Dapol Imperium 6p decoder substitute.

Just ordered a Gaugemaster DCC 23 decoder for this loco. Not used a Gaugemaster decoder before so we'll see how it goes......limited for choice with a decoder this small, and having looked at the space left if the circuit board is removed, I'm doubtful if I could get a direct wired one in due to the space between motor/flywheel and the body. I suppose I might just be able to get one into the bunker, but then again, it means hacking a new loco about, not something I'd normally bother about, but as this one is a Dapol, and problems have surfaced with other Dapol loco's, I'd prefer to leave it in one piece. Why on earth couldn't Dapol have done the same as DJ Models with the 02 Class and just made it with a removable smokebox door to fit a decoder.......so much easier!

Keith.

 

Received the Gaugemaster DCC 23 decoder for my Dapol BR/SR B4 loco today from 'Time Tunnel Models (by return service!). This is the instruction leaflet with decoder and Dapol DC plug for size comparison.

 

I've not used any Gaugemaster decoders before, but in the bumph it says the decoder accepts 2 or 4 digit addressing, so as it happened with my numbering system, the required address was 0100 which was duly programmed in, but on attempting to run the loco, nothing doing. After a bit of fiddling about, I gave in, reprogrammed the previous loco (my DJ Models '02' Class to 0100 from 0099 (this uses my 'standard fit' LaisDCC decoder) which accepted the change without issue, then programmed the B4/DCC23 decoder to 0099, and it then ran faultlessly, so I'm not sure what the issue is/was with the DCC 23 decoder. All this programming was done as normal on my Lenz setup.
Anyway, the actual decoder fitted into the body without any difficulty despite being slightly longer by about 2mm, though it wouldn't unfortunately accept my original decoder choice of the LaisDCC 6 pin. Once back together and programmed, I was able to change the speed step from 28 to 128 which I much prefer, fit a crew (not a lot of room for fat firemen/drivers in this loco!) and I'll eventually get around to weathering it at some point. I admit that I know little about the B4 Class of loco's except they were intended as dock shunters, but I do wonder where on earth they put the coal, as there's no bunker to the rear? Here are a couple of pics of the complete loco.





Job done Kim, now you can get around to ordering one!

Keith.