Elvinley

I'm having the same issue as others seem to be having, with my loco, which arrived from Locomotion a few days ago. It is a stunning model but sometimes on start-up it cuts out after a couple of seconds. The only way to get the sound to re-start seems to be to cut power completely; then it is 50/50 whether it happens again. The loco will still move but with no sound at all even though it pauses before moving as if the sound is on and it is going through the changing ends or powering up sounds. I have just written to Locomotion about it. My controller is a Digitrax DCS 51 I was very impressed with the flange squeal sound only working on curves - what magic is this? Cheers, Ian.

My Alice was a great runner for a couple of hours and now one wheelset is only intermittently picking up. I will return it to Rails for something else. It's such a shame but seems like a fault that a lot are suffering from. I can't fault the looks of the loco but such a shame the pick-ups don't seem reliable. I was really impressed with the Baldwin and Fairlie so this is surprising. Having said that, another recently purchased Bachmann loco (Bachmann Farish this time) had some pick-up issues. This one was a sound fitted 08. That one was much worse though and hardly had any contacts working. This was returned for a refund as well as I didn't want to have to mess with a brand new loco at that price point. Now I think about it, a while back I had to have a second sound fitted Farish 8F as the first had clicking valve gear problems. The replacement was stunning and ran like a dream One more disappointment from them recently was a couple of sets of OO driver and fireman figures which looked like they had been painted in a paint-with-a-blindfold-on competition in the factory. Pictured below to give you all a good laugh are two of the poor creatures. Let's hope these are all one-offs! Cheers, Ian.

There have also been the Class 50, Class 33, Schools and Pacer within the last 6 years. Nothing compared to their output the previous decade. I would think the next release in N will be the revamped M7. Cheers, Ian

To be clear, I wasn't sticking up for them but thought that 'apology' may have been missed as it was at the bottom. I'm not a fan of the recent happenings at all and not just this issue.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

It is by Broadway. Cheers Ian

The Hall is one of Dapol's better steam locos. It runs quieter after many hours use. The down sides, as with other Dapol steam locos is the fragile rods, tender to loco wires and cardan shaft. The bent running board can be straightened by careful gluing and wobbles can be the fault of traction tyres which can be replaced. After weathering and the addition of a crew, they can look really good and they have a good slow speed. As for the new 9F, there seems to be a lot of confusion over it's specs and it does seem to suffer from the wavy coupling rods issue that can occur where all wheels are driven by gears. I only have the older versions. Dapol's smoothest steam loco is the Schools. It is a lovely looking model but has the same issues as the Hall mentioned above; It is however, very quiet. Ian.

The rods are also thicker judging by the new photo. There seems to be some confusion about whether it now has a heavy chassis as described in the blurb or indeed still has the plastic one. It also says the wheels are cast. There are now traction tyres. Ian.

Would love that!

Here is the latest video edition on my line: Hope you enjoy

It is Loksound V5

I bought some phosphor bronze strip from eBay for about a fiver. I added it to my Peak and two class 40s. It wasn't a major job at all. On the Peak it didn't even require soldering - just slip it under the existing pickup strip and glue into place and this gives four more wheels picking up.

Took the plunge. Got to be done.

Lots of Farish bargains online at the moment. Worth checking all the shops to see who has the best price on a particular model as they all have certain items at rock bottom prices.

Funnily enough this is actually possible with the Busch HOf range as the locos have very strong magnets and are very light.