RBE

Weathering the roof grilles has really brought out the fans.

26 minutes ago, paulbb said:

Have they all been sold now? Will there be another batch, if so when?

 I would check with our retailers and see what they have left.

We are doing another batch next year.

3 minutes ago, The Meerkat said:

 

my Hornby elite can only do 28 functions so i cant access the announcements

 

We put those up there because they were very much as far as we were concerned, surplus to requirement. All other functions are more important for the loco than those. 

2 minutes ago, zr2498 said:

Ah, but the cure is an injection of more 56s 🙂 Easy - no prescription needed, but alas not available on the NHS

Ah the cause and the cure. Awesome! 🤣

3 minutes ago, zr2498 said:

'Cavalitis' will be new term for the medical dictionary

Ew I'm not sure I want a medical condition named after me! 😬

32 minutes ago, CoBoLoco said:

Thanks @RBE

 

2nd question.

 

If he wants your sound project, am i right in thinking he cannot get this from the ESU website & blow it onto a blank Loksound 5 himself using a lokprogrammer?

 

Ie he would need to purchase the decoder with the project on it either from yourselves, or from a vendor such as roads & rails?

Yes that's correct. At present we are not making it available as a free file. 

3 minutes ago, CoBoLoco said:

A friend has just bought a DCC ready (ie analog) Cavalex EWS 56, but even with the switches in the correct position according to the booklet the fans don't appear to be working.

 

Is there anything he might have missed?

 

Thanks

Yes the roof fans currently don't operate on DC however we are having new blanking plates made that will allow for this function should you want it.

15 minutes ago, XChris said:

I don’t think this has been asked yet (it might have been apologies if it has) is there a CV to change Function 30 from a south west trains announcement to something up north? 

No you can't pick and choose announcements. Tbh they are only on there because they could be. Me and Alex didn't actually think that it was even necessary to have any station announcements at all on a freight loco but we appear to have misjudged that one. 

48 minutes ago, squeaky said:

The esu website has a download for a Lokpilot but not a Loksound decoder, is this available for download?

I'm afraid not. The sound recording on this is our IP and as a result will only be available through our upgrade kits and selected retailers. 

5 minutes ago, derekdoestrains said:

Any chance you can put in big red letters across the box “works best with ESU” 😂

To be honest it's not a bad shout in hindsight.

9 minutes ago, dj_crisp said:

 

I'm hoping Cavalex will only supply them pre-fitted with ESU decoders :)  Then the zimo crew won't buy it and we can all enjoy the peace and quiet. Just imagine the fun with the extra lighting complications.

There are certainly a lot more lighting configurations on the class 60. 

49 minutes ago, JN said:

 

I will give you an opinion ('A bit of a sad reflection') of a possible fact ('effectively killing the idea off for good'), but 'A bit of a sad reflection of the how little some were prepared to do even 12-15 years ago effectively killing the idea off for good' is not a factual statement. Also, pre-liveried items have been available since model railways began. Am I telling you that your preference is 'A bit of a sad reflection' of something? No. I did not realise I was objectively ruining the hobby for you or for anyone. Sorry if I am, but I do not believe I am doing so. Would you prefer me to stop? Presumably so if me buying models the way models are produced is factually 'A bit of a sad reflection' of something.

 

Perhaps people have other priorities outside the hobby or different priorities within the hobby (I am collecting route information then I can drive the train according to that) or have wider tolerances generally. Some people build kits or modify or scratch build an item rather than buying (fairly) generic ready-to-run models. That is all fine. Some people do not have the skill, space or time to do the same as you or James Makin. Seemed to me you were lamenting this for whatever reason. I do not have the skill or space to do everything, but last I checked I am allowed to buy an off-the-shelf model which coincides with the particular theme I am going for. You seem to be complaining off-the-shelf models which may or may not need further modification are available to the experienced an inexperienced modeller given 'A bit of a sad reflection of the how little some were prepared to do even 12-15 years ago effectively killing the idea off for good'. You replied claiming this as 'a fact' not as an opinion.

