pauln

 

i be opening the box on Sunday and do a test on my layout then,also gives me time to read the board again on any tips if needed to get this running. because there been a few diffirent tales on the way since these was first launched

 

come on make my christmas Hornby with this 4VEP

 

 

Speak soon

As I posted earlier the test model I got direct from Hornby runs much better than my previous ones. No horrible grinding noises and pulls ok on curves. I had to fiddle with some of the CVs to get it smoother running at low speed and I still have some work to do on this when I get Decoder Pro plugged in again.

I really hope your new one is better than the old one.

I think there is a clear distinction here between Hornby's attitude to individual customers and their corporate approach to forums such as this. For example I wrote to Hornby direct re the Class 31 issue and was personally dealt with in an entirely satisfactory manner quite a long time before the offcial remedy, when the official stance was still 'on the fence'. Here, we have seen an individual approach acknowledged by Simon and remedy offered, but the general discussion seems to have been dismissed. Bachmann seem much more collegiate in their approach, whereas as Hornby seem fearful of any corporate admission of failure. I think they are missing a trick, but I would stop short of accusing them of contempt for customers because it is clear that they do enage with (and remedy) individual customer issues. What they don't do is to recognise and treat the (not unimportant) subset of serious modellers as a constituency that merits their own appropriately honest and open approach - and it is something that they are losing out from.

I'd agree with this. I took the time to write to Hornby direct as did one or two others. There will always be views on how closely a model depicts the prototype that will most likely never be fully reconciled between supplier and modeller but having written specifically on the mechanical issues I had experienced I can't fault the responses (and there have been 3 or 4 exchanges now) from Hornby and the attempt to provide me with a replacement model that runs better.

As somebody who in the past has had to interact with web forums to do with my line of work I have to say it is impossibly difficult to deliver comments and results that meet everybody's aspirations. A 1:1 conversation with Andy would probably work but addressing every comment raised in these 46 pages (and that's just the VEP) is unrealistic.

If you have had a real problem with this or any other model I'd recommend approaching the dealer or supplier direct.

 

I too have had a response to my letter today apologising for the delay. There is no definitive explanation for the noisy running but Mr Kohler has offered me another VEP on loan to test some theories for his engineers. So overall a positive step forwards.

 

I'll keep you all informed.

An update. I have had a NSE liveried VEP delivered direct from Mr Kolher at Hornby with a Sapphire chip pre-installed and tested. This one does not exhibit the extremely noisy running that my other 4 have had (see earlier posts). Out of the box it was still rather jerky at very low speed (below 4 on the NCE powercab); anything higher and it runs nice and smoothly with no slipping on 3rd radius curves. I have given it a good run in and remembering some earlier advice adjusted CV10 to 1. The jerky movement is now almost eliminated but at the cost of a rather swift leap into forward movement. I'm sure a bit more CV fiddling will reduce that (does anybody have a suggested set of CVs that they are using with good results on the VEP please?)

One thing I have noticed on this unit is that the traction tyres are on different axles; that is one is on the left side of one axle and one is on the right side of the other axle. I am sure my earlier ones were both on the same axle (and looking at S A C Martin's photos they are also on the same axle). I have pointed this out to Hornby to see what they say. Observations of how others' VEPs are configured and whether this would make any difference to the reported slipping problems are welcome.

So, whilst I was distinctly unhappy initially I cannot fault Hornby's attempts to deal with my specific problems and I hope that I will shortly have a VEP that runs as well as I had hoped the first one would.

Paul

Just to say that I have received a letter from Simon Kohler, regarding my letter to Hornby. I'm very grateful for his response, and once I've absorbed all of his points I will report back more fully.

 

I have always valued Simon Kohler's contribution to the hobby, and this again confirms my thoughts on someone who is definitely a positive influence at Hornby.

 

I will of course be writing back to thank him for his response, but would like to say for the record on here, a "thank you" to Mr Kohler.

I too have had a response to my letter today apologising for the delay. There is no definitive explanation for the noisy running but Mr Kohler has offered me another VEP on loan to test some theories for his engineers. So overall a positive step forwards.

