spice1977

Yes you can fit the lights and they will work with a TTS decoder I have done this with an old Lima Porterbrook shell on the 47 TTS Chassis. If you are very careful you can even fit a stay alive directly to the chip - found a guide on here and tried it and it works. There are no spare functions though afaik (I may be wrong). The other issue as I have found using decoder pro as the Hornby models do not include lights they do not show up on the easy programming pages so any changes have to be done manually using the CV's. Best thing to do in that case is just use two functions - you just join the express models wires together as shown in the instructions. No issues with the non sound one though.

Awesome will buy some as soon as they do - my first shapeways purchase as it happens. Might buy several as will come in handy for updating older locos anyway.

Thanks only 8 left now it was worth buying one just for the coaches! Besides I model modern era - and since its preserved I can get away with it!

Just ordered these and was cancelled by Shapeways due to a problem - could you let me know if/when they become available again as I am doing two 20/3 conversions cheers.

Mine arrived this afternoon. As others have found the two end cars are fine but all three coaches have the same issue with the bogies catching the lowered part of the body moulding when at the extremes of turning - the sticky up bit of the bogie and you can definitely tell something is sticking inside. For £300 they should have got this one right; such a shame because it is a fantastic model and the livery is stunning. I am holding off sending it back until someone comes up with an easy fix..... Luckily my current setup has no curves - end - end but the plan was for future development to have loops. No issues with other big units such as Rapido's APT-E. Hopefully Hornby will grasp the problems and resolve before the next batch and offer a FREE solution to those of us who have already purchased.

Mines arriving tomorrow. Unfortunately I only have an end to end layout at the moment due to space so will be watching with interest to see if Hornby come up with a solution. I would hate to leave it until I have some loops to discover it as it may be years yet!

As above works well if you put it on correctly - small amounts on the end of a cocktail stick and run the motor and a medium speed and keep it running whilst it sets a bit. I personally have had no issues with power even on single pickup lima models.

Just bought 68010 Oxford Flyer from Model Railways Direct the cheapest by far at £104! That's 68 number 3...

Yes I bought one and the glazing arrived broken off on one cab end plus the control desk. Also suffers from loose lamp irons - bit of glue n glaze sorted the first out not got around to the lamp irons yet. Black marks on one end - little bit of rubbing alcohol removed them no issues. They wanted me to return it for replacement but had already fitted sound by that point!

So having decided to dabble in O Scale my previous 4mm layout Ashvale has been dismantled, parts saved for reuse and new board tops laid for me to create "something" in O (got an 08 and 60 so far. So the plan for 00 is an 8ft x 1 diorama built in two halves for easy transport around where required. Built using Scale Model Scenery's large diorama boards with the backs secured together using the spares from the kit. The backscene is gaugemaster. Wiring can be connected at either end using plugs and sockets and will have two buses - DCC and one 12v DC. There is a plug for each at the front left for during development and then at the right rear for if its ever operated from behind. It has to be pluggable so that I can use the controller for both 4mm and 7mm. The track plan is simple with two main tracks and three sidings - considering a head shunt too but I haven't made my mind up on that yet. Control is a Signatrak ACE-2 with 5amp power supply, point motors are Cobalt Digital IP saved from the previous layout with 90 degree conversions to allow them to fit. There will be a depot at one end - 1950's shed from Modelux and fuelling points which are Bachmann Scenecraft and saved from the old layout; as will be a disused signal box and a Network Rail portacabin. Planning to have a more modern signalbox probably the one from Smart Models. All buildings will be internally detailed and lit. There will be street lighting and yard lamps as well. At the other end will be the wills modern level crossing with working lights (Layouts4U), barriers and sound (Block Signalling) I have loads of train tech dcc signals but considering investing in some from Absolute Aspects (really like the ones with route indicators) but also considering the new DCC Concepts ground signals (seeking advice on signal placement / types etc would they be used on a depot like this). There will also be a control panel using a DCC Concepts Alpha Switch - not strictly required but primarily for it it ever was to be operated from the rear. Updates will not be too regular - I have lots of other commitments but every time I do something I will post! I am not a rivet counter lol I model what I like but I do try to keep things prototypical where possible. My fleet is modern, mainly DRS, Colas, Northern and Network Rail with some interlopers from Caledonian Sleeper, Scotrail, DBS and Freightliner. More then 50% are sound fitted, primarily from YouChoos but also Legomanbiffo, CPRR, Howes and also TTS.

