Johnfromoz

On 31/03/2019 at 23:41, bazil31 said:

I bought 2 sets and both sets had a slight problem. the part on the bogie the same as Brambles highlighted  was loose and in the box on one set easy fix.

Unfortunately it is missing completely on the second set and not in the box so must of been detached at factory.

I hope Hattons carry some spares as I would happily fit it back on instead of having to send the whole wagon back to Hattons.

 

Baz

 

 

Mine have arrived here in deepest Tasmania with the obligatory (it seems) rail head spray nozzles (the small black parts pictured earlier) bouncing around in box. As these are a key part of the wagons rather than some obscure piece of underframe, I will refit them myself as no doubt others have done. 

 

My question is, does anybody know the correct prototypical placement of these?  i.e. Are the water heads fitted to just one bogie of each wagon, on one end of bogie, or one side on each bogie etc?  I have three loose parts, two which are clearly water nozzles (with silver tips) and one which looks like a plain guard iron.

 

Also, as I have the two wagon water jet module with one of the wagons with the yellow piping on underframe

whic modules should go with which wagon? Hattons photos seem to suggest sitting the three water tanks on the wagon with yellow piping, while the two tanks with control module in middle are sitting on the other. Prototype photos I have perused so far dont establish this clearly.

 

any ideas appreciated

Indeed Keith, keep posting and ignore the pedants. I for one have found your bargain posting most useful over the years.

 

John

A forum member reported here on using the Hornby 08 TTS chip in the Dapol 08 a couple of months ago. Sound was all good but not full lighting functions ( no real surprise there).

 

I too intend on using the TTS chip for my Dapol 08s when the chips are available. The 08 file is one of Hornby's better efforts. I have Digitrains 08 file on a Zimo already, just would like a contrast as no two gronks sounded the same.

Sounds like a song title I know, but whilst perusing my 0 and 00 gauge versions of Heljans excellent model the other day, got to wondering where all the cargowaggons which useed to proliferate on the network in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s have disappeared to. By this I refer to the classic HABFIS type with livery of weathered silver with yellow/gold full length body stripe and CARGOWAGGON wording.

 

I observe that some battered looking Habfis type wagons are in the consist of south Wales flows and elsewhere. However, even these appear to be in some kind of old VTG Ferrywagon livery of 30-40 years ago!

 

Curious as to their dissappearance , guessing they are either scrapped or returned to the continent. Any knowledge from wagon experts appreciated.

I have, indeed, used the 37 sounds for the Ivatt diesels. It was a toss-up between those and the 31 sounds, but I thought the more 'raw' engine control of the 37 sounded more appropriate for them.

As for decent speakers, I'm still experimenting with those. I have some higher wattage speakers, but they are still popping and clicking a little, so more experimentation is needed. What speakers have you used, John?

Oddly, have found great success in matching these decoders to the 8ohm sugarcube speaks with 3D printed enclusures that are currently on ebay (Aus) for about $13. (No connection.)

 

They fit very well in all modern Bachmann diesels. Im thinking Richard Croft's double iphone speakers might suite these Econami decoders even better.

 

John

Hi Jeff,

 

Having also used a couple of Economi Uk decodes this year, I agree their Factory setting of F5 startup does jar a bit with most other sound conventions i.e. F1 startup so is ripe for remapping. Another small bugbear with them is their tendency to move off slightly before prime mover sound kicks in. I did manage to mitigate this slightly (but not completely) with a couple of CV changes, numbers I cannot recall right now.

 

All in all, very versatile chips though. Did you use the Cl 37 settings for the LMS prototypes? I Actually like their cl 66 which is even better with a decent speaker.

 

John

Another possible cause: I found my Powercab give intermittent short circuit messages because of my inadvertent use of a Hornby track connector which has the hidden capacitor and is not suitable for dcc.

 

HTH

 

John

Again, great info that provides another modelling option. I suspect many will have a fleet of the Bachmann teas which can be augmented with a couple of the expensive Rapido versions.

 

Thanks Martyn

Thanks Big Jim - thought as much.

 

However plenty of pictures of the Grangemouth - Riccarton tanks wit the two types together, so might use that as basis for prototype!!