I'll keep you all informed.

 

 

 

HI

I don’t get this bit about are you running it on DC or DCC ,dose running it on DCC make it stay on the track better , run better round curves ?.

And now look at all the work some of you are doing to this model just to get it to look right and run better should you really have to do this to a £168.00 RRP, model this should not be happening.

I think you might be confusing different contributions to this thread. If you look back on this thread you will see that my complaint was about the noisy or slipping motors (see the youtube videos) so in that case maybe DC or DCC might be thought to matter.

Likewise I haven't made any changes to my models - they have been sent back for a refund and I won't be buying any more until I can be assured that it will run properly and quietly

 

 

I do hope that that was just a standard e-mail/letter as other wise Hornby would seem to be ill-advised over what SEEMS to be a well spread problem which has involved several retailers.

 

Rather worrying.

 

 

He asked which retailer I had purchased from (hattons - who I can't fault in this in terms of willingness to exchange / refund) and to confirm whether I was running on DC or DCC (tried both).

 

To date, no response to my letters but that may be more indicative of the Royal Mail or the fact it's an extremely busy month for both the magazines and Hornby.

I had an email acknowledgement from Mr Kohler just a couple of days after sending my letter asking for a bit more info and saying he was off to Peterborough and would investigate further the following week. That was two weeks ago so I would hope to see something back in the next week otherwise I will chase.

 

I think the letter is fine. Calm and considered listing all of the issues you have found.

 

I too have written to Hornby regarding my experience highlighted earlier in the thread. I have focused only on the running qualities and enclosed the links to the two videos I posted.

 

I wrote an email too to the editor at Model Rail who, to his credit as I am sure he is busy, responded very quickly. I won't repeat the exact wording without permission but he noted that the examples they had seen did not have this problem but he has forwarded my note to Simon Kolher at Hornby and asked them to investigate.

 

I'd agree that more people need to write if they are unhappy but let's hope they follow your measured example rather than a distracting rant.

As above Model Rail passed on my email to Hornby and the response from Simon Kolher says:

"Thanks for the e-mail and although there have been a couple of issues, mainly I think to some poor assembly I am unaware of any noise issues. In fact apart from the occasional de-railing which I believe is down to a bit of flash they run a treat. I will speak to our engineers and of course Customer Care who would be the first to sound alarm bells."

This is a bit disappointing given that I provided the links to my youtube clips showing exactly the problem I experienced (4 times) and referenced this thread on rmweb.

Anyway my letter to Hornby went yesterday so will wait and see what they say direct.

Model Rail also said that they would put their 4 VEP on long term test and monitor the situation over the coming months to see if it becomes more widespread.

I think if any of you have had problems then you have to make your feelings known direct to Hornby, not just on a web forum. It is said that we have to criticise the first foray into SR EMUs by Hornby but some of the issues do seem fundamental mechanical issues rather than just nit picking.

Let's see how this reads:

 

 

 

Any and all criticism gratefully received towards the completion of this letter.

I think the letter is fine. Calm and considered listing all of the issues you have found.

I too have written to Hornby regarding my experience highlighted earlier in the thread. I have focused only on the running qualities and enclosed the links to the two videos I posted.

I wrote an email too to the editor at Model Rail who, to his credit as I am sure he is busy, responded very quickly. I won't repeat the exact wording without permission but he noted that the examples they had seen did not have this problem but he has forwarded my note to Simon Kolher at Hornby and asked them to investigate.

I'd agree that more people need to write if they are unhappy but let's hope they follow your measured example rather than a distracting rant.

I have now tried my replacement NSE version and, unsuprisingly that's the same. I must be jinxed. Another shorter video below (this sounds a little more tinny than the real thing but I think you've all got the gist now ). This train is straight out the box running on DC.

What's weird is all of the units run smoothly and quietly at full speed, although the Blue one did slip a bit on curves.

Like S A C Martin I am going to write to Hornby and enclose links to these videos so they can see what is happening. I have also dropped an email to Model Rail's editor to see if he wants to write anything up in the mag.