Ooooo I shall look forward to that if/when it happens!

A lot of stuff from ebay comes in amazon boxes - maybe that's their primary selling format? Either way over £200 for a DCR Class 31 lol jeez I paid £70 for mine new from Hattons - just fitted sound to it this morning too (only TTS but it will do!).

Oh look what Mr postman brought me this morning. Thanks Charlie excellent packaging and box now to test!

Well I finally got around to disconnecting the powercab and replacing it with the ACE. I am very impressed with it to put it bluntly! I really like the fact you can have multiple setups for different sound decoders so all have names on the buttons and the fact you can add the loco description too. I find it extremely simple to use and I am really glad I went with it! Now to just add the ability to communicate with JMRI to make it even easier to program locos and tweek CV's!

To be fair I just bought a Class 150 off him and his was the cheapest brand new one I could find anywhere. He packaged it really well and delivered it fairly quickly. I know what you mean about some of his items - especially the "kit built" variety but I couldn't fault his service on this occasion.

Really glad I went with the Scottish one now it looks great.

I started out in DCC with a Hornby Select, moving upto the e-link and then NCE Powercab. I have taken the plunge and ordered and ACE-2. Currently using the Powercab with the USB module, auto switch and protection circuitry. I don't particularly like using JMRI for layout control so I only use the Decoder Pro part of it to back up my locos - so that development would interest me a lot. Like the idea of being able to name the accessories and functions - although wont use it for the functions as too many different types of sound chip installed and don't wish to remap the whole lot! I use DCC Concepts Digital IP for turnout control and whilst I could wire up a control panel this way I can just name them on the ACE-2 and just have a visual reference for it - less wiring and less to go wrong. The one thing I don't like about the powercab is the fact that its hard to remember which functions you have activated without multiple button presses - so quite like the idea of the touch screen as that is one part of JMRI layout control I do like the ability to visually see quickly what functions have been activated. Also the powercab does struggle with some DCC chips - it didn't register a Digitrax DN136D yet Decoder Pro using the powercab did - loco hadn't moved on the programming track and was brand new only run in so no issues with dirty wheels or dirty track as cleaned prior to programming. Had it for a few years now and always wanted to upgrade to a touch screen system and this seems to be the cheapest solution for what I desire - add the fact that its the 5 amp system I have gone for it represents amazing value compared to upgrading the powercab - so now future proof for when I extend the layout. Paying over £100 for a power booster seems ridiculous to me, when for £200 I can buy this and then sell the NCE and gain some of my money back.

I soooooo like the look of that 21C3 - totally the wrong era for me yet totally appealing too!

So it was as simple as that - thank you for the info and I can get ordering now!

Email to the above address bounced back today as undelivered

I have bought a Heljan Class 58 from Kings Trains and delivered very fast and well packaged and exactly as described - cannot fault them. I have bought several from KJB both direct and via eBay and delivered fast and well packaged and exactly as described - cannot fault them. Cheaper to buy direct though. I buy a lot from Rails but usually when they have special offers on - currently waiting on a 66 from them as it happens.

Yeah I thought that too as I also have a @btinternet email but not bounced back yet so we will wait and see.

I'm still waiting on my sound fitted one too but my retailer told me he has it just wants to test them all prior to sending. Its getting very irritating waiting now though!

When I first saw these on eBay I bought loads of them both 8 and 21 pin (at least 50 of them). Not had any issues with the 21 pin ones and all still installed but have had quite a few 8 pin ones blow for no apparent reason other than perhaps because they were fitted to older converted Lima & Hornby stock. I too was offered a sales pitch which I also ignored. Anyway I have stopped buying them now for those reasons as every time one goes its £10 down the drain and I am now fitting DCC Concepts zen 8/21 pin decoders to cheaper locos (which are all working fine and very versatile at £17ish (and come with stay alive supplied) a pop from Time Tunnel Models or Hattons own brands (as low as £12 each if bought as multipack) and keeping the high end ones i.e. Lok, Lenz and Zimo for highly detailed / expensive stock with the advantage of UK based support if it all goes wrong. To all others I fit decent capacitors for stay alive function. Lais ones in my own personal experience don't cope well with older locos that draw higher current but do work ok in more modern loco drives and since I like to update older locos occasionally I won't be buying anymore. Just from my own personal experiences.

The "." was missing from the previous so have re-sent to the above - thanks!