delticman

I have fitted one to a Bachmann 8-pin Class 20 and because of the limited space available I used a sugar-cube speaker in the cab. It sounds and performs great but because of the incompatability of the newer TTS decoders with certain controllers the loco will only respond when placed one way round on the track, a problem discussed elsewhere on this forum and currently being investigated by Hornby who are developing a firmware fix for the affected decoders. Geoff.

Hello Rob, Is the dummy car the one with the 1st Class accomodation (i.e. not the one with the guards van) ? If so this would have been a driving trailer composite vehicle and as such would not have an engine mounted underneath, so no exhaust stacks. Hope this helps, Geoff

Thank you for all your observations guys, I did speak with the Hornby technical department and they are certainly aware of the problem and are looking into a firmware fix on these problem decoders. The problem for me, and I suspect many others, is that installing the decoders in other locos has now voided any warranty. I am waiting for them to get back to me at the moment but as far as I see it these problem TTS decoders have been retailed to the public when in fact they are simply not "fit for purpose" with or without warranty. Geoff

Thank you for your replies Izzy and RAFHAAA96, well my Class 31 is now running and sounding great, just to recap, this is a detailed Lima body on a super-detail Hornby chassis that I got cheap as the ends had distorted due to mazak rot, with a Hattons 4-function decoder powering the motor and domino headcode lights and a Hornby TTS decoder providing the sounds. The only drawback is that if I were to turn the engine to face the other way on the track the sounds do not work as the TTS decoder does not respond. I was wondering if I were to invest in something like a Sprog and programm the decoder from that, would it then respond to my Multimaus correctly? Izzy I totally agree that one should not have to fork out £100 plus for a sound decoder these days, Hornby are to be applauded for bringing out this budget range but these compatability issues need to be addressed. I will certainly keep persevering with them. RAFHAAA96 yes you can change CVs on each decoder, I just unplug the decoder that I dont want to alter while doing so. Its been a lot of hard work but well worth it I feel,now I have to start work on my class 20s, yum yum. Geoff

Just an update on progress so far. I had the firmware update installed into my Multimice (thank you so much Gaugemaster) and I was able to program both the Class 31 and the Class 20 but here`s the rub. Izzy, I know you warned me about the jerky running with the TTS decoder installed into the super-detailed Hornby Class 31 but I thought that would be because of the Hornby PCB which I was removing, so I made up my own circuit board but the running was still erratic. It calmed down a little when I changed motor parameters but not to my satisfaction. So Izzy I tried your piggy-backing idea by installing a second decoder socket on the circuit board that was only connected to the pick-ups for the TTS sound and fitted a Bachmann 3 function decoder for the motor but no matter how much I altered CVs the loco was moving off before even the brakes released. In exasperation I replaced the Bachmann decoder with a basic Hattons 4 function decoder and this works fine with the added bonus of being able to have the front domino headcodes constantly lit even when in reverse for shunting! So, whats the problem ? Well when I turned the engine to face the other way the motor decoder works fine but the TTS decoder is unresponsive. The plot thickens, when I fitted the TTS Class 20 decoder to my 8-pin Bachmann Class 20 the loco moves off smoothly with the sound well synchronised, however when I reverse the controller dial the loco still moves in the original direction. Also if I turn the loco on the track to face the other way the TTS decoder is unresponsive. What is going on with these decoders? If I had hair I would be tearing it out by now. Geoff

Hello Michael, I made up a few of the Peco rail built buffer stops and replaced the wooden beam with SMP bullhead rail sections which I think improves the look Geoff

Thanks for the reply Izzy, the reason I am going down the TTS route is because a while back I put a TTS Class 40 decoder into a Bachmann Class 40 and it worked really well so I was encouraged to try other locos. I think the mainstream sound decoders are just too expensive and I applaud Hornby for taking the initiative with budget decoders albeit with some compatability issues. Ah well, if it doesn`t work I will split the sound decoder from the loco and sell them seperately on, well we all know where. Geoff

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Hornby TTS Class 31 after being impressed with the sound from watching online videos of it, and it programmed fine using my Multimaus. On the strength of that sound quality, last week I bought the Hornby TTS Class 20 with a view to using the decoder in a Bachmann 20 and it would not programm at all. It was totally unresponsive so I returned it and got a replacement which has turned out to be just as unresponsive. I thought perhaps the Multimaus software needed an update but then why would it work fine with the Class 31? Can anyone please enlighten me? Regards, Geoff

I use double-sided tape on my buildings, they are built from 1.5mm mounting card and clad in embossed styrene brick sheet. This is a very clean and easy method that has stood the test of time. A little solvent is used to seal the corner joins. Geoff.

I was worried about you, going cold turkey with suffering withdrawal symptoms from your inspirational updates. I can only echo the previous sentiment that you have been missed. Geoff.

