Darius43

Found it - it was on RMWeb - see post #83:-

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67511-improving-the-Hornby-apt/page-4

 

Darius

First off im not sure if this is the correct place to post this so if then can an admin move it to the correct location please..

I have a few Hornby Eurostar sets that i want to run in 14 car lengths but the power car is just not up to this so i was woundering if anyone has converted the power car and if so what they did to improve this.

The only option i can think of is to run a power car at eachendand may be add a good amount of extra weight ??

All options considered

There is an article somewhere on the web (possibly on RMWeb) that I read a year or so ago where someone modified the power car with a central motor driving booth bogies via articulated driveshafts. I'll see if I can find it and post a link.

 

Darius

I've wondered on-and-off if the rather orangy colour of the carriages in Dalby's illustrations for the Thomas books might actually reflect what the artist saw (around Leicester) in the late 40s / early 50s, unbiased by any knowledge of official descriptions? I suspect this idea falls down on the 1945 date for his first illustrations - he'd be seeing faded LMS crimson lake rather than faded BR crimson - not the same starting colour. Or LNER brown on the ex-GCR and GNR lines?

I always imagined Annie and Clarabel were teak coaches as illustrated. Of course I haven't really considered this in 45 years but there it is.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Nice photos, what is the NSE EMU in the cabinet please? (4-TC or 4-REP?)

It's a 4-TC - being produced by Bachmann for the Kernow Model Rail Centre.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

While I have no direct interest in the 4-TC, I do have a viewpoint on this debatable subject of perceived 'accuracy'. While ultimately there will I suppose be some degree of compromise in any model I do also strongly agree with Ian J's point that it is indeed possible to strive for 100% accuracy. Why? Well, to illustrate my point, growing up back in the 70s and if you wanted a Class 37 then this was your only option in RTR...

 

Hornby Class 37.jpg

 

Okay, it's a somewhat crude representation of a 37 and actually has Class 47 bogies underneath and is finished in a totally fictitious livery to boot, but if you squint a bit then it looks like a Class 37, right?

 

In which case why strive for anything better? After all, it's vaguely right, and RTR will never be perfect, people are buying the product, so again why offer anything/strive for any improvement?

 

At the end of the day it's all about what degree of compromise each individual is willing to accept; and amongst all of that debate there will be those that disagree and those that are deemed pedantic/over-zealous for insisting on better. What must be considered is that as annoying as those over-zealous/pedantic individuals may be perceived, I happen to believe that these people simply want as best a representation as possible and I'd hazzard a guess that most are quite passionate about whichever model might be under discussion. It is in a way that approach alone that ultimately results in better models. Keep settling for second best and well, we'd all still be buying/running those crude Triang/Hornby 37s...

 

In short, I believe it's called progress.

 

An extreme example perhaps, but you get my drift?

Extreme examples never really convince me. I was keen on model railways as a kid in the 1970s but got into model aircraft (the Airfix variety) in later life only to return to model railways in recent years. I was on several model aircraft web forums and there were many vehement arguments played out about whether new kits had shape issues and incorrect details. The arguments were similar to those played out here on RMweb, ranging from the "It's only a model" camp to "this evil manufacturer has ruined the only kit produced of my super-adored subject and so no-one else will make a better kit and my life is ruined".

 

There was even a character called "Gaston" (amongst other monikers) who claimed most kits were wrong and proved his assertions with photos of real aircraft with MS Paint red and green lines added to show why. No amount of pointing out about perspective, viewing angle, image distortion etc. would convince him ("him" is assumed - it is the Internet after all) and he proceeded to cut up and butcher his kits in pursuit of perfection. He is totally entitled to do so of course but one wonders if this is the path to true happiness.

 

As for the 4-TC, some photos of prototypes show the front cab base level and some show it raised by a few inches (but not a whole foot). I dug out an old copy of Colin J. Marsden's "Motive Power Recognition:2 EMUs", which has a couple of photos of 4-TCs in it, both of which "appear to show" the base of the door to be higher than the bottom of the cab. Maybe it varied from prototype to prototype, who knows.

 

As for the Triang-Hornby Class 37, my friend with the railway shed has one from his childhood in the 1960s and we recently dug it out and tried it out. It still goes - albeit with that electrical burning smell. We have hatched a plan to clean it up, convert it to DCC with led lights and sound and detail/repaint the body and chassis. What larks Pip, what larks.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

I'm not sure about that. The angles look pretty similar to me.

