Not long ago I chanced upon a couple of videos of Bachmann´s C 205, sold exclusively by Kernow (and, at 134 quid for the basic version, not much of a bargain), and decided I simply had to have it. Unfortunatly, the sound version had been sold out, so I had to make do with a dumb one. My one complain is that, as with Bachmann´s also splendid class 411, the gap between the coaches is too wide (especially noticeable in this case, since there are no gangways to pallieate it some). This is quite unexplainable in view of the nfty coupler to chassis coupling of that other Bachmann gem, class 516  Luckily enough, my friend Sorcerer Hands managed to slice off a couple of millimitres, so that now the coupling is well nigh buffer to buffer, a job he had already performed with my class 411. I am presently waiting for the relevant ESU deco from Kernow. It is probably waiting for me in Vienna, where I plan to land in a fortnight. 

"……………………..so I had to make do with a dumb one…………………….."  I think a lot of us have that problem Sergio. :cheers:cheers

I have a strange vision of your friend "Sorcerer Hands" slicing off a couple of millimeteres………….hmm

Is the "205" nicknamed the "Thumper" ?  If so, I heard the sound version when it came out originally - it was impressive.   Will you add sound to it in the future ?

The sound version wasn't brilliant (IMHO). In particular, the idle was quite peculiar and not very much like what I remembered from my younger days in and around the units. I had mine reblown with legomanbiffo sounds but Howes also offer better sounds than the original ones.

The class 205 'Thumper' model itself is very good. The coupling distance on these units was wider apart than on the electric 2 EPB (class 416/2 as modelled by Bachmann) units (and on the class 415/2 4 EPB units) because the DEMUs retained the Pullman buffing plates and buckeye couplers, where the EMU types had single, centre buffers and rubbing plates on adjacent coaches, coupled together with screw couplings - apparently, when 10 coach BR standard units ( 2 x 4 EPB + 1 x 2 EPB) were implemented, the wider coupling distance made the units too long for the platforms at some stations, so the buffing plates were removed and the screw coupling arrangements were installed.

The length problem wasn't quite so bad with the SR-style units built to Bulleid's designs (classes 415/1 and 416/1) as the coaches were slightly shorter.

Even so, there is room to close up the coupling distances a bit on all of these units, so you are lucky to have such a friend to do it for you, Sergio.

I have two of the Thumpers: one green unit with orange 'V' at the van end, with sound, and one Connex unit, just on DCC with a Lenz Silver decoder.

My friend does perform miracles indeed! He even handcrafts the minutest maetal and plastic pieces (stairs, handles, levers) and manages to get the colours exactly right.
As soon as I get back from Vienna in July, I shall install the ESU sound in my Thumper. Fortunately, since I canno possibly compare, what our Downunderer SRman canno hear won´t hurt me. As a matter of fact, my vast ignorance as a distant Argie has been a perfect bliss, since all of the niceties that you, obsessed Brits, quibble over, blithely escape me.
The couplers at the end of both Thumper coaches does indeed make for a wider gap than is the case with Class 416, but, unlike the latter case, the gap BETWEEN the buffers this time around is some 3 mm. Those are the ones my friend chopped of (cutting the coupler that distance from the middel, silcing of the extra length, and rejoining both ends making sure the contact wires remained functional. As I pointed out, he performed the same surgery on my Class 411.

Don't get me wrong, Sergio. The original sounds weren't too bad when running, but I really didn't like the idle. I used to see and hear them, and occasionally ride in them, on the Three Bridges to East Grinstead branch, now long closed. Part of my route to school involved crossing a bridge over the line. I was never late to school but I did frequently dawdle over that bridge!!

  

I did fit a slightly deeper sound chamber to the speaker when I first got my sound-fitted unit, as well as sealing all the gaps around the speaker with Blu-Tack or equivalent, which is something I always do with sound-fitted engines and units to improve the quality of the sound from the speakers.

I did not get you wrong at all, mate! I simplu secretly marvel at. admire and envy your way. ye Brits, with your trains. The kind of minutiae you notice. care about and care for is miles beyond my abilities... Which, as I pointed out, is a blessing in desguise, since I cannot but blissfully ignore them!

Hail, ye lads! Sorry again for my prolongued absence. Decided that the green livery conspired against enjoying the beautiful grids on the motor coach and switched to the lighter, whitw-with-the-blue-stripe version. One problem, however, persists that had worried me from the beginning: the sound is a bit too muffled. Resorted to my guru "Sorcerer Hands" to solve it; but he diagnosed that the loudpeaker enclosure was… well, too closed, which conspired agianst resonance. Has anyone felt a similar disappointment?

Otherwise, little to report from Down-Under-to-the-left: Got the new superb Bachmann 1F, the whole array of port-hole coaches and some cheap blank ESU sound decoders for SH to download sound for my Bachmann classes 411 and 416, and Hornby 2-Bil.

Summer season in full swing here.

Happy holidays for the whole lot of ye!

Good to hear from you Sergio. ;-)

I've found that the speakers are a far more important part of DCC sound than people give credit for.  We do, as you know, have a few "sound gurus" on here.  hopefully, your resident "expert" will sort out the failings you've discovered. :thumbs

As far as geography is concerned - from "up here", you're "down under to the right", not left ………………:cheers

I envy you your summer and hope you all have a great "Festive Season". :doublethumb