R30231 HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee West Country No. 70 ‘Elizabeth ll’ - Era 11

[Ralphy5]

Hi Lads,

I have been able to purchase this wonderful Loco for around the same price as Hornby was selling it for.

I am so sad that some people are selling it for 5 times the price and as such destroying our hobby. I would love to know how they got 10 or 15 of them when many of us missed out on trying our luck with just one!!!!

In any case, I want to turn it into a DCC with sound Loco.

Has anyone done this and if so what 21-pin decoder was used that will work with Hornby Elite or ELink?

Also is there enough room in the tender for the speaker or does it require modifications?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards Ralphy5

[96RAF]

As Hornby do not yet have a 21-pin decoder of any type much less a sound decoder, so for a direct fit decoder you will have to trawl the other sound providers for now. Hornby’s current TTS sound decoders are 8-pin so you could install one by way of a 21-8 pin adapter board available from many specialist retailers.

The socket and speaker mount will be in the tender. The maintenance sheet that comes with every new loco will confirm that.

The Elite and eLink will operate any NMRA compliant decoder and most of those that are non compliant.

[Ralphy5]

Thank you so much for the info

I'll try a 21 to 8-pin adapter and the A1/A3 Hornby sound decoder.

Will let you know the outcome.

[Going Spare]

In the absence of a TTS decoder specifically for a rebuilt West Country loco, the R7141 rebuilt Merchant Navy TTS decoder would give you a far closer sound representation than the A1/A3 decoder.

[Ralphy5]

Thank you for that info I'll try out the R7141

I also found in my box of spares a few new Saphire decoders which could be used as a backup with their 21-pin plug. I will let you know how things go

Regards

Ralphy5

[ColinB]

I bought one of the last off the Hornby website surprisingly. The things that I found interesting, the packaging was nowhere near the quality of that on the new Evening Star and the other was on the Evening Star the tender not only contained the 21 pin socket but also a bass enclosure for the speaker. The Elizabeth II had the 21 pin socket but no bass enclosure.

[Ralphy5]

Hi Colin I have just purchased the R7141 rebuilt Merchant Navy TTS decoder do you know if there is room in the tender for the speaker or do I need to get the Dremal out to fit the speaker?

Ralphy

[Bulleidboy]

AS RAF96 already pointed out, the speaker will fit in the tender. No need for the dremel or any other butchery required. The speaker (28mm round) will usually fit under the weight, which has to be removed and then refitted once the speaker is in place. Be careful with the wiring, you may have to thread the decoder through the hole in the weight, and also check that when the weight goes back, it does not touch the terminals on the speaker - a piece of insulation tape placed over the terminals usually cures this possible problem.

Service sheet No.462 is for a 21-pin fitment - it gives an exploded view of the tender - everything is as has been described in the above answers to your questions.

If you click on "Support" at the top of the page, and then click on Product Support you will see Service Sheets - just scroll through until you find No,462 - it's near the end of the several page list.

[ColinB]

You definitely don't want to get the Dremel out on this one, just in case you ever want to sell it. The speaker is not an issue as it is like all other Hornby latest level models in that it has a defined space for it. The bigger issue is the DCC socket is 21 pin so to use TTS you will need a 21 pin to 8 pin converter, so the height with the adapter might be an issue. If it is, but I don't think it will be, you can buy a 21 pin header from EBay and rewire the TTS. I just used an ordinary decoder so I don't know. I also usually bin the TTS speaker and buy one of the Road and Rails thin bass reflex speakers. They are about 5 mm thick and sound much better than the original speaker.