That would be major work and I am just too lazy these days! Paragon Kits used to do a BMC EA based minibus but even if you could source one it would be an expensive way to get a cab front! Geoff

Yes but in Royal Mail Wales livery which obviously has limited appeal and would mean making new transfers for the sides, tempted to get a couple though as they look good. I dont understand why you cant buy Royal Mail cyphers from that period as transfers anymore is it something to do with licensing or copyright? The last commercially available transfers I have left are from about 1980 from Mabex but 7mm scale

Thanks BernardTPM thats a lovely clear photo of an EA in Royal Mail livery of that time, usually only seen in the distance or peeping out from other vehicles. I dont think I could successfully scratch build one and I dont think any kits exist so PLEEEEEASE Oxford Diecast? Regards, Geoff

Hello All, I have been frustrated for years by the lack of suitable Royal Mail vans to park outside the parcels loading bay at Dearnefield, the station on my model railway set around 1980 South Yorkshire/ West Yorkshire borders. Ancient Matchbox Dodge Commandos filled in the gap until recently when Hattons were selling Base Toys box vans so cheaply that I took the plunge to make a pair of Leyland Terriers which could be seen buzzing around major stations in the area at that time. The chassis and boxes were suitably shortened and new cabs from Road Transport Images fitted as the Base Toys cabs were of the earlier design. Resprayed and fitted with smaller wheels and home made transfers plus a few details like windscreen wipers and mirrors I think they certainly look the part. I just made up Sheffield based registration plates for the vehicles but I know for certain someone will tell me they belong to a Mk2 Ford Escort and Morris Marina so I will happily change them if anyone can provide the correct plates. And here they are outside Dearnefield station:- Geoff

There is also Norman Wisenden in Oldham, they do mail order with a very friendly and efficient service too. http://www.normanwisenden.co.uk/sections.asp?id=63 Regards, Geoff

Hello Al, I have said it before but will say it again, your modelmaking is very organic and fluid so that everything you build appears to have been crafted from available raw materials which is exactly how the real thing was built. The buildings appear to have grown out of the landscape so the whole scene becomes very believable and convincing, truly excellent work. The cottages are looking great and you have the colouring of the stone spot on, there is just one thing that I feel I must point out and that is the driver in the Class 108 DMU looks like he is standing up, he needs a bit more cutting off his lower body to appear seated, although that would involve removing the body of the DMU and we know thats a pain! When I was a child we had regular jaunts into the Peak District on summer weekends, I remember one walk being rained off and we all ran down to the platform shelter at Grindleford to await the next train to Sheffield. Inside the waiting room the porter had lit a welcoming fire and I remember watching the steam rise from everybodys sopping wet clothing as we basked in the warmth occasionally rubbing the steamed up windows to peer out. Sorry got all dreamy and nostalgic there, anyway brilliant work mate. Regards, Geoff

I use the Hornby ones but have cut off those roof vents, I can conveniently ignore the chassis inaccuracies when a rake can be had at bargain prices, but then I am a tight Yorkshireman! Geoff

45 013 was embelished with white stripe at cant rail height and white grille surrounds, I took this photo on 21st November 1984 as she approached Manchester Victoria Geoff

I have recently finished re-spraying some models in this new livery and have posted photos in the "Modifying and Detailing RTR Models" section of "Skills & Knowledge" as I felt it would be inappropriate to post them here. Geoff.

I am not too keen on the XC style yellow warning panel on the HST power cars but even more annoying is how the gloss green is carried up and over the orange cantrail line at the cab front edges (see my photo earlier), the class 57 doesn`t have this feature. There is no consistency in the livery application. Geoff

Here is one I took this morning at Padd.

I have always used Peco rail built buffer stops which I think are acceptable once weathered up, they are cheap and easily available. I always cut off the lamps and the buffer blocks at each end of the beam to give a flat buffer beam and sometimes replace it altogether with short lengths of SMP bullhead rail as on this one. Geoff.

"Trouble is with house fronts there is a lot of nothingness" Hello Clive, you could fill that space by putting in the street lamps the design of which could help identify the location as Sheffield, even gas lamps could be used, and dont forget telephone poles and wires strung across the street. You could have a lit sign sticking out of the front of one house as possibly the local chippy! Geoff.

Absolutely! I can see myself, back in the day with trusty Pentax in hand, explaining to that Ticket Inspector that I wasnt intending to travel on that DMU but just going to the platform end to photograph those lovely semaphores! Geoff

Hello Peter, That fan is not stuck to the speaker is it? Because that would distort the sound as the speaker cone is trying to move up and down. Might be better to stick the fan to the underside of the grille and ensure it doesnt foul the speaker. Geoff.