Sir TophamHatt

Eek! No replies to emails or Facebook messages. Maybe he's just very, very busy.

Haven't ran mine for a few days. Did a test today and it's still doing this: Nothing to do with the curve as it did it on a straight piece of track when I first got it out the box. Have spoke to Hatton's, it's going back. I just hope they can install the sound into another loco if they don't have any left ready to go. Will keep everyone updated as to what happens.

OoOOoooo! Looking forward to tonight. Day off tomorrow, steak BBQ... It's whether I risk popping to the supermarket to pick up a few fresh veggies but not having to queue for 60 mins. I think a lot of people went yesterday. I'll try Tesco - never waited for more than 5 mins in their queue.

Morning all. Another warm day here in the Midlands, which I'm glad about as the new grass seed I planted a week ago has just started poking through. I'm also glad that some special plants called Yellow Rattle have started sprouting. We had a grass patch that we wanted as a wild flower area. In order to plant the flower seed, you need to kill off some of the grass so the wild flower has a chance to grow. Yellow Rattle feeds off grass roots... so put it together and what have you got? Bibbidy bobbidy boo! Also, a bit alarmed my pint of juice looks like it has a head...

While I don't want to drag this on: 1) My 66 had a wobble - running for an hour seems to have changed this. 2) 2 axle boxes off. Still off after a week. 3) While simple, I'm really not that confident with making any adjustments or repairs. 4) Remember, you're more likely to comment / complain if there's something wrong. I'm sure there's hundreds of these models out there that are fine. 5) I'm still umming and arrring whether to send it back for a new one. I have no doubt Hattons will do what they can to help. At the end of the day, I don't want to be left without a model at all (if they only offer a refund). While the review video did have a negative approach, if I had two models and both had problems, which were also reported online from a variety of people, I'd also be making the same critical approach.

I have two rakes of MK3 coaches - INTERCITY and Midland Mainline (teal livery). Thinking of fitting coach lighting. The INTERCITY would be warm white, that's fine but I'm not sure what the Midland Mainline livery should be? I'm sure the latter livery had a more white-ish tone to the lights but the original livery... did this have warm or cool white?

Does the NCE controller not remember what functions are left on from last time? I have to double check but I'm pretty sure mine is on all the time now I've turned it on. But good for sharing any how!

Finished this yesterday. Completely messy but reused some scrap bits and as it's just wagons, didn't want to pay out for the top storage inserts, which also would have limited me on space. Had my busiest day of the past 2 weeks today - served 3 people!

Morning all! Can't wait for the hot weather tomorrow. Scrapped the roast and having a BBQ instead. Just Me, Mrs TH and Baby TH. Bought a new BBQ kit for this year (I built a brick one a few years ago and bought the grill and stuff but it was very old). Braving a supermarket visit today. I have to drop off a blood pressure monitor at the hospital so visiting the Asda just down the road from there. Anything I can't get, I'll try the local Tesco while picking up their large special Easter Egg anyway. Not particularly desperate for stuff but I don't want to leave it until I am. Hope everyone's Railway is making leaps and bounds!

I'm not that fussed on number. It's more the livery I'm interested in. Thanks

Sorry if this has been mentioned... Talking about the latest livery for GWR here. I've seen shots of the 57 in this livery but I'm not sure if it's already come out and is simply hard to find, or whether it's due to come out soon? Thanks

Morning all! Really sad it's so cold out at the moment. Last week we did loads in the garden and re-seeded so could do with the sun and warmth. It's Mrs TH's birthday tomorrow. Clearly not going anywhere apart from a walk, so I'm baking her a cake and she can choose what to have for tea (or Dinner depending on where you reside ).

