ellocoloco

Happy (nearly) Christmas guys and gals. I wonder if the folks at Hornby Towers have just given up on the advent calendar this year? Sure, there is something on FB and Insta but I can't find anything on the homepage of Hornby's online presence other than some rules! And while I'm moaning, how come the Hornby Int'l brands don't seem to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the trains?

Hi Johnny, I'm guessing this a band driven fan? I wouldn't worry about it. I have four of Hornby's Electrotren ALCo 316s with band driven fans. All running on DCC. I have had no issues with any of them regarding the performance. One point though. One of them had a squeaky fan so I tried to lubricate it. It now slips so I won't be doing that again. The later 321s have a motor driven fan which is switchable on DCC and they are even better but can also squeak!

I think I've waited 35yrs for this loco - since discovering that OO and HO were actually different scales. Trix Scottie with sound, smoke and lights, inc tender corridor light. Diecast loco and tender. What a machine, but I think I will be having a pot noodle for Christmas dinner. Still absolutely worth it and up there with Roco 310.23 Along side my repainted HO ESU 66. Two diecast beasts. At work on some freight. Until I can get some worthy HO British coaches. (My photography does not really show it in all it's glory. Sorry)

Hi Tom, I would guess the writing is printed on the wagon as Bee also suspects. The body will just be coloured plastic. I would suggest start on one of the ends with a cotton bud and IPA and gently rub at the discolouration. If this works, then continue with the rest of the wagon.

Matt, The Fox transfers website has a useful Paint Guide with both Railmatch and Phoenix paint references which I have found very useful in the past.

I would have thought that unless the wagon actually has a (correct) NEM362 coupling mount you will never get proper close coupling. If your Collett and Mk1 coaches have NEM mounts then go for the shortest - or the Roco clones R8220.

Keyser produced a white metal kit of the P2, Ref:L36, and the chassis construction looks similar to that of a Ks kit I attempted to build in the 80s. That would be my guess. Jack-if the motor works, good luck getting in going but I wouldn't waste too much effort on it.

Don't worry, you can get a free Christmas Tree. The bus is over on the Electrotren side for purchases over €65. Maybe it will stop at the Hornby one again soon.....................................

Check out Dans Railroad on Youtube. US outline but applicable to models everywhere. He is very skilled and good at explaining his techniques.

Bobby, My understanding of mazak/zamak rot is that if the model has it, it is just a matter of time before it starts to show and the model fails. Storage conditions don't appear to make any difference but dry and ambient conditions may prolong life for any model. On the plus side. I have 100+ locos and assorted diecast wagons and have never experienced the problem. I did once buy a crumbling DMU for rebuilding. It had failed after about 8 years (based on catalogue listing date and when I bought it on eBay) but I knew in advance and had plans to deal with the remains.

An interesting question, DG, which I think is a testament to Triang models after all these years that they are still relevant to the hobby given how many are around and how many of us have and use them. Do I have some? Yes Will I buy more? No In the last 30 years the main use I have found for my Triang models has been as a tested bed for my painting skills and I would have not have dared go on to strip and paint Roco, Electrotren and Mehano models had my Triang 37 not made the ultimate sacrifice. 25550 and the Jinty run, the others could be fixed but I doubt I every will. I just haven't got round to binning them as they remind me of the most important part of the hobby. Its great fun and should remain so. Triang was the seed that started me in this hobby and although not of interest now they remind me that we are all just playing trains. (Was the 9F Triang? I have one somewhere and its the last of my early models. Its still boxed and runs great.)

BM. I know your not doing a complete repaint but this youtube video was what gave me the confidence to strip and respray a model. Well worth a watch while the weather is like it is.

Or users could just post the relevant part of the previous post by selecting just the required text rather than quoting everything...................but that might be a bit difficult.

Hi Richard, I don't have the wagons but reading through your two posts above I have a couple of thoughts. You mention the wagons are preowned and when you compare the flanges on the wheels to your similar Bachmann wagon they seem skinny. The thickness shouldn't be a problem but if they have less depth then I would suggest they have possibly been replaced by a previous owner with finer scale wheels such as RP25 standard. This might also explain why the axles appear too short. Have you tried the Bachmann HTA wheels in the Draxx wagons? My other thought is that I suspect these wagons have NEM362 kinematic coupling mounts - that is they extend on corners to allow clearance. These are great but were never designed with standard British tension lock couplers in mind. Something like Hornby's R8220 would work better, provide closer coupling and not catch on any pointwork. Best of luck.

