atom3624

Hi BB, yes and no. The hard part is drilling the holes into the lamp lenses. I failed on my 1st attempt - the blue one - I couldn't get a hole into the rear lamps, so I got modern image Springside BR lamps, removed the 'jewelled' part and drilled them out, painted black and glued onto the cab in place - been working perfectly ever since. Pulling the cab moulding off the body takes a little 'gumption' but the cab is simply a push fit onto the body, simply gently flex/pull out the front leading edges of the cab at the bottom, and slide up and off. You'll see in the video, the cab light is a little bright, so I'd 'dim' it slightly with a darker clear lacquer - I've done this on the new one. Any success on the new one? NO! Still had to replace what was the lamps with Springside ones. I've a 'reasonable off Ebay' replacement for my failed Dremel, but only figured out how to get a good adjustable clutch head onto it after I pinged the original lamps - got fed up of the pin drive! The kit's a perfect fit. If not received, ask Jason for fitting instructions, but the led pieces are perfectly proportioned to fit. Al.

This was the 08 last night - obviously running well - train a tad long but managed it! I'd had a few issues with a recently purchased over-weathered (I've removed a lot) super detail 56. Finally got her running, and needed to fit a light set to her: Another Stickswipe kit. I think in assembling I may have misaligned one amber lamp slightly, but it's still looking excellent. Main thing is, that 08 is running beautifully again - yes, I know about the coupling rod 'wobble' - happens where it's articulated, and the same on the other one I have. Related to power transmitted to the end axle I reckon, but she works very nicely, so I'm not worried about it! Al

Interesting temporary dilemma ... I've got 2x Hornby super detail 08's (a blue and an EWS one) and a Bachmann BR green one. All now run superbly. My favourite was my - actually most recent build - longest owned BR blue Hornby one. I'd often left her circulating at a fast snail's pace for hours on end ... then she finally cried 'ENOUGH!' - new motor time. I found a new one at a fair price on 'that auction site', opened her up - this I've heavily 'weathered' and have fitted a Stickswipe light kit (works perfectly), received the motor and fitted ... needs a lot of power to move, yet I'd tested the chassis and it was super-smooth. Turned out the part of the mounting cradle supplied by Hornby had displaced itself and was binding on the flywheel. Has this happened to any of you before? A touch of gentle persuasion later and ... bingo. Better and smoother than ever! A little beauty! I've another light kit to fit to the EWS one, a recent addition, and Jason's now made a few kits for Bachmann 08's as well, so will light up that one in the near future. It's a nice contrast to have something ambling around, completing loops within 4 minutes' time, and not 20 seconds! Al.

A lot has obviously changed - diecast running plate and tender chassis frames by the looks of it. A lot of 'details' look identical to existing Super Detail 5's - I've got 3 of them. Al.

Must admit, I'm quite looking forward to the streamlined B17 - that's an interesting choice! I still reckon a good DoG is a friend for life! Al.

Agree with Jubilee - with firebox options. No need for A4 .. if going to Dapol Black everything, why not pick something not already done. Totally disagree - 71000 is a prime target - fine engine and deserves a better representation. Al.

Curved ball, and steam locomotive as well. She was a one-off, but got to be about the most popular 'one off' in existence. Already done to Railroad Plus standards - aka looks OK, but - by another organisation. 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

It was just last week actually, but who's counting .... 🙃 Al.

Horror of horrors but doesn't the 43 come without spring buffers as well? Al.

My bad. Not realised Bachmann were going ahead with a 69. Al.

With the 56 so advanced, has there been any consideration for 'future alternatives' to this model? Perhaps the 69 could be on the agenda? Al.

Didn't see the Class 40 in that list... Oops, another 'bump' !! 🤔 Al.

Fantastic layout - wineglass or not! - and supersmooth-operating locomotives. What about drivers? Supplied? Just a thought. Al.

I'm going to get back to him. As you say the PCB had obviously been worked on. Being such a relatively complex and older locomotive, I'm finding myself having to resolder wires non-stop. The locomotive works perfectly, it's just much better with the lighting. Thanks for your reply. Al.

Thanks for the reply - just about what he said as well. I've had a few of his kits - an 08, 40 and 55 kit - as you say, excellent. Al.

Jason, aka Stickswipe on that Auction site has given me a good few pointers - thanks Jason if you're reading. I'll be having a go at seeing if the lighting can be kicked into action - mention of the polarities reversed on the DCC Sound items and this is a genuine Hornby 'XS' item. Al.

My apologies but a momentary hijack of this thread ... I recently purchased a 'R3050A' 56 083 B.R. Blue Class 56, but the chassis has many puzzles: Fans were disconnected. Many don't like, I do, and refitted a belt - working acceptably. Loco very smooth. Initially one-bogie pick-up, but was a detached wire. Resoldered, and twin bogie as it should be. PCB - see photos. 21-pin. Blanking plug has 2 micro slider switches. I've tried all options - no lights. All cables connected. I've tried other blanking plugs - loco runs fine, but no lights. Speaker hard-wired onto the PCB. Chassis states 'DCC fitted'. Bottom line is I want the directional lighting but cannot see how to activate. Other option is to fit the Stickswipe kit off Ebay. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Al.

Is the 'dulling' of the smokebox not necessarily through sooting up, but through the heat? I see this on all steam locomotives, once they've fired up / have run hardish for a while. Al.

Thank you for the reply - sounds good. Al.

I see the axles drop simply into the bogie - nicely done, but ... Do they simply drop into moulded plastic recesses? Obviously makes sense to avoid short circuits, but no bronze bushes? Al.

Hornby did one, Heljan did 2 ... how about the Woodhead locomotives - EM1, EM2 / Class 76, 77? They're certainly interesting enough to consider, and did run for quite a while. Al.

Perfick !!

Not really a 'more models' idea - OK, perhaps a '40' to join the 37, 50 and 55, done before somewhere - but a suggestion. There's often confusion on delivery dates of new models, and we understand 'goalposts move' through various reasons, pandemic included to some extent even now, but how about a 'Sticky' with only A/S access presenting proposed models and latest provisional delivery dates? I find it tedious trawling through 15 pages per month of 'latest update newsletters' on each model, looking at other sites and seeing 15 options on possible arrival dates. Just a one-page, all models, latest anticipated arrival date. Just an idea. Al.

Thanks Fran. My recent question was would it be possible to replace a H66 motor, in the event it's worn out, with a new A/S Class 66 motor? Al.

To continue my recent communications, if certain aspects have changed little, and it is anticipated the updated / upgraded 66 will perform in similar manner to the H66, is it possible the motor / driveshafts could be interchangeable? Basically, if a H66 motor fails, with an increasing A/S spares availability mentioned elsewhere, might it be possible to supply / fit an A/S motor? I don't need one as yet, but in the event of requirement, it might be nice to know where and what. Al.