I am too but it’s looking like it might after Christmas now unfortunately.
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reddragons Christmas advent.
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hexagon789
Veteran Member
I have one of those but only three-car
reddragon
Established Member
19th - The Money pit
When I bought the Hornby Class 395 it seemed such a wonderful train and DCC ready so an easy first conversion to DCC, or so it seemed.
I guess omens were not good as I had to fit new traction tyres after its first use when I got it and again at DCC conversion, but hey the instructions were simple, uncouple, one screw, top off and plug in chip! Err nope no and no again.
These units do not uncouple. Apparently nobody can uncouple them without breaking the connector! I had to turn the whole unit upside down and unscrew the connector - very tiny screw that needed a magnifying glass to see. OK that went better than feared and the top came off easily and there was the plug. In went the chip, the first I ever did drove it backwards and then turns it to go forwards. Nothing! Tested the chip & it was dead and the dummy car was buzzing away. Apparently that needs another chip. Grrr.
Off to the model shop it went for repairs, tested, chips fitted to power & dummy, that's 3 chips so far. Eagerly I put it on the track. Off it went like a pocket rocket, but would it stop? no! It ran off the end of the track. I put it back on the track and ran it power car first and again it stopped, chip 2 fried!!!
Off to the model shop again, tested, tested, tested again. I fitted capacitors all over my DCC system to cope with the devil.
Bad news. The lights have a short that only surfaces on DCC. Light units are not cheap, nobody has them and there is no way of replacing them. So third chip had to be hard wired in and the lights do not function in the power car anymore.
In hindsight it would have been cheaper to buy a new train having paid 3x as much on trying to convert it than a new train would have cost. An appalling Hornby product it really is.
When I bought the Hornby Class 395 it seemed such a wonderful train and DCC ready so an easy first conversion to DCC, or so it seemed.
I guess omens were not good as I had to fit new traction tyres after its first use when I got it and again at DCC conversion, but hey the instructions were simple, uncouple, one screw, top off and plug in chip! Err nope no and no again.
These units do not uncouple. Apparently nobody can uncouple them without breaking the connector! I had to turn the whole unit upside down and unscrew the connector - very tiny screw that needed a magnifying glass to see. OK that went better than feared and the top came off easily and there was the plug. In went the chip, the first I ever did drove it backwards and then turns it to go forwards. Nothing! Tested the chip & it was dead and the dummy car was buzzing away. Apparently that needs another chip. Grrr.
Off to the model shop it went for repairs, tested, chips fitted to power & dummy, that's 3 chips so far. Eagerly I put it on the track. Off it went like a pocket rocket, but would it stop? no! It ran off the end of the track. I put it back on the track and ran it power car first and again it stopped, chip 2 fried!!!
Off to the model shop again, tested, tested, tested again. I fitted capacitors all over my DCC system to cope with the devil.
Bad news. The lights have a short that only surfaces on DCC. Light units are not cheap, nobody has them and there is no way of replacing them. So third chip had to be hard wired in and the lights do not function in the power car anymore.
In hindsight it would have been cheaper to buy a new train having paid 3x as much on trying to convert it than a new train would have cost. An appalling Hornby product it really is.
I used to drive them when I lived in Kent.
I have a 6 car set which has never been out the box.
Looks like a lovely model - and it's yet another one I'd been looking to buy second-hand somewhere. That sounds like a right pain to get it working (and even then it's not properly working from what you say). I admire your determination to get it working: I'd have just left it or sold it! Hornby seem to have produced several products which people really want but the models are really poor (the 4VEP being another example). It's a shame about the lights not working as that's one of the novelties of DCC for me. On my 4VEP the lights only work at one end and the interior lights only work in the motor coach.
Could I be a bit cheeky and ask if you could make a post on my thread? I've got something I want to post about but don't want the posts to be merged!
-Peter
Very nice. Were they good to drive?
Very nice to drive and like starship enterprise compared to a 400 which I started on.
They are hopelessly slow on DC, a 12 car being extremely slow.
On HS1 they are a completely different train with a 12 car being quicker, especially through London tunnel 2 going towards Dagenham, you exit the tunnel around 8km faster.
All speeds on HS1 are in km
Very reliable when I worked them.
Interesting stuff, thanks for that Cossie.
reddragon
Established Member
Might be best in the box!
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20th - A happier Hornby EMU day.
These 2 units I managed to get at bargain prices and they are so much better than older Hornby EMUs.
The 2-Bil unit 2041 is in Southern Green and DCC fitting was easy. As to why you have to take the body off & why there cannot be a socket underneath . . .
