Graskie

I have two of them, RDS. They are Hornby R 2824 46100 "Royal Scot" DCC ready and R 6828X 46102 "Black Watch" DCC on board, both hardly run. I would love one with sound.

Well, I've just been testing and tweaking my new Fowler 4F 0-6-0 fitted with working front lamps and sound. I would have preferred the converted Hornby model, but beggars can't be choosers, not that I am one, of course. Runs great, sounds great. Just a shame it doesn't have tender wheel pickups.

One of my latest procurements is a TMC converted and enhanced 46229 “Duchess of Hamilton.” The original “semi” was Hornby’s R2231 46228 “Duchess of Rutland.” It has been left in lined green livery with early BR tender crest but etched name plates and front number plate have been added, plus a few other items such as real coal. I had to remove the front steps to avoid curve derailments and widened the front bogie back to back measurement to clear my pointwork more securely. It has also been fitted with Olivia’s sound and working front express passenger lamps. The coal shovelling sound, whether called up specifically or working randomly, is accompanied by firebox flicker. I had to tweak its functions and CVs a bit, such as reducing volume dramatically. It’s a great loco.

I've used sugar cube speakers and they sound so sweet.

Is this the one, John? Again not available, but brief details of its build are there: http://www.newmodellersshop.co.uk/steam_locomotives/r2339_lner_class_a4_mallard_steam_locomotive.htm If so, it sounds like a bargain.

Many thanks to you you all for glueing advice, and to you for the link, RAF.

Some great advice there, LC.

Yes, I know that, WTD, but anything you've mixed and don't use is wasted, isn't it? You probably need to have a gluing session for that. I must admit that my UHU doesn't mention plastics, but the guy on eBay who sold me a loco from which a few bits dropped off on receipt swore by it.

At last I bought some UHU glue today, with the vague notion of sticking a few bits back on my locos sometime. Super-glue and the old plastic glues just don't work nowadays on modern plastics. I already had two tubes whose contents you can mix together, but that seems such a waste if you want to glue just a few items at a time.

I'm afraid I won it on eBay, Blackbird, a couple of years ago. It was brand new and I managed to get it for just under £500 which I considered to be pretty good at the time, particularly with sound at both ends and the basic set costing as much as about £400 in the shops. I got it from Digitrains, by the looks of it, and my literature for it shows a Loksound Class 251 Pullman Sound Decoder. In addition to all the default lighting options, the sounds it has are: F2 Twin horn F3 Twin horn (reverse notes) F4 Volume/mute (double tap for 4 stage volume control) F5 Guard's whistle F6 Station noise F7 Compressor F10 Brake release F11 Compressor It was put up as a special one-off, which, to my ears, sounds great. I can't vouch for sound authenticity because there are apparently few, if any, genuine recordings from when these trains actually ran. All I know is that I regard this as my best and most satisfying diesel loco set-ups. It runs so smoothly as well, even across my complicated junction. Perhaps I should put up a bit of film of it.

Nowadays I find that, if I run around for less than 30 minutes, I fall over.

Blackbird, I have a special one-off Midland Pullman train from the same manufacturer, but experimentally fitted with sound at both ends by someone else. I have had no real problems with it at all, it glides along and doesn't seem to have any trouble clearing my P*co code 100 trackwork, including a large junction. I have never checked any back to back measurements on it because it runs so well. Bit of a pain coupling the lot together and managing to get all wheels on the track properly, though, eh?

5' 8", PP, but I obviously look a bit short for my height.

lol

Thanks for even the slightest suggestion of that, WTD. I've just had my dinner!

Sorry, PJ. I'll try to imagine you in your pyjamas; that might help me get it right. Anyway, yes, I want to upset PP. Who wouldn't?

Good to hear your wife's result, PP. What tablet is she on that seems to be causing the problem?

It all sounds wonderful, PJ. Best of luck setting it all up. Don't forget, though, that, at our age, too much excitement is not good for us.

But I really am Superman in my dreams. Trouble is, because I'm scared of heights, I feel frightened at the prospect of flying more than a few feet off the ground. I rarely seem to be able to fly high enough to prevent people reaching up at me and pulling me down I'm aFreud I can't really explain that one, though.

I agree, RDS. I detect a sense of desperate guessing here. I'm just glad I'm nowhere near LD considerations yet.

My father-in-law today presented me with an LED/KRYPTON HEADLIGHT - SIX LEDs AND A HIGH OUTPUT KRYPTON BULB (made from kryptonite?) for my birthday yesterday. You strap it round your head. I suppose I could go mining with it.....for gold, of course!

Just think how many linesmen it has or will put out of a job, though. I well remember them walking the line with their sledgehammer, tapping rails and joints as they went. Also the wheel-tappers, of course.

I managed to see most of it, PJ. Quite enthralling. It's getting more and more like running model railways in some respects.

Yes, I came out from my coop.

Where did you poach that one from, cooped (not giving up).