APT Fan

I've been waiting for a Bachmann model for over a year. I think the quantity that manufacturers produce is based on the cost of a production run, market demand is obviously a consideration but I would have thought that is very difficult to predict with absolute certainty.

Hatton's 'lost' Bachmann?

I just don't understand the point you were making, it didn't make sense to me?

Are you suggesting bashing the retailers too?

Hatton's do not allow a pre-oder to be placed once the allocated stock has been ordered as shown below. I'm not sure what you mean by 'assumed'. https://www.hattons.co.uk/513737/hornby_r3898tts_class_08_3817_in_br_blue_tts_sound_fitted_sold_out_on_pre_order/stockdetail.aspx

Are Hornby any worse than their competitors?

I've heard that Bachmann have pulled production of 47 711, so that's model numbers 31-665 and 31-665SF. EDIT: Bachmann have now clarified that there was a mistake with this statement. Apologies for that, the original post was made in good faith with information from a retailer.

I understood the TTS decoder only had three functions? I converted a Lima 09 to DCC last year with a four function decoder and came across a snag when trying to implement the 'shunting' lighting mode. I came up with a solution to give me the extra lighting output controlled from a seperate function key. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/156067-little-lima-class-09-project/ https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/156260-light-direction-code-change/&tab=comments#comment-4037033

Umm, that's quite disappointing. I assume the decoder could control lights if they were added?

Whilst we are on the subject of TTS, I notice there is an 08 due for release R3898TTS but I can't find a full description. Will this be fitted with lighting?

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I've just watched a review of what seems like Bachmann's latest model of the Class 40 (32-486SF). I have to say that I'm really impressed with the factory fitted sound. I'm not sure why Bachmann get such bad press on here about the sound - perhaps they've got it right on this model? It looks to be a very smooth runner and I like way it moves off in the video. I find the appearance of the model a little bit odd though, it looks a little bit 'plastically' to me. Could it be that they have the finish wrong, maybe a bit too glossy, what do owners of the model think? Even though I'm not generally a fan of weathering, perhaps this is a candidate to tone it down a bit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmDyZC57pAc

What you are saying makes sense now. So do the TTS decoders tend to be used with the Railroad range rather than across the board? I must admit to finding the 2021 Hornby catalogue a little confusing in terms of what's in which range and what's behind the 'sound fitted' decisions.

Are the Hornby Class 56 Sound decoders okay? I've heard that the sound and functionality from TTS decoders can be reasonable but I've never actually seen a Class 56 TTS decoder for sale? I notice there was a factory fitted loco R3291XS from 2014 which is a few years ago. Did they just stop doing sound for the 56?

So the 47 came into the depot on Thursday night for a full service on the motor and gearbox and everything cleaned up nicely, plus the magnet seems okay, brushes showing some slightly uneven wear. When running directly on DC, two things were noticeable, firstly it seems to run slighly faster in one direction (reverse) and adding extra pressure to the back of the brushes seems to increase the speed slightly. I'm wondering if there is a mechanical issue here in terms of a slightly uneven commutator surface or perhaps the sleeves for the brushes not being completely square. DC voltage applied was 16 volts and the motor was drawing 150mA. I carried out some DCC tests on a 3 metre test track, comparing three locos. Class 56 (Mainline) - 0.7 m/sec (actual) = 120 mph (scale speed) Class 50 (Lima) - 0.5 m/sec (actual) = 85 mph (scale speed) Class 47 (Lima) - 0.4 m/sec (actual) = 68 mph (scale Speed) So the 50 is borderline acceptable and the 47 would only look authentic hauling heavy freight, the system reports it is drawing 140mA and the measured rms track voltage was 16.3 volts. The Lima figures are for the forward direction which are slightly worse for the 47 (73 mph in resverse). The next stage was to have a look at the Limas on a DC track which required making up a Plux 22 blanking plate, not easy given how small the connections are and my failing eyesight! The Lima 47 yielded the following results. Class 47 (Lima) - 0.55 m/sec (actual) = 92 mph (scale speed) for Forward direction. Class 47 (Lima) - 0.65 m/sec (actual) = 102 mph (scale speed) for Reverse direction. Really I cannot say there is a motor issue given that it runs well enough on DC. I need to be thinking about whether the DCC setup can be tweaked.

