m_duck

I did deactivate the old one, but the last time i changed laptops something went wrong with that process and Suppport had to reset it for me. I have just been looking back over those old emails. I've emailed support so will see what they come back with.

I get the same message when trying to activate my key. "Key was not downloaded correctly". I have a new laptop so downloaded the evaluation software yesterday and tried to activate. I was going to contact support today and see what they say.

I bought two motors and they were both black. I'll do some more testing today but a 12 week old black labrador puppy, 2 young kids and work all seem to get in the way of me playing.

Hi |Atom3624. I don't think the decoder is in the wrong way as it will work as expected at times. I do think it is the contacts, maybe i have jiggered something while working on it. So tomorrow i will check the electrical contacts and make sure they make proper contact.

Hi GNR, i wasn't intending to buy the coaches but now I have it will just be the long game and any shows or model rail shops I visit i will keep my eyes open for the Composite Coaches. Over the years they have sold quite a few so there must be a fair few out there. These were not the items i mentioned in a previous thread. I did post a picture but with the admin issues it has never been approved. I bought a R383 Gordon, R852 James and a R382 Duck. All from 1990, never been run all boxed. My neighbour bought some stock from a model shop that was closing in 1990 and has stored them in his loft ever since. They are all lovely with such bright colours. Gordons face is much lighter than my existing R383 UK or Chinese versions, not sure why. I also picked up a R577 City of Nottingham but being after Christmas i couldn't really afford any others he had. I haven't decided what to do with them. My wife wants me to sell them as he gave me a great price, i was going to fit DCC decoders and use them but they are so nice i'm thinking about putting them in my loft for a few years !!!

Even though i've never been a fan and sold them in the past i bought 2 x R9296 Jame's Brake Coach and 2 x R9298 Gordon's Brake Coach as they were on sale at Rails of Sheffield and with them no longer being in production it seems a shame to have all the locos and then not have the official coaches. I also purchased the Harry Potter R3803TTS Hogwarts Caslte as my eldest son has recently started reading Harry Potter. I've paired her with the Hornby BR Mk1 Coaches that came out a while ago that had lighting that did not quite light the whole carriage. R4716, R4715 and R4714. And i have to say i think they make a lovely set and more importantly my lad loved them. Only issue is he now wants Hogsmeade station.

Hi Walkingthedog. They all run fine. I was running in my Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle (R3803TTS) for a couple of hours earlier with no problems. Not wanting to get too technical .... 'but if i wiggle it a bit' it will often start so it must be a loose connection somewhere but i just cannot see it at the moment. ---- Hi Howbiman. I spent ages messing with the CV settings on the P2 and the Duke of Gloucester and compared to later TTS locos they have never run as i expect. Gadwall, Fying Scotsman all ran much better.

I decided to replace the motor on my Hornby P2 TTS as it has never run very well even from new. I tried changing CV values as per various threads on here and did run it in as per my other locos but it was still very jerky when moving off and was never smooth even at speed. I followed the video on You Tube by MikesMovies and replaced the existing 3 pole motor with a fly wheel for a 5 pole X9108 from Peters Spares. Tested it before putting it all back together and it ran fine. Then tried it again on the layout and nothing. I’ve done this several times and sometimes it runs, other times nothing. No movement or sound. I’ve tested the decoder in an alternative loco and it is fine. I think I must of done something to the electrical pick ups as sometimes it runs and other times nothing. So I’m now looking at the contacts to see what I might have done. When it does run it does appear much smoother.

I bought the magazine and brochure from Tesco yesterday and checked my reciept as i was a little sceptical and the offer had been applied automatically.

Thanks GNR-Gordon-4. I had a break from my layout and have been spending time with my Retro 80's computer collection. I didn't touch the layout from from May until Christmas Eve and then cleaned the track and started running some locos. Really looking forward to getting back into it. I uploaded a picture of a new Thomas purchase in the Latest Aquisitions thread but the photo hasn't been approved yet. Once Hornby sort out the Admin I'll create a new thread here and upload some pictures. I'll stop before we get told off for going off topic.

