tetsudofan

Just received the Spring (No.181) issue of Model Rail and whilst reading the very detailed and positive review of the Cl.205s noted that they've listed Kernow as doing a sound version 31-237ZDS Connex Thumper. Strange, I thought, as nothing such listed on the Kernow website. Called Kernow and they confirmed that, as I thought, they are not doing a sound-fitted Connex version. Pity, because if they had of done. I would have changed my order. Looks as though I'll have to wait until SW Digital or Howes produce a Thumper sound decoder. Keith

Having been well pleased with my weathered green sound-fitted Western Sovereign and seeing that the blue Western Venturer has arrived made another call to Lord & Butler today and confirmed that they had the blue ones in stock. A weathered sound-fitted Western Venturer will be arriving within a couple of weeks. Despite numerous phone calls and e:mails still waiting for D1000 to arrive....am told it should be with me next week. Fingers crossed. Keith

My Western Sovereign arrived from Lord & Butler today: Most impressed - weathered, nameplates, number plates and reporting numbers attached and, most awesome, a SWDigital decoder married to a bass reflex speaker fitted. Happy bunny. Must learn how to do a utube thingy. Methinks another call to Lord to Butler to order a similarly fitted blue version next week is on the cards..... Keith

Paul, Phoned Kernow this morning and they advised that they are aware of the lack of the whistle sound - in fact they are quite "vexed" about it (to put it politely). They are working on the matter and will post any developments in this regard in their weekly newsletter. Keith

Having seen Barry Ten's posting about the sound fitted green Western phoned L&B to ask them to put a sound decoder in my Western Invader when it arrives. If I remember correctly L&B said that they use an SWD decoder married to a bass reflex speaker. After chatting a bit, L&B then managed to get me to order a green Western Sovereign with sound and very light weathering...... If that was not enough, Steam called me today advising that they had found my order for D1000 which had got mixed up with my order for Lode Star. In view of the delay in getting to my order for D1000 Steam said they would send the model postage free. Very nice of them, certainly can't complain about that. Maybe I'll get a Howes sound decoder for D1000 to ring the changes. Keith

Both my sound-fitted versions arrived today and I've just given them a whirl round the test track. Quite like the start-up and shutdown sounds but the running sounds seem a bit odd.....but not having heard a real one lineside I'm not sure whether or not the running sounds on the decoder are representative or not. Maybe an expert on these things can comment in due course. One thing I did note is that both decoders come equipped with horns whereas #1108 does not have roof horns but what is (I presume) a whistle over over the drivers window. I know that with the Howes decoders for the CEPs they do the choice of a whistle or horn depending which version of the CEP you've got. What was interesting was that when I ran one of the units on analogue the sounds seemed better than when running digital. When running on analogue the diesel engine kicked in from time to time followed by the unit going back into coast mode which was a little more fiddly to achieve running digital. Maybe I'll have another play test tomorrow switching the units round....and maybe speak to Kernow about the whistle/horn business. Keith

....looks like money been sucked from my card account for the sound versions....just awaiting the e:mail from Kernow. Happy bunny. Keith

Don't worry, I ordered mine back in September and have not had the telephone call for the card details for D1000 I did try to phone Geoff Castle at the number shown on the STEAM website but rang off when the call was unanswered. Then phoned the main number and spoke to a helpful lady on the front desk who said taking my card details and handing them on would complicate the system being used for the despatch of D1000 models. At the same timed I preordered a Hornby Star for which my card details were taken after which my card was charged for the full amount. Keith

I think that is one of the "problems" - as Bachmann are producing the models they will have "Bachmann" sounds by SWD. I'll be happy if SWD do the sounds on their own list as can then get the same but different sounds on different Cl.205s. Just need Howes do their own one as well!! Keith

I also spoke to Kernow a week or so ago and asked whether sound units will be available on a stand-alone basis for installation in the units that I've ordered that don't come with sound and was told that this matter had not been sorted out yet. I thought it would be easy to do but it seems its more complicated than I thought....... Keith

you've got one - Hattons have announced it as one of their limited editions.... Keith

.....and let's hope that Peco get round to making some longer "Loco Lifts" - an 18inch (450mm) "Loco Lift" would easily take a Beyer-Garratt and be long enough for most of the US HO articulated stuff.... Keith

They were burning the midnight oil last night - got a call from them well into the evening...... Keith

I'm on IE8 and can't see the pics - first time here that have problems seeing pics. Pity - probably have to wait until they appear on the Bachmann site...... Keith

Sam, for single items P&P costs Euros 9 but once you go over a threshold (have not checked on website to see what that is) P&P costs nothing. What arrived today cost me nothing in P&P. No problems with customs as it's an inter-EC transaction and you would already have paid VAT at the French rate when you bought the items. Only commissions you have to pay are the charges levied by the credit card company for doing the FX transaction. Keith

Just an update on the service offered by Jura-Modelisme. Ordered some stuff through their website on Wednesday morning, received tracking details later that day......and had the package delivered by Parcel Force before lunch today........Can't beat that really Keith

I've been using Jura Modelisme http://www.jura-modelisme.fr over the years but more so recently as they now have an all-singing, all-dancing website which takes credit cards. Site is only in French but easy to navigate with my very basic "O" level French. Most recent order arrived couple of weeks ago and despite the up-to-date website was accompanied by a hand-written invoice!! Keith Keith

Jason, this is one of my favourite threads - just love seeing everything developing in front of us. Look forward to seeing the Britannia Coconutters being modelled in due course - with background music playing from time to time. Great. Keith

I'm with you on this one Topsyde - having purchased the Metronet Cl.66 have placed an order for the Metronet MRAs with my local dealer so just hope that Dapol produce the Metronet livery variation. If Dapol decide not to proceed wonder if Model Rail will commission a run..... Keith

Surprise, surprise - looked and the website and see that they are now in Scotland - didn't realise that they had moved from North Wales......and before that they were local to me in East Kent. As Gordon has mentioned, great people to deal with, Keith

Picked up my 85 from the Hobby Shop at Faversham on Friday and having being laid out over the weekend by one of those 24-hour bugs managed to do some testing today - as everybody says, the Cl.85 certainly does run sweetly. Having managed to get the pantograph up, just got to work out how to clip it down now..... The Belle is dcc-fitted and runs well but at slow speed not as smoothly as the Cl.85 on analogue. Keith