I see what the other poster means about the axles not particularly lining up. This is one side of mine:

A bit. And that it started slow but then sped up, like the cogs were a bit too greasy. Ran it on the rolling road for an hour (30 mins each direction) and it didn't do it today when I startes it off so I think the problem has cured itself. Mine shed another axle box today (3 in total). I've noticed that most of my boxes are sticking out at different lengths but I'm not entirely sure how far back they're supposed to be pushed on. Some have gaps on the middle of the wheels, yet other axle boxes are pushed on quite far so there's no gap. My problem is that I'm fairly kack handed so don't want to particularly attempt any repairs until I know exactly what to do - maybe with photos. If Hattons offered a free returns/redelivery then it would be much simpler.

Sorry to bump this. However from the Hattons 66, I've seen another limitation with my Prodigy Advance 2. With (sound) locos getting more and more functions, my PA2 only shows up to F12 (and is slight faff to get anything over F9). This means it's difficult to know if a higher F number is activated or not. Does the ECoS show whether higher F numbers are on or off anywhere on the display?

Woo!

Today's testing: I contacted Hattons about the wobble. They said run it on for 30 mins each way. I'd already done that but giving it another blast, slightly quicker than last time. It seemed to wobble less around the layout. About the same amount of wobble on the rolling road. This problem (in the video) happened when I first started it. I assumed it was because it was the very first run. Same happened yesterday though. Today it was more of a delayed reaction. It doesn't particularly like my curves but then I've banked them a little too much in some places. The room is cool at around 10c - 12c for most of the time at the moment. It'll get up to 16c in summer. I did think perhaps this is what's causing it as during a running session I can start and stop it with no issues. Another new problem is now it has started derailing on another curve. I wonder if weight distribution over each bogie is causing this. I'd rather these things cure themselves rather than have to send it back but will see how it goes after this hour of running in.

It's coming up to 11am. Been watching Wheeler Dealers since 7am. Two nappies changed. He's on his second outfit for the day. The wife still in bed asleep. Not a bad morning so far!

My 68 buzzes very slightly when I put it on the track. I just guessed it was normal. Only have an 08 sound, which I'm not sure makes any sound until its told to. Completely different draws though - the 68 is a beast!

Aaannndddd, here's a comparison of colours: Bachmann HTAs, Hornby 08, Hattons 66. This photo is taken under bright white LED light. Also fitted a Kadee #20. It's slightly shorter than the original coupling but seems to be fine when pulling stuff - no buffer lock from what I saw.

Here's three videos showing the wibbily wobbily loco: Pulling a rake of 6 HTA hoppers: Puling the mighty CMX Cleaner: Pulling the CMX Cleaner (with loco sound): I think it's getting slightly better (or less wobbily!) but still noticeable. The videos show the trailing end of the loco better than the front. It does seem the trailing end is slightly worse than the leading end. Run in 30 mins each way on the rolling road, plus about 20 mins on the layout. There is another problem it has, which may be related but I can't take a video until tomorrow now. Only noticed it re-occurring when I drove it off today. IMPORTANT: I haven't contacted Hattons as yet and I am in no way saying they're a rubbish company! Just showing my loco and what it's currently doing. When all this virus stuff is over, I'll see whats what then.

I think what's starting to annoy me now is all the Asda slots are full for delivery and click and collect. I'm not worried about delivery, nor the fact they're letting one in one out at the supermarket but I can't see at 7am in the morning, all their click and collect slots are taken for the 2 week limit. Being a key worker, I don't know if I can go in at 7am, although they've changed their times to be 8am - 8pm (usually 7am - 10pm). I could phone the store but can't imagine I'll get through. The Asda Twitter feed is no longer monitored at the moment so getting answers is going to be a struggle. Then again, could always queue for an hour...

Don't know what you're talking about! I blame a week of annual leave!

Just a quick question - DC or DCC? With DCC there's a setting for "train mode", which turns the rear reds off. Maybe this is on by accident? Try turning F20 (train mode) off. May also be worth turning F21 on. This is parking mode, so it'll show if the LEDs are at least getting power.

Yeah, sorry, I meant no other issues in addition to the ones I already said The complete list for me is: 2 axle boxes off. Gash in yellow paint on drivers steps. Wobble.