Hornby have made a couple of double tender Flying Scotsman models over the years. I picked one up from eBay and also added smoke deflectors to my R9098. I did a video on you tube you can search for, Chuffin Trains. I'm sure i looked before i did it but i put the smoke deflectors on upside down. I only used tacky wax so corrected them. I'm pretty sure GNR-Gordon-4 has mentioned in the past he also has a second tender.

I bought these from my neighbour yesterday. He had originally bought them in 1990 when a local model shop closed and they have been in his attic ever since. They have never been used. /media/tinymce_upload/e9659a85e98ee09ceeee95860adc809b.JPG R382 - Duck R852 - James R383 - Gordon R577 - City of Nottingham

I’ve made some progress on my layout over the winter. The main item is the power bus and dropper wires of which there are no pictures !!!. This is an ongoing exercise and is fairly boring so I try and alternate the jobs I do when I have the time. I’ve also been making the rock faces and have started applying those but still need to make more and fill in the gaps with some plaster. As you can see from the pictures the upper lever track and inclines are all laid and I can run a couple of locos around and up and down. The lower section still needs some thought and I have placed random items to give me an idea what might be possible. I’m hoping to have one side with various sidings etc … that I can use for shunting while the larger locos are on the outer loops. Originally it was going to be a Thomas layout for the kids but it has taken me so long they have lost interest. So I’m testing with Thomas items but also a Virgin Pendolino and a Class 395. The longer platform is long enough for the Pendolino and it can also traverse all the points and curves forwards and backwards. I still intend to include various Thomas locations but also items that interest me. So there is the Duke of Wellington pub and the airfield and Spitfire (this is not in any of the pictures). I’ve not had too many problems with the incline. Both the Pendolino and Class 395 needed the traction tyres fitted properly. I’ve installed the DCC Concepts power base under the track in case I do need it for some locomotives at a later date. Most locos make it up with 3 carriages no problem, although a couple get to the bottom and just give up in an instant. I’ve found the Woodland Scenics Sub Terrain Lightweight System to be expensive but also really easy to use. I’ve been buying items for several years which does spread the cost. And with being in the conservatory I can’t make a mess. So the heated wire cutter is brilliant for making base structures with no mess. I’ve being playing with shaper sheet and it does seem easy to use and very quick. The wife and kids are away during the Easter holidays so I’m hoping to get the lower level tracks laid, start some ballasting and fit a couple of point motors. As well as continue with the dropper wires and rock faces, as always there is plenty to get on with. Having never built a layout before I’m still enjoying it but I think the ballasting could break me.

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"It's looking good m_duck - I'm envious of the space you have available. Do you have blinds in the conservatory? They can get very warm." It wasn't my first choice for location but after negotiations with the wife was the only feasilble option. The ceiling has full blinds and they do help, there is also a large ceiling fan. I would love more space ......

I've laid the track and the pointwork on the upper level and inclines. First time i've used flexi track and i'm slowly getting better. The Bachmann Pullman is the longest set i ever use so tested tonight across the points and up the inclines and it went well. Next jobs are droppers for the DCC bus and planning the lower level. Has been a learning curve using the woodland scenics risers/inclines and hot foam cutter. Being in the conservatory it is great making no mess. i can look after the kids while working on the railway and not upsetting the wife with noise and mess associated with wood work. /media/tinymce_upload/e456c9568b73d5aaf021c8bea5c4db37.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/db4fef1e37b0610dfb12bd6485289621.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/26ca94b6265aa52085fbc5d67d33b39f.JPG

I've been busy this week with the wife and kids away I've made a start on my layout in the evenings. I installed Woodland Scenics 4" risers and two 3% inclines. Expensive way of doing it but i've been buying items for the last 6 years with the intention of building a layout so the cost has been spread out some what. It is also easy to do and very quick as i don't have too much time. I laid down the track bed and also managed to get the DCC Concepts power base down and a fair amount of plaster cloth between the risers. The trackbed wasn't the best job i've done, a little wonky but i was rushing so a lesson learnt there for the lower section. I tested several locos up the incline and they all managed it ok but only tested with 1 coach. I'm hoping I'll get away with an incline and not have to add the magnets to the locos but it gives me the option if needed. My original intention was to have the upper level analogue and the lower level DCC with no incline. But went for it so will see what happens. If the locos do struggle i might go back to the idea of having an analogue upper level and model the inclines as dis used rail lines. Before i lay any track i'll carry on with the plaster cloth. I bought a Bachmann Lighthouse from Thomas and Friends to go in one of the corners as I'm intending to do a cliff and sea scene./media/tinymce_upload/be031578f0d18163db3aa1108e471fcc.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/24c24b3771e1e451fb3d5dfabd35b46b.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/8304518cce3de55f5b89bc1510a5be6c.JPG

R3509TTS, City of Brirmingham 46235. Although i don't have any track setup at the moment so haven't been able to run it. I might put something together tonight as I really want to see it in running.

