traction

Hi Paul, Yes, I can do so you can have a play! Cheers Ian

Yep, agree with that. I've spoken to Graham and the 611 is quite different, and all will be explained in the new manual. Graham did say he was exhausted, after a very busy day getting a load of upgrades done! It's a tricky one as he is aware that lots of people wanted the new new 611 and then all of the old units that need upgrading, but it would have been delayed longer waiting for a manual when you can get by with the basics using the 511 as a simple guide. Rock and a hard place? It all works perfectly fine as it is so no worries, although not tried programming a loco or reading back CV's Will be interesting to see the changes from the 511. Cheers Ian EDIT to make a little clearer.

I'm enjoying it Keith! Shame there wasn't, at this time a quick start guide just to give you a clue. It certainly looks like the number 9 (SIMULATION) and Zero button(SYSTEM) are not functioning as described in the 511 manual. As they still have those descriptions written next to them I can only assume it's a different set of key presses to access them. I was hoping that some anonymous tester was on here who could have suggested trying something. I have contacted Graham but it's their day off so I won't get a reply until tomorrow now. Still, no worries I can control locos and operate functions. Will be able to post a better review once I've got all the information myself. Nice to control locos though. Cheers Ian

How? Whenever I press the LOCK&FUNCTION button followed by SIMULATION (Button number 9) all that happens is it turns function 9 on or off. I have found that LOCK&FUNCTION - PRESET makes the following message come up on the display:- SET TO MOMENTARY, you then type in the function number you want to be momentary followed by the ENTER R key. That function will now be momentary. Pressing LOCK&FUNCTION-POINT makes the following message come up on the display:- SET TO LATCHED, again type in the function number you want to to be latched followed by the ENTER R key. Cheers Ian

It has arrived! It doesn't look that green in the photos, need better light! As can be seen the 2xUSB ports on the back. It doesn't have a manual yet as it's still being printed, but the 511 manual is OK, sort of! I can confirm that when operating functions, only 0-9 are actually shown on the display, 10 and above are not shown. Not had much time to try anything yet. I couldn't turn off simulation, On the 611 the FUNCTION button also has LOCK, don't know what that actually means yet, this is different to the 511. In the 511 manual it does show you how to turn simulation on/off, so I followed that. Basically you press FUNCTION-SIMULATION(which is function number 9) then ENTER L (turn off) or ENTER R (turn on) This doesn't appear to work at present following the 511 manual. It's like the number 9 key isn't acting like a command key at all, after the FUNCTION button is pressed. Need to double check exactly which sequence to follow, as there are going to be differences between this and the 511. I know it can be done as the one on the display stand had SIMULATION turned off. More to follow when I actually get chance to have a good play about, hopefully tomorrow if I get back from work early enough. Cheers Ian

The web site has also been updated, so you can now actually buy a 611 from the shop! Best be quick as its showing they only have 3x611's left in stock of this first batch. Not bad at all as I believe there are 40 in a batch! Next batch due in March. I will have mine on Tuesday evening. If I get chance will do a quick post once I've had a play. Cheers Ian

Met up with Graham and Pat on the Taunton Controls stand today at Doncaster exhibition. Was nice to finally met up, and see the 611 in the flesh. The green colour actually looks quite nice. It's a long time since I've played with the 511, so couldn't remember anything. But there is a 511 and 611 next to each other on the stand. The 611 display does look better than the 511, maybe sharper? can't quite put my finger on it. The brake control now works as I always thought it did!, that is you can turn the brake which will gradually slow the loco down, unless you carry on in to the red which will apply the brake fully. To operate the horn on a sound loco it was just a case or pressing 02 which is shown on the display , next to which it says ON, press 02 again it shows OFF. You can then just press 2 for on and then 2 and hold which then shows OFF. Didn't really play with much else as there were a lot of people on stand looking and also wanting a go. It's still a nice controller to actually Drive the loco. Looking forward to getting mine in just over a weeks time and will report back my findings then, once I've had chance to have a good play about. There are a lot of developments in hand, which should be good, it's just a shame it's taken so long to move the product forward. First time I've seen the point motor actually working connected to a point, looks to be really very good. Cheers Ian