 

I am struggling with getting the nameplate straight even with the jig. I am also struggling with the double arrows and the piping. That is even having done Airfix kits. I have noticed I have probably clipped off the left-hand guard/step at the number two end when I rested the locomotive on one end, so I could hopefully attach the piping more easily. I probably bent the aerial with my sleeve when reaching over. I will just have to learn. The last time I tried putting on numbers etc, well, that did not go well. Putting the big numbers on was fine, but I made a mess of the TOPS panel. I also made a botch of making wagons despite having made Airfix kits. This is aside from the electronics of a locomotive. If I can buy unique numbers on the model already I will do that. I would be prepared to tolerate replicating wagon numbers as a way to compromise on not making a botch of renumbering - the whole do not let the best become an enemy of the good. Models are a simulacrum for me. I can cope with a train just looking similar to the train I am trying to represent rather than I need the model train to be a perfect scaled down version of (for example) 6D43. I as with everyone else buy the best I can afford.

 

I am not sorry for buying an item. I asked for advice in this thread and only one person responded. I have followed his advice and ordered the blacktack. Did you respond? Does not matter as someone else gave advice and no-one has infinite time to help everyone. I looked at James Makin's thread for advice on attaching nameplates etc. I watched an Everard Jn (and a few others) video of him attaching a nameplate. I bought cocktail sticks and some PVA glue as well as varnish. I will try the blacktack before trying the varnish. I just hope I can make a really thin strip of 'tack, so the nameplate and arrows do not look silly and (in scale) hyper-elevated.

 

I do not see how any of this reduces your enjoyment of modelling railways. Not as much of an achievement as scratch building and painting and creating your own transfers? I agree with that, but some people just want something to do rather than doing the hobby to win competitions. I am fine with that and the latter is more where I am at. The BR Blue Doncaster layouts and other layouts are quality layouts despite not every item having been built from scratch.

I am not sure what you are saying here? That you want the nameplates and pipework pre fixed? I am always happy to give advice regarding fitting nameplates and pipework etc. I must admit I never saw any of your posts asking for help.

17 minutes ago, Br60066 said:

Do we have a rough ETA on the upgrade kit? It’s hard to find the speaker you guys use likely because it’s so good and everyone’s upgrading!

We are looking at around a months time.

16 minutes ago, The Fatadder said:

That was pretty much my intention originally, all be it that I was planning to keep it running on the cheaper decoder while a couple of other locos that were further ahead in the list got sound.   

Now I am planning to get the sound upgrade kit once it comes out to get the loco running.  Of course if I do somewhat regret not just buying a sound loco in the first place given that would no doubt have been a cheaper way to have done it, but by the time I ordered there were none left of the loco I needed with sound.  Will learn from my mistake with the 60! 

 

 

The upgrade kit is looking to be around £120 so still saving around £20 on buying the parts separately, plus you get the correct plugs on the speaker etc as standard.

4 minutes ago, Erixtar1992 said:

Im just talking in general after reading countless pages of decoder decoder decoder on here haha.

i dont know why people try shoving a random £10 one in then go on about it not working,  unless like above its just basically in there to test the model out before upgrading ect

 

They cant be turned off on older models where the tails are wired in with the headlights

The issue Eric is that the Zimo decoder that he wants to use isn't cheap but also fails to power the tail lights for some reason, even though the outputs match the ESU. Ironically the cheap Bachmann 36-557 decoder works just fine.

As I said, just get the Lokpilot or a Bachmann if you want, you'll get the functions you want and it will run the loco just fine as its circuitry is designed by ESU. For me it's a no brainer but BBR wants to use Zimo exclusively.

3 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

Can you explain then why a decoder that follows the standard, does not work. Again, the decoder in question works fine in other models that also follow NRMA standards.

 

From what I can see, there is not an option with your retailers to order a chip already programmed. You still have to contact the retailer to have it set up. Thats an additional step needed that really shouldn’t be. Being autistic I can’t deal with phone calls to people/company’s I do not know, so that only leaves email for most shops. Which is what 
 

If your response to any decoder trouble is ‘just buy a lokpilot’ why can’t you just advertise this before hand anyways. Quite frankly it’s not about missing out on a model from my point of view, as I’d have a class 56 either way. I went for yours due to the extra lighting as I was under the impression any decoder with enough functions would work. Not knowing it was only accessible via ESU. Had I known this, I would’ve considered the Hornby version and upgraded / re-wired the lights myself. Like I said I don’t know which I would’ve picked. But the information should’ve been available before purchase. As great as the details are on your model, it was not a deciding factor for me. I view my models from a. Distance when they’re running, and as such you don’t see all the tiny details the majority of the time. You have done an incredible job with the detail however. I chose to use Zimo in all my models as I know exactly how the decoders perform. And I understand exactly how to change all the functions to my liking. Only exception to that rule is sound fitted stock, as that is expected to perform different anyway. Esu decoders are programmed a different way, and perform differently to Zimo. It’s also a case of if any decoder breaks for any reason, I always have Zimo in stock to swap in. I don’t with Esu, and at the end of the day wanting everything to run off one decoder is not a big ask. It’s actually fairly standard advice given to people before they start DCC. 

