Garside

If you decide to get a new system the Z21 is easy to use and install and you can use your mobile phone and almost any mobile device for control, a visitor can easily get access and start driving a loco, a very convenient and easy system and to my mind it’s not dear for what you get! regards Mike

I think you have a short where the screws are fixed to the motor unless you have put tophat bushes through the brushes as I had the same problem converting a friends loco and used nylon screws to hold the brushes, had no problems afterwards. regards Mike

I think that the motor is a coreless one and some of these can be jerky but are very smooth on DC. If you search the forum I remember that somebody posted the CVs that you need to change about two years ago. regards Mike

Try Zimo 644 chips Ihave two 08s with them and have found them easy to setup, I use Digitrains and find them excellent to de with and quick service Regards Mike Green

I have used the laid chip and it is very easy to use PROVIDED you follow the instructions as their website. Regards Mike (garside)

I have used calcium tablet containers for grain silos on my N gauge layout to make a building similar to the shredded Wheat factory in Welwyn Garden City at the back of the station, I have also used them for paint brushes screwed to a length of 2*1 but they have ended up with lengths of plastrut and brass tubes. Screw top tablet containers make good paint units for thinned enamel for the air brush when I have mixed too much, generally black and brown for scenic use. Regards Mike

I think that a Southern S15 would sound similar but you need to know what to valve events are to get the correct steam exhaust sounds, there may be film of the locos but it’s doubtful that there would be true sound as film makers tended to use anything that was available for the soundtrack! regards Mike (Garside)

I don’t use the software but I wonder if you need to download the latest version to work with windows 10? I had problems with windows 8 when I switched from XP and had to update the software I was using! Regards Mike

Dave have you checked the decoder settings for CVs 2 to 5 as the one I bought had them set up to run slowly with a high value for acceleration which gave it a very slow start and took about 10ft to move to a reasonable speed! I found cleaning the wheels made it run faster as well! Due to a fault it has gone back for repair but all the lights worked as they should. Have you tried doing a reset CV8=8 as others have had to do this to get good results. hope this helps, regards Mike

Nick reset using CV8=8 was the first thing I did, but it had no effect, to everyone else I have now checked the wiring using a strong magnifying glass and have not found any faults, most of the distribution is via a pub so mainly short connections and couldn’t see any soldering whiskers that’s usually the problem. Thanks all for your information and comments regards Mike

Nigel I have come to the conclusion that although I think the wiring is OK tomorrow I will dismantle the loco completely and examine it with a large magnifying glass and make sure there’s no soldier joints that have “whiskers “ and caused a fault also any crossed wires but I think the wiring is OK as it’s well laid out and I did look at it carefully. I think I can’t try the chip in another loco as I think the two I have maybe plux18 socket! I will have to take the bodies off to find out. Thank for your time and help it’s much appreciated. regards Mike

Nigel, I have now checked CV265 and it’s set to 101, CV310 is 1, 311 is 0 hope they’re correct I can can confirm that the United was purchased as being with sound and all appears to be wired up correctly, I have spoken to Dapol and they referred me to Hattons who can only refund my money as they can’t replace it! But I think it’s worth keeping it as it’s still good value and cheaper than a DCC fitted one. At the moment I am just trying to find a solution and still have other leads to follow so thanks for helping it’s much appreciated. regards Mike

Ray they are all the correct size. Nigel, thanks for the information I will check tomorrow, I have done CVS 266 & 265 266 is 64 but I think 265 is set at 0 so will change to 101 and hopefully that’s the problem! regards Mike

It was sold as sound fitted. It has a Zimo MX644C chip in it and I have checked all of the connections to all three speakers and have done a reset which changed the address back to 3. regards Mike

I have bought a class 121 by Dapol from Hattons , a very nice model and after cleaning the wheel treads runs very smoothly and the lighting is very controllable via F numbers but there’s no sound! its 0 gauge by the way. Has anybody had the same problem and if so what was the answer? I can’t have it replaced as Hattons do not have any more someone bought the last one shortly after me. It’s a nice model and still good value so have decided to keep it just need to find whoever installed the chip and if they can spead any light on what’s likely to be the answer to the fault. regards Mike