Jenny Emily

I managed to fit the Next18 decoder in this with only a tiny amount of non-structural body internally needs removing - about 2mm square. The powerbank fits perfectly in the opposite side tank.

It would have been rude not to given how almost perfect the fit of the entire installation was. The decoder is using the factory fitted speaker that all the Victories come with. 
 

edit: I forgot to add that the Rapido N gauge class 28 also just fits the bluetooth decoder, though I have a long list of those it won’t fit having spent the day testing. 
 

It *might* fit the Dapol Manor, D class and GWR Mogul if you remove the powerbank and speaker plugs from the board, but I wasn’t prepared to try this. 

I have four of the TXS decoders, and once I got my head around the way that the App works I’ve had no issues. 
 

my experiences of uploading new soundfiles was mostly all right, except one decoder which kept ending up with the App reporting no soundfile present. It did this over and over again, and what appeared to break this cycle for me was at the point the profile was uploaded and it was asking for the loco to be removed from the track to power cycle the decoder, I also closed the App then reopened it. Not saying this is a fix, but it appeared to work for me. 
 

Whilst I did test run a loco using a Gaugemaster model D controller without any issue, I would strongly advise anyone to adhere to Hornby’s current advice to not do so until further tests are undertaken - having a cavalier “I’ll do it until I am specifically notified not to” seems rather foolish. 

I take a comprehensive look at the system: 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pvIrSxo3Izc&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

I tried one on 12V DC from a Gaugemaster model D during the course of filming my video. It worked fine with full access to sounds. 
 

Overall, I’m very impressed. There are a few niggles, but nothing that can’t be overcome. The sound suites are far better than the TTS decoders were. I was very impressed with the ones I’ve tried (A1, 4F, 31, 56) and am already planning the powering of my O gauge garden railway via bluetooth decoders and the Hornby 15V supply. 

I’m told that the Monday Club wagon is due at Rails sometime next week. 
 

None of the Youtubers I know admit to being sent any. I haven’t been sent any (and I have asked if I can get hold of one). I only have 19.5k subscribers, so I’m probably not influential. 
 

Soundtraxx sent me their Blunami decoder, which admittedly is available to buy in the US. They were quite keen for people to be aware of their product. 

I just put out a video detailing the Soundtraxx Blunami system, which the forthcoming Hornby system sounds similar to: 

My thoughts are that this system is definitely a game changer. It makes DCC effortlessly easy, as well as opening possibilities for lots of new things like using all the functions of the decoder on a DC layout, powering the loco from a battery (I’m told this is something realistically best for larger scales due to how big the batteries would be). 
 

This Soundtraxx Blunami contains around 90 steam loco sound profiles with total customising options. Bizarrely for a US orientated sound decoder, one of these is for a Gresley A4 Pacific. A UK orientated version is planned in the future. 

Just finished filming both of mine today - they arrived over a week ago, but I’ve been laid low with flu. 
 

they look and feel a quality model. Robust and heavy, there was only very minor bowing of the running plates when compared to a steel ruler; not enough to want to send them back. 
 

my only issue is that both are stuttering performers on DCC. I’ve adjusted the wiper pickups, but it made no difference. Has anyone else experienced stuttering? It has afflicted my GCR green and BR early black ones. Looking at the underside, they only pickup off the six driving wheels which is quite a short wheelbase. 
 

I paid for my two today. I’m really looking forward to them. I ordered a BR early crest, and couldn’t resist the GCR version. 
 

2 hours ago, RedgateModels said:

@Phil Parker is your button ready?

Both layouts I’m bringing are loaded and in the hastily borrowed van. I’m aiming to be there for 8am then a mad dash to set up two layouts. 
 

4 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

@Jenny Emily did't you get a look at this locomotive in motion at one point? If so, can you throw any light on this discussion?

The sample I was loaned is the same sample seen in KR Models’ video. It is also the same model seen in photos taken by various magazines as I believe they all took it in turns to borrow it to take photos at Warley. Certainly I saw people from Peco walking to and from their stand with it.  
 

I personally had to reassemble it when I received it as it had been damaged in transit to me. My recollection was that the motion connected to the axle did move and was fascinating to watch, but that the plastic rods didn’t appear to move. However, the big pinch of salt was that as a damaged pre production EP it may or may not represent the way the model is planned to be when released; only an employee of KR Models could enlighten us further. 
 

4 hours ago, DavidH said:

 

You're playing with fire 😁

Some special in joke you aren’t sharing with the group? 

5 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

The Z was an interesting loco, of course, but it seldom went far beyond station or yard limits. The 4-4-0s were visible over many miles of the Southern, from Ramsgate to Reading and more. Which is likely to sell better? 

Given the recent successes of quirky oddball prototypes in model form, I’d wager the Z would, to be honest. 

The TMC sale has some items at great prices. I picked up the Bachmann Brighton Atlantic for under £120 post free. They had more than ten in stock when I looked. 
 

Also I see their Heljan class 25 as two tone green survivor 25102 is also under £120. Again, more than ten in stock when I looked. 

Sounds like the loco magnet causing it. 
 

As a child I had a Hornby Dublo 3 rail class 28 that would change electric points as it passed in this way. 

The sample of the single pack version as commissioned by my Youtube channel and available via Rails has arrived:

As predictions:

New tooled D49

New tooled J83

Hornby Dublo version of the 8F in one or more guises of 48158, 48109, 48073 and 48094 (the original HD 8Fs)

King Charles III special version of GWR King

Possibly some historic Royal Train carriages modelled on some of those preserved at the NRM

More announcements of Railroad plus models of the class 31s at a favourable prices to compete with the Accurascale models.
Simplified tooling for the class 50 in the Railroad plus range to try and take sales from the Accurascale model.  
Maybe a retooled class 06 shunter to high standards

3 minutes ago, VIA185 said:

In days gone by, the catalogue and new release images used to be supplied to the railway press on a CD. We'd keep news pages open until the 11th hour on press day. The CD would turn up in the post and then we'd find the images saved in a format we couldn't open! Those days, there were nearly tears! (CJL)

When I worked as a researcher for the Journalist Chris Yates I kept a copy of Jasc PSP on my computer because its one good point was it could open more image formats than you could shake a stick at and then save them in a more conventional format. 
 

Those were the days images came in the post on Zip100 disks. One perk of the office was I got to keep the disks after the images were taken off and Zip disks weren’t cheap at the time. 

Rails have posted that production is complete and the models are waiting for their ride. 
 

estimated arrival Feb/March

8 hours ago, GWR-fan said:

Jenny,

             no personal disrespect intended,  however,  if the fixes are so simple then how did so many items pass quality control in the first place?  The Fell was initially listed at a "low" pricepoint when compared to other similar sized models,  however,  in attracting "crowd funding" customers it seems that quality (and accuracy) in the end product was overlooked.  

No idea. 
 

I don’t work for KR Models. The limit of my involvement is that I have done some repair work on some of the returned models and drove their van to and from a number of exhibitions as they didn’t have anyone who could drive a hire van on those occasions. 

I have put together a video detailing three of the most common issues found with models, and how to fix them.

These issues are: 

Poorly adjusted pickups

Loose brake rigging

Axles out of gauge/prone to working loose on axles

Also, not in the video, but side rods jamming can most often be fixed by checking that they aren’t hitting the cranks and gently bending them out if they do. 
 

Buzzing speakers could be something as simple as the magnet has attracted a screw or other small metal object and ‘stuck’ it to the face of the speaker - this will cause poor sound reproduction and will be fixed by removal of the offending item. 

Train-o-matic do them. Available in the UK from www.tramfabriek.co.uk and far better quality.