Needless to say both of these replacements are going back again; this time for a refund.

Paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTlVEYAbb6g

 

I did try on DC and it was better initially but then still the same problem.  Chip is a Hornby Sapphire. In any case I lost patience with it - for a spend of £120 each a Hornby loco should work with a Hornby chip !

 

Also when I spoke to the dealer he described the noise back to me so I can't be the only one that has reported an issue.

Have sent both of mine back to the dealer and just received two replacements. Opened the BR Blue one and tried running it - exactly the same problem I have tried two different chips (Hornby and TCS) in case that had something to do with it and run the power car alone and in a set. I have done a quick youtube vide so you can hear it - any ideas on what the problem is welcome (and the sound you can hear is definitely the VEP alone!). As you can see it is running on nearly straight track, recently (yesterday) cleaned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWa8JpfCbw

 

The much talked about 4 REP (incidently those with a noisy power bogie, try swopping the two drive axles around so that the tractioned tyred axle is inner most, it worked for me!).

I've sent mine back for a replacement now but I'll try that if the next one is the same. I'm fairly sure my traction tyred axle was already on the inside though.

I still like this layout very much. The EPB looks right at home.

Have you or anyone else tried running it on DC with the blanking plug fitted? If the motor's quieter at low speeds then the chip if it's a R8249 type may be the culprit. I've found Bachmann's 36-553 chips work better with Hornby's power bogies of this type, especially if you disable the BEMF function (CV 49) by setting it to zero.

I did try on DC and it was better initially but then still the same problem. Chip is a Hornby Sapphire. In any case I lost patience with it - for a spend of £120 each a Hornby loco should work with a Hornby chip !

Also when I spoke to the dealer he described the noise back to me so I can't be the only one that has reported an issue.

 

Update. Although mine has the DCC fitted slip it didn't have a decoder fitted. Just as well I had a nice Sapphire ready to slot in. It is now running in. Does anyone's elses (NSE) VEP sound a bit graunchy at low speed ? Maybe it is just running in needed but under speed step 7 the motor bogie sounds awfully like its about to seize up but fine at higher speeds. Slips a bit on 3rd radius curves too.

Both of mine (NSE and plain blue) are now making a loud grinding noise from the motor bogie at low speed. Now being packaged to go back for a replacement. Very disappointing.

hi there guys just off the subject can someone please post the formation of the coaches on the 423 vep nse my br blue one is fine with all the lights working but for some reason i cant seem to get all the lights working on the nse version any help like a vid or picture formation will be appriciated cheers

The formation is shown on the operating instructions which should be in the box. look for the diagram that shows which sides the jumper boxes should be.

DTCL (jumper boxes on offside) - MBSO (jumper boxes nearside) - TSO (nearside) - DTCL

 

Mine arrived today. I haven't taken the body off yet but mine has the same slip so assuming it has a chip this is not just a one-off issue.

Update. Although mine has the DCC fitted slip it didn't have a decoder fitted. Just as well I had a nice Sapphire ready to slot in. It is now running in. Does anyone's elses (NSE) VEP sound a bit graunchy at low speed ? Maybe it is just running in needed but under speed step 7 the motor bogie sounds awfully like its about to seize up but fine at higher speeds. Slips a bit on 3rd radius curves too.

 

One interesting issue that has arisen though, mine is a DCC Ready version on the box, the VEP within however has a little slip of paper telling me it is fitted with a DCC chip, a fact now confirmed once I got the MBSO body off!! Looks like a some DCC fitted ones have wound up in the wrong outer boxes, not a major problem for me but may be something others will need to check.

Mine arrived today. I haven't taken the body off yet but mine has the same slip so assuming it has a chip this is not just a one-off issue.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Was thinking of passing through Shoreham to see her.

That Hymek looks superb (so do all the other locos of course)

That's a really nice layout. So many litle details to pick out.

Lovely layout, especially considering it was done so quickly. Could you tell me how you are doing the road surfaces and markings please - they look good.