Greenmodelmonkey

Some of the quality may be down to the speaker installation used by Dapol but I particularly liked the 3 horn choices and the dynamic sound. Start up sequence with short cut is pretty neat too.

I don't think DCC Supplies offer British sounds in Zimo decoders.

Norman

Thanks Norman...

 

Just to let you know Protodrive version has 3 horn choices also and has 26 functions plus 7 more which the user can swap about whereas Dapol fitted chip (which is the same Zimo decoder used by Protodrive) but only has 19 according to their list. I have seen factory fitted speaker installed by a chap on his forum and I did start with the same speaker which is ok, but from cheap end of the market. However I have changed this to a double Zimo speaker and improved quality of sound is very noticable. The speaker is best placed behind the grill to get clear sound, mounting above the motor or in the roof is more muffled.

 

As far as I'm aware Dapol use DCC Supplies to fit their sound decoders not the factory that made the locos. As I said I did enquire once as I think paying more than the cost of the loco to have sound is just nuts. Especially when it only takes a few minutes to fit and parts and total cost of parts used are half cost at £100. I did not feel I wanted to part with another £100 for fitting cost! They said they did not know if they will provide the Dapol class 08 sound seperatly. I think it highly unlikely that they will as I expect sound files are Dapol property. At least you have he correct decoder and if you want a change, then it can be reblown by any of the other suppliers for a fraction of the cost.

I listened to an 08 today fitted with a factory (Dapol) decoder and was mightly impressed.  Sounds were very good compared with Coastal and Digitrains.

I wonder if the Zimo decoder project used by Dapol is available to buy seperately?

 

Norman

Suggest talking to DCC Supplies as I believe they are the Dapol factory fitting agent but when I asked they said it was not available seperatly. Paul Chetter's ProtoDrive version is clear winner for many and me as Dapol version only has a fraction of the sounds available compared to his and the driving experience is so realistic. I have heard the Dapol sound it's very loopy sounding unlike Paul's (or Digitrains Active Drive version). I'm interested to know what you think makes Dapol version better?

I ran thin superglue down the side parts of the ladder to help capture the rungs before they disassembled themselves just as a precaution.

Great suggestion thanks

Are there different "basic" bodies on the models, as the ladders on mine, (black unnumbered), seem very firmly anchored indeed, so is it down to the factory not adding glue on some output and it just needs re-doing to cure?

 

The only addition added so far is the set of lifting rings on the roof. Made in nickel wire silver soldered together in rings for durability, although soft solder would work. They are a bit exposed to knocks.

 

Stephen

My ladders were ok when I first got the loco but it started with one rung which fell out (why this happened i don't know) soon followed by the others. I'm not the only person to have rungs fall out as someone else on this forum had a similar experience. So hence caution when handling.

Digitrains recommended the following to me:  Zimo MX644D, sound project ZS08Ad, speaker LS 40x20x09. 

 

Paul, I decided to go with the sound above because I'm not all that interested in voices.

 

I gave the ladders a slight poke and they seem solid.

 

John

Good news you ladders are ok after a poke, still suggest taking care as they may get loose overtime and are a devil to put back together (great ladder detail though, very fine)

I got mine today and was a bit miffed when I knocked a buffer head off when getting the model out of the packaging.    These are held on by nothing at all.    I repaired it by pulling the buffer housing off the buffer beam, replacing the spring (which I thought had gone "ping" across the kitchen) and used CA to secure the head to the brass spindle.  I later found the spring.

 

Still, it is a super model and under DC runs excellently.  Will be ordering my sound package from Digitrains tomorrow.

 

John

Yes ladders and rungs are held together with osmosis so try not to handle these if you have this version.

Amazing what you don't notice.....it is a bit prominent and will be cut down as soon as I have had my tea! And in case anyone is curious...the photo I have worked from was taken at Banbury in 1969 but has no 'Overhead Live Wire' plates on the loco so mine hasn't!

Jeff

Great makeover, did you have to repaint radiator yellow or did loco come with black radiator suround?

The wheels.  Does anyone know what wheel standards Dapol have used.  I bought mine with the intention of spreading the wheels to suit Scale Seven and, at Telford this year, I discussed this with the chap on the stand who told me that they were fine to do this.

