Latest Bachmann Shiny. (Not that shiny actually, as it's the 'weathered' version!)

Last weekend whilst visiting Warley, I convinced myself (not that difficult!) that I should buy one of "Model Rail" magazine's Southern Region "USA Tank Engines", from their stand. Unfortunately, on enquiring, all the BR livery ones had sold out the previous day, not too surprising since they were on sale for £110, which was £2.50 cheaper than they had been selling them to the magazine subscribers, instead of the usual £124.95. I went away somewhat disappointed, and back home later, relating my disappointment to SWMBO, received considerable sympathy. This brightened me up no end, since I took it as "Carte Blanche" to be able to order one, which I duly did, and received it today. Having run it in on the rolling road, I now have to order a 6 pin direct plug-in decoder for it, as I don't keep any stock of the 6 pin ones, unlike the 8 pin versions. Anyway, herewith a couple of pics of the loco.

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I imagine that these loco's must have been quite popular with loco crews due to having a fully enclosed cab. Apparently four out of the fourteen bought by SR/BR have been preserved, although I've never seen one and have no idea where they're supposed to be located. I should point out that this loco is a commission order by Bachmann for "Model Rail", supplied only by Kernow .Anyway, decoder fitting will commence when I receive my order.
Keith.

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Got the 6 pin decoder now, so off with the body (2 screws), and boy, there's not a lot of room in there, so a good job I went for a direct plug-in type!

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Decoder of choice was the DCC Concepts "Zen Buddha", which is fortunately quite compact, although there isn't enough room left to fit the supplied 'stay-alive', even though I'd have preferred to. I'd considered removing the cab to fit crew and maybe the 'stay-alive', but it would have meant cutting off several pipes which were cemented into the cab front, so decided against that, and cab roof appears to be moulded as one piece with the rest of the cab so the idea of just taking that off also went out the window,-Drat! I'll bide my time with this one, and see if someone comes up with a better idea in due course......maybe some adventurous soul will have a go at sound fitment, although not sure if anyone has genuine sound files for the USA tank, and best of luck with finding space for a speaker!
Keith.

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paul_l wrote:

Hi Paul.
I actually (foolishly perhaps) ordered the decoder before removing the loco body, (Bachmann's "Bumph" says 6 pin direct decoder) and yes, you're quite right in saying I could remove all Bachmann's circuit board 'junk' to make more room, as I've done with some of my other loco's where space is at a premium. Sound fitment-wise, there is a weight in the smokebox area preventing me from drilling out the chimney as I normally might to fit a sugarcube speaker, since I always prefer the sound to come from where it should, rather than (for example) the tender or cab, and unless I later decide to fit sound, for the moment, I'll leave it as it is. I may look again at getting into the cab to fit crew and possibly 'firebox flicker', but as I'm expecting (earnestly hoping!) for delivery of my 3 pre-ordered DJM Class 71's prior to Xmas, which will need 21 pin decoders as a minimum, with at least one (Hattons "Golden Arrow" version) intending being sound fitted, I'm sitting on my cash for the moment. At least the DJM Class 71's are made for 'plug & play' DCC fitment, so there shouldn't be any drama involved in the actual fitting process apart from body removal and refitment,- no surgery required for these, as, unlike Hornby's version, Dave Jones has thought it through first!
Keith.

 

When "Hornby Magazine" reviewed the Hornby Class 71, they said that there was hardly enough space for a non-sound decoder, let alone sound decoder and speaker. Having seen Dave Jones at Loughborough, his liveried samples with body removed, had a good space to allow a decent bass reflex speaker to just clip in, 21 pin decoder just plugged in on top of the circuit board.....genuinely "Plug-&-Play. I gather 'Legomanbiffo' (and Olivia's Trains) already have ESU chip sound fit kits for the DJM version when it arrives, and although I have a well known preference for Zimo decoders, if none are forthcoming, I'm perfectly prepared to give ESU decoders another chance, hopefully without the saga I had with the E4 tank version. I'm sure many modellers would appreciate future models from all manufacturers being designed in this way from the outset, especially at the prices we are now expected to shell out!
Keith

 

I was having a look on RMWeb (other forums are available!) last night in their thread on the Wickham Trolley, and it seems that Hattons have DCC'd a small number of the trolleys, using one of their standard decoders, fixed under the roof of the trolley itself, but the 4 wires are quite visible where they go down from the roof, behind the rear seats and out the back to the trailer, on the photo's. Another guy is also attempting a different method, and shows photo's of the trolley entirely stripped (brave man!). He must have better eyesight and smaller fingers than me, and he also is talking about doing some machining work to the wheels. I don't have those sort of facilities or experience of that kind of thing, and only the original wires are visible on my conversion, so for the present at least, I'm happy with my take on it. It's also mentioned that 'Olivia's Trains' are selling a conversion with Plasticard 'side curtains', but the poster didn't seem too keen on it's appearance by the sound of things. Obviously, there's "more than one way to skin a cat" as the saying goes!
Keith.