classy52

Will the LokSound chip be compatible with the Hatton's 66 when accompanied with either an EM2 or an Accurathrash?

I had a look at Bachmann's website and there is no difference in colour between their BR Maroon & WCRC Maroon coaches (colour type as stated in their product descriptions) and their forthcoming MK1's will be the same colour as their WCRC MK2's and basically resembles the WCRC locomotives. I know there are prototypical colour variations with the WCRC coaches but I've yet to see one that has the same colour as the WCRC loco or in BR Maroon thus as per post from WCML100 I have to agree that Accurascale have got it spot on and look more like the real thing and will allow you more scope when weathering and create those prototypical variations whereas the Bachmann versions are simply too dark and incorrect IMO. This is a shame because I was hoping the Bachmann versions would closely match the Accurascale ones but if you don't weather them, then to me they are chalk & cheese when it comes to the colour and yes in the end it is all down to individual tastes.

Yes agree, the roof colour shade difference isn't as bad but the body colours for me are quite stark and gets worse the more I look at it. Only got the Accurascale coaches today and only have that 1 Bachmann WCRC coach but when you look at them together in person not only the colour difference is prominent but also the 'West Coast Railways' lettering difference as in size is quite obvious which isn't picked out that well in the photo I posted above, hopefully this photo is better for comparison...Accurascale Coach is on the bottom. Top photo under natural light and the bottom photo within a photo booth.

I would like to show the contrast/differences between the Accurascale WCRC Mark 2B coaches and the Bachmann 39-354 MK2 coach, I was hoping both brands would go together in a rake but as you can see from the photo's the colour and the font branding applied are pretty different and basically don't match especially the colour for both body and roofs, in regards to the WCRC lettering the Accurascale font is visibly larger with more depth. I had a browse on Flickr for photo's of the WCRC coaches and IMO Accurascale have captured the livery colour better where the Bachmann one appears to be a much darker chocolatey maroon if that's the best way to describe it. I shall leave this here for everyone to discuss/debate but unfortunately I'm looking at selling on my Bachmann coach & cancel my pre-orders for the other Bachmann WCRC coaches due this year because of the glaring differences and when it comes to detail & lighting I will stick with Accurascale MK2's as they have gone up a couple of levels with these beauties. Anyway, these are just my observations and if these differences are prototypically normal then yeah I'll stick with the Bachmann one and my pre-orders but atm I'm not convinced.

All my wagons are Dapol & Accurascale with a little bit coming from RevolutioN and Cavalex which will eventually get bigger I would think, have nothing from the others and yes it down to detail/relevance/multiple running numbers and price. For me Dapol are the quiet achievers in regards to wagons, they do wagons which are quite common hauled by various freight operators (the yellow stufff) thus always generating interest and sales and their prices are quite good and yes Accurascale go up a level in detail but again offered in multiples and good on price. Edit: Went over my JSA's yesterday and absolutely perfect, such a nice wagon with the coils and tempted to get a couple more packs even with the same running numbers unless AS do more in the future with different numbers?

Once again top customer service today in getting a call from Leigh to say my 3 packs of Accurascale JSA's are in ready for payment and dispatch, love the personal service and just having a general chat with Leigh while the business of finalizing the order is done.

Apologies Fran I thought Murphy Models came under the same umbrella as I had seen Irish Railway Models in there somewhere when the product was advertised...I'm so confused

That settles it then with an ! Can imagine their boardroom meeting discussing the detail and Fran pounding the desk with his fist saying no no no no no!!!!!...someone else pipes up with, but Fran we did it on the Class 121 without any problems...then Fran's death stare whilst uttering the words, you get out!

Well they actually pulled it off with their Class 121 loco under Irish Model Railways/Murphy Models thus can't see why AS can't do this with a wagon, was just asking the question considering the lengths they go to with detail on their products which are outstanding but if not in this case then that is also ok.

Please don't crucify me for asking but will these have rotating axle boxes as per prototype?

Some very good points which I also feel Hattons need to adopt as follows; 1. Implement your own Warranty Repair Service or contract out to an authorized repairer for warranty jobs as sending back for a refund on a lot of these 66's is simply not an option due to being sold out (as I mentioned in one of my posts above). 2. Re-design the Axle Box feature which includes the bogie frames , axle box covers & axle stub lengths, I and many others have literally eliminated the wobble by drilling out the bogie frame holes using a 3.2mm drill bit, removing the excess spring moulding's off the back of 2 bogie frames per loco and re-gluing the AB's back onto the axle stub which is also too short (credits to adb968008 & Peter Dixon on YT). 3. Re-design the lighting board connections for the large bug-eyed light variants, maybe under warranty this repair or correction should have been contracted out to someone like Illuminated Models who have a fix in place but whether something like that is feasible or not is different matter entirely. 4. Perhaps take another look on how you attach the fine detail which is currently glued to the body which isn't ideal and problematic when removing the body, as with adb968008 I have resorted to start gluing the step handrails to the body thus reversing what Hattons have implemented which seems to work ok atm when taking the body off. 6. Pay more attention to livery colour (Freightliner G&W, use correct orange shade), livery positioning (Colas) and livery fonts (EWS) and get them right, also there was an issue with another Freightliner variant where above the air dams the yellow application wasn't correct? 5. Perhaps take a look at the quality control or quality of the motor/driveshafts assembly, I've had 3 fail on me already which seems to be related to this area of the model or perhaps I was just unlucky and not really an issue? If Hattons are considering run No.2 with the above re-developed/re-designed and implemented then IMO they'll have a license to print money on making further Class 66's because with this batch practically sold out barring a few liveries they must have made a healthy return on their tooling investment, obviously there are other factors to consider such as their return rate and parts issuance but pretty confident they would be pleased with this project.

