Guardian

Good Morning, Am I correct observing that the spokes of the revised wheels are made of plastics? This is a bit unusual for Bachmann as they seem to have switched to fine metal spokes on nearly each model in the recent ten years. Best, Mark

I did notice that later ... meanwhile, "Hardwicke" is in my shed ... Cheers, Mark

Hi All as an Improved Precedent class arrived here last week - on the test runs, I noticed a poor electric pickup. My first thought was "stay-alive", the second, "change the wheelset with the traction tire". But after a few investigations, I realised that the complete loco section did not contribute to the electric pickup of the model, i.e. the model was relying on the tender pickups only. After having disassembled the loco body from the loco chassis, I found that the electical connection from chassis to loco (and through that and the tender plug-in to the decoder) was mechanically interrupted: one of the small electrical connectors did not have contact to the contact in the loco body. bent it a little up, tested successfully and re-assembled the whole model, it proved to be a good runner with sufficient electrical pickup. pickups of the loco chassis, connecting to the loco body by the two small bent hooks contacts in the loco body, instead of soldering the wires directly. However, I additionally mounted a 1 mF stay-alive. So, if you are considering to change the wheelset with the traction tires due to bad electrical pickup, please chick first if the loco wheelsets are properly connected and contribute to the electrical pickup of the model at all. Btw, from a mechanical point of view, Bachmann should have used also the leading axle as electrical pickup (which they did not for whatever purpose). This is the wheelset with the most weight above it and being spring-loaded, thus, the potentially safest electrical pickup of the model. happy monday, Mark

Hi All my Hardwicke arrived last week. On the test runs, I noticed a poor electric pickup. My first thought was "stay-alive" and "change the wheelset with the traction tire". But after a few investigations, I realised that the complete loco did not contribute to the electric pickup, i.e. the model was relying on the tender pickups only. After having disassembled the loco body from the loco chassis, I found that the electical connection from chassis to loco (and through that and the tender plug-in to the decoder) was mechanically interrupted: one of the small electrical connectors did not have contact to the contact in the loco body. bent it a little up, tested successfully and re-assembled the whole model, it proved to be a good runner with sufficient electrical pickup. pickups of the loco chassis, connecting to the loco body by the two small bent hooks contacts in the loco body, instead of soldering the wires directly. However, I additionally mounted a 1 mF stay-alive. So, if you are considering to change the wheelset with the traction tires due to bad electrical pickup, please chick first if the loco wheelsets are properly connected and contribute to the electrical pickup of the model at all. Btw, from a mechanical point of view, Bachmann should have used also the leading axle as electrical pickup (which they did not for whatever purpose). This is the wheelset with the most weight above it and being spring-loaded, thus, the potentially safest electrical pickup of the model. Btw, pretty cool thing: L & NWR no. 790 "Hardwicke", Improved Precedent class, in the autumn sun. Locomotion/Bachmann ba 35-160NRM happy monday, Mark

Hi, I had a very similar issue earlier this year with my GWR 28XX (Hornby R2916), which is from the same production period as your R2917 should be: The worm gear was broken. Replaced it with spare part X6201. Now, it runs perfectly again. Best, Mark

Hi, Gûtzold adopted the Symoba close coupling links for awhile,since approx. 2015 they are available under Symoba again. They are small and reliable little things which can be obtained either directly (www.symoba-schniering.de) or through various (UK??) retailers. The close coupler motion links are really good, in particular for short 4- (or 6-) wheeled coaches and wagons. Best, Mark

Yes. Standard to all Roco, Fleischmann, Märklin, Trix, Liliput and Brawa (and REE, LS Models, ACME, Rivarossi, Josef, Electroten and whatsoever) 4- and 6-wheel Passenger coaches as of the late Eighties. Their close coupling mechanically works properly without any problems - down to radius 358 mm. Even short-wheelbased 4-wheelers. Absolutely standard over here since ages. That's why I did not understand why this is missing, also at the Hornby generic 4-wheelers.