Next is it's other half, a class 402 2-HAL. A slightly different Southern Green as prototypical apparently but they look & run well as a pair. I don't care that in real life this didn't happen.
These units do not have any lights but look good anyway. Both have the same DCC ID to run as a pair.
I hope that one day, Hornby make a good EMU.
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reddragon
Established Member
21st
Hornby 5-BEL class 403. I had the 2 car moto pack for years but finally got mu hands on a centre car pack a few months ago after 5 years looking. The connectors are unique to the set so no mix & match is possible
A really nice unit but no dir lights and internal lights are always on.
Hornby 5-BEL class 403. I had the 2 car moto pack for years but finally got mu hands on a centre car pack a few months ago after 5 years looking. The connectors are unique to the set so no mix & match is possible
A really nice unit but no dir lights and internal lights are always on.
That looks like a really nice unit - I've been interested in the Brighton Belle units for a while; something different having a Pullman unit!
-Peter
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Very nice, I remember the model from a review in Railway Modeller.
I think Hornby released the BB model in ~2012
reddragon
Established Member
I got it in 2016 and it was end of run / stock so I guess 2014.
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Today the 22nd is Bachmann EMUs
I managed to get a class 411 at a good price before the payday rush. DCC fitting was easy. It has end lights & internal lights. The only disappointment is that it does not have directional lights. One end is white with head code, the other red.
Then my later addition was a class 416. I thought it had full yellow ends, which is what I wanted but what I got I still like. Its still in the box as I have no chip for it yet.
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I really quite like Southern Region EMUs and those two are definitely nice-looking examples. Shame about the 411 end lights not being directional, though.
In that photo, the 416 looks to be in some form of chromatic blue (which we've previously established probably didn't exist as a separate colour but was a mix of multiple others). Adds to the look.
-Peter
So nice. There was just nothing like that available 25 years ago, it all had to be kit built.
I remember looking at the gangway end of some Lima mk1s and wondering if I could turn them into a 4TC.
I reckon I could do that nowadays but I didn’t think I could have at the time.
reddragon
Established Member
23rd is for Hornby 4VEP class 423
For me, this has been a good unit. Directional lights & internal lights. DCC conversion is easy as it has a plug, although I did buy it as DCC fitted, Hattons sent it without the chip & had to send one afterwards!
It runs well but slow speed is very poor and even under half speed is not good!
For me, this has been a good unit. Directional lights & internal lights. DCC conversion is easy as it has a plug, although I did buy it as DCC fitted, Hattons sent it without the chip & had to send one afterwards!
It runs well but slow speed is very poor and even under half speed is not good!
reddragon
Established Member
The last sat of advent, the 24th id modern Southern units: -
The Bachmann 450 is outstanding in all ways and the DCC just plugs in underneath! The best unit I have.
Then the old Hornby class 466. I had to get this one hard wired for DCC but it was quite easy to do. Runs better than other Hornby EMUs of the pre-DCC era.
That just leaves whatever Santa delivers!
The Bachmann 450 is outstanding in all ways and the DCC just plugs in underneath! The best unit I have.
Then the old Hornby class 466. I had to get this one hard wired for DCC but it was quite easy to do. Runs better than other Hornby EMUs of the pre-DCC era.
That just leaves whatever Santa delivers!
Iskra
Established Member
That 450 does look good, and it looks nicely weathered too!
reddragon
Established Member
A little bonus hot of my last DC locos on my S&C viaduct!
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The 25th and final loco!
Hattons 66 Comes with DCC sound
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The 25th and final loco!
Hattons 66 Comes with DCC sound
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reddragon
Established Member
Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.
Its a damn heavy loco and all wheel drive so should be able to haul my 20+ wagon Freightliner train (currently only 11 wagons in stock)
Iskra
Established Member
That’s a nice looking 66. Have you had any issues with it?
reddragon
Established Member
Its still in its box, so until later today at least no! Why?
Iskra
Established Member
Ah, there were many issues with them when originally released, so it’s worth a test run.
reddragon
Established Member
Well I have just fitted the DCC chip. Getting the body off was OK, but the steps can only bend / break - what a pain!
I have no hope of fitting the sound - serious specialist soldering & work needed.
Runs well, minimal wobble but I'll have to get used to the super realistic acceleration & braking performance so not to crash!
Mine is only a DC model.
I do have enough R609s and some straights to have a test session on in the loft.
I might actually give it a go, I think a jumper will be required lol.
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