JohnC

I just bought a Cemex liveried Hattons 66 for £100 as it had a “slight wobble”. Did my fix as mentioned earlier in this forum and now running beautifully. Knock the spots off a Bachmann 66 in my opinion and definitely the 66 of choice. As Mick says, plenty of bargains on Hattons website.

Hi Danny I have renumbered and removed names on a few locos now and just completed removing the construction branding on the latest Hornby class 60. In all cases, I used a cotton bud with liquid Brasso and found that gentle rubbing soon gets rid of the printed detail leaving a polished area of the body main colour. The polished area is perfect for applying replacement decals and, when dry, I give a quick airbrush pass with the matching varnish of the rest of the loco. Regards John

Thanks Steve Appreciate all you do and know they will be worth waiting for. Best regards John

Strange that you are having this problem with newer Bachmann models as I have found exactly the same problem with the newer Hornby Class 60 locos. Like you, put body in freezer and still broke glazing and an upright in side windows! Luckily had spare windows after fitting lazerglaze to a previous respray. John

Hi Steve Tried emailing you about HST Castle Class nameplates aNd wondered if any progress? Best regards John

I cured mine by filing down the central peak in the metal casting. I have done the same with the new MK3 SD coaches

Hi Fran are you intending only doing one set of grey wagons. regards John

Hi I havevjust used, for the first time, IPA diluted by 10% on a Bachmann Class 66 and it has been superb. I used to use Phoenix Superstrip but it has become extremely expensive. The IPA is really cheap to buy and does as good a job. regards john

I now have 4 Hattons Class 66 locos and, although small mods had to be done, I am absolutely delighted with the locos. Their 66 beats the Bachmann 66 into a cocked hat with regard Pulling Power, detailing and the sound is incredible. When you can get a digitally fitted Class 66 for the same price as 3 forthcoming Bachmann National Power wagons, there is no competition really is there. I hope Hattons bring out a second batch with improvements as I will certainly purchase more.

Quite agree The amount of money and time I have had to spend on my Hornby Sliding Door Mk3a coaches totally eclipses the work I had to do on my superb Hattons class 66 locos john

Just taken delivery of my fourth 66, this time the fabulous Pink ONE. A bit wobbly on test but, as with my other ones, removed revolving axle ends, re-drilled aperture to 3mm and then used Dremel tool to lightly extend opening to an oval toward roof. Cleaned up revolving axle ends and ensure hole was cleaned up with a drill and re-attached to axle ends. Loco runs beautifully now and just the chassis to weather so it brings out all those superb details. It would take more work on a Bachmann model to get it to the Hattons standard and it still would not have the haulage capacity. Very please with my locos which are DB 66088, Freightliner 66593, GBRf Large Logo and 66587 ONE.

I have exactly the same findings as your good self I purchased 20 coaches - GWR, Scotrail and a XC set. The coupling arrangement is appalling, as are the wheels. I have had all my coaches apart to work on couplings and finally got my 7 coach XC set running properly after changing the wheel sets to R8096 sets. Just ordered a further 5 sets to change my GWR and Scotrail sets!! Not particularly delighted after spending so much in the first place as a pack of 10 wheel sets means you are paying an extra 25% per coach to put right. john

Hi Adam I have done the same as you plus added some Kadee graphite grease to the cam area and still not successful unfortunately. So annoying as the Hunt couplings fitted to all my other HST rakes work superbly in both push and pull mode. John

Yes, it leaves a shiny surface just like T Cut

Hi Rob A great lesson you gave on re-numbering but may I suggest the use of liquid Brasso in preference to T Cut. as you mentioned, avoid getting T cut into vents and grills, not as big a problem with Brasso as it cleans off easier. Otherwise, your process is spot on.

I have used this but, like yourself, was not very impressed. The finish I now use on my modern image re-sprays is semi-gloss varnish from Rainbow Railways. A more typical look for the modern image locos I believe.

I have fitted Hunt couplings but still the same problem if the coupling does not centralise after traversing a corner.

Feel the same myself. The problem seems to be that awful coupling system that Hornby have decided to fit. After going round a curve, the couplings are not centralising on the straight at times. This is causing derailments quite often. Not a lot of improvement when taking the body off and backing off the interior retaining screws a touch and putting graphite grease behind the coupling arm arrangement. Seems a very similar problem to the coupling arrangement on the class 60 locos which I improved by grinding down the 'V' on the aperture the coupling revolves around. May well have to do this on the coaches!

Hi I have had this problem on my ESU ECoS sometimes and reset the decoder to factory again CV8 to 8 and then all was back to normal. On second attempt to re-number decoder, all worked. Hope that may help John

Instead of cutting off end see earlier posts regarding carefully drilling out axle box aperture to 3mm. have done this with all my locos and no issues at all since.

Thank you - I used Railmatch track dirt for the main base chassis weathering and it really does highlight the intricate details on the model. I have not weathered my EWS and Large logo locos yes but they will definitely be next. Really looking forward to the arrival of the Freightliner ONE liveried 66 - already have intermodal loaded with several ONE containers.

Thank you Eric Alltorque, glad you like it

To get back on track, here is the latest edition to Parkway fleet. Another one of Hattons superb class 66 locos in the guise of 66593. Gently taken apart and Zimo 6 function decoder fitted. Once again, removed rotating axle ends and drilled hole to 3mm. Runs superbly. Weathering completed with my airbrush and Humbrol weathering powder. Absolutely delighted with the loco, which is my third one and a fourth on order.

Well D2 Not a GREAT modeller and I do not have low standards. Even the Bachmann 66 needed work on to make it correct! I have drilled the rotating axle end holes to 3mm and re-fitted rotating axle ends with a touch of glue and glaze over axle ends and loco runs superbly. My EWS 66 hauled 16 Bachmann HTA wagons up one of my Helixes no problem - I cannot get a Bachmann 66 or 70 to perform like that. I have attached a few of my re-sprays you may, or may not, want to drool over!! Have a nice day

Thank you Yes Tor Done mine and running perfectly John