Hi All As I received my GWR Genesis coaches last week, and we had a few rays of light last week, I may show some pictures of these beautifully made coaches. 4-wheeled GWR Brake Third. Hatton's H4-46Pack-101L-A. 4-wheeled GWR Third. Hatton's H4-46Pack-101L-B. 6-wheeled GWR Composite (1st/2nd/3rd). Hatton's H4-46Pack-101L-C. 6-wheeled GWR Brake Third. Hatton's H4-46Pack-101L-D. 4-wheeled GWR Third. Hatton's H4-4T-101AL. 6-wheeled GWR Second. Hatton's H4-6S-101L. The artwork is excellent – this the 6-wheeled Second Chassis from below. Divided axles, electrical pickup from the axle bearings. Thus, no resistance by any pickups. Printed wheels. The running boards are made oft in plate rather than plastics, which is more resistant against cracking or bending. And it minimises the material thickness. I am quite happy with these beautiful and well running coaches. The only fly in the ointment is the missing of close coupler motion links. The NEM pockets have a fixed pivot. As far as I remember, the last time I acquired new passenger rolling stock without close coupler motion links was back in 1986 … Best, Mark

Hi Stephen, just a personal preference - I prefer an 1890s/1900s version rather than a later livery when the former express locos where used on secondary lines prior to their withdrawal. I am aware that matching express rolling stock as yet only is available as kit. Btw, the era 2 LNWR versions are sold out while the era 3 LMS versions, both black and crimson, are still available. Cheers, Mark

Do you see any chance of a re-run of der LNWR line black version, maybe with different loco number? Unfortunately, I missed "Lucknow" (ba 35-161Z), and the era 3 LMS versions are a bit late for an 1890s express loco. Best, Mark

Another question regarding the prototype: In which sets were the Toplights typically used in the 1920s and 30s in commuting service? E.g. sets of 3, 4 or 6 coaches or depending on the density of traffic? (Unfortunately, I did not yet manage to obtain specific literature regarding GWR coaches) Which would have been alternative traction besides classes 51XX/61XX? Thank you. Mark

Hi, the decoder is sitting in the rear tank: Oxford N7 LNER chassis with original ESU Loksound 5 micro The 8-pin socket version of the decoder is a generic Nest18 decoder with an 8-pin adapter, which is the default configuration. Best, Mark

I did mount a Zimo Sound decoder MX659N18 into a Dapol Terrier quite a while ago: Cheers, Mark

That would also be my guess, but let's see how Dapol reverts to my respective request...

Just a quick question regarding the GWR versions announced as not all of them are illustrated on the Dapol homepage: Set 1 - crimson 1912-22 Set 2 - chocolate/cream - unspecified - could be garter crest 1922-27 or twin cities w/lettering 1945-48? Set 3 - chocolate/cream coat of arms 1927-34 Set 4 - chocolate cream shirtbutton 1934-42 Set 5 - All brown - unspecified - 1908-12 or WW 2 post 1942? Set 6 - BR maroon I am interested in the colour scheme of set 2 as this is only specified "chocolate/cream". As the only c/c schemes not announced on sets 3 and 4, garter crest 1922-27 and twin cities w/lettering 1945-48 are possible. Does anybody have more information? Best Mark

Hi All I still wonder why wagons in 2022 are still constructed without articulated short couplings - and then "offered" at 28 quid... Best Mark

May the coupling rod touches the running plate from below? My Oxford N7 had this (two different models). Another reason may be not properly centered wheelsets. Something occurring in particular with plastic wheels made by Hornby. The ones by Oxford are also made of plastic, but my few models are okay in that respect. Best, Mark.

