Guardian

Hi, My model runs sort of stuttering, as if some blocking is in the wheels. I do my DC Test runs without decoder - purely analogue mode. I also found out that one of the coupling axles causes a slight blocking of the wheel turn. This must the case as with coupling rods dismounted, the engine and the driving wheels are running free and round. I have not yet found out what causes this blocking - may be an inaccurate height of one of the coupling axles or simply an insurance of the coupling rod bearings. Regards. Mark

Hi 31A, I also cleaned the axle bearings from the grease and lubricated them with little oil instead. This did not have any effect - may be I was not accurate enough. I will make a test run with the keeper plate dismounted and see if this shows any effect. However, after removing of the grease in the gear, the model runs noisier than before in one direction.

Hi All I would like to ask whether someone has experienced bad running capabilities of the Hornby J50's. My recently acquired model is running incontinously in both directions at slow to medium speeds. I do not mean wobbling due to improperly centered wheels but the forward movement is wave-like. I tried both analogue and digital mode, liberated the gear box from its grease bed (it was not lubricated but completely filled with teflon grease), unmounted the motor, coupling rods and wheels. No progress. The driving axle (centre axle) apparently does not touch the rails permanently, which may effect a mechanical resistance of the coupled wheels. Any idea? Thank you. Regards Mark

Dear All has Bachmann ever disclosed which Sound decoder will be included in GWR 3206 "Earl of Plymouth" (31-090DS)? I would expect an ESU LokSound4, but this is just a guess... Regards Mark

...and why not simply obtain a matching 21 pin version of the ESU? Is the sound project fixed to the decoder? Cheers Mark

pedant mode on: IIRC, this refers to the Commonwealth. Compared to countries with a nationalised railway system, the LMS fleet was smaller in total (e.g. the German State Railways having had a wagon stock of 572,000 in late 1937 compared to approx. 283,000 LMS stock in the early 1930s). In relation to the network mileage, it is vice versa: the LMS network was approx. 7,800 miles, that of the Reichsbahn approx. 42,700 miles in 1935... pedant mode off.... Cheers Mark

Widely agreed - except for Switzerland...even in Germany, the ratio of Heritage Railways is not as dense as in the UK. Cheers Mark

GBP to EUR is a SEPA transfer (using IBAN and BIC), which your bank is not entitled to charge as long as in the EU... Cheers Mark

O.k. thank you - I assume a more recent RTR model of a pre-war prototype is or was not available? Cheers Mark

Dear All I just realised Hornby offers an autocoach in era 3 livery (R4790, no. 191). As the couplings and bogies look rather old-fashioned to me, I wonder how old the construction of the model is and if a model of more recent construction is (was) available in GWR chocolate/brown either with a roundel or a coat of arms. Unfortunately, the beautiful Bachmann Hawksworth autocoach model is way too young for my pre-war duties... Thank you. Regards Mark

Hi All If you wish to fit articulated couplers plus NEM pockets, the Symoba parts (http://www.symoba-schniering.de) mentioned as above have proved very well, also fitted into UK rolling stock. They are available e.g. at Schmidt-Wissen (https://www.schmidt-wissen.de/en/Hersteller/Symoba/), which is a larger German retailer. Such refitting parts are becoming less available in Germany as they are only required for older models without articulated couplers (most rolling stock introduced as of the late 1980s provides for articulated couplers and NEM pockets). Regards Mark

Hi cychan1228, you need the isolated motor shield item no. 50 4750 replacing the non-isolated Motor shield no. 50 4701 (as evident from your Picture). Regards Mark

Hi Andy, of course I tried values higher than the ones stated. These lead to the comparatively best results. Any value in CV 54 above 35/40 and CV 55 above 40 effects a heavily stuttering engine instead of a slightly stuttering one (the default values of the ESU LoPi v4 decoders are CV 54=48 and CV 55=64 and do not work properly at all). CV 53 is the equivalent of Zimo's CV 57 and just reduces the voltage. The ESU LoPi 4 are my decoders for difficult cases, and as yet, I have "caught" any reluctant model by using them. Unfortunately, I do not have a matching Zimo MX622 at Hand, that may work better in case ot the DJM class 48XX. Generally, I made the experience that Zimo and ESU decoders provide for similar adjustment options with regard to the operation of engines. I agree that the DCC operation significantly improves the running of the engine, in particular at minimum and slow speed compared to analogue mode (operated analoguely, my model starts running rather abruptly at approx. 15 mph and stops that abruptly again). Regards Mark

