Norski

Inspirational to the end JB 👏

It's says 21 pin on Rails website and I hope that's a general 21pin and not a very specific 21 pin. Ive had problems with another manufacturers 21 pin socket that turns out to be a very specific 21pin setup. Ive got Lenz decoders left over from that episode and id like to use them in a Heljan 47...or two 😀

Hi - thanks for feedback - appreciated - ive checked CV29 and it was set to run in both analogue and DCC. I set it to DCC only but alas still no movement. There is power going to it (feint buzz) and the lights work (some of them - but full function there is not a biggy for me). If anyone else has Lenz decoder with the 56 id be keen to hear your decoder settings. PM me please. Im happy to steal others hard work. In the meantime ive had to buy some ESU decoders and the trains are running well.

Id count the loco moving as a key characteristic. Hence the "fuss".

Hi - they are Lenz 21 pin silver plus. Im no DCC expert so if there's subtleties ive missed then no drama, I will just be more aware next time. Wouldn't have stopped me buying the loco and wouldn't stop me again. Thanks

I had Lenz 21 pin decoders waiting for my 4 x 56 but I can't get them to make the locos move. Im still confused (easily so im told) why this loco is sold as 21pin but the Lenz didn't work. Lights and fans worked (cab lights didn't) but I can't get them to budge an inch. I notice you guys recommend the ESU decoder but don't insist on it. Would appreciate some feedback as I don't want to repeat what was a very costly mistake. Thanks.

I would like to see more era 8 liveries off the new (ish) class 47 tooling. I think Heljan launch will spur a reaction from Bachmann. It's a fantastic running loco. Every one ive got is faultless and id happily add more. Mk2F blue grey coaches which seem to be on a lot of wish lists. Someone is really digging their heels on these. I always like the new announcement days even when there's nothing I fancy - brings out the big kid in me. Ive spent a few bob lately so my thought for the day will be about the two worse things in life, not getting what you wish for and getting what you wish for. Enjoy, keep calm folks, we're only playing trains.

Hi - 2 of my 4 have arrived today - there really is a WOW finish on them. Outstanding. Im having a little issue with Lenz 21 pin decoder though. Lights on but no power - train works off DC only - smooth as you like. Got an ESU 21 pin lying around that I fitted and it works on DCC with the ESU...but I got spare Lenz 21's. Have I missed a trick and it only works with ESU21 pin ? PS - im non sound version

Same boat as me. I ordered four on 7/3/21. Don't panic Mr Mannering.

That's one filthy fifty. Love it.

I see in todays news 12 countries have issued an ultimatum on Red Sea shipping. I didn't know the grids were so popular 😜

56019 is one of my 4 (...cough) 56's on order. I am officially excited.

It really is a rabbit hole and there's "nothing like a standard"...quite literally. Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

Thanks for that, much appreciated. Bare with me on the next question....OO finescale is not P4 or EM gauge ? so if I go the finescale route I can run existing rolling stock without wheel swaps...My scenic section is going to be two long straights with a junction so im more tempted this time to have a bash. OO fine scale seems to be a mash up of normal oo gauge with he looks of P4 / EM....if ive understood correctly. PS - if my research is correct the exactoscale is not to be fitted with code 75 rail....which would make joining to rest of layout 'tricky' 🙃

Loving your track work - can I ask where you got the concrete sleepers and rail from please? Im embarking on my scenic section having built my fiddle yard. Im not put off by hand making straights and curves (my turnouts will be of the PECO kind) but im a complete novice on track work. Thanks.

What this man said !! - early ARC or YEOMAN hoppers.

My layout is going to be based around a section of track at Trostre Tinplate works / Llandeilo Junction. Ive got oil trains from Pembrokeshire, HAA's going to coedbach washery and steel coil coming out of Trostre. Sorted I thought....did we mention PXA wagons mate...you're killing me guys.

A very nice lady at KMS sold me some Cavalex HAA wagons which came today - never thought id get excited over such a humble Wagon but it is a cracker. It adds to my Cavalex wagon fetish (steel, oil and now coal). All I need are my 56's to turn up and ive got traction coming out of my reverse siding....

Love an Aussie Grid 🇦🇺

I think Bachmann were all plans for launching more liveries (off their much trumpeted new tooling) and then got distracted into fighting Accurascale on Class 37s. This winters announcement (no 47s again) leads me to believe they are waiting for Heljan to launch their 47 then they'll pick fight with them in the Spring. Bachmann are like a drunk in a model railway party. There's enough room for everyone, have a glass of water Mr Bachmann and sit down. Ive got 3 of the new Bachmann 47s and they are excellent straight out of the box - best locos ive got but was a bit irked that they dropped in price so much after I bought mine and Id certainly wait for the price to settle down next time. Id be happy to give the Heljan a go (got a 33 than runs nice) - my eye can't pick out the discrepancies others can and only ive got to see it. Im a duff fan and happy to be spoilt for choice.

Hi - I was also waiting on X9863 and new modellers shop had them in briefly and I managed to get one 2 months back. So it does look like they are still coming through occasionally. Might be worth giving them a poke and seeing if they are expecting stock again.

Thanks all, (nice shots in that blog Ben) some ingenuity going on. Ive attached a better picture of what I've got. A very ropey experiment with a db reader on my phone gave a 43 db average for a mk3 coach rolled back and fore by hand over normal cork. With the crumb rubber that dropped to an average of 33 db. Im not a sound expert but I believe db increases and decreases are not linear so that looks like a significant reduction and backs up what I'm hearing (not hearing). Will investigate examples above before committing but definitely coming away from cork only - paying for sound locos and hearing my baseboard "trumpet" 🙄

Thanks - what's is that made of please?

Thanks, haven't looked at the neoprene. Only experience has been with wetsuits and that's quite 'stretchy'....is the closed cell the same ?

Hi all, I've come by some crumb rubber sheet - 3mm in depth. I believe its crushed tyres. It's only a 200mm x 1000mm strip and I wanted to see how it affected the sound resonating out of the baseboard. Ive previously used cork on top of the ply sheet and then ballasted the track. It's ok but it's not great once you've ballasted and it got me thinking about alternative ideas, hence the crumb rubber sheet I spotted lying around in work (honest !) I tested a small strip of cork on ply with the crumb rubber stuck on top of the cork and the track stuck (copydex) on top of the rubber - the sound reduction was frankly amazing. I'm currently making significant changes to my layout (ok, I'm rebuilding it again) and I'm considering going with this idea. Has anyone else used this or similar? Ive got some foam sheet from a well known model railways supplier and its ok but its not as good as the rubber. ps - it has a shelf life of 30 years apparently pps - it sticks to the cork with pva pps - I'm going to do a sample with ballast before I commit