Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

[atom3624]

It was auction, so perhaps not. £85.00.

They often still go for 'silly prices', like super detail A4's or rebuilt WC / BoB pacifics are going for nowadays!

It's a good runner, I'm still working on feeding the fan belt onto the flywheel - I'll 'win' eventually (or snap it!).

What is curious is I'm suspecting it's a sort of custom DCC PCB - it has a speaker hard-wired onto it, which fits perfectly in a central space.

If this is true, then I'll probably never be able to have the lights working without replacing with an 'original Class 56' PCB.

This one is a 21-pin, and does not resemble the 2022-issue Class 56's - which is the 1st date HORNBY created a 56 with 21-pin DCC sockets / decoders!

What is strange is that the items used fit perfectly on the chassis, using the standard mounting points.

Contacting the seller, he says he purchased it from a Model Railway Club, so I'll probably take a few photos and post onto RMWEB - see if anyone recognises the PCB and can confirm a fix for the directional lighting.

Al.

[Tony57]

Hi Al

Silly question do the switches move/work? could they control the directional lighting?

Having read a number of write ups in the Hornby Mag where there were switches in the loco controlling the directional lights, cab lights etc.

[atom3624]

Hi Tony, I thought of that one, and initially tried it - no joy, but could be wrong - will try again once I get the fan drive belt on .... I will persevere as I love the moving fans!

I've also 2 other 21-pin blanking plates. I tried one, and it works fine, but no lights.

The lights are wired in.

The PCB is slightly shorter than standard, with a 21-pin socket, not 8-pin. Holes appear 'standard' and align perfectly with the diagonal pins / other diagonal (4 holes) screws, leaving a gap in the centre for a rectangular speaker - which is hard-wired into this same PCB (no, there's no sound, or crackling on DC).

This is what had me thinking it's a full-on DCC PCB, which permits a blanking plate fitment to operate on DC.

I shall continue to have a little play, but keep my eyes peeled for a 'fixer' 56 / replacement PCB - very limited budget, so nothing silly.

There are light kits about I'm sure, if needed, as I've fitted to a couple of Rats (Class 25) and a Class 40.

Al.

[atom3624]

I had to partially dismantle the fan unit to permit mounting onto the flywheel.

All assembled, no parts missing, but will need to tidy up the wires - noisy when reversing, silent going forwards - which is good enough for now.

I replaced the original, larger 'blanking plate' with the 2 slider switches. I tried all options - no sign of any lights.

One option is the Stickswipe, Ebay Railroad lighting kit.

LED's normally require a resistor in the circuit somewhere, and I'm not certain where they are in the standard Hornby ones.

Al.

[atom3624]

Here's a few photos of the PCB - upper part of the chassis.

Printed underneath the chassis it states 'DCC fitted' - so chassis NOT from R3050A.

As you see, the speaker is hard-wired onto the PCB. PCB is 21-pin.

You can see the blanking plug - with the 2 switches.

I tried all options - no lights.

All cables appear to be connected.

I tried 2 other blanking plugs - loco worked perfectly with them as well, but no lights.

Thoughts?

Al.

[atom3624]

Stickswipe - always helpful - has replied to confirm Hornby did use 21-pin DCC decoders for their XS (digital / sound) models and it does look like one of them.

Lighting remains a puzzle - I'd like it to work as my other 2 do without (major) issue.

At least it's running very well, and the fans work again!

Al.

[Tony57]

Hi Al

I am not a DCC person, just wondering have the lights been switched off or disabled through either the cv's being changed or not having a full chip installed?

I think this is where a an electrical diagram would be handy for all the new models.

[atom3624]

Hi Tony, I checked the shell, which was fine - and popped the led's anyway!

Chasing circuitry, changing all manner of whatever ... not really a speciality and as she runs beautifully, I don't want to change that.

Yes, forgot Hornby don't insert resistors directly next to the led's, and popped them, so Jason's got me as a customer again.

He mentioned the super detail body's pilot / tail lamps are 0.5mm wider apart than the Mainline / Railroad one, so he's making a lightly modified kit for me to fit.

As my other 2 Hornby 56's lights work just fine, it's a shame this one runs so well, yet doesn't have lights, so will retro fit. Stickswipe's kits are excellent quality.

Al.

[wairoalbany]

Just received from Hattons a Hornby GNER Class 91 and DVT. Will now save up for matching coaches.

[508006]

I was at the toy & train fair in port sunlight on sunday and managed to pick up 5 x Mk2A coaches in Blue & Grey livery for a total of £25, 1 x Bachmann suburban coach in Maroon livery to match 6 other suburban coaches I already have, this coach cost £6, 1 x bogie frame for a Mk2A coach which needed s replacement bogie £2 and finally a tenderless R398 Scotsman which cost £15.

