NIK

Device for swinging a bell (two electromagnets)?. When power is applied* 555 or MCU** type circuit switches relay between one solenoid and another. *A pair of leads go to sound generator unit or ** from sequencer/sound generator unit. Regards Nick

Banner Repeater?. Regards Nick

With his stick he's about to do a ruff calculation. He's got a bigger bit of timber for logarithms.

Hi, I don't have a Megapoints servo controller but I do have an NCE Power Cab. On an NCE Power Cab I've controlled DCC accessories using the accessory button on the cab. No need for another cab. Assuming the Megapoints allows connection to a DCC systems DCC bus then connect the Megapoints DCC bus input in parallel with the two wires to the track on the layout. Regards Nick

King Alfred the Great arrived at the battle of Edington to chants of "who burnt all the pies?".

A thing you wouldn't want to see at the Olympics: Sports Anchor "and I hear there's been a commotion at the curling rink so we go over there live" "oh no I misheard - I'd wait until that freezes before scraping that off the ice"

Hi, If it hasn't already been mentioned for those looking for a live view it might be worth looking at those FPV cameras and transmitters for drones. Some are quite small and some claim quite reasonable resolutions. For those who are really into electronics some FPV cams have video inputs which appear are intended for superimposing text onto the video output sent out from the camera. On drones this can be used to send info from the on board flight controller back to the pilots eye display on the operators radio control. This could be repurposed to send back DCC address or battery voltage, train speed etc. FPV cams and transmitters might not send back sound but if you are watching live the train will be making some sound. Regards Nick

TV Report: Reporter: "After 12 months a crocodile has been released from a car tyre stuck round its neck" Anchor: "Goodyear?" Reporter: "not for the croc".

Hi, Olivia's trains website says they have over 10 Blue 4 VEPs. I've noticed second hand Blue 4 VEPs seem to be in the majority on Ebay the last couple of years. I think Bachmann missed out BR Blue on the launch of the Class 117 DMMU and 2-HAP EMU. Maybe if Hornby make some Blue/Blue-Grey/NSE 4 VEPs in the future it might be possible with body swaps to run an eight or 12 car model train with outer driving cars with the new cab end windows and the old style driving ends in the middle of the set where they are less conspicuous. I guess producing liveries in 2022 that have not been done before on the 4 VEP makes it easier to differentiate the updated mouldings from the originals. It may also suit the collectors market having new liveries. Regards Nick

Hi, Ah - that's a shame - I thought the slot bearings on the non driven coaches were the main cause of the need for traction tyres. Regards Nick

Hi, I think its excellent that the roof ventilators are to be made larger, the driving coach chassis made of metal/traction tyres removed and the high friction slot bearings replaced with pin point bearings. I'm not sure the pizza cutter flanges have been reduced but the wheel sets may be easier to replace with finer ones once the bearings are pin point. Regards Nick

D J Models Class 71 electric loco. Only bought as I wanted it to enable for me to qualify for ordering the Class 74 (which never appeared). Kept derailing on 3rd radius curves. Maximum speed 40mph.

Hi, Having watched the video including the bit on the 4 VEP I can see that if they correct the driving ends and improve the electrical couplings between the coaches then Hornby will have dealt with the major two items that it is difficult for owners to correct themselves. I wonder if Hornby will produce a basic 21 pin non sound DCC decoder (less features* than the Sapphire)?. * I don't want one but I always find it interesting to see how they might differ from Bachmann. I notice that Lion is getting a Next18 decoder socket so that seems something else new from Hornby. I wonder if the Hornby steam generator will only work with the modified TTS DCC decoder to be supplied with steam generator fitted locos or will it also be compatible with some other DCC decoders?. The Flirt multiple unit seems a promising step - the British markets first non express multiple unit with pantograph?. Regards Nick

Hi, It looks from the photos of the 4 VEP on the Hornby 2022 range web page that the roof ventilators might have been beefed up to a believable size. I'm not sure if the pizza cutter flanges have been reduced but there might be time for Hornby to correct those before production. I've not checked yet if the dampers are swapped round on the bogies. The tech spec on the VEP says 3 pole motor yet I thought the original Hornby VEP had a 5 pole motor. However the tech spec for the FLIRT also says 3 pole motor so that could just be an error. Regards Nick

What did Charles Dicken's find written in his school report?. It was the best of terms it was the worst of terms.

Doctor, I've started using football analogies, bought a season ticket for Boston United and I'm asking people to call me sir, what's wrong?. That's easy, you've got JVT.

I love the idea of Christmas, misteltoe, Yuletide carols and Chesney Hawkes roasting on an open fire.

Sheepless in Seattle.

New definitions: Diabolical : devilish Y fronts.

New definitions: Negative equity - what the cast of East Enders have to join. Lambasted - a nasty young sheep.

Sports studies exam question: Which sport should be removed from the Olympics?: Discus. Regards Nick

Politics news: More MPs are suspected of working from the Caribbean after expenses claims arrive for rum and ganja. Regards Nick

Wally was last seen in Scandinavia and described as delicious - a bit like chicken. Regards Nick

Hi, Nature News: After sharks and seahorses are found in the River Thames sea otters are asked to bring their oyster cards. Regards Nick

Hi, I was surprised to see a Hornby 4 VEP get an airing in the latest episode (in the part on the repair department). I think that section on getting the coach work repaired was edited as I found getting the body off the motor coach quite difficult especially with the short lead between the chassis and the roof. I was kind of pleased to see the Hornby technician broke something while trying to release the motor bogie from its mount. As to the the controller used by Sam's trains to get higher speeds it looked like a variable transformer which are sometimes used by those who know what they are doing to vary the AC voltage that is output from the transformer. The risk is the loco motor may over heat if taken beyond 12V for any length of time and possibly the DC controller if fed by the variable transformer. Regards Nick