There isn't a hinged section, i just go under. Hopefully i'm young enough to be able to do this for a few more decades. The original plan (6 years ago) was to build a Thomas layout for my boys. I've spent years buying the Thomas Hornby Skaledale buildings which are now really expensive as they stopped making them. So the plan is to still use these, the stations will be Thomas named - Dryaw, Waterton & Maithwaite. With a custom built Knapford dependng on space. I would like to model it so if you looked at a station, for instance Dryaw, behind it there will be an edge of an airfield and a nissan hut so you could relate it back to the books. It will be generic 1950s countryside so i can run my steam locos and the stations will be lengthend to accomodate the rolling stock (except Maithwaite). There are a couple of scenes i would like to recreate such as a shot with a watermill and bridge and also houses along a canal. I really hope i can contain myself and not have too much track as i enjoy modelling the scenary and watching trains go round. The plan is to have main running lines and an area with sidings for storage but to try and keep it fairly simple. I want to resist the urge to fill all the space with track but to also have enough sidings. I have thought about having a two separate levels. The lower level being DCC and the higher level being Analogue but I've not convinced myself of this yet.

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After years of wanting a layout but only being able to use a temporary 8x4 chipboard i have finally negogiated use of the conservatory. Not ideal but the ceiling has blinds for the summer and it has central heating connected radiators for the winter. The baseboards were finished today so now i have no excuses but to get on and build. The baseboards are from White Rose in Yorkshire apart from a small L shaped section that my neighbour constructed for me as he is a carpenter. Each board can be separated and the legs removed/media/tinymce_upload/66a55240ba72d6f05268c3a94d41ea21.JPG so the idea is i build a layout that can be taken apart if we ever move !!!

I've bought 4 weathered coaches by Bachmann. I've not bought weathered before so will be interested to see how they look. Will also add some lights and passengers. Bachmann Branchline 39-079C BR Mk1 BSK Brake Second Corridor (WR) Chocolate & Cream - weathered Bachmann Branchline 39-129C BR Mk1 CK Composite Corridor (WR) chocolate & cream - weathered Bachmann Branchline 39-154C BR Mk1 FK First Corridor (WR) chocolate & cream - weathered

R3444 Britannia Class 'Thomas Hardy', weathered. Not that i really needed it but decided to buy it as I used to read his books !!! I don't think there is a TTS decoder and not sure I want to spend over 100+ for sound so will probably drop a spare decoder in and off he goes.

I've bought a R9289 Edward from Thomas and Friends to complete the set of new DCC Ready models. I've fitted a decoder and run him in and am pleased with the performance so far. I've also bought R383 Gordon from eBay as my old one had an accident and despite my best efforts with soldering wires it kept shorting and i was making a mess of it. I had written a script for a comparison video for You Tube between R9291 and R383 Gordons so when it arrives I'll try and record it. A friend also gave me a Hornby APT that had been in his loft for 20+ years. A couple of bogies are missing but i tested the lights and they work. So another project for when darker nights set in and parts to search for at model shows.

I returned a loco recently that had been bought on eBay. I requested a refund based on it not being as advertised as it did not run well or hardly at all. As part of the process eBay provide you with a link/email that contains a return postage label that you print out and take the parcel to the post office. You don't have to pay for the postage up front, eBay chase the seller for it. As for my latest purchase I bought some Woodland Scenics figures who are in a jazz band playing instruments. I'm intending to put them in a observation car that has lighting. And also add additional figures for an audience so it looks like a jazz train. I was thinking of maybe adding the headboards and coach boards and make it either The Cunarder or The Cunard Special.