Roy L S

Have you had any success with the loco? The only other thing I can add is to also slacken off the screw that retains the pony truck a half turn too.

I am a DCC user so it wouldnt affect me, but were I an analogue user I am not sure I like the idea of having current going through what is effectively a stalled motor to keep lights off, it can't be good for motors, especially coreless ones with no iron core to help dissipate the heat that would be created surely?

Try backing off the drawbar screws at the front of the tender and rear of the loco half a turn and see if that frees things up. Regards Roy

Having checked the RevolutioN website, and in case it is of interest to others, there has been an update as follows: - Status: - Shipping to UK Estimated delivery to UK: - Late September - early October 2023 So not too much longer to wait now! Roy

I am not a OO modeller but as a model railway enthusiast in general I keenly follow a variety of threads relating to different manufacturer's products including this one. I am in no position to comment about the 15xx issues, but I can as far as Rapido's excellent warranty service is concerned. I was one of a number who bought Rapido's N Gauge Metrovick Co-Bo. In the case of mine it was a sound fitted version with a defective decoder which became reported as a common issue with the loco (running the loco with a standard chip confirmed the loco ran fine). I raised a warranty request through the website and was asked to return the entire loco, which I did. Rapido were totally open and honest about both the decoder problems (and what they were doing about it) and other QC issues identified with some of these locos, and even though I hadn't had any problems they asked that it be returned so that they could check it over. They could have just asked for the chip to be sent back for replacement which would have been cheaper, but they didn't, they went the extra mile and incurred the additional expense of checking the whole loco. Yes, it took a while for them to get replacement decoders and therefore my loco to be returned, but that was down to a global supply issue not them. The Rapido team didn't hide from "criticism" of the Co-Bo, they were visible and responsive to people's issues, offering to fix locos even though first port of call would technically be to return it to the retailer. I see the exact same thing here, issues raised with some of the 15xx's and a proactive open and honest response from the Rapido Team, this is a measure of an organisation who are passionate about their products and just as disappointed when problems are reported. Anyone who has spoken to these guys at exhibitions will know the passion and enthusiasm they have for their brand and products, they are model railway enthusiasts just like us, and I for one would like to complement the whole team on not just the quality of their warranty service but their whole ethos, I would have to reflect that not every manufacturer is like this. Roy

I would see these models as a perfect candidate for ready to go replacement 2mm fine-scale conversion kit with coupling rods, crankpins and drop-in wheelsets complete with bearings.

I have had an email from Kernow to say mine are on their way 🙂 Edit... No, correction, having contacted Kernow for a tracking number they advise that Bachmann have invoiced them and the models are currently en-route to them, possibly arriving tomorrow. They were simply charging people's cards now to make despatch quicker when they arrive which seems pretty logical to me.

Have you ever heard of remote working? It is quite a thing these days, in the case of many roles you don't necessarily need to physically work at the business location.

Indeed, this seller is showing all six variants with stock levels of 10 plus for each, I haven't seen them advertised anywhere else yet, certainly not showing as "in stock" yet at Kernow where I ordered mine from, very odd unless Jadlam (the eBay seller in this case ) have jumped the gun 🤔. Roy

Hi have to admit, I thought I was a newsletter subscriber too, but haven't seen one in ages, I guess I should re-register 🤔

They look very nice indeed and great to see such lovely "state of the art" model being made available for OO modellers - how can it not be a winner? However, it occurs to me that given the range of comparatively recent and very nice models of different variants already available in N from Farish, these would appear to be one model for which just for once the "shrink ray" will not be required. Roy

Thanks Mike I have checked the RevolutioN website before posting here but it hasn't been updated recently, just curious to know how things went with the 128 production samples mentioned above which you have presumably by now received and checked? Regards Roy

Got my four today, very pleased with them, I already have a rake in Blood & Custard but think they look even better in the maroon livery. Not cheap, but they are exquisite models and well worth the money in my opinion - as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Roy

I ordered my two J94s from Kernow - no indication from them in their weekly newsletter that the models are due. The Bachmann announcement indicated September/October so I do wonder if your notification is for something else you had on order but maybe forgot about 😁. Thinking about it, if you did order via Rails, your pre-order will still show on your account until despatched (at which point it disappears completely) so easy to check if it was the J94 (or as I think is probably the case) not. Regards Roy

Indeed, I had great hopes for this loco, in my case I wanted one as a basis for conversion to an LNER G5 with (I had thought) a much improved chassis over the old one and DCC capability. Sadly it just hasn't turned out that way and I wouldn't touch one of these new ones with a proverbial barge-pole even if ludicrously discounted (which they may well need to be to sell them at all). The extent of the problem is pretty clear from the reports we are seeing and Dapol's reply to Haddocksrock which he shared on 6th July is utterly laughable. With the new people like Adam on board at Dapol I am hopeful that we will now see a much greater focus on quality in N so that it no longer looks like a poor relation in comparison to their O Gauge models. In this respect I am looking forward keenly to the Ivatt Tank, but really it is going to be the brand new models like the GW Mogul and West Country (if it ever materialises) that will confirm it. Roy

Are you sure? According to Rails' website all 6 J94s are still showing as "pre-order" items and I don't think they are showing as available anywhere else, certainly nowhere I can find anyway🤔.

Mine too, I already have a rake of the Blood & Custard ones but didn't need any persuading to add some maroon ones, they look exquisite in the pictures and I am sure they won't disappoint. Roy

On a more general level I am more than a little curious to know if the idea of producing N Gauge models has/will progress. Roy

Good, hopefully that means the four maroon ones I have preordered won't be too far away. Roy

The problem with any catering vehicle, but especially a restaurant car is that you will not even need one in every express passenger rake you possess. This makes the RMB more useful and viable for a manufacturer as it will be used in a greater number of trains. This is also doubtless the reason we haven't seen Thompson or Stanier catering vehicles - they just wouldn't sell enough.

At the risk of being "slapped down" on here (again 🫢), I have kept an eye on the RevolutioN website but it hasn't been updated since the note I mentioned on June 16th (above). I would appreciate clarification of whether the PCBs have indeed now been replaced and if the models are anywhere near ready to be shipped. If they are not, then assuming they will be arriving by sea the September date is beginning to appear unachievable? Roy

Here's hoping you don't find yourself waiting another four years for the TT 120 ones to show up! As I understand it these little N Gauge beauties will be with us within a couple of months or thereabouts, so I thought it rude not to order a couple 🙂

Yes, confirmed by Bachmann that the Black Five is still tender driven with 6pin DCC socket in the tender. Unlike the Standard Five, to provide Next 18 and a speaker would require a complete retool with loco drive, and I guess that just isn't cost effective given that the existing tooling isn't that old and the loco is already a pretty decent model.

Actually I did pick it up, see my post at 10.25 yesterday 🙂

Under the terms of trade with retailers Bachmann do not permit a discount of more than 15%, I can't recall how long it applies for but you won't get a better deal than that from any dealer initially.