TrainsTim

Hi all I'm just in the early stages here but want to get started on modelling some brick/stone built buildings. I don't want to use paper printed sheets. So I've been looking at rollers to imprint (was going to use air dry clay) or styrene texture sheets although I am slightly concerned by how to satisfactorily finish the building corners with this? I would very much appreciate advice on each of the above. I think I would prefer using clay but.... Cheers Tim

Many thanks Everything I need! Excellent site.

Hi all I am still in the early miles of sorting things but I am now looking for 8pin sound decoders for the above Bachman locos. I would prefer specific recordings rather than generic sounds. I would appreciate any recommendations if any of you guys have installed in these locos? TIA Tim

Hi No they are 32's Each one has "instructions" for conversion

I have decided to keep the EZ and not go down the HM7000 route. I know that I would prefer a physical control rather than a touch screen (I know it could be used with the Hornby) An interesting reply from @moawkwrd regarding sounds will probably only be available for made by Hornby locos made me think if this was the route to go. For example I've just got hold of a GWR railcar for which I would need a specific sound recording. Also there are questions about the size of the Hornby circuit boards... will they fit in what I may want in the future or even the 45xx that I have now. I terms of cost, ok the HM7000 does come out better but when you add the cost of the Hornby transformer plus connection bits that adds over £60. obviously this is included with the EZ. At the end of the day, I'm never comfortable buying into one manufacturer and their product. Cheers Tim

Just to throw this in another direction, Does anyone think that Hornby downloaded sounds are less good or the same as other manufacturers pre loaded sound chips?

Interesting. This is another reason why I dislike buying into one manufacturers ecosystem. I have not yet heard enough negativity against the HM7000 to dissuade me.

Thank you I was intending to make exactly dimensioned models of the HM7000 pcb and speaker to test the available space first. Yes, I noticed there was no sound file for a tank but was imagining that there might be soon being a pretty common loco.

It did panic me a bit yesterday as I think I want to go down the hm7000 route.

What they mean by "analogue only" is a puzzle to me. I recon its as has been mentioned above, they don't want anyone cutting the wires.

I'm still juggling the thought of using a touchscreen vs a physical knob and buttons. I can see the big deal with the hm7000 though. Another question I would have is sound quality compared to a normal decoder. I might just be hanging on to the EZ and picking up some 8pin sound decoders instead. I used to be indecisive but now......

Well yes I can't see how it can be different in that regard. Hornby state adamantly that it cannot, that's what put the question in my mind

Thank you This was my logic

Hi All, I have 3 Bachman 45xx non ready DCC locos. They do not have a socket. I should say that I am a newcomer... I'm in the very early stages of planning a layout with good people here. I am a competent solderer so hardwiring would be easy for me. Please tell me why I am reading that the Hornby HM7000 cannot be fitted into a non DCC loco? surely it must only be that there is no obvious way to connect the decoder? or is there a socket available that the HM700 pcb can be connected to? Or am I missing something re the difference between being bluetooth and not? I have a Bachman EZ plus still in its box so could be sent back but I am intrigued by the HM7000. In all honesty I would opt for a physical controller rather than a touchscreen so there is a bonus to keeping the EZ if I had too! Not always a fan of buying in to one manucturers "world" I do want sound. TIA Tim

Thank you both. I like the idea of some operational "complexity". The struts are an annoyance its true but I think its just something I will have to accept. Phil's idea of bringing the board out to allow the brace to be disguised is a good one but I don't think I can afford the loss of space in the middle. I guess I could improve it a bit with some vegetation around its base etc so atm even though I hate the phrase "it is what it is". A gentle rise sounds interesting if possible. With regards to Llanuwchllyn, when it operated as a standard gauge, there existed an interesting passing and goods depot arrangement that could be good to work in. although I am not necessarily going to obsess about correctness it would be nice. Here is an article (quite long!) that I stumbled upon. https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/6167-llanuwchllyn-in-n-based-on-llangollen-line-station-in-br-days-before-closure/ Thank you for your time on this Tim

