89A

Forgive me for asking but this implies there was some sort of rumour going on previously. Is there a thread for that?

The shops & market are Pontypridd, a wonderful place to visit. The platelayer is on the viaduct between Quakers Yard and the tunnel leading into the Cynon Valley on the Pontypool Road to Neath line. He is looking down onto the route of the Penydarren Tramroad alongside the Taff. The Red & White Leyland Royal Tiger is initially climbing between Aberdare & Maerdy. The Industrial Estate is Trefforest. The large viaduct with the mineral train crossing is Walnut Tree above Taffs Weli. I think the auto trains are working up and down the Garw Valley.

Thanks David Got what I wanted there today. Mark

I'm a bit confused on availability of 35-127SF. Showing as out of stock / discontinued with most retailers I have checked but still showing as arrived on Bachmann site. I thought the new Bachmann system was showing as arrived when in stock and removed from site when out of stock. Did they all sell out that quickly?

Gone

I'm sure there would be plenty of complaining when a litre of petrol goes from £1.21 to £1.43. That's how much percentage wise the GWR 150 has gone up in this years price increase. £50 more on £269.95. 18.5%.

I guess anything on the way for April / May is likely to be delayed by the traffic jam in the Suez Canal.

My loads of additional steel coils are taking a rather torturous journey through Ireland into the UK via customs again according to Gls tracking.

I find it unusual that on the sound fitted versions although fitted with a Zimo MX658N18 decoder there does not seem to be a physical braking function. Normally on Zimo this is on F2. On these F7 gives braking sounds but does not physically slow down the loco. AFAICT.

Not so simple. I had to crush them between the tips of a small circlips pliers in the end. But ok now. Mark

We get plenty of short Freightliner container rakes doing Barry Docks to Wentloog shuttles here in Cardiff

Was there any difference in the numeral height dimensions of the cab side plates or were they always say 8" or 9"?

Yes. Relatively simple to remove.

I have had the same problem with mine. Fitted with a non sound decoder they run very well. Fitted Zimo sound decoders to 2 of them and strange behaviour. One ran fine and the other stopped and restarted randomly. Swapped over the decoders and the other loco had the stop / start problem. I returned the decoder giving the problem to Digitrains. Jeremy from Digitrains has just come back to me. The returned decoder works ok on other locos but they happened to have a Rapido 16xx in the shop and the same thing happened to theirs. They have removed the capacitors numbered C1 and C2 and the problem disappears. I will do the same when a decoder is returned. Hope this helps. Mark

I see the RRP for the forthcoming GWR version has gone from £269.95 to £319.95 today.

Potential to model class 115 Marylebone 4 car unit with modified body sides?

Yes Works fine as a 2 car unit. There could be a good market for the centre car on ebay. Mark

Thanks for that Charlie but I'm not convinced the speakers and design is that poor having now heard the factory fitted version and the Kernow version fitted with the same decoder as I fitted to the original. I like the fact that two speakers are fitted to two driving units and would like that set up to work on my original 117. Bachmann have put a lot of work into the technical design of these units and I would like to respect that and not just dismiss it.

Decided to buy a sound fitted Blue / Grey 117 with factory fitted sound and pleased to say the volume and sound quality is much better than that on my first Blue / Grey 117. The factory fitted version has a Zimo MX645P22 which is the same as I fitted to the sound ready version. The funny thing is that I have since got a Kernow limited edition Chocolate and Cream and fitted the same Zimo decoder to that. The sound from the Kernow 117 is far superior to that from the original Blue / Grey 117 with the same decoder fitted and comparable to the Factory fitted 117 if not better. Is it possible that different specification speakers are fitted or have I got 2 dud or inward facing speakers in my original Blue / Grey 117?

Charlie Petty explains it in the product description for the 117 sound file. The 2 contact tabs are on the same side of the speaker as the sound comes out. Therefore when fitted with the contacts at the top to connect to the PCB the sound is directed into the body instead of the holes in the fuel tank. It is suggested that the speaker be turned round so the shiny surface of the speaker faces the holes and solder the tabs to the circuit board and then seal the chamber. I don't know if that has been tried or whether that is indeed the case. Hence my question on the factory fitted versions.

Has anybody found the pre-fitted sound versions to give a better (louder) sound? It appears that some of the original batch had the built in speakers facing the wrong way.

Looking a good bet !!!!

I've had 3 running for a few hours each day since last Saturday. I found fitting decoders an easy task. 2 small screws under the plastic water filler caps on top of the pannier tanks and 2 under the cab just in front of the buffer beam. The body comes away smoothly and also appear to be cast metal. The refit is precise. I've fitted Hattons decoders and the performance is smooth at all speeds. They all negotiate standard 2nd radius point work with no problems.

Poor photo of 2 of mine

Radio Times is £3.50