Yes plenty of pictures Tom and perhaps one of your good self.:thumbs

Definately Peter,

I can't wait to get going. The funding ( the sale of my touring caravan ) will be through by the weekend. The landscaping, within the next three to four weeks as I am in Majorca the first week in September. Once the landscaping gets underway, I'll order the shed, so it should not be too long now. Thought it would never come.

I do however need a couple of practice runs in uploading photographs onto the forum so if I get the chance this weekend ( keeping it in mind I have the caravan sale / handover this weekend ) then I shall attempt an upload of some sample shots that I took of my loco stud.

May be a bit  in exciting for some but it will let me work out how the process works for my Mac as there will be possibly draft layout schematics and progress shots of the shed / baseboards and the layout itself to come which will hopefully be of more interest to everyone.

It won't be anywhere as good as some of the amazing examples I've seen on here lately, but , I have to start somewhere.

Meanwhile, I'm away to do a bit of surfing for Cobalt / tortoise point motors and track sections etc……….amongst other goodies that I will need to get me started.

:Happy:doublethumb

Cheers for now

Toto.

Ps anyone with any reminders on the stupid things that you always need when starting your layout, but never think about……..great fully received.

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Were Australia playing cricket somewhere then Gary ?……………….:lol::lol::lol:

No, we were just watching how the English play… :shock: :oops: :sad: …and just throwing the ball back occasionally… ;-);-)

Cheers, Gary.

Spurno,

I don't mind the photos of the build but as far as one of me goes…….I don't want to scare the kids.

I'm pretty sure that you'll soon get fed up looking at photos…….but I'll keep them coming.

Cheers for now

Toto

So far so good.

Got home today to find a card through the door from Parcel Force. Went to pick it up and the box was loco shaped. Funny how you know these things eh.

Anyway, got home, opened it up……….One repaired Commonwealth of Australia with crew fitted and lights which I presume have been refitted……..but one of which was lying in the box. Never mind,I can live with that.

I have not tried to run it yet to see if they have solved the decoder problem, I'm assuming that it would not be worth their reputation not to have.

I pick up another 3 A4's , Class 03 and a class 47 from Harburn Hobbies tomorrow which had been put in last week to be chipped so I'll try it out then when I do the rest.

I am also awaiting delivery of a further 3 loco's fom Hattons one of which is a DCC ready 3 F which I am hoping arrives tomorrow.

So out of a potential 7 DCC fitted and 2 analogue who wants to take a bet on how many actually work first time ?

Watch this space

Toto

My money's on 5.:cheers

Hey that's optimism for you


Any increase ( or decrease ) on five……..:thumbs


Tune in tomorrow to see who wins the teddy bear…

Toto

I will go out on the limb and say all 9 will work !!

Very comforting indeed , all will be revealed later

Toto

Well guys the verdict……….8 out of 9.

There appears to be a problem with one of the A4's.the minute you put it ontheprogramme track,off she goes, very slowly but never the less away under her own steam so to speak.

That happens before you even try to programm. Weird. I'll maybe have one more go at it when I get back home on Thursday night ( early this week ). But if no joy, then it's back toHarburn Hobbies with it.

Let you know what happens.

Just for your info, it sia Hornby decoder that's been used. Don't know if that has any bearing on it with this particular loco type.

Cheers

Toto.

Tom, I don't know about the type of DCC system you have but I would have thought that most Programme tracks do not have sufficient current capacity to actually run a loco - I do know with NCE, locos will never run on the programme track.

Initially, I'd say 8 out of 9 isn't a bad tally Toto but as they're "professionally fitted", it's not good enough…………:roll::roll:

As Sol said, they ought not to run on the programming track - too low power - but if it doesn't run on the real track, I'd expect Harburn to offer their sincere apologies, a tank of petrol for your trouble and a free repair ……………

On the other hand, I'd tend to avoid Hornby and Bachmann for "driving" decoders ……….  I'm sure there must be many thousands in circulation operating without a hitch but, whenever I read about a problem, the chances are, it's a "train maker" decoder …………..:cool wink

Thanks guys,

My apologies, I have mislead………:oops: when I put it on the running track it runs away. However, it's still not responding to the controller.

Sol , its an NCE system that I run. It is very easy to programme for a dummy like myself.

I've only phoned Harburn Hobbies today to advise of the problem as there has been a lot going on at the moment. The sale of my caravan has went through and my mum is undergoing a double heart bypass today, she's out of theatre as we speak but the next 24 hours are quite critical. ( she's a strong old spud at 74 ).