 

If I could get basic lighting to work I’d be happy, but tail lights are certainly basic lighting. And they don’t want to work. Specific decoders should not be needed for something as simple as tail lights.

 

Other products that require a specific decoder for full functionality state so either in the product description or on the box. That should be the case here too. 

 

The irony here is it does exist, PLUX22 has 21 pins, and it’s just one standard. However as had been covered in other threads, it appears ESU do not like to use it. 
 

at the end of the day. If it was specified prior to purchase that specific decoders were required for full functionality either as a note on the box, or in the product description online. Then there would’ve been no issue here. Customers should not be purchasing a model that follows a standard, only to be told it needs a certain set up decoder after purchase. If that’s the case advertise it before hand. All that was needed was a simple sentence on the box or in the description such as;

 

“while this model follows the NMRA 21mtc standard, we recommend a pre-programmed esu 59629 (or whatever the decoder is) decoder for full functionality. Other decoders may work however may not operate all advertised functions. To obtain the specified decoder please contact your retailer”

If your recommending the decoder anyway if baffles me that this wasn’t on the box and in the product descriptions by default.

I've contacted ESU, lets leave it at that.

5 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

 

No, I've not suggested buying at retail cost at any point. No need to manipulate my words. 

 

Rob. 

I didn't say we buy at retail cost, I said that we would have to buy retail units which cost more from ESU than bulk items. My point being that we are adding a step where we buy decoders and send them on to retailers that can simply buy them themselves cutting out the middle man.

7 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

The Zimo decoder I’m using is a MN340C, with CV’s adjusted to enable AUX7/8/9/10. In other models, F0f/r and AUX 1-10 all work fine. In the 56, only F0f/r and AUX 1/2, and AUX 10 work, nothing else. Dip-switches were tried in both esu, and non-esu formations. With the only difference being F8/AUX8 (AUX11 on ESU) had to be turned in for lights to operate. the fact that some outputs work and some don’t in one model, but they all do in other models, certainly points to the issue being with the locos circuit, I don’t think there’s any other way to see that. If I had nothing above AUX 3 where it’s all logic level I’d point it at the decoder, but the fact AUX 10 works fine, and it’s just AUX 3-7 that won’t. Then it’s down to the model. I’ve even tested with a volt meter that the function outputs on the Zimo chip are activating for AUX 3-7, and they all are. However the model is not activating the appropriate lighting. I also tested 4 different MN340C decoders, all to the same result, so that rules out it being a one off with a dodgy decoder too. All of this I’ve stated before and asked if a specific voltage was required. Which went unanswered. 
 

Not listed on the diagram above, but when set outputs, switch input IN1 operates as F10/AUX10

Again there is nothing none standard in our circuitry, it meets NMRA standards. The simple solution here is to buy the correct decoder as specified and then everyone's time won't be wasted. 

7 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

Other manufacturers have managed to supply pre-programmed non-sound decoders for their products also using ESU chips.

Yes they have, I never said it wasn't possible and we could do it as well at a cost, I have said that given that we do not sell any products direct to customers currently then you need to buy our products through our retailers anyway so there is no difference to the end user. Again you are being difficult for the sake of it.

7 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

Having to contact a retailer for a chip to be programmed specifically is an extra step. Multiple other manufacturers who are aware their models need specific sets ups to work correctly provide these decoders, pre-setup as additional products. Which can be purchased just like any other decoder without the need for the customer to contact the retailer so have that specific setup installed. 

As I said you have to buy our products through the retailer anyway so no additional steps required. You just order a class 56 lokpilot and they deliver.

7 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

If this was advertised clearly in the product description, and in the box of the model. I’d give in to your reasoning. Granted would not be happy but also would leave it at that. If you want people to you a specific decoder, it needs to be advertised prior to purchase. Personally if I’d known about it I would’ve heavily considered my purchase. Especially of the secound 56. Weather i would’ve decided against I don’t know. But it’s information that should’ve been listed in product descriptions and on the box.