Good morning! Such crabbing appears to be either a result of too weak springs which are not able to keep the articulated bars in position once the load increases. This is known from some Märklin models and seems to occur from time to time. Another reason may be the construction of the articulated bar in the loco. May be it is not wide enough but I this is not visible from the pictures. I wonder why Bachmann creates such construction deficiencies as they show e.g. on Liliput steam loco models how an articulated loco-tender connection works properly and reliable. Best, Mark

Hi, just to be consistent, the Einheitsdampflok programme was the standardisation programme of the inter war-time German state railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft, DRG). Post-war west German Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) and east German Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) set up their own programmes in the early and mid-fifties. However, as the DRG standard locos were in service in vast amounts post-war (and until the end of steam), both post-war companies maintained, improved and modernised their Einheitsloks. Classes 01 and 44 were related but not really twins - class 01 is a two-cylinder while class 44 is a three cylinder engine. Moreover, the class 01 boiler is longer and thus, class 01 is a bit stronger (2240 hp in contrast to 1910 hp of class 44, both related to coal fired versions). More related to the class 01 is the 2 cylinder version of class 44, class 43. In contrast to that, classes 03 (Pacific) and 41 (Mikado) are related, their major difference is the driving gear. Boiler and cylinders are of the same dimensions. Btw, also class 50 had a passenger train sister: 2-6-2 class 23 of 1941. Very smooth engine, unfortunately built during the war, just two prototypes built. Predecessor of post-war developments of DB class 23 and DR class 23.10. Back to the 2-10-0 engines bult by the Reichsbahn. Basically, it is just two loco families, one light (classes 50/52) and one heavier (classes 43/44 and 42): standard programme: class 43 (two cylinder, axle load 20 tons, 1880 hp), built 1926-2, 35 altogether; class 44 (three cylinder, axle loand 20 tons, 1910 hp), pre-series 1926, principal series built 1937-43, approx. 2000 altogether; class 50 (two cylinder, axle load 15 tons, 1625 hp), built 1939-43, approx. 3000 altogether; war time austerity programme: class 42 (two cylinder, axle load 18 tons, 1800 hp), built 1943-49, 1061 altogether incl. engines built post-war. class 52 (two cylinder, axle load 15 tons, 1610 hp), built 1942-51, approx. 7000 altogether incl. engines built post-war. Class 52 basically is a simplified class 50. Class 42 provides for a newly developped loco chassis with a shortened boiler of class 44, but 2 instead of three cylinders. Of course, due to the sheer amount and partially long operating period, various subclasses have been created by modernisation (e.g. oil-firing, wind deflectors of different type), special purposes (class 52 condensation tender), rebuilding (class 52.80 of DR rebuilt as of 1961, today the most widespread hisoric steam loco type in Germany). Having said this, some of the engines as pictures for comparison purposes: Class 43 engine 43 007. Ex works condition 1926/27 without wind deflectors. Model by Fleischmann. Class 44 engine 44 244. Classes 43 and 44 share the same boiler, but mind the boiler superstructures which have changed from 1926 to 1939 when 44 244 was outshopped. The tender also has changed from a riveted type to a welded type. Epoch II (era 3) version, model by roco. Class 50 with its smaller boiler and smaller tender. Epoch II (era 3) version, model by roco. Class 42 in its initial epoch II livery. Germany's first loco class equipped with Witte wind deflectors. Coupled with a "trough" (Wannen-) tender (as this tender is based on the lower part of a tank wagon), which is typical for classes 42 and 52. Model by Trix. Best regards, Mark

Hi Maico, The new edition will have PluX 22 plug-ins instead of MTC. Probably, brawa updates the PCB's and some additional lighting functions (e.g. lighting of the driving gear like the sound versions of the forthcoming 01). In addition to the unlined 06, a "regular" lined 06 is announced. I have the impression that there still is a market for the 06. In particular in "may be" or "what if" liveries like green, red or blue... Best, Mark

