traction

Hi people, I have got so much on I'm never going to get this finished. A bit gutted as I was looking forward to it, but I have to be realistic and start to slim down everything I'm doing, what with a log cabin with 3 layouts in, a garage with two uncompleted layouts in and a spare bedroom with another layout in, it's time to take stock of what I'm doing as it's getting out of hand, plus I would actually like to stay married! I have all issues and binders up to current issue 63. I've assembled the body and cab, although the cab isn't fixed to the body. I have used super glue, so if required a bath in hot water will no doubt allow it all to fall apart and it can then be cleaned of the lacquer for soldering if you wanted to. I also happen to have two spare cab etches that are still unwrapped and a complete spare body with valences and nose, again still in the plastic pack attached to the issue. Looking for sensible offers, it's actually up to over £500 spent now. I know I won't get anything near that but perhaps a couple of hundred quid would be OK plus P&P as the box will need to be big to get all the parts and binders in. Just PM me if you or someone you know is interested. You could quite easily carry on the subscription from this part as it's all complete and up to date and I won't cancel anything until it's sold. This is how it still looks:- Cheers Ian

Couldn't find it! Maybe the mods can merge the two.

I thought I'd put this here so those who haven't seen it can. It is on the GFB designs web site, but thought it would be easier to see and comment here. I think it looks like a very nice controller when it's available, which should be mid Jan 2016 The CV programming side looks to be really easy to use along with the nice big touch screen to access all the functions. I have no connection with the company just an interested person in another DCC controller. ACE_DCS2044_Brochure_V2_1.pdf What do others think? Cheers Ian

Ron, The information you cut out and quoted about the "Command Bus Protocol adapter is exactly what I quoted in an Email to DCC Concepts. The reply was, that as the Hornby systems don't have CABS that can plug in it will only work with the Alpha box. I did state that you can plug in Selects to the Elite or Selects to Selects and they all have to be addressed with their own number, so it should work. I was trying to find out if I could use that Roco or Xpress-net interface kit, so one end plugs into the Select or Elite the other end has the socket to take the RJ12 curly cable that comes with the Cobalt Alpha. Didn't get an answer to that. The manual is confusing which I did mention, it really does look like it's promoting the Alpha Black box and the Alpha Power(the 5amp power supply) to connect the Cobalt Alpha to any DCC system. Unless of course you have the NCE system then you can do anything. Still not enough CORRECT information out there at present. Cheers Ian

I've been told by DCC Concepts you need the Alpha Black box for it to work with Hornby systems. £59.95 for the Alpha panel £125 for the Alpha Black box(Smart Booster) then a suitable power supply for the black box, not cheap. The alpha central which is the ready made switch panel is £155 I couldn't find this manual on the DCC web site it was sent to me, it's 11.5MB so this link is to my BOX account for those that are interested:- https://app.box.com/s/o5iv9k06updcoptptsoz3rot1hqntz42 Cheers Ian

Mike, The Zephyr Xtra or DCS51 has all 28 functions available. Just go to the Digitrax web site and read the manual first to see how you operate functions, it might not be as easy as you want it to be. You say the Elite which most people do not yet have? the Elite has been out for years, although it wasn't until firmware V1.4 that it became much more function usable, and that firmware was released at least a year ago. Cheers Ian

