philiprporter

32 minutes ago, No Decorum said:

No, no, no! Above all, continue to be open and transparent! It was very interesting to learn that raising the body on curves was tried. Now I know that it was tried and wasn’t practicable, I’m entirely reconciled to the solution you’ve chosen. Following the project through RMweb is one of the pleasures of the project; please keep it going, Fran!

Agreed!! Accurascale have been such a breath of fresh air with being open and transparent - please don't stop Fran!!! 

Thanks very much indeed everyone-this is all very helpful and clearly I have a steep learning curve ahead, but this has really helped clarify things and point me in the right direction - sincere thanks!

I hope this hasn't been addressed already (but searching for DCC CVs and permutations thereof yields zillions of results!) but is there a decent book out there that covers adjustment of CVs in detail?

What I'm driving at is that I have recently had to adjust CVs on a Bachmann 105 to alter the brightness of the front lamps with great results, but before doing this I had to alter 'indexing CVs' (with values gained from a very helpful RMWeb post) and I really want to learn and understand more about this, as I am told that adjusting things like indexing CVs (for example) has the capacity to result in unexpected changes if you don't know what you are doing - which I don't!  

I'm OK with adjusting CVs to do basic things like alter master volume on a sound decoder or individual sound volume, and I understand how a CV number is made of 8 bits that are either 'on' or 'off', but I really want to understand the world of CVs more fully/in detail and how I can use them to do things like dim lights and how things like the indexing CVs work.

I had considered Nigel Burkin's book on the subject (A Practical Introduction to Digital Command Control), but from reviews and book overviews on websites, I can't see whether he covers CVs in detail. The same goes for other books that are available from UK and US authors. I did wonder if its a case of different decoders from different manufacturers use different CVs and in different ways so there is no 'book', but my inexperience is showing here and I don't know if this is the case or not? 

So in a nutshell, I want to learn more about how all this CV stuff works in detail, but I'm struggling to find a decent resource-I've looked at DCC Wiki, but when it comes to CVs it seems rather impenetrable - almost certainly reflecting my lack of intellect. 

Many thanks, Phil.

Take your time Fran! You guys are a breath of fresh air in this industry and my wallet can breath a temporary sigh of relief! 

On 17/01/2020 at 17:58, WILLIAM said:

029 could also be improved by painting the window surrounds black although they were not black on all 27s.

 

 

That's really interesting/a relief, as my immediate reaction upon seeing these was "where are the black window surrounds?" when I saw them on the Hattons website. 

That's pretty shocking. Mine arrived from Key in a sturdy envelope which was perfectly fine and protective. Aren't we all meant to be cutting down on plastic waste? Thankfully I suspect most of us modellers are pretty good at reusing but that's a hell of a lot of plastic bubble packing. 

I know this thread is a few years old now, but I had the same issue with my 105 when I fitted a Loksound V5. As usual, RMWeb came up trumps! Check out this thread (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117575-dimming-headcode-lighting-with-loksound-v4/) and rather than dim, crank up the brightness to max and the orangey glow in the 105 is visible. OK its still not bright, but its a hell of a lot better! 

CV 31 to 16, CV 32 to 0 then CV 262 to 31.

5 minutes ago, JSpencer said:

I do wonder if they have gone a bit OTT on the limited editions front. Many are excellent choices but another Evening Star in 70s style packaging? Another Sir Nigel Gresley? and Smokey Joe - a limited edition? The last would have been perfect as the club special. £500+ for a tin plate 0-4-0 replica from 1920. There are not many but I may have understood more if it were say an O gauge Princess Elizabeth replica. Hachette were doing O gauge 0-4-0 tin plate replicas for about £15, fifteen years back http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/railways/hachette/index.html

 

I like the theme of a 'train per decade', but also winced when I saw the price of the tinplate 0-4-0. Having recently dabbled in live steam, for an extra £135 you could buy a UK made, all metal, live steam Roundhouse 0-4-0 loco, or alternatively a slightly lower spec Mamod MKIII live steam 0-4-0 loco for £165 less than the tin plate limited edition. Looks like they are selling though and I guess on that basis, investment value could rocket assuming there are no second runs.  

10 hours ago, GordonC said:

 

Is there not enough superdetailed Blue-grey HST's available on the secondhand market? They've done at least a couple of batches of them now

A lot of Lima, ex-Lima and early Hornby blue-grey HSTs available second hand, but I've not seen many of the super-detailed blue-grey versions, aside from a few at insane prices on a well known auction site. Maybe I've just been unlucky? I must confess that I've only been looking for the past 6 months or so and I may have missed these when they were more plentiful on the SH market. 

43 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

Steampunk away to your heart's content, but put the BL name on these products? Please, please, noooo.

Yes does seem a bit odd to associate such an esteemed name with the Steampunk range. I hope it does well for them though - it's pretty risky but could end up being a winner. 

Interesting range - has something of a 'make or break' feel about it and I sincerely hope its 'make'. The Steampunk range could be a stroke of genius if they can tap into the gaming market, but even if they can't, I suspect many kids will engage with this line which is good news - the few steampunk layouts I have seen at exhibitions have really captivated the younger audience. 

The 91 - hmmm that's worrying, as Cavalex have put so much time, effort and doubtless money into their project - I really hope they won't pull out from that and I shall be honoring my commitment to them and not jumping ship. I hope others won't be put off either. 

APT is great news - as someone caught up in the DJ Models APT affair, this has put a big smile back on my face! 

Was hoping for a blue-grey super-detailed HST, but don't fancy buying two sets of the blue-grey/GWR and selling on the GWR power cars! 