Sound for the Terrier As the Dapol models are fitted with a NEXT18 plug and a speaker, I assumed the sound fitting should be plug n’ play – unfortunately, I was wrong. The mounted speaker - a 10x15 mm without any enclosure – was not properly glued in and was not fixed properly. As a result of the improper mounting by using a twin-sided adhesive tape, the diaphragm of the speaker has been damaged. I have made some fitting attempts with the result that a 10x15 mm speaker with the smallest enclosure – 2 mm – does not fit in the tank. Probably that is why the manufacturer has mounted the speaker without enclosure, using the inner wall of the tank as enclosure. Finally, I determined that an 8x12 mm speaker fitted with a 2 mm enclosure fits to the top front corner of the tank - and the sound is quite good regarding the small dimensions. I did not install a stay-alive as this would have to be fitted into the cab. When fitting decoder and new speaker, the following needs to be observed: · Insulation of the inner side of the tank next to the decoder! The decoder is higher than the plug-in and thus, may touch the (metal) body; · Insulation of the metal parts of the speaker versus the tank to prevent a short circuit; · First mount speaker and enclosure, then solder connectors and finally, mount the speaker-enclosure unit into the tank. Please check exact position before! Chassis with decoder and speaker unit. The 8x12 mm speaker and enclosure are distributed by Doehler & Haass. Insulation inside the right tank – insulates decoder from the body. Insulation inside left tank – insulates speaker from body. Position of the speaker unit inside left tank. I have mounted a Zimo MX658N18 with a YouChoos sound. The decoder controls the motor softly after few CV changes (see below). The sound project is up-to-date - no blast sound when decelerating, coal shoveling sound and fire box lighting are synchronised and the project provides for light engine and standard engine chuffs. As I chose the immersive drive version, F2 is set as Active Brake key. I changed the following CVs: CV2=1 CV3=20 CV4=100 CV5=200 CV6=127 CV9=55 (CV29=38) CV56=55 CV57=90 Sound: CV266=85 (total volume) CV550=240 (announcement - was very quite at default) Cheers Mark

Hi Alessandro, good to see D&H decoders are available in the UK. Would you distribute your sound projects by download (coded) rather than installed on a decoder? As I have a D & H programmer, this would save me postage abroad... Or does the coded download only work with Zimo? Thank you. Mark

Hi, The solution is - there indeed is no equivalent. To distingish trains, the terminus is used (e.g. "Hamburg" for a train from Stuttgart to Hamburg, and "Stuttgart" vice versa). In the old days, train numbers were related, e.g. FD 79 Munich-Berlin and FD 80 Berlin-Munich, but such pairs are no longer used. As Germany is a federal state with no real centre like London, Madrid or Paris, a logic like "up" and "down" to and from the capital is totally unknown. This should not surprise in a country where the largest train stations are in Leipzig, Frankfurt-on-Main and Hanover, the largest airports in Frankfurt and Munich, the largest urban agglomeration still is the Ruhr Valley (from Duisburg to Dortmund, although decreasing population), and not Berlin. Just the motorway numbering folows a pattern similar to italian trains - even numbered are east-west, odd numbered north-south. Cheers Mark

Guys did you consider Piko's ABm223 (59633, 59634) and Bm 232 (59635) Pop liveried coaches? They are 1:87 length scale (303 mm) and very good models. From retailers in Germany at least, they are still available at fair prices. Cheers Mark

Hi Les Generally, you are right, but may refer to recommended prices rather than real retail prices. I recall the Trix DB class 23 to be available for approx. EUR 380 in about 2012, and the last brawa class 75 at about EUR 450 at the same time, both for the sound versions. But generally, you are right - a large express steamer with sound and all features of recent construction will be as of EUR 400 to about 550 real retail price. However, the pricing of model locos over here and in the U.S. is way ahead of UK, but UK models are made with less constructive and manufacturing effort. No articulated couplings and loco-tender-connections, no head and tail lighting, no cab light, few sound equipped and prepared models, simple gears, no maximum weight due to simple manufacturing, poor quality control, less motive power due to lack of traction tires. Besides that, beautiful models which are running sufficiently if manufactured properly and in the plain. Besides that, Bachmann seem to improve their model standards in the UK and elsewhere - although not in relation to increasing of the prices. In the recent five to eight years, the nearly lost their complete GAS (Germany Austria Switzerland) market due to incredible price jumps of Liliput models. Prior to that, they were one of the larger brands in the H0 market, today, they have been reduced to a manufacturer of niche and commissioned models. Anyway, I am looking forward to a Bachmann V2! Best Mark