not- any derailing issues- just to point out not looking for issues hopefully my 7 car will come this next week, hoping for flawless reports!

I tried taking a video of the set running in subdued lighting but do not have the technology to post it, so I took a screen shot. In my opinion the lights seem bright and the reflections from inside seem to dominate.

As for running there were no derailing or other problems. The layout is 25ft x 5ft with roughly 24inch radius curves. Track is code 100 with standard Peco points including double slip

Just received my update card email from Hornby for the 5 car set. Keep  your fingers crossed.