That is your prerogative of course however I personally would consider that cutting your nose off to spite your face. Missing out on a model because of the decoder that you have to use makes no sense at all to me. Just buy a lokpilot. 

2 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

I appreciate this might not be well known. But that’s still an ESU decoder, just with Bachmann branding. So still means an esu decoder is required from what has currently been established. 
 

It's what I had laid around, if that's the case then fine. However ESU have stated to us that there is no reason that other decoders shouldn't work.

2 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

It is not unreasonable for a customer to assume that a model that follows a standard, has already been tested with multiple different brands also following that standard. If you have not tested this with non-ESU decoders, you can not be 100% sure that your model follows the standard accordingly. 
 

It does follow a standard (see below, bottom right is our connections), however it is also not unreasonable to use the recommended decoder suggested by the manufacturer of the product, known to work without issue. Maybe these diagrams might help you get things going (not sure what Zimo decoder you are using but should be standard right?) The dip switches should all be set to the ON position to connect the reds to AUX 5 and 6 respectively. 

2 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

If you can buy the sound decoders at a bulk rate then why can’t you for the standard ones? You’re already committed to a second run so if there’s any sat around they can just be saved for that.

 

Again it works differently, the factory have a contract with ESU and are supplied direct for installation at source. Aftermarket products for consumer sales are handled differently by ESU and have to be procured as retail packs.

2 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

If your going to recommend a specific set up, it’s down to you to make sure it’s obtainable with no extra steps compared to a normal decoder.

They are obtainable through our retailers with no extra steps. However its not a 'normal' lighting configuration (which would be your basic white fronts red rears on directional) so you cannot expect to buy the decoders as a 'normal decoder'

3 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

Jumping back in here, I can see the points being raised by BBR as valid, tinged with frustration rather than confrontational. 

 

I have to say, despite assurances to the contrary, this does appear to be a bit of an off load to the retailer. 

 

Rob

 

 

So you would have us, as Cavalex, buy retail boxed decoders from ESU pre-blown at that extra cost and then send them to our retailers to sell on, passing that cost onto consumers?

How is that any different to the retailers buying the decoders direct (more cheaply) and blowing them with whatever file they see fit when necessary? It also prevents a stock of pre blown decoders sitting on their shelves as they could also sell them blank or with the 56 file on depending on who is buying them.

3 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

Is the decoder used here 36-557A? And if not what is the product code of it.

It's a 36-557  21MTC 1A decoder

3 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

No one is expecting you to test every single decoder available, however you should test a selection of the bigger brands available that customers are likely to use. E.G. esu, Zimo, Dapol, and other large brands with a big uk Presence. If you’re going to state your model uses a standard it should be tested with multiple different products from different manufacturers also using the same standard.

Again, no we don't have to, and shouldn't be expected to either. We are not electronics experts but ESU are and they have designed the circuit to the industry standard and as such have stated to us that it will work with any 21 pin decoder that uses that standard, we have no reason to doubt that statement. They have also stated that they recommend the ESU lokpilot decoder and we have passed that on to our customers. Aside from maybe having decoders in stock at home there is no reason that if buying a decoder especially for the loco that you wouldn't buy a pre-programmed ESU lokpilot as that works best with the model.

3 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

All I’m trying to establish is why certain decoders don’t work when they do in other models. and if specific decoders are required or even recommended, why are people not informed before they buy the model. If it comes across as confrontational or aggressive,  that’s not the intention. It does not help having to ask the same question more than once however. Like I have said, I just want lights to work with Zimo. Every other model I’ve tried works fine. That still doesn’t explain why I was informed differently at model rail Scotland, where I was as polite as I could’ve been simply explaining my problem I was having.

I don't know why you are having issues, as I said it worked for me just 30 mins ago with a basic Bachmann decoder. I wasn't there when you called to us at MRS as I was indisposed last weekend but as extensive testing with other decoders has not been conducted our answer to any issues will always be to use the recommended hardware.

