SamThomas

Check the ESU manuals to make sure that the decoders you have support ABC braking. ABC braking needs to be "on" & DC running "off". I'm pretty certain that the ABC braking modules have to be the "right way" round. Also, the whole train needs to be in the braking section for it to operate reliably.

Sorry, I missed the bit about the platform lamps not being LED. Blessing in disguise really as they stopped the LED's from blowing ! Personally, I would fit a resistor to each LED & run the whole lot at around 9volts.

I'm not familiar with UK locos so hopefully someone who has had one of these apart before will be able to help.

I'm assuming that there are resistors closer to the LED's themselves ? Otherwise, the connected load is too much for the feeble Hornby controller & it jkeeps cutting out. Before connecting a more powerful supply make sure that there are current limiting resistors in cicruit otherwise you may blow the LED's (you don't get another chance with LED's).

Must have left not long after I saw it. One of the guys there told me that it was actually quite sound in spite of the poor condition of the cab's sheet steel sections.

it's unlikely that the motor has "blown" unless it has produced smoke. Can you turn the motor to make sure nothing has seized ? If you can turn the motor emove the decoder & blanking plug & connect the motor directly to a DC source. Double check the pins between the decoder & loco to see if any are bent. If the loco stuttered on DCC but OK on DC that points to dirty track/wheels/pickups. Hope this helps.

I think a lot of it is what you get used to - I'ver met HGV drivers that can reverse a 44tonne A Framed Drawbar trailer perfectly onto a loading dock but cannot do the same in an 18tonne Rigid.

He was not used to reversing, especially in the confines of tight supermarket delivery bays, 2 x walls, 3 x cars (which really should not have been in the delivery bays), several instances of trailer/dock/sissor lift damage & a whole mountain of paperwork & he gave up HGV driving.

Thanks to those pointing me in the right direction with the links.

Can anyone please give me a link to plot the progress ? This is a bit new to me. TIA.

A friend of mine worked for a number of car transporter companies over 30 years - he made up a "height indicator pole" which he carried with him. He could check the height of his load (it's the drivers responibility to know the dimantions & weight of his vehicle). He would then adjust the vehicle height indicator in the cab (a legal responsibility & a good enough reason to refuse to take a vehicle out.) Never had an accident &/or collision in that time till he started supermarket work.

I must admit they look a little like the back of a bin lorry, but that would be impossible - bin lorries don't reverse !

As the thread has set off onto an automotive tangent the term "wing mirrors". Mirrors have not been fitted to the wings of cars for many decades. Of course, if you have a present day Ford you now have a "hood", "trunk", lug wrench" & have "tires" according to the drivers handbook.

TBH I do like some nicknames ' "Gronk" in particular - I like the 08's & personally I think the name suits them, also "sheds" for 66's another diesel I like & again, I think the name suits them. Far better than "Slugs" for the OHE's pictured. BTW, anyone know how the 08's got their nickname ?

We are all different & if it works for you that's all that matters. It just seems a bit haphazard to me compared with most European handsets. BTW - with the Multimaus it's one click to start.

TBH, the handset looks a mess & nowhere near as ergonomic to use a Multimaus or Prodigy. Then again I've always thought that Digitrax Equipment looks like a kit from the departed Maplins.

You can source cheap LED's from places like The Range that sell decorative strings & suchlike. Or type in <SMDS pre wired> in advanced search on ebay to get an idea of what is available. Never run LED's at their rated voltage - the cheaper ones will eventually fail as they are driven hard. When lighting a building use several LEDs dimmed down to give an even spread of light or any shadows cast will not look right. You can use a buck regulator to cut down the voltage - cheap enough on eBay & similar. There are many ways to tone down the light - even paper can have a diffusing effect. Nail varnish can also be used. As already suggested experiment 1st.

I understood you perfectly & respectfully suggested that members refrain from over complicating things for a returnee. I could pick holes in what you say but not on this thread. At shows I hear many newbies/returnees comment about those who have superior knowledge/technical ability/wish to complicate simple things rabbiting on & putting people off. Much the same here really. Please feel free to have the last word on this thread.

DCC will be around for the life of anyone on here. It will evolve as does everything but there is very little "built in obsolesence" the likes of which occur in the mobile phone world. I seem to recall seeing some RC technology some time ago that interfaced with DCC. Railway modellers tend to be very conservative - after all, there are still people who use a key & their hand to power their locomotives. Lets not over complicate the simple questions posed by the OP.

Thanks for the update & glad to know you are happy with them.

It was done when it seemed to be fashionable to tag "London" onto transportation facilities - London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stanstead, London Luton & IIRC London Manston & London Lydd.

Agreed - both sides & the edges - it may sweat in the clingfilm.

To be fair, the IJ films are made for entertainment & in that respect they make a resonable job in that respect. The films are not made for railway enthusiests. Most of the people who will watch the film will neither know or care about the accuracy. FWIW you cannot make a 9F into a very accurate representation of a BR52 ; The BR52 had ; Loads more plumbing & gubbins on & around the boiler. A fully enclosed squarer cab. An 8-wheeled tender. Horizontal Cylinders. AFAIK no smoke deflectors when first built. A louder "bark" to the exhaust. Looks to me that this part of the filming is set in France. There is (or was) a non running BR50 or 52 on the NVR.

You bit - have a Housepoint/House Point/House-point.

Thanks for posting the clip - I found it interesting (defined as "arousing curiosity or interest; holding or catching the attention".)