The tenderless loco won't be Scotsman as I already have a body in the dark green which I painted myself, but it was dismantled and cleaned up as some of the non insulated wheels were a mess with rust in places.

During the cleaning up of the chassis, I fitted a gear cog onto the 2nd driving axle which required some of the keeper plate to be cut out for the cog to show through, this cog was secured on the axle with superglue and left out of the chassis while it cured which didn't take too long, once set, the axle including wheels was refitted into the chassis and correctly quartered to ensure smooth rotation of the wheels.

An X04 Motor was also fitted and wired up with a capacitor fitted in the tender along with my own self made pickups but during my initisl tests the loco was sparking from the 3rd driving axle on the insulated side which I found this morning was due to the tyre touching the chassis while running.

I cured this problem by removing the affected wheel and fitting a reasonably thin metal washer behind the wheel and once the wheel was refitted and quartered the loco was tested again, this time with the connected and wired tender supplying power to make sure all my soldering was working well and that little modification has proved to be a good idea as the wheels now turn without any mini lightning shows from the tyres, another successful conversion even if it did take 3 days to sort oit all the issues.

In terms of the Mk2A coaches, they all required re-wheeling with the latest hornby wheels as they had the old fixed plastic wheels which cannot be re-gauged but suffice to say the coaches now run well and without jumping the frogs on peco turnouts.

[Bulleidboy]

From a well known supplier - £17.99 each.

If I add Hornby R4886B BR Bulleid Suburban Composite Coach this will complete Set 967 as it ran back in the day.

[atom3624]

Good purchase there BB - think I know where!

Al.

[Bulleidboy]

Hi Al - I found a dealer with a number of R4886B Corridor Composite coaches - I only needed one - so Set 967 will shortly be complete as run prototypically in the day.

It's a pity that Hornby did not/do not sell these coaches as "Sets", rather like the Somerset and Dorset Maunsell pack they produced many years ago. I am sure it's a missed marketing opportunity, as the design team new and produced all the coaches to make up several "Sets", but the message never got through to marketing - so many just bought "green" coaches - hence lots of Brake coaches now available. A little research would have shown where the Sets actually operated, and even if the coaches were not sold as 3-car packs, the information would have been useful - there are some very knowledgeable people on RMweb, also Blood and Custard is a very useful site for "Southern" information, so for the modeller, it's not difficult information to find. BB

[atom3624]

That's true. The detail is there if you look.

I found the same online at Kernow when I looked.

Al.

[atom3624]

After the minor fiasco of the lights, the 'light kit' arrived from Jason / Stickswipe.

Very neat. I just have to ensure I make a decent job of the installation now!

Of note, he has the forward side marker lamps as amber / yellow, whereas Hornby stuck with white - he's probably got it right.

You can always 'test' his kits, as they come with built-in resistance.

(Something I forgot when testing the Hornby lamps!)

The central 'headlamp' is white of course.

Al.

[Canico]

I wish I had a new acquisition, I ordered an Accurascale Manor class in January 2022 but I still have not received it. Every delivery estimate they have given has been wrong

[Brew Man]

Glad it's not just Hornby missing targets then. It would be nice to see targets met, but I guess this is the real world.

[Edvard4]

Spent a few pounds over at the Hornby Visitor Center last week. Picked up x3 Loco's x1 Loco set and a rake of carriage....skint now until Christmas!

[wairoalbany]

Paid a total of $37 or £28.72 for 6 older Lima and Hornby MK2 and Mk3 coaches along with a slightly damaged Lima dummy Class 43. Pretty happy with them TBH.

@Canico I agree with you about it not just being Hornby that are not meeting their delivery dates. I think it is pretty much every manufacturer both in the UK and abroad. I outside the Uk and the models here too are constantly later than promised.

[Bulleidboy]

R4886B arrived today, so Set 967 is now complete.

[atom3624]

Just 'won' a Hornby super detail EWS Class 08 shunter.

I'd been meaning to get one for some time, and finally bit the bullet.

Looks a nice model (I know how they go - got a Hornby and a Bachmann one already - both B.R.)

Al.

[david_abramczyk]

Quick update; "Falcon" arrived today, and I'm rather pleased.

[atom3624]

The large Heljan locomotives are extremely good runners and haul very well.

Falcon's a nice model - forerunner to the Class 47?

[Aussie Fred]

Just received from my step-son (who lives in America and is in Aussie for a visit) a Proses RLR-01 Advanced Power Railer and 2 (TWO) Hornby R-004 British Industrial Sand Hopper wagons, both in mint condition in original boxes.

[Brew Man]

The large Heljan locomotives are extremely good runners and haul very well.

Falcon's a nice model - forerunner to the Class 47?

 

 

I can second that. I have a Heljan Class 33 and nothing seems to stop it, (aside of removing power from the track smiley of course). A superb runner. I use it to haul my Sharge track cleaner.