So my next prediction (given that I'm obviously hopeless at this sort of thing!) is a BR blue early AC electric from Bachmann......!

All in all though, I really hope this works for Hornby - some gambles in there (Beatles Eurostar, Steampunk) but it would all work out very well indeed - and I hope it does. 

5 hours ago, jamie.dunn said:

I was thinking about the APT-P the other day being quite iconic model, so I’m wondering if a re-tool of that ( I’m sorry if it’s been mentioned already , I’ve only just found the thread) 

Yep as far as D&E is concerned APT was my best guess (from many pages back) along with an early AC electric to contemporary standards (class 81 probably the most likely? Hopefully with proper space for sound this time!)  and maybe the full fat super detailed HST in blue and grey. All iconic and all previously in the Hornby range in some form or other.

I can't help but think it will all have an 'iconic trains through the ages' type theme. Maybe way off here, especially with the 'outside the box' comments. 

4 hours ago, rob D2 said:

Did you get a response at all ?

Yes I sent them an email and a few days later received a detailing pack that contained headcode discs. Great service from Hornby. 

I suspect it will be VR railways in some form or other and perhaps on-board cameras, plus a release of 'celebratory' models from the back catalogue, hopefully something like an AL1 and APT (OK, OK, I know these are my dream wishlist!) made to contemporary standards, and a smattering of new releases - hopefully (and I'm dreaming again) a 25kv EMU and the LNER blue-grey HST set in the super-detailed form - not holding my breath on that last one in particular given the recent blue-grey Railroad release, but it would fit with the overall celebration theme and Hornby were first to release an HST back in the 80s (or may even have been the late 70s?). 

Yes the more I read the more the 86 seems like a good bet. My original guess/wish of APT and class 81 may need revising to APT and 86 then! But as others have said, I suspect a class 81 will come from one of the manufacturers at some stage. 

11 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Hi Phil, 

Cracking layout and a very interesting spot with both the railway and canal. Just stumbled across this and very much enjoyed reading from the start.  

All the best

Dave

Thanks so much Dave that's really kind of you. Yes it's a lovely spot (the cafe at Tunnel End always a high point!) with some great hill walking and great pubs in the vicinity-may retire there if I'm ever flush enough to stop working-which is probably unlikely if I keep buying so much model railway kit!

Yes I think the Diggle end is worth a visit - I've only been there a couple of times, but it's a lovely part of the world and Diggle is a nice little place - just as Marsden is at the other end - spent many happy hours there!

1 hour ago, Paul80 said:

Didn't know you can buy the project on their own, do you just get the project to use as often as you like or do you have to provide the decoders serial number so the project is locked to that one decoder?

 

Sorry if the answer is obvious 

 

Paul

Hi Paul - apologies, no I don't believe you can buy just the project alone, but if you buy the decoder and the project (which is what I have always done) then the Engineman one is £3 more expensive and was just wondering why that was. Just seemed a bit odd? I see its for Loksound rather than Zimo so I'm guessing that may be the reason, but I was intrigued if there was some other advantage to the Engineman sound projects?  

I'm wondering if anyone here has tried Engineman sounds and what they thought (aside from the 66 mentioned here)?

I ask because I'm looking for a class 33 chip and the Paul Chetter Zimo project from Digitrains is £15 but the Engineman project is £18?

Always found Paul Chetter projects to be superb so I'm wondering what the extra cost brings?

Thanks, Phil 

I've just picked up the BR Blue skinhead class 31. The instructions show where and how to apply the indicator discs (although I'm guessing they may be generic instructions?) and there are location holes on the front end for the discs, so I'm wondering if these have not been included in error? I've emailed Hornby to see what the score is. 

1 hour ago, MrJack47790 said:

According to Mr Kohler the APT mould have destroyed  ,

I would love a new tooling but probably won't happen anytime soon.

I can still dream!

 

Also to go with a class 60 a cheaper, more readily available Drax biomass wagon would be great.

 

For HST pack they could model the LNER BR original coloured HST as will be used on the LNER HST farewell tour.

Yes an original BR Blue HST re-release would be wonderful. The more I think the more I'm thinking/hoping/imagining this could be a release of several iconic trains from the ages.

For the D&E era an early AC electric, the original blue/yellow HST, the APT (from DJ Models CADs perhaps?), the IEP in new liveries and I can't help wonder if a 91 will also appear, albeit probably not a new tooling given the Cavalex model. A kind of 'trains through the ages' set of releases to celebrate several key events/anniversaries. 

5 minutes ago, BritishRail60062 said:

Same here mate. As much as I want one of those models. I am holding off buying one until the issue is fixed because apart from the logo being wrong. It is a cracking model and I wish to remake one as 60001 "Steadfast" which has an identical logo if I recall right?

Yep one of Hornby's best and I am itching to get my hands on a couple and install sound - which is why it's slightly frustrating that the logo issue exists. Hopefully a rapid solution will be sorted and the credit card can then take a pounding! 

Just now, BritishRail60062 said:

I am now confused. So if I have this right. Does that mean that Hornby are going to do a recall of the unsold models? Or do we have to send our model into Hornby for them to patch it after buying it from the retailer? Can someone help me out on this please?

I don't think anyone knows the answer to this yet - I suspect that some sort of official confirmation will come from Hornby at some stage given that they are aware of the issue. I'm holding off buying one until things are clarified. 

Fingers crossed then. Will be placing an order as soon as this is sorted. 

That's a bit of a shame given that the factory weathered 33 looks superb (to my eye).