Good Afternoon, I've just converted one of these recently, it is a lovely model and was well worth the effort in my opinion. I've converted a couple of other Lima models such as a Class 09 and a 47 and a few Mainline 56s. I've standardised on using the Plux 22 socket as the 8 pin approach places a limit on the number of functions that can be controlled. The sockets are between £2-£4 and the decoders are between £10-£25 depending upon which manufacturer I've used and the quantities ordered. Probably the trickiest part of converting the 50 was removing the cab for the cab lighting, although fitting the LEDs to the rear lamp fibre optics is always quite fiddly too. The cab lighting uses a yellow LED, the spotlight uses a white and the rear lights use reds, all with 10K load resistors. All of the decoders are a minimum of 6 function and for this particular model, I've wired the rear lights independently so that they can be turned off whilst pulling a load. I'm quite pleased with the results, if you have any questions let me know. A nice looking model! High intensity light and subtle cab lighting illuminated. Independently switchable rear lighting with fibre optic painted lenses which appear red when switched off. Chassis wiring harnesses made up for motor, roof wiring harness for the lighting and body to chassis wiring harness includes a connector to seperate the two parts. Six function load resistor board utilises SMD resistors to keep the size small. It is fixed to the roof with a doubled sided pad and sits behind the glazing unit with the connector passing through it.

I just wasn't sure why they would be speed matched given that one is supplied by Bachmann, the other by Lego? It sounds like they both use the Loksound v5, so would it just be a question of going through the CVs 2/5/6 to see if they match? My 56 has a v5 fitted and I've noticed that there is a delay whilst it goes through the startup sequence before it takes off, it isn't a Lego soundfile. I think even when idling, it only takes off after the brake releases, which seems fair enough I suppose.

Sorry to bother you again, when you say 'play together' is that for double heading? Also I don't understand why they would be speed matched?

I had some spare time today, so I completely stripped down a class 50 and cleaned it electrically with IPA, including the armature and a thorough cleaning of all the wheels and pickups. The commutator was a little sooty but cleaned up well and I took the courtesy of checking the magnet and the magnetism looked good to me. Running on DC the motor achieves good speed and when I put everything back together and ran on DCC it does appear to run slightly better / smoother and perhaps a little faster, oh the traction tyres have been replaced too. A couple of questions though, given that its had a complete strip down, what is a reasonable run-in time? Also, I notice that in the video only the centre bearings of the gears were oiled. Is it inadvisable to oil the actual teeth of the gears? Thanks

I didn't realise Hornby did a 56 with Factory Fitted sound?

I have a gang of Mainline 56s and they all run quite a bit faster, they are all fitted with Plux22 Zimos. The Lima's have Plux22 Lais, yesterday, I swapped out one of the Zimo's into the Lima 47 and it pretty much runs exactly the same so I'm discounting the decoder setup. All decoders have default setting with the exception of lighting controls but for reference CV2,5,6 are all set to 0 after your message prompted me to check. Maximum speed from the command station is set to 127. I haven't tried it back on DC directly yet as there's a bit of wiring hassle with me going the Plux22 route rather than 8 pin. Don't get me wrong, they do run well at lower speeds but just seem to run out of puff at the top end. Perhaps I'm asking too much given the age of the models.

Given your comments, what would your preference be? To buy from Bachmann with sound fitted or buy non-sound and add a sound decoder of your choice? Unless its too early to say as it sounds like it has only just arrived.

This one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_66Yq4NkgE Umm, I've already pretty much carried all of that work apart from cleaning the armature in a bath! I might have another go.

Really hoping they don't fit the aerial, they are just waiting to be snapped off. How do we find out an actual ETA for this?

How do you ensure 100% accuracy though? What's the measure?

So which category does 47 711 fall into? I don't know when it was announced but it feels like over a year. It does make me wonder how old the tooling and design of the mechanism is for that model? I watched a review of 47 537 and a comment was made about the mechanism not having changed for over a decade and no improvements to the detailing in that time. I appreciate that the manufacturers have to use 'best information' pictures in their adverts for Pre-release products but at what point would you have the detailed information and accurate pictures on the product that you will eventually receive?