I think like most things the components are sourced from where ever they can be bought at the cheapest price. From what I've been told the components and the controller are then assembled in Somerset. The casings are actually printed in Germany. The software is done by a company in Cornwall. Cheers Ian

Yes I will, and I have told Graham that I would as well. Looking forward to getting it now, the new layout is taking shape but I seem to be spending more time running the locos around the single oval than actually doing any scenic work! Still there's no rush! Cheers Ian

I spoke to Graham today to pay for my 611. The software is 2 weeks behind so the 611 will be late. I should have it in my sticky mitts on Tues 17th Feb, which is quite something considering I started this thread about the new 611 almost 2 years ago!!! Once the new units have shipped Graham will start on the upgrades. He did say the first batch of 611's has sold out, and that the first batch of upgrade slots has also sold out. There are a couple of upgrade slots left for the second batch. After this it's waiting for the second batch of 611's and the third batch of upgrade parts which will be towards the end of March. Unfortunately he has had to increase the price of the upgrades from this third batch. So basically nobody will have had their 505 or 511 upgraded yet and no one will have the new 611 yet. The only way to have used the 611 is if you've been to an exhibition and tried it on the stand. Cheers Ian

They are certainly better than the ones I've received!! The water gauge hasn't been formed properly at all. Hopefully the replacements will be better, if not I now know where to go! Cheers Ian

Well, sent two emails yesterday to Hatchette. Replacement parts for issues 12&13 for the white metal parts Replacement parts for issue 4 which didn't come with the angled spacers, so unable to attach the cab to the rest of the model. Emails received back today, with replacement issues being sent, just have to wait the usual 28days for delivery. Got to say they are very quick at responding. Shame you have to wait so long for replacements to turn up though! I will see what the replacement white metal parts look like, but will no doubt buy the LG ones as I take it these will be much better quality. Oh, forgot to say, the vertical hand rail on the cab, the top hole is missing for the hand rail knob. It only needs drilling out, but it will need marking up before hand. I do have 3 cabs and everyone is missing the top hole, very odd. Cheers Ian

I think they were the screws to hold the valences and boiler together that were missing. Hey ho another email to Hatchette as I can't do anything now.! Probably need to wait for ages to get them delivered as well. Cheers Ian

Thanks. Can I ask anybody who has the kit, in issue 4 which contains the cab window detail parts and the screws to hold the cab to the boiler. There should be two angled spacers in there to fit the bottom 2 screws has everybody got the two spacers? I have a fully sealed bag, in the bag are the brass etch for the window detail parts. There are then 3 sealed bags. 1 contains two short screws. 1 contains two long screws and the other contains the hand rail knobs. I just don't have the angled spacers! Thanks Ian

Thanks guys! I've now started! Already broke a drill bit off in the nose for one of the front lamp irons That boiler takes some drilling, it also took ages and wire wool to get that primer off, even using Nitromors. Still taking shape, and as it's the first loco I've ever built should be fun. I'm just building it as per the instructions with super glue, can't be bother to take the varnish off and in theory it's only going to be running backwards and forwards along a length or two of track. I'm also not going to paint it. When I did my apprenticeship one of the fitters was in a previous role a tin smith and he made the bed warming pan and copper/brass kettle that looked stunning so thats how I want this. When you see the pics of these unpainted they do look stunning......to me anyway! Doesn't look too bad to my eyes, just enjoying the build..............................so far! Cheers Ian

So I'm not the only one then!! I've not started building mine as yet, waiting to get enough parts. Just been going through all of the parts and virtually all of the white metal parts that have been supplied are as you say crap! I've sent an email tonight to ask for replacements to be sent as there is nothing you can do with these. The water gauges haven't even been formed correctly so the bottom and top half are two individual bits. Quite shocking really. By the time I've tried to clean these parts up there will be nothing left of them! Is there anywhere that you can buy these boiler back-head detail parts where they will actually be fit for purpose? Cheers Ian

