LTSR_NSE

If it was a DCC Ready model that you added the decoder to, simply swap back to the blanking plate. Alternatively if a DCC Fitted model, it’s probably more advisable to contact Hornby Customer Services.

Yes Hunt couplings are magnetic. See the link from @Martin-369195 for a supplier. Others have suggested that the medium length ones offer the best compromise between coach spacing & negotiating curves.

Have you got the 7040 configured in ‘Elite’ or ‘Select’ mode? It must be appropriately configured for higher functions to operate correctly.

Certainly using any of reverse osmosis/de-ionised/distilled over tap water will increase the life of the atomiser - especially if you live in a hard water area!

Happy Birthday 😀 err… the relevance to collector’s club is..? (Everyone who adds their D.O.B to Hornby account & joins Hobby Rewards, gets the Birthday points.)

Since the usual solutions aren’t improving your issue, I would definitely recommend an email to hm.customercare@hornby.com (direct HM7k support contact) asking for additional support/advice.

Since it certainly isn’t a smoke generator, (isn’t actually a steam generator either) more a small, very localised, fine mist generator - possibly there is an unfortunate incorrect expectation regarding what the effects should look like. Perhaps you could post a video, so others can either confirm yours is working as intended, or not.

I set stock alerts on the TT:120 TTA Tankers - no alert received. Have set an alert on the HM7k Power Bank…

DCC Concepts’ Zen range includes 4 sizes - might this be the company you haven’t found/heard of?

@ColinB we have had this discussion before where you champion using the LaisDCC stay alive - with non HM7k decoders. However since this thread is about whether anything other than the Hornby power bank is compatible with HM7k - are you saying that the LaisDCC are? Or are you simply stating a preference that isn’t relevant to this thread?

@Martin-369195 - there have been previous reports of an issue where multiple HM7k decoders cannot be operated & only the first placed on track is. The solution for these situations has been to: • completely delete affected decoders from app. • remove affected locos from track & power off phone/tablet. • power everything back on again. • go through the linking process again. The decoders should then be able to be operated together.

Hornby request feedback as part of the order placement process - since that is the point at which their direct control ceases (logistics having been outsourced.) If they were to request feedback once deliveries had been completed as well, they would get a better understanding of what customers thought of the arrangement - which might (or might not) be desirable!

@ColinB - considering other model manufacturers use preorders to gauge production size, if all design & development for models had to be completed before opening order books, there would be an awful lot of waste/dead time. Manufacturers would either need even larger investment funds (to cope with longer period between start of development & customer purchase) or else would have to produce less models, more slowly - massively impacting profitability. Doesn’t sound like a great business strategy?!

The standard class coach immediately after the catering coach also reads InterCity 125 (even though not all characters are legible the larger capital C & the space between word & 125 are both visible.)

It isn’t always driver laziness - if they can’t find it in the van, they’ll flag ‘customer not in’ as a way of covering for the loading screwup.

Shame they’re not buses, or that’d mean you got 2 come along at once!

@Darren-373700 Hornby appear to have included circuitry/components in the power bank that interact with the decoder - so using an alternative is not recommended & risks damage. It has previously been stated that the circuit diagram for the power bank is proprietary & those in possession have signed NDAs to prevent its publication. Therefore until an electronics whizz decides to dismantle one - the only available advice has to be no there isn’t a compatible alternative.

Addition to previous post (can’t edit)… Realised that ‘water based smoke oil’ might have been asking whether water based haze/fog solutions (propylene glycol or glycerol - used in stage/event atomisers) would be appropriate or not. I’ve put this question to the devs & will update as/when receive a response.

Please understand that this new ‘steam generator’ is actually an atomiser (essentially a high-tech version of a squirty plant mister - that produces incredibly fine mist) therefore it won’t overheat (like the old Triang elements) if run dry. As others have said it is still advisable to disable it using F24 - if you intend to do any extended dry running. Since there is no heat involved, any smoke oil products will be completely unsuitable - since the atomiser needs water to function correctly.

Personally I’d love to see Hornby make some chassis/mechanisms available separately - to increase modelling opportunities. However if this is done, they will need to separate the items produced for modellers, from those intended as spare parts against warranty failure - to prevent modellers grabbing the entire stock, leaving any RTR failures as expensive ornaments.

Unfortunately @USRA you have included every manufacturer’s dilemma: • customers that want ‘headliners’ Vs those who want ‘workhorses’. • customers that want a large variety of different eras/regions/fuel types/etc Vs those who want a decent range within a particular era/region/etc. • customers that want an absence of fragility Vs those who want maximum detail. • customers that want user serviceability & common parts Vs those who are disappointed by compromises & micro millimetre imperfections. • and finally… customers that want models from the dawn of time Vs those that want models from their lifetime! Who’d want to be a manufacturer? 🤷‍♂️ Unsurprisingly the choices made will continue to be those they believe will result in the most profit. Unfortunately most companies seem to believe that ‘made to last’ & ‘user serviceable’ are the least profitable notions ever conceived! 🙁

@JJ73 I recognise that you didn’t fully appreciate what you were purchasing - and therefore have sympathy for your disappointment. You have purchased a brand new innovation - adding steam effects to a sound fitted loco. The majority of existing sound fitted locos, only work in a very limited manner (or don’t work all) on DC. Therefore expecting the most cutting edge loco tech, to be 100% compatible with 70+ yr old track power/control tech - regrettably guaranteed disappointment. Unfortunately you do now need to choose to either embrace the new control technology that these ‘steam effects’ locos require - or decide that they aren’t for you & return it/cancel other pre-orders for this type.

Just to add one final correction to the ridiculously inaccurate title… this loco wasn’t delayed waiting for HM7000 (that has already been available for over a year.) This loco has taken time to develop due to three innovations: • synching the chuff to axle rotation • fitting the atomiser & reservoir • synching the steam to sound profile(s) Those features would’ve taken the same development time - regardless of the decoder used!

You would only need the digital power track (or simply remove any RF interference capacitor from existing power tracks) if you want to use a DCC controller & don’t want to solder wires directly to track. Whereas if you just want to use the app with a DC PSU: The HM7020 adapter is for using with the P9600W 1amp PSU. The R7337 5amp PSU already includes the HM7020 adapter.

Shouldn’t even need to load profile - such a new one would hopefully be the latest ready to go! 🤞