Edna Clouds

I put Bif's sound (from Charlie) into two of my 66 - there was no need to cut wires and everything fitted well and easily. Lovely sound, lovely loco, well happy.

I ended up using Araldite rapid. Absolutely clean axle ends and axle box cover and a carefully small blob of Araldite did the trick. Do them one at a time (yes you do waste a fair bit of glue!) and when the glue is starting to harden - trial and error helps - place the loco on the track and run it slowly for a couple of turns of the wheel. This centres the axle box in the loco's running position. Also, put the glue blob on the axle, not the axlebox so none gets on the bogie frame. It's a slow process but it works and when you've got your specs on and you look closely, the rotation of the axleboxes is a dream and brings on a warm smile! Go for it.

Yes, you are absolutely right insofar as it's not like the real thing! And heaven forfend that is was ... I'd have to redecorate the house every other week. I recall going into KGX behind Pinza in the early 70's and 4 other Deltics were already at the stocks - the noise and the fog was .......... absolutely wonderful! The model smoke just gives a hint 'of what it was like' but it does give one a nice smile too.

This is an attempt at smoke in the Kitmaster Deltic on a Hornby chassis. Two of Charlie's EM2s, Bif's sound file and a Seuthe smoke unit fit comfortably inside the cavernous space that this combo allows.

More and more, judging people's experiences, it seems to be the case that the best way to deal with the axle box problems and the sound fitting is to do it yourself! Fitting sound - and remember, it's Bif's anyway - is really easy although a bit more pricey buying it separately and the axle boxes just require care and attention to get them secure and non-wobbly. I did this with my 66's and now feel quite chuffed (is that an inverse pun, I wonder?) that I fixed them and that they run beautifully. Yes, I agree that the models shouldn't be faulty in the first place, but the fact is that some of them are, and appear to be being 'recycled' for other faulty models. Stay alert - fix your models - enjoy your 66.

As I understand it, taking subsequent new wives involves also the taking of less expensive hobbies.

Legomanbiffo's ESU has been in my LMS twins for quite some time now. They run like a dream!

Not too fussed about it being 'absolutely correct' ... this little thing has given great joy for quite a few years but will be downgraded when the kr one arrives.

Persevere - do 'em one at a time - it is worth it. When you get up close with your specs on, seeing them revolving is a delight. You won't be disappointed.

Ken Dodd? He's been dead longer than we have!

"I will break trying to fix" ... I think that's called negative goal setting.

Quite! An excellent read for an hour or so. I've never had such fun without laughing!

Bang on! I've done 'made to measure' plasticard strips for both sides. Attached with masking tape lightly pressed on the body and heavily pressed on the plasticard, the whole lot (usually!) detaches from the loco while remaining stuck to the plasticard, leaving no tape stuck inside the body. Terrific fun isn't it?

Yes, ideally to run a couple of revs on the track just as the glue is setting so that it can centre the axle box whilst remaining in position on the axle. I did mine one at a time as well ... slow and time consuming, but it works and makes me smile when up close and can see them revolving. And that's what matters!

I put Bif's decoder and an EM2 speaker in 66789 shortly after it arrived just before Christmas. The wires that went over the speaker glory hole didn't need any desoldering or cutting ... they were in a loose loop under the nearest bit of black tape which gave some slack and I released more wires from their little cutaway groove in the chassis to give the maximum clearance. Care was required with the pick-up wires from the bogie but all went well, the wires were replaced and great joy has befallen the household ever since. Is there less wire in the latest batch I wonder? As for Hatton's - no complaints at all and I've been a satisfied customer from my first buying from them in 1974 I think it was.

Emerging from my own darkened room, I recall my first ever train set was a wind up. This in 1949 or so. These years later, the axle boxes can be refitted successfully without reaming out the side frame holes - it's just a rather delicate and slow job, the extra half a millimetre gives a bit of leeway. And let's face it, some of us (though clearly not all) quite enjoy a bit of 'putting it right' when there's a little fault or something has dropped off.

A major purpose in life, particularly just now - to raise a chuckle now and then. Happy to oblige.

Let's be fair (and honest); there's nothing dreadfully wrong with these gorgeous models - they are rightly the ultimate class 66. The annoying - to some - things that aren't quite right are not that difficult to fix for many of us, and if one finds it too much, there are others who will happily help. The axle boxes - for they seem to be the main fault - are a great idea and add such a lot to the model. They are 'engineered' well but require a lot of very careful fixing to operate correctly and this is a time consuming activity. It took me ages to fix my first one and am now part way through the second. I wonder how many seconds are allowed for the operative in China to affix them? Not many I should imagine. Yes, things should be perfect, but isn't it 'allowable' for the odd mistake when buying something so magnificent for such a little price?

There's plenty of wire coiled in a loop, and releasing the wires from the groove pathways on the chassis leaves plenty of 'slack' to manoeuvre an EM2 speaker in or out of its little glory hole. There is no need for any wire cutting. I put Bif's decoder and an EM2 speaker in 789 at Christmas after the last minute delivery! The axle boxes took a little longer, but it runs beautifully now.