Yes, still some more research required I think, there are lots of people saying that it is the answer they were all looking for but some reporting problems with loss of connection etc but it seems some of these problems were easily sorted. Still unsure TBH. Im not in a mad hurry though. So when you say the chuff/wheel coordination was not very good, did the chuffs increase appropriately with track speed? Cheers Tim

Thanks guys, I was under the impression that sound needed 21 But.... After having a look around today I saw some info on the Hornby HM7000 8 pin sound decoder. It looks interesting. All control is touchscreen via app. I would choose a physical control if I could, but looks intriguing, bluetooth sound uploads with a developing library to download. They are around £60 each so even buying three comes out significantly less than buying other decoders plus a controller. (The Bachman EZ controller is still unopened so could go back) Also there are videos showing it all fitting in a 45xx including speaker which comes with different sized enclosures so you use the largest that will fit. Perhaps this is without a socket though but I have no problem with a hardwire installation. Does anyone have experience of this?

Hi all I now have three 45XX locos (not DCC ready) to kick off my future GWR branch line project! I have a Bachman EZ plus controller so I am obviously wanting to convert to DCC. I do want sound (in at least one or two) so I believe I am right in saying it will have to be 21 pin. In terms of lights, a firebox? maybe... I do have good soldering skills and have made plenty of circuits in the past as a Design Technology Teacher so that side of it is all good. So I am looking for the best way to do this and recommendations for a decoder? Am I right to be looking at using a breakout board to plug the decoder into. And which speaker would be a good choice? Many thanks Tim

Yep exactly like that

Thank you Perhaps I didn't explain the braces very well.... There are just two in total one on each side in the middle of the loft (There are two more pairs of braces but they are within a foot of the end walls so don't figure) Yes point taken with Llanuwchllyn being a passing station, I was thinking of having the station at the back of the layout and running the second line through a tunnel or on "this" side so as not to interfere with the character of Llanuwchllyn if that would be feasible? The section along the hatch may well end up being wider... perhaps full width so more scope there.

Thanks for this Phil Yes I am completely sold on this idea, MUCH better. I can imagine a bridge modelled on the hatch section. Your drawing covers most of the elements I would like. I take it that a double track would be ok? What about some gentle gradients... is there enough space for that? I also fancy a little bit of narrow gauge perhaps between village and mine/farm. Cheers Tim

Luckily not at all really. There are only two (in the middle of the loft). At a height of 900mm they are 4 feet from the roof itself as a horizontal measure. Probably paint them blue or something.

Hi Phil Erm I was at at work too but found something more interesting! So ok I need to make the layout bigger... I can certainly live with that! I do see what you mean. The curves were a concern to me (would they have been 2nd radius?) and as you rightly say, everything would have been right on the edge. TBH I was worried it would become a "train set" with scenery that didn't go anywhere and your idea certainly would give an impression of departure and arrival. Actually it wont be difficult to go all around with a fairly narrow shelf and as you say it does not have to be scenic although I can see plenty of scope for a bit of fore and background scenery and a bridge/viaduct, plenty of those in Wales. Where I want a desk/work area the track will just run around at the back of that about 200mm above the surface so no problem there at all and a built in fiddle yard to boot. On the section behind the hatch, I will have to make it possible to remove say once a year because there is going to be CH boiler on the wall behind. I need to think about the middle of the main section (which can now be longer). I would like to have some industrial scenery as well as some houses. What do you think of a section of narrow gauge that goes between a mine and a farm in the middle? I didn't know that Llanuwchllyn was a crossover although I did know that there was one somewhere on that line before Barmouth. So that is another factor to work in perhaps. I would like a double line running all the way around just to add some interest? So much to ponder Many thanks and would obviously welcome any further ideas Regards Tim

Yes I get you exactly. There most likely are quite a few grey lines here and as you say lots of people cross them. I'm pretty "on guard" with this kind of thing. I have wirelessly linked smoke alarms throughout the house inc the loft and fire extinguishers. My mate is an electrician so that side is also covered. Cheers Tim