Hi everybody, is anybody out there having trouble with poor running capabilities? When operated analoguely, my model is running inconstantly (stuttering), in particular backwards. This "misbehaviour" is even more intense when running digitally (DCC, ESU, Lokpilot v4 Micro DCC). I have lubricated the model accordingly, had it running in for hours, tried every reasonable CV configuration. At very low speed, it digitally runs very smooth as this is being controlled directly by CVs 51 and 52. The same or similar values in CVs 54 and 55 lead to a stuttering walk. Operating the Decoder on 20 kHz frequency did not effect any improvement. May my model simply be mechanically faulty? Is required to unsolder any capacitor (I did not find any)? How can the engine, worm and gear be accessed (as this is not included in the description). I used the following CVs: 2=2 3=55 4=16 51=9 52=6 53=75 54=30 55=22 Any other CV default or irrelevant for engine Operation Any idea? Thank you. Regards Mark

I received my first Oxford Rail wagons today and I must admit that the body and the chassis - except for the above mentioned discrepancies - appear to be rather sophisticated. Well done!

Hi, The T 9 indeed is far too light - the model did not manage to climb an incline of 3 or 4% incline with a coach. Hornby could have made the model heavier by using die cast and metal only, but that would have increased the price. The comparatively small locos built prior 1900 may simply do not offer enough space and are too open to implement sufficient weight. A solution could have been a tender drive as the 8-wheeled tender offers plenty of space (I am aware that such proposal is not popular in the UK, but simply experience a properly made tender drive of e.g. the Fleischmann class 13 (KPEV S 6, also a 4-4-0 express loco)). Cheers Mark

May I forgot to mention that I would like to discuss recent constructions following NEM or RP 25 or similar Standards, and no Märklin stuff from the 1980s.... To give you a recent comparison, please find two fine wheels, one of a Brawa S 9 (of 2009), one of Hornby's recent B17 (of 2014). Brawa KPEV S 9 - drive axle fitted with traction tyres Hornby's recent B 17 The first to be realised is that both wheel flanges are quite similar, the days of Pizza are gone. Additionally, both wheels provide for a curved section between tyre and flange. You may notice that the Brawa traction tyre is not flat but slightly coned towards the flange. The B 17 tyre seems to be a little wider. Of course, the construction needs to consider the exact position accordingly, and if more than two coupled axles are available, the medium axle needs to be spring mounted. This way - plus of course as much weight as possible - the motive power may be increased. Unfortunately, recent constructions often leave space for speakers or decoders... ​Btw, nearly every continental model has traction tyres, except for small 0-6-0 or 0-4-0s. The second major point - an incline of 3.5 to 4 per cent. I am aware that the climbing power of real railway locos - in particular Atlantics! - is limited and 4 per cent. are mountain conditions. However, as a reserve, a model should be able to manage such incline, e.g. if a rake of lighted coaches (all the pickups) needs to be pulled. Finally, it is a model and most of us do not have the space to build 1:76 stations and the respective space for prototypical inclines. Thus, models should provide considerably more climbing power than the real loco did (btw, the model has an electric engine, not a steam engine!). Just a few thoughts. Cheers Mark

Point 2 (C1 Chassis) - that's true. Point 1 (traction tyres): As I expect from each express loco to haul an adequate rake of coaches up a 4 per cent. incline (in case of the C1 and H Atlantics four Pullman coaches), traction tyres provide good additional tracking power in addition to weight. They simply provide adhesion where metal-on-metal simply slips. This of course requires weight first. Good quality and well-balanced traction tyres are like brand new tyres for your car. In fact, traction tyres on driving wheels of large diameter are less optimal compared to driving wheels of smaller diameters. However, it is possible to create fantastic runners even with traction tyres on large diameter wheels - I may refer to Brawa models of bavarian S 2/6 (2200 mm), prussian S 9 (2100 mm), Märklin Reichsbahn class 05 (2300 mm), bavarian S 2/6 (2200 mm), and dozens of Brawa, Märklin, Heljan, Artitec, Os.Kar etc. express loco models of 2000 mm wheel Diameter. Most of these models provide for sufficient weight by a die cast boiler.