I'm just not prepared to spend £269 on a model that when I look at it I'll get a niggling feeling that it looks wrong. If others think it looks right then I'm pleased they have a 4TC to buy, and I hope KMRC make a healthy profit on them. I shall keep looking at photos of the model, too: maybe I'll be persuaded that I'm wrong.

Fair enough - that's one more unit for everyone else

It's usually part of the CV29 calculation

Thanks Phil, I think it needs to be set to 2 to disable DC - will give it a try.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

If smoke is only coming out of the whistle then you've got some oil blocking the chimney. Blow down the chimney to clear it.

Thanks Nick - I'll give this a try.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

I wonder if the little loco will manage 18 wagons around my layout! The same way SRmans S15 did...

Last Saturday, my Huntley & Palmers Peckett hauled 35 PO wagons plus a brake van from a standing start in the sidings and thence around the layout with no problems

 

What a little beauty!!!

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Update - DCC Supplies were unable to repair the locomotive and so a replacement has been sent out by Dapol, which I received today. It works fine on the short test track I have in the flat. Will see how it works on long runs in my friend's shed at the weekend.

I would like to say that I have received excellent service from DCC Supplies and Dapol.

Cheers

Darius

Ran Golden Eagle on the large layout in my friend's shed today. Sound seems to be on all the time irrespective of whether F1 is selected and the smoke comes out of the whistle but not the chimney. It ran ok for a few minutes but then started stopping for no reason.

 

Dreading the prospect of another return, the problem was traced to dirty track, after track cleaning it ran fine but still with permanent sound and wonky smoke. I will set the relevant cv to default" smoke off" next time I am in the shed - had F7 selected to turn smoke off for now. Big relief that it runs ok (so far).

 

I am wondering if the dc mode setting (I run dcc) is the cause of the sound being on all the time rather than being controllable using F1. Does anyone know the cv setting(s) to disable the dc operation mode?

 

Cheers

 

Darius

I have had the same problem with my Black Label "Golden Eagle" - it ran OK and then just stopped and made a noise like the drive train had failed. It's gone back to DCC Supplies for repair under the guarantee.

Darius

Update - DCC Supplies were unable to repair the locomotive and so a replacement has been sent out by Dapol, which I received today. It works fine on the short test track I have in the flat. Will see how it works on long runs in my friend's shed at the weekend.

 

I would like to say that I have received excellent service from DCC Supplies and Dapol.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Received Scotrail 68006 "Daring" today courtesy of Collets Model Shop via eBay. Absolutely stunning with no issues.

Very happy bunny indeed.

Youchoos sound on the way...

Cheers

Darius

Youchoos sound chips with stereo "3D" speakers installed in both DRS and Scotrail locomotives. Sounds amazing

 

Still a very happy bunny

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Interesting "old maps" view circa 1959 of the Newhaven railway network on this website:-

 

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=50.7851&lon=0.0643&layers=10&b=1

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Received Scotrail 68006 "Daring" today courtesy of Collets Model Shop via eBay. Absolutely stunning with no issues.

 

Very happy bunny indeed.

 

Youchoos sound on the way...

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Unboxed my DRS 68002 today - received from Rails of Sheffield. All looks OK nameplate and yellow wearing panel wise. Test ran eventually*with basic 21 pin chip and all is OK. Awaiting a Youchoos Zimo sound chip later this coming week.

 

Superb model - livery application issues aside.

 

* ran fine on dc but refused to move under dcc. Tried several chips to no avail before discovering a disconnected wire at the controller (doh).

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Definitely one to take back to Hattons (as they sold it to you) rather than involve Dapol. The messy wiring looks atrocious and to have non insulated wires soldered in is appalling.

 

In my opinion, however, Dapol should get involved if this starts to become a common occurrence - especially if this is a factory fix for a faulty pcb.

 

Darius

It's taken me a while but I've finally got round to attempting the tunnel mouth. It's a bit rough and ready at the moment and some work is required to get the curve at the bottom correct before it is clad in suitable embossed plastikard but as a first attempt I'm pretty happy with it.

 

Tunnel 1.jpg

 

Tunnel2.jpg

 

It is made from clear acrylic tube cut in half and then shaped using templates to get the curves right. I used acrylic tube as it was the perfect diameter and I wanted something rigid and able to withstand the occasional knock if and when I proceed to layout construction.