 

I have now started this and spread them to 31mm back to back only to find that the wheel geometry is such that the actual flange width to the root of the flange is nearly 1.25mm instead of the usual 1.0mm thus giving a gauge of 33.5mm instead of 33mm.  To get the wheel to sit on the track, I have had to reduce the back to back to 30.5mm to get it to sit on plain 33mm track but now the back to back is too narrow to negotiate the point work.

 

I am sure that anyone using O gauge ultra finescale will come across this same problem as they use the same flangeway dimension.

 

Has anyone else tried this?  Any ideas how to reduce the flange width without totally disassembling the wheels and axles

I measured mine and they are 0 gauge fine right on top limit. However I have been used to finer O gauge profiles such as those on the Lionheart locos and wagons so although Class 08 maybe to 0 gauge fine standards they are very coarse compared with lionheart profiles.

 

Don't think there is anything you can do to reduce wheel flange profile wihout removal as a huge amount of material will have to be removed using a Lathe or drill post. Hope someone else can help you sorry.

Suggest private messaging Paul on this link...

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/user/9747-pauliebanger/

 

Great decoder!

My model D3219 arrived today and runs very sweetly indeed under DC. Only one of the marker lights comes on going forward, the upper one. Is this correct -the instructions

suggest under DCC ALL the lights come on...

Correct you need the appropriate decoder and you can control them all using function keys

Only item supplied spare for any of my 08's was the speaker mounting. Slightly under-nourished vac pipes are already fitted to all the models I have received.

Vaughan

There aren't any sparesand it states this in the Instructions as they are all fitted.

Neither of mine had a small parts bag and the same goes for the other 8 purchased by my fellow club members. Not aware there should even be one.

Steve

There aren't any sparesand it states this in the Instructions as they are all fitted.

The original artwork was still on the Tower website this morning. Also the DCC website has shown a black radiator for a long time now.

Steve[/quote

 

Yes agreed for the Tower site but they don't show the black radiator suround either. The DCC website has shown a part finished body for some time but what may look like a black radiator front is just an empty black hole where the radiator moulding will eventually be fitted so assumption was that it would be yellow as in the Dapol artwork. The Photos on site at moment we're put on in last couple of days and shows what product actually looks like now it's in stock. I purchased based on the Dapol artwork which I now understand from today was incorrect and it was yellow. .There has neve been any indication as to the reason for change unless someone can point me in the the right direction please.

Hi

 

Recent reply to that query on the Dapol Digest

 

I did post a link to the DCC Supplies website page on my post a couple of days ago, but as with so much interweb 'virtual ephemera' it no longer links.

 

Regards, Gerry

Interesting to note that all Dapol artwork relating to the yellow radiator has been removed from the Dapol Digest Site today and artwork has been replaced with actual photos of the DCC Supplies photos showing the revised black radiator (all smoke and mirrors).

Just noticed the actual DCC Supplies special edition green wasp stripes has a black radiator whereas the Dapol Digest colour picture shows a yellow radiator.... Why has it changed? Not happy as I was expecting a yellow one as originally shown on Dapol Digest! See link below....

 

https://digest.Dapol.co.uk/forum/o-gauge-models/locomotives/class-08/312-class-08-special-edition-for-dcc-supplies

Saw that Hattons are listing several versions of 08 this morning w/o sound.  I decided to cancel my sound pre order and get one without.  I'll now use the difference in price to get a decoder with good sound project.

 

John

Sound decision!

Is that bonnet top black or green, Gerry?

Its a green bonnet as the version from DCC Supplies is a special edition just for DCC Supplies as shown on their website. All other green with wasp stripe versions will have a black bonnet as shown on Dapol site.

I've read with great interest the discussion (and dismay) on the factory fitted sound. I ordered the plain green, late crest version and still waiting. I suppose I'd better hear for myself but I'm wondering where I can get my decoder reblown with Paul's sounds.

 

John

Paul is the only person that can help and he is a regular contributor on this thread. If you look back at earlier posts then suggest to private message him to discuss his Protodrive version using a Zimo decoder. Paul also has a Dapol 08 running withhis Protodrive decoder on YouTube ..