 

Cheers

 

John

Curious if there was any gradual transition from the Green 1960s type TEAs to the grey VTG new type in 2016? Did the two types work together for a short period?

 

Would make modelling the last year of this service much easier if the two could be mixed.

 

 

TIA

Hi all,

 

Seeking advice re-lighting on the above model. Have just picked up my third loco of this type, accrued over the past two years. I have chucked Hattons cheapie 4 functions in the two prior, knowing they would not operate the headcode light.

 

I recall mention on the 71 thread about the headcode light needing a 'logic' fifth function, rather than the normal. I have fitted a DCC Concepts Zen decoder which claims to have 6 functions, yet this will light everything except to Headcode.

 

Does anyone know if any of the Zen 6 f. decoder functions can be turned to 'logic'.(not sure what that means??) Or failing that, can any remapping be done so that I can access the headcode light?

 

TBH, I would rather have the headcode blind light than any of the cab lights, which are way too bright.

 

TIA

Thanks for that, which begs the question, what sort of bogies would be correct for the Oxford version? Surely the Staniers are correct?

Unfortunately the Oxford ones are too short, they should be on a 60ft frame. They do have the different brake lever arrangement - which includes the 'unique' reversed lever which most of us understood to be not permitted from early in the last century, but is modelled correctly.

 

Prototypes for both  the Oxfords and  Bachmanns can either vacuum brake only  FVV or converted to air brake but retaining the vacuum brake FVX, I don't know how detailed the models are in that respect.  So, they could work together, However, I don't know when the Oxfords came off of passenger car train use - I don't have any as Motorail. But you haven't mentioned period. It was the GWR and LNER ones which went out of use early.

 

Paul

Does this mean that the Oxford version is categorically wrong? I had been given to believe that some of bothe the 57 and 60 ft underframes were used for carflats.

Thanks for the input guys. I was aware of a Hornby TTS fix, but living in Tasmania, way not be feasible to send back multiple decoders.

 

In any case, I am more bemused that the Powercab exhibits none of these issues with TTS or ESU. I will look into the Digitrax suggestions, but am fortunate in having a spare powercab so will probably just switch to that. They seem bullet proof. Shame really, because the DCS50 has got some good things going for it, like a nice, linear throttle output which seems to give great stopping/starting momentum.

Hi all,

 

Have been a DCC user for 15 years, almost all of that time using NCE Powercabs which I have found impeccable in performance. About a yr ago I purchased a Digitrax DC50 in good working condition for not much money, and have generally been happy with it on my large continuous run layout (I use the Powercab for all programming and finer control on my end to end layouts).

 

However, I have noticed increasing compatibity issues with certain decoders. With TTS sound decoders, for example, the DC50 is highly sensitive to the direction in which locos are placed on track. One direction full control, the other nothing. On the NCE, no such problems! I appreciate that this TTs issue is well documented and have been happy to overlook the issue due to TTS price etc.

 

Today however, I have discovered that the Digitrax controller is unable to produce simultaneous sound and movement ( one or the other but not both) on a new Bachmann class 57 loco said to be fitted with a Loksound V4. Again, no such issues with control using the Powercab. No amount of Digitrax rebooting or decoder resetting changes things.

 

My question is, have others experienced decoder compatibilty issues with Digitrax controllers and are there any solutions?

 

It seems very telling for me that in 15 years, my NCE gear has never had any problems with command or programming of any decoders, be hey ESU, Zimo, TCS or the cheaper Hornby efforts.

You can get 8-pin versions of the same thing.

I have a 21-pin one myself and tried out all of the sounds when installed in a Bachmann Ivatt 10001 diesel. The DMU engine sounds are good but there didn't appear to be any gear changes, although I didn't test it on the move very far. There is also a range of horn sounds to try out on the same decoder.

I have ordered two more of the Econami decoders, one 21-pin to go into 10000, allowing the two diesels to run easily in multiple when I am ready, and one 8-pin version to go into my Heljan Lion - I'll be using the class 47 sounds for that, but not the 47 horns.