To add to Spain's gauges - although veering away from the original topic, sorry Sammy, The Langreo mineral line in the north of Spain was standard gauge as are several of the metro systems inc most of Barcelona, Granada, Malaga and some of Madrid which apparently also has 1445mm gauge. The line down the east coast is also being dual gauged at the moment but I'll have to read more as to how much is being done.

Just back from Spain after my first trip in six years. I managed to find some 'old' new stock. When I saw the shop had a 594 TRD in Regionales livery for only €160 I could hardly hide my excitement. This DMU was released in 2010 in two livery versions and as a slightly modified version a couple of years later. I don't think it has been produced in any version for around 10 years. The model has a 21pin socket, head and tail lights, cabin lighting and the drivers cab in the powered unit is also lit. The two units are connected by a six pole kinematic coupling. The motor is pretty much hidden below the window line and is very smooth and drives on the outer axle of each bogie in the powered car. With the drive on only one axle there is a lot of power into one pinion and these models do have a reputation for chewing their gears. My first TRD split its gears after a couple of hours and I expect this one to do the same so have already ordered brass replacements. These are one of my favourite Electrotren models. I will need a chip for it and will need to renumber it at some point. The shop also had a Mehano G1700 for the Aceralia steelworks in the north of Spain and it would have been rude not to add it to my collection. I really must stop buying locos and lay some track!

As with Steve, I've had great results with Railtec and they would be my first choice.

Out if interest, BM. How much was it? (Not that I have any intention of replacing my two.) (EDIT: Sorry BM. Didn't read your post properly. Just looked at the link. Must be more careful!)

A 21pin decoder usually takes up less space than an 8pin decoder with harness and is probably the same cost so although the loco does not have extra features, it is a sensible choice.

An old but never the less interesting post. @BB apart from the rent/rates of a model shop in an industrial estate, its probably a much more secure location, both in terms of being able to secure the premises - its more than likely a steel box without windows - and the customers are ones that have made an effort to go to you and are not open to the dreggs that so often populate the high streets. I have just finished work and go on holiday tomorrow. My last job this afternoon was making yet another shoplifter DVD and waiting on hold to 101 to report it. Many traditional model shops will likely be single operator set ups and won't be able to have the 16 cameras at my disposal along side bodycams, headsets and panic alarms. Another benefit of being on an industrial estate is there will usually be parking close to the premises which is very important as many in our hobby are older and (from my experience at exhibitions) not that physically fit. @ntpntpntp - you lucky man, having a go to model shop only 30 miles away! I'm also a continental guy - HO - and used to use MacKay Models in Paisley, unfortunately closed around 20 years ago. It was 60 miles from home. There is no where else in Scotland I can think for HO that interests me. I have a shop 40 miles away for decoders, track and scenic accessories, but other than that its Ebay - the best model shop on the planet! sunglasses

Hi TC, If we are thinking about the same recent posts I would like to think that the reason is that the OP (often with their first post) is unfamiliar with forums, their usage and etiquette. They could of course just be bone idle, but as I work in a public facing role, maybe I have lost some of my faith in humanity..............!

@RAF Can you mention at your Friday trip to the Tower that the HO range is still looking neglected in the HM7000 scheme of things. Plenty of adverts for it through the Electrotren (and probably other) FB pages and on the sections of this website but no sound yet for my eight ALCos!

Thanks Daedalus. Linux is a bit of a foreign language to me although I did have it installed on a lap top at one point! I have a friend who is much more tech savvy than me so it might be something we can play with alongside a few beers at some point.

Thanks guys, I suspected as much. I have a tablet which will do the job and could use my wife's smartphone - I just pretend not to know how it works! I do much prefer a keyboard and with various devices at work and a laptop and desk top at home, I can't be bothered with a smartphone of my own. On the plus side, layout building should commence in the next six months and then I will have to look at an upgraded DCC system so unfortunately I won't be able to stay in the dark ages for much longer.

Ok, this may be the dumbest question of the morning, but as my printer is connected via Bluetooth, can I programme HM7000 chips through my laptop? I have been to the google store and tried with this Bluetooth enabled device, but computer says no! I'm not a fan of smart phones so am still using a Nokia 1208, (and a Lokmaus2) and won't be upgrading anytime soon despite my wife and workmates abuse! (It does mean I can stay off whatsapp groups)