Jenny Emily

I’ve been scrutinising the bodies between Bachmann and Hornby. The newer Bachmann is definitely derived from the older tooling, but the detail is certainly crisper on newer releases. There are minor details on the inside for the body fixings to the chassis. Side by side, yes there are differences, but I had to put them side by side and look hard to pick them out. The Hornby model is better, but often at twice the price of the Bachmann one. Many of the problems with the older split chassis model have definitely been resolved with the new chassis. For the price point these models can be had for, I don’t see a problem with them. To be honest, the differences are not enough to discount these newer DCC ready Bachmann versions. From top to bottom: new Bachmann, super detail Hornby, and old split chassis Bachmann.

I tend to regard the Hornby A4s that postdate the awful tender drive models as acceptable models, and those before to avoid. Be aware that at least some of the later Railroad models appear to be the older tooling, and whilst will be loco drive, still retain the tender chassis that was designed to take the tender drive and has a pivoting final axle arrangement. Earlier ‘super detail’ models have the DCC socket in the loco with later ones having this socket moved to the tender. I’m not aware of the body mouldings changing in this period of tinkering with the chassis. All of these super detail models have finer fluted connecting rods and detailed valve gear, whilst the pre DCC ready models appear to have cruder valve gear of a pressed flat metal component type. Essentially if it is DCC ready and not railroad, it’s an acceptable model. Be warned that there is one model that seems to straddle the change - Quicksilver in BR green - that is the later model but fitted with cruder earlier pressed metal style valve gear. Clarke Railworks currently have lots of A4s on sale from £100 and up which might include an acceptable wartime black type. They also have the latest Bachmann model which I also find quite good - retooled with full new chassis and DCC ready. Edit: they did have one in wartime black of the new tooled type but unfortunately it shows as sold now.

Huh. You’re right. In that case there must be a second pre production sample I wasn’t aware of.

That will be the same model I now have for filming and that I posted a picture of. As far as I am aware they only have the one decorated pre production model. It just shows how much the lighting affects the way colours look.

The model’s upper part looks more of an off white in person. I film under very bright LED lighting.

Pre production model on loan for review

There were no etched numberplates with the review model. I have tested the HM7000 decoder and it will not fit unless the backhead in the cab is modified.

Thanks! Not tested as yet but will be on my list to try tomorrow - I will report back.

The full video review of the new 15xx:

The new 15xx is a weighty little beast. It handled 15 MkI coaches on the mild gradients of my layout with ease. I have a full video on the model coming out in the next 24hrs.

Post moved from where I managed to post in the wrong topic. Removing the PB and speaker socket off the Next18 version makes them fit in all the Dapol models that feature the socket on a daughter board in the smokebox. The sockets just break off cleanly using a pair of pliers to rock them off. The decoder then uses the speaker connection via the Next18 socket and for ease I solder it to the speaker connections in the tender in the smallest of the rectangular enclosures which is a perfect fit. All three locos I tried - Mogul, Manor and D class - were an easy fit with the sockets off. These locos have no real need for the Powerbank anyway. the Manor does need a groove cutting in the flange on the back of the smokebox door to make room for the decoder end. The D class does not need this, and the Mogul can get away without it but removing a small amount of plastic improves the fit.

Edit: somehow I managed to post in the wrong topic

The Next18 decoder can be made to fit in Dapol locos that have the DCC socket on a pull out daughter board in the smokebox. The powerpack and speaker socket must be removed and it is still a tight fit requiring a very firm push to reseat the daughter board as the decoder is effectively wedged in the barrel. The speaker has to go in the tender for best sound. There is a bigger recess in there. The decoder can still be removed if needed to - it requires careful gripping with pliers and pulling, taking care not to damage the bluetooth aerial.

Wow. It seems it is all change at Hornby.

I tried the A5 and the next18 TXS decoder won’t fit. I have not tried the G5. The only oo model I was able to easily fit the next18 decoder in was the Planet Industrials Victory class.

Very true. When my Father used plans of an particular traction engine to build one in miniature, he discovered that if the water pump crank were made as per the plans it would strike the top of the boiler. I’m sure that builders made many minor tweaks as they went along which aren’t necessarily fully reflected by the plans.

Just been filming this. A really beautiful wagon:

Yes. Filming at the moment to include the van and the Loriet.

Very impressed!

The livery renders. KR shared these with me a couple of months ago so I queried yesterday if they were okay to finally share.

I always look for older tins of Humbrol enamels - at the back of display racks in smaller model shops I sometimes find older tins. I’ve also looked out for other people’s old castoff tins for pennies at shows where a trader is trying to shift the dregs of collections they have bought. The ones from the 1980s last forever and are of excellent quality (marked as ‘Humbrol Enamel’ in a plain black font on a white background) or the 1990s ones (same font but as ‘Humbrol Color’) are not too bad. The later tins are very inconsistent with mostly needing thinning before use, or occasionally lacking much pigment. I generally avoid these.

I have R30073 which is from the same slew of releases and it has the 21 pin interface. I have a TXS decoder in mine and it is an easy fit.

It works for me. I despise later versions of Windows for the smug arrogance that they constantly download updates which trash my settings and software even when told not to. For my writing work I have been using Word97 since it was released and have no intention to change. It does what I want without bloat and that’s the way I like it. The only new computer I have also hates the Sprog and won’t use it. I only have this computer for my video editing work as well as handling live streams. If the Sprog won’t work with my hardware, then tough, it doesn’t get used. It doesn’t bother me enough to waste time and money on it.

The problem I have is drivers related. The computer it is on is running XP and for some reason the drivers and the computer don’t get on.

I have a Sprog II but couldn’t get it to work with my computer.