It's great that Rapido are going to do this anyway, but it would be much better if it succeeds on it's own. It's 84% reached so needs about 34K to reach the £210,000K target that's £2.6K worth of pledges an hour for the next 13 hours for Kickstarter to succeed. As Lyneux has said, I wonder what the target would actually be, if all those that have pledged more than they really wanted to just to see the project proceed, now either don't pledge at all or drop their commitment down substantially? It's great that the hard work Mike and Ben have put in has paid off. I don't want this post to come across as negative as that is certainly not my intention, but a thought does need to be made for those that only supported this to see the kickstarter work. Cheers Ian

Thats a surprise, but could also be helpful. For those who don't want a loco, but want to support the project you could buy the two coach pack, to use as delivery coaches. Now for just £90 you could buy 3 two coach packs, two of which could be sold later to those who bought the 9 car sets and want to go up to 11 cars Just a thought. Ian

No he didn't. I can only assume its for those that don't have a PC or internet connection.....possibly. I'm sure there are some. Cheers Ian

Graham did say, upgrades would be sent by email for you to copy onto a USB stick and upgrade yourself. For any people NOT having access to emails, etc then they can send out a USB stick with the upgrade already loaded on it. Cheers Ian

I've spoken to Graham today and asked about this. When you operate a function the function number will be shown on the display, so if you press 2 then 8, number 28 will be shown on the display. to operate function 1 you would press 0, 1 and again number 1 will be shown on the display. The MUCH larger touch screen is at least a year away, and will basically replace the screen that's there, if you want to!!! There is no need to fit the bigger touch screen if you don't want to. The main PCB and software is already set to accept the new touch screen once it gets developed. There are two USB ports on this, type A and type B One is for plugging in the USB stick to update the firmware, the other is to connect it to the PC. Well, I'm suitably impressed and I have given lots of negative feedback over the years on the ZTC controller. Perhaps not on the controller but the way it was being sold and the price even with it's known issues. I've always wanted one as it is a great 'driving' desk, but when it was £500 plus the power supply it was way too much. Graham has had the faith to invest and resurrect it and bring it up to date. Unfortunately he is starting way back due to other owners not improving it, but I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and support him! As such I've put my deposit down for one of the first batch due at the end of January! Yes still a bit expensive, but there's just something about it that I like! Cheers Ian

Thanks for that TTG, Very interesting, I really hope it's a success. Yes there is a lot of negativity on here for the reasons mentioned, but there is still one major factor that will be an issue and that's the price. It's great that it has actually come down in price and the power supply is now included, but you still need to choose which supply for OO or N! Still I really do like it as a loco driving desk, and I've always liked the way it looked. Would I buy one though, as I already have more controllers than I can shake a stick at............I really don't know. Cheers Ian

Yes we do agree. It's a shame as when I did play about with one at Digitrains it was really nice to 'drive' the train. I just think it's still way too expensive for what you are actually getting. I would dearly love to buy one and have a proper play, but not for that money. I could I suppose look second hand and maybe eventually upgrade it, but thats still such a lot of money. I really do hope that Taunton make it work, but it's not going to be easy. Cheers Ian

Hi Keith, no not you shooting yourself in the foot! Taunton Controls shooting themselves in the foot, as many would say, for the price difference you really would have to look at the value for money and what each controller offers you! At that price difference I would guess the ECoS would win every time which is why I said hard sell for Taunton Controls. Cheers Ian

Would you class that as shooting yourself in the foot? I've not owned a ZTC unit, although had a quick play about with one at Digitrains a few years ago now. I get the "real feel" driving experience, well I do now as I have been playing with a Live steam set, and it looks like the ZTC controller will probably control DCC locos or be slightly similar to how the Live Steam engines are controlled. Or I could just be talking out of my bum, without actually fully trying a ZTC I will never know. Seriously though putting the ECoS and ZTC next to each other with prices has to be madness. ECoS £498 against the 611 at £470 £28 difference between the two, that's got to be a very hard sell. Cheers Ian