 

PS the only connection I have with Paul is that I am a very happy customer.

Correction - having looked again the speaker is at the cab end of the bonnet top, but the loco was supplied with the bonnet top refitted the wrong way round. Will probably cut my losses and remove all of the speaker except the back plate and then install a Zimo one behind the radiator grill as I did on my self-install. Have two more on order, so will probably switch these from sound to non-sound versions and do the installs myself.

Sound decision to fit your own sound. You will also save a significant amount of cash....thinking about it you will get one loco for free if you DIY.

 

All the best!

Interestingly having taken the lid off, Dapol have actually glued an oblong speaker onto bonnet top, rather than use a round one designed for the moulded housing. This speaker projects under the exhaust area, so the although the instructions state you should lift the bonnet top from the radiator end in order to remove it, you actually need to release the cab end first in order allow the bonnet top to be pulled back towards the cab first.

 

Having played with the CVs this evening the sound has improved a little, but I think the Zimo decoder will be replaced / re-blown with one of Paul's sound schemes.

Shame sound fitted version is not as good as expected and speaker arrangement is not the best solution. Interesting that the speaker is bonded to the removable hood and not placed behind the front grill which makes a big difference as it makes sounds clearer (I had placed my oblong speaker on the floor in front of the motor but moved it to upright position facing outwards towards the grill much better in this position and less muffled ). Shame if speaker has been bonded to bonnet roof as it will not be possible to move to a more optimum position I suppose without a little surgery..

What is the view on the Dapol sound scheme in the class 08???

 

I have just received a black one with factory fitted sound and not terribly impressed when compared to the one I self-installed using one of Paul Chetter's sound schemes. Despite following the instructions, I just wondered if I am doing something wrong, as it doesn't appear to notch up when accelerating and seems to remain on 'tick over' at all speeds.

 

Thank you,

Vaughan

Thanks for your comments.... I opted for Paul's Protodrive also and it's huge cost saving over factory fitted. Just did not think having to pay an additional £200 for factory fitted sound was good sense considering the loco was less than this @ £169 in first place. Pauls version is outstanding and also provides more sounds than Dapol version.

 

I think there is a YouTube video of the factory fitted sound version and I noticed sound seemed to just loop when driving whereas Paul's sound is constantly changes depending on drive situation.. really clever.

 

I wonder if Paul could answer you question as I have no idea if the differences you have experienced are typical of the Dapol version compared to his.

 

Thanks!

Does anyone know if Dapol intend doing another run of Green with wasp strips as most seem to have been sold already ???

There should are plenty about, try the smaller shops and try Antics as they had many of the initial blue with wasp stripes locos long after other big box shifters said they had run out (but you may have to pay a little more).

The rods on my black 08 are rather thickly daubed in red paint in my opinion.  I shall be stripping off this paint and respraying with primer, brown as an undercoat and then red. 

 

David

I would suggest white primer not brown/red oxide as white base helps the red colour to stand out and covers better. Your choice of course but just trying to help.

I think it depends upon your judgement on the original paint, is it too thick, will another coat be too thick? The original paint will be a decent "undercoat" for further layers (I'd choose an Acrylic for safety), and maybe might need just a light rub over with W&D to give a key surface.

I would recommend using white primer first before painting rods yellow and if you can mask off I would spray with Halfords white primer. I would follow up with yellow Matt enamel so that if things don't go well it can be removed with thinners or white spirit without damaging the white acrylic primer coat. Then have another go. I am assuming the painter is going to use brushes not an airbrush.

Had a call from Tower today - Sound Blue D version will be delivered tomorrow...

Fingers crossed...

Chris

Well was it worth the wait and is the sound version good?

I think Modelu have an 08 driver in their range, albeit in modern garb- no other than Big Jim of this parish. Scanned in his 08 driving pose so it's accurate for at least one driver!

Edit: Here!

Careful though as i doubt if he will fit through the door (see my previous post about breaking door hinges and my Modelu figure is much thinner than big jim). I expect cab will have to be dismantled first to get most figures in without damaging the doors.