Search found 819 matches

by Mike Parkes
Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:16 pm
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: 2024 Range
Replies: 13
Views: 784

Re: 2024 Range

I don't have a use for the model of Locomotion. But I did spend a couple of interesting hours with the Beamish staff when it was being operated, and it was time well spent. That was the replica. Hornby are modelling the original as it is today at Shildon as a static exhibit. Q is then what differec...
by Mike Parkes
Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:36 am
Forum: Heljan
Topic: Heljan OO Class 25
Replies: 10
Views: 2453

Re: Heljan OO Class 25

The lack of any body framing being visible through the large side grille as well puts me off them - something that their new 45 also suffers from.
by Mike Parkes
Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:45 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: Dapol Imperium Chip In Non DCC Ready Engine
Replies: 5
Views: 487

Re: Dapol Imperium Chip In Non DCC Ready Engine

You would be best using a wired decoder like one with a 8 pin plug (and if such remove the plug) and solder the wires direct to the pick-ups (red and black) and motor (orange and grey). If you are ultra careful the loco will go in the correct direction but if not either swop one sets of wires around...
by Mike Parkes
Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:19 pm
Forum: Track/Layout Design
Topic: Peco SL 99 Y point
Replies: 1
Views: 546

Re: Peco SL 99 Y point

SL-99 or SL-99XX is a 3 way not a Y. Presumably at some piint Peco had a computer system that required four digits / charcters hence the XX so largelky the same but Peco have constantly retooled their points with tighter clearances and smaller frogs. So if you are running current locos then the XX v...
by Mike Parkes
Fri Aug 05, 2022 9:28 pm
Forum: Real World Railways
Topic: First Radius Curves...
Replies: 9
Views: 505

Re: First Radius Curves...

The curve at the southern end of Crimple Valley viaduct Harrogate on what was a link line between the Harrogate-Wetherby line (closed 1966) and the original Leeds Northern line to Starbeck line that run underneath the viaduct (closed 1951) is pretty sharp (less than 200m radius) and tranversed by Az...
by Mike Parkes
Fri Jul 22, 2022 6:27 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: Wiring a Peco SL-E194
Replies: 3
Views: 628

Re: Wiring a Peco SL-E194

One solution is use a dcc frog switch module on each frog, with isolated joiners as decriibed above, such as the Gaugemaster DCC80 Autofrog - individually £8.50 (or less), pack of 3 £22.50 (or less)
by Mike Parkes
Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:52 am
Forum: General Model Railway Discussion / News
Topic: Peco Streamline 3-way turnout
Replies: 27
Views: 1087

Re: Peco Streamline 3-way turnout

Like all other Peco points over the 30+ years since it was originally introduced the tooling will have been updated an number of times. As an example I remotored my old 1980s Hornby Rocket (which at least does not break or stop working like the current one) only to find that whilst it ran through Pe...
by Mike Parkes
Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:58 am
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set
Replies: 13
Views: 1424

Re: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set

You would have thought they would aim to equal/better the competition. The Bachmann Wickham Trolley shows you can have tiny OO motorised stock with custiomer friendly wiring arrnagement - okay not a simply DCC fit that one, and the Bachmann USA tank as an example of ultra neat internal wiring in com...
by Mike Parkes
Wed Jul 06, 2022 9:38 pm
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set
Replies: 13
Views: 1424

Re: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set

The 6 pin socket is in the tender water barrel but Hornbys inability to come up with a sensible design means the socket incredibly is sited such that their is only space for a 6 pin plug and not a normal 6 pin decoder. On mine they had in any case wired the socket up wrong with track feeds to 4 term...
by Mike Parkes
Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:52 am
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set
Replies: 13
Views: 1424

Re: Hornby Stephenson Rocket Mail set

Assuming its the same as the first release Rocket of last year there is a small screw on the underside of the loco body. The tightness of this is critical to the performance of the model as whilst it simply holds the body in place, the body has two internal protrutions which hold in place an otherwi...
by Mike Parkes
Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:09 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc
Replies: 5
Views: 683

Re: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc

The reference to the modifications being "DCC friendly" is due to a perceived possibilty of the rear of a metal wheel touching the open switch rail and causing a short as all rails bar the stock rail to which the switch rail is open next to it are at the same polarity on an electrofrog poi...
by Mike Parkes
Sat Jun 18, 2022 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Layouts - Under Construction
Topic: Hornby Adams Radial Problems.
Replies: 25
Views: 2437

Re: Hornby Adams Radial Problems.

Sounds like the bogie and/or pony truck have too much downwards pressure and are lifting the driving wheels off the track.
by Mike Parkes
Fri Jun 17, 2022 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Layouts - Under Construction
Topic: Hornby Adams Radial Problems.
Replies: 25
Views: 2437

Re: Hornby Adams Radial Problems.

Check the pick up contact strips are bearing on the back of the wheels at all times as the axles slide from side to side. If not use a small screwdriver to hold the contact strip on the back of the wheel and another to cretae a slight bend in it which has enough force to hold the strip on the back o...
by Mike Parkes
Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:57 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc
Replies: 5
Views: 683

Re: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc

You do not need to do anything - it will work okay as it is. The problem however with Peco points is that the power contact bewteen a switch rail and stock rail depends on a clean contact which overtime may not conduct properly. Modifying them is not a DCC neccessity but rather good practice be it D...
by Mike Parkes
Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:05 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc
Replies: 5
Views: 683

Re: Peco sl-97 wiring for dcc

You refer to SL-97 which is an insulfrog point while the wiring for dcc (which is not essential as Peco points work fine as supplied on DCC) is for the electrofrog SLE-97 . By modifying them you are building in extra measures to ensure they remain working fine if muck etc builds up to cause problems...