Railsnail

I'll push with you 😄

@McC Does your solution involve a time machine by any chance?

@Accurascale Fran Hi Fran, Just a quick question re. the Class 30 D5549 which I have on order and is only available as a non sound model. I am wondering if the D5549 will be supplied with a fitted Accurathrash speaker and stayalive? If so then I could place a separate order for a sound chip which I presume will be available some time post launch? I know this would make the model strictly speaking a type 31 (ie Mirrlees replaced by an EE power plant but without a yellow panel). But given that Mirrlees sound will never be an option, at least I would have a sound fitted model in my collection. A compromise I'm happy to make. Thanks in advance :)

Yesterday, Rails Of Sheffield took payment of £152.15 for my pre-order so I presume it will be dispatched quite soon and they have honoured the pre-order price. Strangely, although payment has been taken, this order does not currently show anywhere in my online account. Odd 🤔

I agree...

Indeed. But this one isn't https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/fell-2-d-2-prototype-diesel-locomotive-history I don't think I have previously seen a picture of The Fell undergoing construction.

The BIN listing was posted after someone bid on the auction one.

I haven't spotted any on eBay yet. I await the first listing with interest as 'the market' usually decides a product's desirability/worth. FWIW, my own BR green version is a keeper. I would have preferred the correct grille and water filler details, but I am pragmatic and contented with what I have received.

Like yourself, I have also received an email saying my order has been received... so ... the waiting is nearly over and a model of the World's most aesthetically odd looking locomotive is nearly with us! 🤪

Have just checked the stay alive on my lovely white cabbed 'Tulyar'. With all CVs set to out of the box values, I can confirm that stay alive works for around 3 to 4 seconds with sound and lights on after lifting her off the track. I'm using my home-brew DCC++ controller with JMRI throttle. Interestingly, previously I had unknowingly been testing my locos with the DCC++ power supply set to 9V! As a rule I set the PSU to 15V (to the DCC++ Controller) for OO. I'm somewhat surprised that the decoder worked at all on the lower voltage. (Just to be clear, the 3-4 second stay alive time test was carried out with the controller's power input set to 15V)

Didn't even think to check when my DCC Sound '022 arrived. My blanking plate is also AWOL!

My 'Royal Scots Grey' arrived with everything still attached and pristine 👍. Thank you Accurascale! I just want to applaud everybody involved with the design and manufacture of my model and the end result just goes to show that it is possible to deliver incredible value for money without compromising on quality, attention to detail and customer service. I'd always agreed with the old saying 'you get what you pay for' and 'buy cheap buy twice'. Then Accurascale came along and re-wrote the rules!

Given @BrushVeteran 's input regarding SYE 31's being fitted with EE engines, I would like to second @Hound Dog 's suggestion

Hi Fran Kudos for not yet marketing a sound version Class 30 with the wrong engine sound.... But now I'm intrigued by "if we solve the riddle we will offer sound variants for it too" part of your reply to Ixion. Please spill the beans

A spring connector prototype After some tweaks to the 3D CAD for the enclosure and reworking the internal wiring to the program/main track sockets/LEDs, I decided to build a prototype version, with spring connectors for both prog and main outputs to track wiring, thus replacing the DC power 'pigtail connector leads' previously used. Two small spring wire connectors were chosen, slightly recessed into the end of the enclosure then superglued in place . The fixing holes for the connectors have been re-purposed to accommodate the LED power on LEDs. The internal wiring had to be altered slightly as I no longer had the 2.5mm DC sockets to solder to. However all aspects of the controller remains the same as the earlier USB, Bluetooth or WiFi versions

Hope that concrete is nearly set

Agreed. My findings too. I have seen a 1GB pi3 struggle with Loksound 5 decoders but gets there in the end. The Pi Zero runs out of memory, consumes its 100MB default swap space, then hangs. Even though I suspected that may be the case, I wanted to see it with my own eyes. It's a shame really, as the Pi Zero is tiny and requires much less power than the Pi4's and 400's. (It runs quite happily off the 5V output from the Arduino Mega2560!) It's also cheap. If you can find any! I am now trying to decide whether to run with a larger (memory) Pi or just stick with running JMRI on my laptop and connecting it to the CommandStation with Bluetooth. The latter just works fine as you might guess. Thanks for your input... Chris

Programming the Arduino via Bluetooth - the HC-05 Add-on that allows uploading new software via Bluetooth. Bye bye USB One of the bugbears of the Bluetooth CommandStation has been updating the software. It would be nice to be able to operate AND program the Arduino via Bluetooth. To date I have either disconnected the Bluetooth data lines and uploaded new software via USB (from the Arduino IDE) OR used a method whereby a quick press of the Arduino reset button just as the upload (in the IDE) starts hopefully putting the Arduino into bootloader mode. The 'jab the reset' method is very hit and miss. Well mostly miss! Some background - Arduino processors have a small piece of software programmed into them called a bootloader that allows new programs to be uploaded (via USB). In brief, when uploading code (maybe from the Arduino IDE) a signal is asserted by the USB serial chip (on the Arduino board) that resets the processor, thus running the bootloader. That in turn takes serial data and programmes the Mega2560. In this CommandStation design, the HC-05 data signals are effectively in parallel with the USB data lines, so we have access to the Mega2560 chip's data, but cannot put the processor into bootloader mode without some sort of kludge. (We are not using the USB port). Fortunately the HC-05 has an output pin (named STATE) that may be programmed to go logic low when a BT device connects to it. By de-coupling that signal via a small capacitor, it is possible to apply a short reset signal to the Mega2560, thus invoking the bootloader. Therefore with the application of a small piece of prototype board, a six pin connector, a capacitor (0.1uF) and a 15k resistor it is possible to make a little add-on board that resets the Mega2560 when a BT connection is made allowing code to be uploaded to the Mega. The board is simple to make, can be covered with heat shrink tubing and connected to the Reset, 5V and GND connector of the Arduino Mega2560. The data pins RXD/TXD are wired to a separate flying lead that connects to Arduino RXD0/TXD0. (See picture below) Now, the Bluetooth CommandStation may be programmed AND operated entirely from Bluetooth. Next on the Agenda - To Incorporate a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W running JMRI into the Bluetooth CommandStation My next dabbling involves the connection of the newish Raspberry Pi Zero 2W board (via Bluetooth) and running JMRI, to this system. In brief, the RPi can be housed in the CommandStation enclosure (with some modifications). It connects to the HC-05 and is powered by spare capacity from the Arduino Mega 5V rail. Spoiler Alert! - In testing, this works, however the RPi Zero 2W does not have sufficient memory (512MB) to run the comprehensive programming function in DecoderPro when working with the Loksound 5 decoder! Other JMRI functions work well (eg WiThrottle), but playing with CVs on the Loksound 5 brings the Pi to its knees! I may write the findings up in a different thread if time permits.

We've got plenty of shipping containers here in Suffolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-59220447

I don't have an issue.. I was just pointing philg to the DPS site as rails do not appear to have any pre-order slots available.

Try... https://www.thedps.co.uk/product-page/accurascale-class-55-deltic-55015-tulyar-deposit

Still available in BR Green early & late BR crest if you wanted to give it another try... https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/18000-gas-turbine/products/Heljan-1802-br-gas-turbine-18000-class-locomotive-br-green-late-crest

and the weathering commences when... ?

You'll definitely hear it! My GT3 certainly gives my tinnitus a run for its money