It's quite interesting to read about function operation as I don't think any controllers do it that well. Apart from the ESU ECoS due largely to the fact that most of the functions are on the nice large display and can be pressed so very easily. Every other controller I've used needs a few presses of buttons to get to the higher function numbers. I have the ZTC 611, NCE PowerCab, Bachmann EZ-Command, 3x Hornby Select's, Hornby Elite, RailMaster and the Prodigy Explorer. For my Large OO oval that uses the ZTC, none of the locos have sound. For programming CV's I always seem to use the PowerCab as it makes it so much easier for CV programming. For everyday running of my small layouts, it's The Selects, Explorer or EZ-Command. As I don't need to do anything apart from speed up or slow down forwards/backwards then I don't actually need anything else from the controller. The Prodigy Explorer is actually a great little controller. It does only control 4 locos, but can access all 28 functions and can program on the main(can't read only write) You can also plug in any of the Prodigy Advanced handsets to turn it into a fully featured system, you can even plug in the wireless conversion set. For me these very simple controllers are great, as the layouts I build are small so normally only one loco running at any one time and at exhibitions they are for the kids to use and play with so having a complex almost daunting big touch screen or hand held cab full of buttons just doesn't work. The Elite is actually not too bad, a bit too menu driven but works well enough and the function operation isn't too bad compared to some I've used, it's just a real shame they didn't allow it to run two locos at once, like the ECoS so you could turn each controller to operate two different locos. What does all this say to me, well basically we don't need the actual loco controller to do anything but control the loco. I think a simple controller which actually just drives the loco but without any other purpose, it's there to drive the loco and that's it. The controller can then be made to give the best driving experience just as the ZTC 611. A separate plug in unit which has a nice big display so that this can be used to operate functions and accessories to make that much easier as well. When I've been to exhibitions with the Elite connected up to RailMaster, the Elite or Selects are used to operate the trains. The laptop running RailMaster is connected to a nice big touch screen which makes accessories and function operation so much better. I don't see an easy way round this although the new ACE controller from Sig-na Trak does look rather good, but the hand controllers are just like a standard cab control, but the touch screen and future options sound interesting. http://rs.209492.mrsite.com/ACE_DCS2044_Flyer_V1_1.pdf Cheers Ian

The latest update from Graham:- 30.11.15. The new engineer has already put right the problems that the last person had tried to modify and things are NOW going to start moving on. more good news as it comes, Graham. So hopefully upgrades and new controllers should again be available, but who knows when? Still at least things are now moving forward. Cheers Ian

That's what I thought, a modification not a complete redesign. I have no idea what the mod is for though. From reading the website it looks like they've had some grief from the guy who was doing the work for them though. One's things for sure I bet Graham and Pat want this done ASAP so they can start selling them and getting the upgrades done, you can't get any investment back when you don't have anything to sell, must be a real nightmare to get this far then get let down like this. I believe the software updates will still be valid for both boards, and as I far as I know the latest version is V16 Which came out a while ago now. I must say I've not had any issues with my 611 at all. Works perfectly OK reads and writes CV's controls and programs the Cobalt Digital point motors so all good. Cheers Ian

I can only echo the above. It just goes to prove that you don't need a massive huge show for everyone to have a great time. It really did feel like a club show, it was that friendly and relaxed.(although not for the staff that looked after us all day many thanks!) Well done Andy for organising a great show, your pupils can give you a gold star now. Someone did mention about why it wasn't on for two days!!!!!!!! Look forward to next year if you will have me. Cheers Ian

Must be me as I can't see what you and obviously others can see. Like you say everyone will have their own opinion. I just needed to see and compare because of earlier comments made in this thread by a few members I thought it had the nose of a Flying Scotsman it was that bad! Obviously to me it's not that bad and I personally think it looks great, even if the Nose does look a bit like a Minion Cheers Ian

I'm just wondering what the major issue is with this model? From normal or in fact any viewing distance, it really doesn't look that big a problem to me. In fact apart from the light missing I really can't see what the issue is. Probably really obvious and it's late or early depending how you look at the time :-)

Can the CV's be read on the Cobalts? You can program them for the address and there are 3 CV's that are used for the self centering ( I can't remember which they are though) To set any of these you need to move the switch on the Cobalt to the SET position. I've not read anywhere that you can actually read the CV's though. Cheers Ian