In my opinion, the Econami doesn't match the best quality decoder sounds from the likes of legomanbiffo, Howes, Paul Chetter, and so on, but at the price, they are good, and cover locos I cannot get 'proper' sounds for in any case, since they no longer exist and no one seems to have done any decent recordings of them when they did exist.

Going back to the requirement for class 101 sounds, on a short run layout, such as an end to end one, the Econami DMU sound would probably be quite adequate because one could shut off power as the DMU leaves the stage (so to speak), simulating the first gear change as it goes.

Edit: fixed a typo - I mistyped 'shut', hitting the next letter over. The profanity filter kicked in!

I think the advertised '8 pin' versions in fact have no plug, unless this has changed?? Agreed, these are very versatile decoders with six UK sounds loaded. The English Electric sounds are nothing special but the 66 and 47 in fact are quite good.

Next cheapest option for you might be Soundtraxx Econami British DMU, about 67GBP from a certain large retailer. 21 Pin Requiring 8 pin converter or hardwire. The DMU sounds are pretty good

Hi,

 

Anyone out there know whether Bachmann 32-762 Vairgin Class 57312 The Hood has a Lok4 or a Select fitted?

 

Thanks

Another modeller here, who is quite happy with the (newish) Hornby 2e, despite their often listed faults. Would never pay 60 GBP upwards for a coach.

 

Reading some reviews of the new Bachmann product gives me a chuckle, what with their own errors in manufacture. Havig built up a sizeable fleet of (less than perfectly) lighted mark 2e for about 12-15 GBP each in sales and preloved offerings, I find the window shape and glazing to be far superior on the Hornby version.

It plugged in straight no problem. The actual holder is only a tad bigger than the blanking plate it replaces. The 8 pin plug of the chip adds about 1.5mm on top, but it can flex down a mill or so as well.

The only issue really was getting the 4 chassis clips to re-engage with the holes in the door glazing.

 

I checked that the position of the chip did not foul anything likewise, made sure speaker sat in the hole and wires went round and not underneath it.

Thanks. Was the converter plug you used the Bachmann version or other brand? Im told there is quite a ditternce in height between some of them, and the 47s roof profile doesnt help.

I,ve converted my Bachmann 47 to TTS sound using an 8 pin adaptor.

As I was sort of expecting, you cannot control interior lighting via DCC but hey I will use the button underneath the loco if needed. I changed the speaker too as recommended earlier in the thread.

One sound fitted Bachmann 47 for less than £130 (the loco cost me about £85 a good 10 years ago).

Speaker and convertor plug brought Richard Croft on here, no connection, just one satisfied customer.

Picture of the arrangement:

image.jpg

Interesting to see this 21 to 8 pin converter seems to fit inside the 47. Most people seem to be reporting that the converter board and 8 pin plug sit too high for the body to fit back on. Curious to see how you made this work?

 

John

Hi all,

 

Have been following various fragmented discusions about sound for the current Hornby or forthcoming Dapol 59. I have installed a Hornby TTS 67 into my Hornby 59 with reasonable result - I know there are some differences in engine tone but at least it is broadly similar.

 

The question I have is with engine start up, i.e. Does the 59 have the same 5 'beep' warning sequence before cranking over like the 66/67s? I have been scouring Youtube looking for 59 startups but cannot find any full sequence clips of the 59. Obviously tons of 66s.

 

Grateful for any input from those familiar with the 59 start up.

Big thumbs up for Kernow. Item ordered and sent in August failed to appear. Brief communication with Greg rsulted in a replacement item sent out, received today.

 

Great service as usual.

Obviously the direction thing is not just limited to the HST decoders - Justi installed another TTS chip for Class 31 in Hornbys detailed version, same issue with Digitrax DC50 control. Luckily I'm planning to switch to my powercab for control of the main layout so problem solved for me, but info provided for others. Too much hassle for me to send all my decoders away to Hornby in UK.

Contact Hornby. They are well aware of the TTS problem and have a fix for it. The decoders may need to be returned for reprogramming.

I dont deem it necessary. Tis but a minor inconvenience for me to reposition the power cars. Just posted to make others aware of issue with Digitrax controller.