1 hour ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

If that is the case, then why during Model Rail Scotland was I informed by your own team that esu is required to access all function outputs. Before I’d even finished fully explaining the issue I was having. It either is, or it isn’t. Even if it’s just recommended, why isn’t it advertised prior to purchase of the model. 
 

as for other decoders, as far as I’m aware only esu and Zimo make decoders that can access upto AUX10. And your model will only work properly work with one. As I’ve documented decently well on this thread, the decoder itself is confirmed to be working in other models and can operate F0f/r, Aux1, Aux2 & Aux10 without issue. However your model won’t respond when the decoder try’s to activate Aux3, Aux4, Aux5, Aux6, or Aux7, despite these working fine in other models.

 

Its all well and good saying other decoders can be programmed to work just like an esu chip, however if there isn’t another decoder that can access all the functions then that point is completely irrelevant.

 

It makes no sense for a manufacturer to recommend a specific decoder set up, but only have this set up available either by special request to a retailer or to have to program it yourself. You’ve purchased and blown sound decoders for sound fitted models, you could do the same with standard DCC ones too. You’ve already gone out of the way to provide the EM and P4 wheels sets which are a much more involved process. Expecting your retailers to provide pre-setup decoders just because they already have the basics for it is not ok. Why should they have to go to the extra hassle of blowing decoders for your model when you don’t even provide them yourself.

 

All your function mapping is doing is reducing the amount of steps needed by the user to get the same result of prototypical lighting. All the lights are on different outputs and as such, can be activated in any way the user wishes (provided their decoder can operate all the functions). Without mapping, if a user wants depot lights, they can turn all the lights off except the two tail light outputs. If they want tail lights on when moving, then that can pick which end they are needed and just turn on them plus the headlights and markers etc. Dapol locos have worked like this for a little while now and can access pretty much all lighting combinations too (I believe only the cab light is determined by a switch inside the model) yes your pre-mapped decoder makes this a simpler process, but the same result is possible without any mapping.

 

What decoder were you using and how were the dip-switches set, as I was only able to get the dip-switches to act as a manual override for either the functions being activated by the decoder, or completely off. 
 

there is not a decoder straight out of the box that operates all functions. Even the recommended esu chip would not activate certain functions until programmed. Having to specially request decoders from a retailer is not ‘out of the box’ either.

 

many people will have tried to get other decoders to work as they already have these decoders around, and if they have enough functions then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t work and yet they still don’t. Why is it seen as a bad thing for others to want different decoders to work when you don’t even provide one set for your model.
 

at the end of the day, you’ve brought a model to the market which requires a specific pre-programmed decoder. However you have not provided this decoder yourselves, and are instead expecting your retailers to fill in the gap instead. If you can not provide the decoders yourself like you have for the P4 and EM Gauge wheel sets, then you can not expect your customers to go out of their way to obtain them either. 

With all due respect, you are being confrontational for the sake of it. Whilst in order for the functions to have good QOL we recommend a pre-programmed ESU Lokpilot, but you can certainly access them via other decoders. However the circuit board and project was designed by ESU and we have recommended that decoder because we know 100% how it will behave. We have no obligation to test every decoder combination on the market and cannot be expected to so, if you choose to go against the recommendation then that is a personal choice along with any issues that you have in implementing that choice. The circuit board as I have said is not wired in any kind of strange way, it is to standard 21 pin protocols.

In order to satisfy these query's (This statement in particular 'there is not a decoder straight out of the box that operates all functions. Even the recommended esu chip would not activate certain functions until programmed. Having to specially request decoders from a retailer is not ‘out of the box’ either.') I have just been out and tested a class 56 with a Bachmann 4 function 21pin (21MTC) EZ Command decoder, pretty standard fare. Straight out of the box it controlled all of the lighting functions no problem. Set the dip switches to none ESU configuration and I got:

F0 Directional Headlight

F1 #1 end marker lights

F2 #2 end marker lights

F5 #1 Fan

F6 #2 Fan

F7 #1 end tail lights

F8 #2 end tail lights

All working fine straight out of the box. I admit I didn't test the cab lights as I forgot about them in all fairness, my bad. Possibly F3 & F4 but didn't check.

If that decoder can do it then I don't see why other more high end decoders can't.

As for supplying the decoders to retailers, again I'm sorry but you do not understand the business. For us to procure decoders for factory fitted sound is completely different to supplying aftermarket decoders. The purchasing requirements for ESU differs considerably with regard to factory bulk sales verses boxed retail units. It makes far more sense for the retailers who deal with these on a daily basis to provide the decoders, you are of the assumption that we are simply wiping our hands of the issue and hoping that the retailers will pick up the slack. This is not the case. We have a small retailer network which are part of the Cavalex support structure and as such are approached and willing to take on the blowing and supply of the decoders (if they have the means) where necessary. Us procuring decoders and supplying them to retailers is just an extra step in the process that isn't required.