They are only little things that I wanted clarification on and to make things clearer in the menu, which could be done but I don't know what other things are being worked on. As I don't use it that often it's not really top of my list to chase up at the minute. As for long term future, Graham does have a lot of plans including a new touch screen, which can be just plugged into the 611 when it's ready, although a long way off. He has sold out of three batches of 611, he did say there were 40 in a batch so hopefully he and the investors are getting a return on their investment and will be able to progress forwards on the improvements. The big problem is, as always is the case with these things is money, he had to start such a long way back due to the lack of development in the 511 that it's difficult to make further leaps without first getting the basic controller working correctly, which to me it does and from my limited use it does everything I've wanted it to do. I can't really say anything further as nobody really knows what the future holds. If your in no hurry then I would just wait and see what happens, you can still use the 511 and if you don't have issues stick with it for a bit longer and see what the future brings. No point in rushing in to spend a lot of money. Cheers Ian

I've not used my 611 much since buying it and there are still a few tweaks that I would like to see just to improve some of the operations. We now have the handbook but as yet no full manual. I've emailed Graham a few times to get clarification or pass on my findings but have not heard anything back. It is a really nice controller to drive the trains, but there are better systems out there for programming and tweaking CV's I still have to refer to the idiots guide as I can't remember how to do some of the things, although once I get the layout built and start using it properly, that should hopefully change. It really is down to you, but if you are looking at a non tethered control then the upgrade cost could go a long way to a different controller which has the ability to have this feature. Maybe asking Graham if they intend to release a wireless handset might just confirm your thoughts one way or another. Cheers Ian

UPDATE: Received a reply from Hachette this morning. They are aware of the wheel issue and working on a solution and when the new parts are available they will send them out to us. Cheers Ian

I've been collecting the parts but not built much of it so far. I do read the thread though and follow with interest and after this thought I'd open all my issues and check to see if the parts are there, if so are they in decent condition. I have just opened the wheels and kept each set in the correct sequence so the first wheel came in issue 33 and it's matching one according to the instructions was in issue 35 This pair were for the leading wheel. The next pair were in issues 37&39 which were the trailing set. Finally the last pair came in issues 41&43 which are the middle set. As above it looks like I can get the leading wheels and middle wheels to all line up correctly, not as the instructions say, with one side the crank facing forwards and the other facing upwards though. I have one side facing forwards the other side is just slightly before upwards. Unfortunately the trailing wheels are a different story, I can get one wheel so the crank faces forwards along with the others, but the wheel on the other side, the crank is almost in the same position! So it's either a new wheel, axle or both. Email has been sent asking when will we be getting the replacement parts. Although I could just say that the wheel spokes were broken in issues 33&35 and get those two issues sent again and use the wheels from them.....would this work OK as I have no idea about this quartering? Will reply with the outcome. Cheers Ian

I would send this information to Graham so he can get the software boffin's to sort it out. It does sound like there may be an issue. Saying that it is a Hornby Decoder which isn't the greatest when it comes to programming or reading. Cheers Ian

The brake does exactly that, you apply a bit and it slows the loco down, you can see the speed steps being reduced, this happens all the way until you hit the red zone which stops the loco as though full brake applied. You can just use the regulator to slow the loco down or move the reverser lever towards it's centre point which will also slow the loco down, which to me is the same thing as applying the brake???? As I've never driven a real loco don't know if this is how its done, It just seems a bit odd to me that I can set everything up so the loco runs at a set speed, then have 3 different ways of slowing the loco down using either the Regulator, Reverser or Brake Cheers Ian

There are two USB sockets. One to connect to a PC the other to plug a USB stick into to update the firmware. What software will work with the 611, I have no idea. Cheers Ian

Mine has also turned up. There is no option to turn the SIMULATION on/off, it's always in simulation mode, so you set top speed with the regulator and use the reverser to speed up or slow down. Alternatively you can leave the reverser at maximum and then use the regulator for the speed control. Page 15 of the Handbook for Automatic Recall of loco Roster on Start up. It should be FUNCTION-LOCO not the SYSTEM button as it states! I've found a few more things that have changed and this is the latest quick guide to the command keys:- Hope you find it useful. Cheers Ian