However, the caravan sale has financed the new shed which will be on order very soon so " real progress " shall be made shortly.

Anyway back to the point, Harburn have told me just to take it back in and they will have a look at it. Sounds fair. I'll let you know how I get on but it will be couple of weeks before I know as I am on holiday as of Saturday to sunny Majorca.


Keep your eye open for my new " layout " thread as it should be on the go fairly quickly.

Cheers for now

Toto.

Well,

Decoders, decoders, decoders. Another 4 steamies dropped off at Harburn Hobbies for decoders. Went to pick them up today. Success rate, possibly three out of four.

Possibly he says…….let me explain.

I handed in a Class B1 - that has been returned after having a Gaugemaster DCC22 micro decoder fitted. Apparently not enough room for your standard decoder. Not tested by myself as yet

A Class K3 was handed in and a Gaugemaster standard DCC25 decoder fitted. Again not been tested on DCC by myself yet.

A class 5 MT was handed in, the speedo cable was broken  under testing so the installer is awaiting a new one from Bachmann. However a Gaugemaster DCC25 will be installed when ready.

An A4 which was fitted with a Hornby decoder was handed in for the second time. The first time the Hornby decoder was fitted but did not work on my test track when I got home. I took it back and the installer commented that he had the loco running well under both DC and DCC.

He has asked me to try it again and info success, he will fit a Gaugemaster decoder which he believes is from the same stable as NCE which ais my DCC system. I'm thinking, if that's the case, why not fit it in the first place………….twat…..

Anyway, I'll test the other three out tomorrow when I get a chance and let you all know how things turn out.

Cheers for now.

Toto

Good luck Toto, awaiting your news.

If it were me Toto, I'd be thinking of trying another manufacturer for the decoders ………………..:roll::roll:

Whilst I have absolutely no experience of Gaugemaster, I've used TCS, Lenz, Zimo and Loksound decoders and am still looking for my first duff one. :roll::roll::roll::roll:

Your apparent failure rate would not impress me at all.

Hi PeterMac,

I seem to be at the mercy of the retailer. It's seems like whatever they have  in stock.

I have since spoken to them and specified that on no account do they fit Hornby decoders. They then move onto Gaugemaster.

I still have a few loco's to go so I will specify Lenz and see what they say. I also have a few Heljans that have been fitted with Hornby decoders which I am informed is bad news as Heljans draw more power. I don't know whether to risk it and continue to run them on these decoders or to just change them. I don't want to loose any loco's to overheating or worse, fire.

By the way, nice to see you back, there was a noted absence over the last few days. Hope everything is ok. My shedost is now up and running with some pictures posted. I will be updating this tonight as further progress has been made.

Thanks again

Cheers

Toto

Thanks for the "you've been missed" comment Toto - an enforced, and sudden,  2 week break in my local hospital but hopefully now on the road to recovery, if a little battered and bruised. 

There's lots of catching up to do it seems ………………….:shock::shock:

Sorry to hear you've been laid up Peter.

 Toto, I would echo Peter's comments about decoders to some extent.  I wouldn't touch the Hornby decoders with the proverbial… Bachmann decoders are pretty competent being ESU and all.  I don't like that they only have the minimum CVs though, so I don't use them.

 I really like the Lenz Silver decoder and that is what I have in all my locos that need 21 pin.  I'm also favourable to DCC Concepts if only for the ease of fitting a Stay Alive.  I've used Digitrax and NCE as well but a long time ago - these work well also.

 I'm not getting why you have your decoders fitted.  Are these hard wired?  Out of curiosity do they remove the capacitors?  They should.

 John

John,

I get them fitted mainly to steamies as I don't like taking them apart. I've done a few diesels myself and maybe it's beginners " bad luck " but I've screwed a couple up in terms of damaging other parts of the loco.

If this continues, I can either pay to get them chipped or Pay to get them
Fixed.

It's scared me a bit, maybe just lacking confidence.

Anyway, for the time being,the retailers win.

As far as the capacitors go, ??????????

Cheers for now

Toto.

PeterMac,you certainly do have a lot to catch up on. There's feathers flying everywhere. Some great posts with plenty pictures. I personally recommend a look at Gary's. his station idling is a must see.

My own build is also now " on air " and is taking shape.

Good to see you back,take it easy and good health.

Cheers

Toto