3 hours ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

If ESU decoders are required for full functionality (which they evidently are), they why is this not stated clearly to a customer before the model is purchased. Either in the description or on the box, ideally both. Not everyone is going to be on RMweb, however everyone should be entitled to this information prior to the purchase of the model.

An ESU Lokpilot is preferred if you want to take advantage of our pre programmed lighting control. You could do a similar setup with any programmable decoder given the knowledge of how to program them, however our expertise is with ESU Lokprogrammer and ESU themselves provided the sound and none sound projects for this loco. We can do no more than recommend the lokpilot with our file installed, the 21 pin protocol has been followed to ensure general DCC compatibility and that is as far as it needs to go. The Lokpilot and Loksound decoders are both recommended in the manual for each loco. If not using a pre programmed decoder then any 21 pin decoder, provided the dip switches are set correctly, should work the lights in a basic fashion including tail lights. The decoder to circuit board connections are standard, we haven't gone against what is expected for a 21 pin decoder setup.

3 hours ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

You provided P4 and EM Gauge wheel sets as an extra product available through retailers, how is a pre-blown decoder any different to that?

It's completely different. We have had to manufacture the P4 and EM wheelsets specifically for the locomotive at our factory. Therefore we have to supply the retailers with these, they can't get them from anywhere else. Lokpilot decoders are standard equipment made by ESU and in stock at most retailers. We have made the lokpilot file available to all free of charge and it makes no sense for us to purchase decoders and send them out to retailers when they already have access to these without our involvement in the procurement process.

3 hours ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

The tail lights are set up on separate functions anyway. Having one function button to operate both ends is no different to having both function buttons pressed together on a handset.

That's not how they work though when set up correctly. Pressing the single function deactivates the front lights and actives the reds on both ends. It also activated the red lights as directional when in light engine mode with the white lights. It's not the same as having all lights simply on their own function buttons.

3 hours ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

 

What do the dip-switches in the model actually change, and what is the basic lighting that can be expected from a fairly standard 6 function chip (F0f/r and AUX 1-4). I spent two evenings trying to get tail lights working on both Zimo and Dapol chips and had no luck in virtually every dip-switch configuration. I would certainly classify taillights under ‘basic lighting’.

We have had the head and tail lights working just fine with a basic decoder so don't see why they can't be made to work with those. However I will reiterate, why go through the hassle of trying to reprogram none recommended decoders for the sake of it when you can just use the recommended one straight out of the box either pre-programmed or blown yourself with the file for ESU?

3 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

 

I'm surprised that you've released this loco which clearly needs a bespoke decoder without ensuring that such a bespoke decoder is readily available to the customer, without a need for the customer to seemingly make their own arrangements to source and specify accordingly. 

 

Candidly, if other manufactuers can do it with their locos ( and at a very reasonable cost to the customer) why haven't you put such an arrangement in place for those purchasing your models, in this case, specifically the Class 56.  

 

With all the time and energy put into the development of this model, is it not only right and proper that every customer purchasing these models should be able to explore all the functionality that the model is capable of by having a bespoke decoder readily available to purchase ? 

 

Rob. 

We have. The file is readily available to download via the ESU website and loksound V5s are available to purchase via our retailers who are able to blow the decoders with the appropriate files. 

We do not sell our products directly and therefore anything needed is available through our retailers. As we don't sell direct we also do not stock decoders. We have provided the necessary files via the ESU website for anyone to either purchase a pre blown decoder from a retailer or service such as Road and Rails or for those with the necessary equipment purchase blank decoders and re-blow them themselves. It's not difficult to get hold of the right decoder.

The only 'issue' I see is that some people are trying to get full functionality from none ESU decoders. 

7 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

Many thanks, all. 

 

Understood. Somewhat surprised at this decoder issue but grateful for the clarity provided by other members. 

 

Rob

What surprised you? The model has been made to incorporate prototype independent control of all of the lighting functions as per the real loco. It simply cannot be done with a basic decoder set up (the lights have to be programmed In such as way as to override the standard lighting etc for instance when setting it to stabling mode with reds at each end. You can set the dip switches to 'basic mode' if you like but obviously you won't get the full functionality of the lighting.