...and just like that it's gone, Hattons literally sold 7 of 66593 in just a few hours.

Freightliner 66593, yep one of those was me today and my sentiments exactly in regards to this one disappearing by Monday.

Here's one...http://www.goinglocomodels.com/product/Dapol-4d-022-010d-class-68-680008-avenger-drs-late-modified-dcc-fitted-oo-gauge/

No worries thanks. Not ready to pull apart Hattons 66's just yet but will reach that level eventually in time. I might actually buy a dead Hatton's 66 if it's below £70 and have a go at dismantling it and not worrying about killing a running one and just keep it for parts like adb968008 has been doing...sounds like a plan.

Well took the body off on 66783 Biffa and inspected the innards and the only noticeable thing was 2 black wires straddling the driveshaft but not doing much just sitting on top so to speak, repositioned the wires away from it and put it on the rolling road and the thumpy/knocking noise didn't return and now its running normally in both directions for a good while last night and this morning. Put the body back on, a real expert now at doing this now with credit cards and no bits pinging off, and yes it is running fine thus no idea what was happening to it previously so will run it everyday and monitor. Maybe I knocked something back into place whilst taking the body off and fiddling with it??? Anyway Biffa is saved!!!...for now but BR LL 66789 is still a worry and a work in progress, defo need to save that one at all costs!

For all us Class 37 fans, just watch 9mins of mesmerizing smoke action Not my video thus please like or subscribe to the original owner.

I see the purple one wasn't very popular...

Thanks all for the advice on my GBRf 66789 but haven't had the chance to take a look due to DIY. Anyway, this is getting a bit ridiculous because now I'm running my GBRF 66783 Biffa and after about 20mins it has now developed an internal knocking sound at the driver end (non-exhaust) and feel it is now going the same way as 66789 where any minute it now something will fall apart and it will cease to work, I've stopped running it. Too be honest 3 failures in as many days including the Freightliner ONE which I have sent back today for a refund is not really acceptable and considering I have 9 of them doesn't bode well for the future and will have to remember to run them constantly on my rolling road whilst they are in warranty, the biggest downside is that my failed/failing ones are now sold out and basically can't send them back as I'll never get those Hattons versions again. I suggested to Hattons they setup a warranty repair team considering they've gone into manufacturing and more than likely will continue to do so thus having at least 1 person with the qualifications/skills to conduct repairs would be an idea going forward, can't keep sending stuff back for a refund especially when they are sold out.

Now this is quite amusing, just started running my 66789 after doing the AB's and after about 5mins of running very smoothly something fell apart inside (that what it sounded like) and subsequently the wheels started to struggle and then it completely seized up. I can hear the motor working, or the sound of current, but no movement from the wheels...any suggestions on what might be the issue?

Many thanks for the info and have to say your knowledge is excellent. I don't think I'm there yet or have the confidence with doing what you have suggested and do admire the work you do on the dodgy loco's you have purchased but I think I'm about 6-12 months away (maybe longer) from your skill level with pulling these things apart, testing and replacing motors etc....I've only recently become brave enough to carry out your rotating AB fix with a drill to the bogie frames and yes works a treat, done 3 today. Also I don't have any testers yet so think of me of someone getting into model railways about 5 years ago spending his time researching, collecting & selling but now moving into the more serious business of designing and preparing to build his own layout in the near future but at the same time building up the tools and knowledge from people such as yourself. Trust me I would love to take Pinky apart and even replace the motor but I don't mind sending it back and waiting on another one or even purchasing a brand new one down the line just before they sell out if I don't get a cheap pre-owned that runs. Anyway, keep up the top work and information on testing/repairing these loco's.

That's all well and good if you have spare motors laying around (I don't, not been doing this long enough yet to accumulate) and also have the expertise in taking a model apart at that level and replacing the motor with one from a different loco. Also adb968008 had purchased it dead where mine was sold as working with a wobble but it did run for about 10mins before it suddenly stopped. Anyway, took the body off and conducted a rudimentary check of the inside's and all looked to be in order thus maybe just a dead motor, unfortunately it will be going back to Hattons on Monday and I'll just wait for the next one to pop up.

Excellent announcement to add to my already growing AS nuclear wagon collection (not to mention all the other wagons/loco's purchased already or on pre-order) thus just keep bleeding me dry, I just don't care anymore...once again well done Accurascale.

Got my Pink Freightliner this morning and it's almost brand new for £89, everything intact including everything with the box so a great deal. Now after some running for about 10mins in both directions, yes it wobbles as described, but it now has unfortunately decided not to run at all just like that out of the blue and the lights at both ends still work for both directions. Just wanted to know what would be the likely cause of this? I've never taken these apart to do mechanical or electrical fixes only taking the bodies off to cosmetically correct them and fix the AB wobbles thus before I reluctantly send it back would welcome any feedback on the causes of the motor suddenly stop working without warning and there aren't any smells from the loco thus nothing is burning or out of sorts electrically. Cheers Steve

Isn't this a coincidence...just came across this, not my video thus please like or subscribe for the original owner.