Great idea to use a tube to get a suitable 3D profile. Looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

I've had a very disappointing experience with the Golden Eagle. The first model sent to me had a fault 'straight from the box'. Within seconds of placing it on the track the DCC power cut-out. There was sound from the tender briefly before the power cut-out. I tried again just in case I hadn't placed it on the track correctly. The same thing happened although that time with a smell of burning.

 

I returned the model to Dapol and they sent a replacement. This worked ok for about a week (apart from the occasional sudden slow down and start up again, which I put down to dirty track). I was running the model as usual when it just stopped. The functions (smoke, sound etc. continued to work) but the train wouldn't move. There was a whine from the motor as if it and the drive shaft had become detached.

 

The replacement will be going back to Dapol and I have requested a refund. I appreciate that occasionally you can be unlucky but for the replacement model to develop a fault as well after very little use does concern me.

 

I noticed on the Dapol website (Digest forum) that a few people have had problems with the Golden Eagle.

 

It's such a shame as I really liked the appearance and functions of the model but at £400 didn't expect the problems I've experienced.

I have had the same problem with my Black Label "Golden Eagle" - it ran OK and then just stopped and made a noise like the drive train had failed. It's gone back to DCC Supplies for repair under the guarantee.

 

Darius

Phil,

 

Great photos and a great weekend!!!

 

Cheers

 

Darius

The Seaford 150!!! - I was on the first special train - wonderful stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Darius

We stayed in Worthing and Hove for a couple of summer holidays. My father used to exchange parishes with colleagues, staying in each other's vicarages and taking the Sunday services, but having the rest of the week as holidays. A fairly cheap option for poorly paid parsons and their families. I just about remember going to Brighton shed and works with him and there are photos he took there. I have come across a visit to Worthing in the first two weeks of September 1958 in his loco spotting logs. The timing seems a bit odd as I would have thought that the school holidays would have ended during that period. He underlined 'cops' in red - one he saw at West Worthing was 20002*. He never recorded emu's so his records there are a bit thinner than those in the west country where we lived, but he did catch some West Country pacifics passing West Worthing on trains to Bournemouth, Plymouth, Cardiff etc.

*Checking out 20002s history, I came across this interesting website http://www.davidheyscollection.com/page38.htm

Good to swap notes - best wishes - Phil

That's a great website Phil, thanks for sharing. My Grandparents also lived in Seaford - first in the mid 1970s and then from 1978 through to the mid 1990s in Claremont Road. I used to travel to Seaford by train in the CIGs and HAPs from Lewes. That was when there was the bay platform at Seaford and the stabling sidings that were full of trains on Sundays - before the long platform was truncated and the sidings lifted.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

This (not the rail dispute but the east quay) brings back memories of holidays in Seaford in the early 1970s when we visited my Uncle (who lived in Fairways Road) for our annual seaside holiday.

 

On the drive in to Seaford from Newhaven I recall seeing lines of wagons silhouetted against the sky - these must have been on the branch.

 

We used to turn off the main road by the Mercury Motor Inn (now gone) and drive under the brick railway bridge round past the Buckle Inn (also sadly gone) to get a first glimpse of the sea

 

Cheers

 

Darius

I'll see what I can do. The Class 304 is in a friend's shed on his model railway - he has the shed and I have the rolling stock. I will take some pics when I am next there.

With apologies to Darius for hijacking his thread.

 

No apology necessary - its great to see models of EMUs

 

I have a Replica 64' motorised chassis powering an MTK Class 304 EMU that I built last year.  It seems to struggle at times but the MTK units are heavier than the Bratchell Models units.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Am I correct in thinking that the 321 carried a different (fresher) version of NSE livery, mainly without the grey at the bottom, though I think the blue/red stripes were in a slightly different position too?

 

That's a nice model, I've always fancied a Bratchell kit but their website seems a bit basic and lacking in detail and updates, some of the liveries seem to be missing.  Then again, I'd have to fit catenary...

 

Looking at Google Images, I think you are correct.  The 321 NSE livery seems to have had the overall body light grey colour below the NSE cheat lines, whilst the NSE class 456's had a darker grey below the NSE cheat lines and wrapping around the cab front.

 

Cheers

 

Darius