As the construction of the Atlantics does not seem to be finished, it may be time to ask for better hauling power and some additional technical Features: - 5-pole engine with large flywheel(s) - traction tyres on the axle driven directly - spring mounted bogie with electrical pick-ups from the bogie wheels - short-coupling of loco and tender (articulated) - articulated coupling shaft on the tender side - lighting of the headlights (as express) Or what would you think?

Hornby R2848 GWR 5011 "Tintagel" finish issue I am currently experiencing that the finish of my GWR 5011 "Tintagel" became worse after having been in its box for about half a year to a year. The finish of the loco chassis (tender is not affected) became cloudy or a little milky if you want. The finish of my model never was perfect, in particular the black parts (smoke box and cab roof). This is the second model of this item, I had returned the first to the retailer in 2011. When it arrived and until ca. 2015, the finish was okay. Unfortunately, the retailer does not exist any more. Thus, I may kindly ask you if someone also has been provided with Hornby Castles back in 2011 with an improper finish? Did you successfully return your items? I wonder if I could obtain a new loco body with a pristine finish. Cheers Mark

Dear All As I seem to have missed the GWR era 3 version of the Bow End Coaches (which seem to have been available earlier than i had expected) - does anyboday have an indication if (and when) these may be available again (re-run)? Regards Mark

Hi 7007GreatWestern The model provides for an engine with a flywheel of approx. 20 mm in diameter. The chassis is made of die cast which serves as axle bearings instead of separate and changeable (brass) bearings. Unfortunately, the engine does not allow a view to identify if it is a 3- or 5-pole. However, it runs quite smooth, comparable to the recent Hornby Star, Castle class models introduced as of 2011. A 3-pole engine does not need to lead to bad running capabilities - if you take a look at some Brawa steamers, these do run very good with a 3-pole (diagonal slotted armature plus big flywheel and heavy gear reduction). It depends on the quality of the engine (power, level of rotations per minute etc.). The most important to create a silent model is to take an engine with a low level of engine rotation, a well-designed and -manufactured gear box avoiding as many gearwheels as possible. If you want more power, the axles need to be driven directly by gearwheels instead of by coupling rod. For the slow speed abilities, a diagonal slotted armature is more relevant than whether the ingine provides for three or five poles.

Just to share some pictures: The model is a quite good runner. Hornby seems to has introduced a gear reduction of the engine, which IMHO was more than overdue for goods train locos. The bogie should have included a spring as it tends to derail on my curved points (roco line, R5=543 mm). Mine initially reached me by mid-February. Due to improper finish, I had to return this and finally received a good model.

"Niche" or not, RTR models of pre-nationalisation coaching stock which apply to recent modelling standard still is very limited. AFAIK, only four sets of coaches of the big four are (or have been recently) availiable (LNER Gresley 61', GWR Colletts and Hawksworths, SR Maunsells). Any other available coaches are based on constructions which are thirty years old. Compared to the German market, where fifteen different express coach sets of the pre- WW II era (livery & prototype) can be obtained, that is quite nothing. The Gresley suburbans will be the first "everyday" coaches referring to a "Big Four" prototype of recent standard. One LNER set will be mine soon... I would like to encourage any manufacturer to go on that way. Some 1925 bow-ended Colletts would suit my Castle...

It appears like that the Hawksworths offer a good quality. A comparable Fleischmann or Roco coach would be approx. £ 45,-. Btw, do they feature short couplings again? Concerning the amount sold of the all first I would not mind. Usually, high-classed coaches are represented far more than adequately in model train rakes. Hopefully, Hornby stick to their policy to re-issue coaches in different numbers once sold out.