kelsh003 Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 Has anyone else had performance problems with the Caprotti five? My regular LMS liveried one is alright but my Caprotti one slips and slides even around the third radius on my layout. I've added lead weight to it but the fact it's struggling with three old Lima mk1s suggests something is very amiss... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted June 17 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 17 29 minutes ago, kelsh003 said: I've added lead weight to it but the fact it's struggling with three old Lima mk1s suggests something is very amiss... Not good news then. Out of the box my Caprotti engine only weighed 235gm. That is very very light. I finally got it up to 310gm. The Caprotti also has a sprung front bogie. I am not sure that there is room for both the spring and plastic washer. It could well be that the bogie is lifting the front of the engine. I did two things, firstly I did little bit of filing and massaging to the piece of metal that holds the bogie pivot. This was to ensure that the metal bracket fitted neatly into the channel in the Mazac chassis. Secondly I removed the bogie spring and washer - previous Hornby Black Fives never had a sprung front bogie and the Caprotti runs quite nicely without the spring. Some pointers for you. Cheers Ray 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted June 17 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 17 On 07/06/2024 at 13:35, PeterStiles said: I'm only running them in 3v Voltage is irrelevant, it's how much current you put through them that determines the brightness. And yes modern high brightness ones are very efficient needing only a couple of milliamps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 45568 Posted June 18 Popular Post Share Posted June 18 I have posted in Wright writes on my Caprotti five, but to note here I received it and was very impressed with it out of the box. The buffer beam lamp came away easily but the replacement lamp iron pinged off and had to be replaced with one from flattened fuse wire. The smokebox lamp was painted black. All copper 'bling' was painted over with Humbrol metalcote and lightly polished, the underframe and wheels lightly weathered. The result. I'm very impressed with Hornby's matt/satin paint finish to this loco. Cheers from Oz, Peter C. 19 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelsh003 Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 12 hours ago, Silver Sidelines said: Not good news then. Out of the box my Caprotti engine only weighed 235gm. That is very very light. I finally got it up to 310gm. The Caprotti also has a sprung front bogie. I am not sure that there is room for both the spring and plastic washer. It could well be that the bogie is lifting the front of the engine. I did two things, firstly I did little bit of filing and massaging to the piece of metal that holds the bogie pivot. This was to ensure that the metal bracket fitted neatly into the channel in the Mazac chassis. Secondly I removed the bogie spring and washer - previous Hornby Black Fives never had a sprung front bogie and the Caprotti runs quite nicely without the spring. Some pointers for you. Cheers Ray Hi Ray hope you are good. Well, what do you know? Removed the washer and spring seems to have worked! I've done the same to my LMS 5200 Black Five as well, and that seems to be a little happier too. Many thanks for that. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MikeParkin65 Posted June 18 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 18 10 minutes ago, kelsh003 said: Hi Ray hope you are good. Well, what do you know? Removed the washer and spring seems to have worked! I've done the same to my LMS 5200 Black Five as well, and that seems to be a little happier too. Many thanks for that. I've never been sure what 'problem' the Hornby bogie spring is trying to fix. Some models run fine with the spring fitted others like your Black Five lose traction. I think if your trackwork is reasonably level the weight alone of the cast Hornby bogie trucks is usually enough to keep them on the rails. Different with Bachmann where the lightness of the plastic bogies can make them liable to bounce off the rails especially at point work 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted June 18 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 18 1 hour ago, kelsh003 said: Hi Ray hope you are good. Well, what do you know? Removed the washer and spring seems to have worked! I've done the same to my LMS 5200 Black Five as well, and that seems to be a little happier too. Many thanks for that. Thank you Kelsh, good to have some feedback. Some of these issues only emerge when you play with the model. Enjoy Regards Ray 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelsh003 Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 22 hours ago, Silver Sidelines said: Thank you Kelsh, good to have some feedback. Some of these issues only emerge when you play with the model. Enjoy Regards Ray Its very good to know! I was seriously considering a return of it which I did not want to do as I think the Caprotti 'five is an excellent model, and I love having weird and quirky things in the collection. Thankfully this has saved it, and improved how my LMS 'five runs as well. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelsh003 Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 On 18/06/2024 at 11:46, MikeParkin65 said: I've never been sure what 'problem' the Hornby bogie spring is trying to fix. Some models run fine with the spring fitted others like your Black Five lose traction. I think if your trackwork is reasonably level the weight alone of the cast Hornby bogie trucks is usually enough to keep them on the rails. Different with Bachmann where the lightness of the plastic bogies can make them liable to bounce off the rails especially at point work Its weird how certain things can change a model and how it behaves. The trackwork on my layout is quite new and flat, but for whatever reason this 'five had major issues. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold zr2498 Posted June 21 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 21 Sound installation project started. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadrille Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 On 17/06/2024 at 22:19, kelsh003 said: Has anyone else had performance problems with the Caprotti five? My regular LMS liveried one is alright but my Caprotti one slips and slides even around the third radius on my layout. I've added lead weight to it but the fact it's struggling with three old Lima mk1s suggests something is very amiss... You could try removing the front Bogie and check that the driving wheels are in full contact with the rails. If that improves the locomotive then perhaps the bogie/wheels need adjustment. To add weight:Remove the body and run a level of fine lead-shot from one end of the loco' body to the other and set in place with diluted PVA. As a matter of interest, I listened to my own advice and refrained from purchasing the new Hornby B5! Instead I purchased a new Bachmann 3F with tender, a Hornby 8F body (Only) which had been renumbered professionally, and Also a complete Hornby 8F (Renumbered) c/w a Brassmasters kit (Fitted) and, to add insult to injury, all three items cost me £180.00 including p+p. If you also remove the £30.00 Brassmasters kit then I'm laughing all the way to the bank, in comparison. I will Not, unlike some, throw good money after bad! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted June 22 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 22 I have continued to research 'lamps' and have put some thoughts together in a new Blog post. I think the key issue is the size of the handles. Rather than try to model the handles they should perhaps be omitted - or painted black. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 With different issues between the Black Fives, were the two variants built in different factories? 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted June 22 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22 5 hours ago, Peter Kazmierczak said: With different issues between the Black Fives, were the two variants built in different factories? I think the factory codes might be shown on the boxes - so anyone who has more than one version should be able to give an answer. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold zr2498 Posted June 30 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 30 Further progress on the Caprotti project upgrade. Method described here: What a job, phew! Dave 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MikeParkin65 Posted July 1 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 1 Latest copy of Hornby Mag just popped through the letter box. More a description than a review of the Caprotti version (to be fair they've already reviewed 5200) but they noted as others have above that its lighter than the standard model and were surprised it struggled with 6 Bachmann Mk 1's. They said they fettled the bogie support bracket and removed the spring which improved haulage capacity but didnt then go beyond saying it would now move 6 Bachmanns. 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 1 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 1 3 hours ago, MikeParkin65 said: Latest copy of Hornby Mag just popped through the letter box. More a description than a review of the Caprotti version (to be fair they've already reviewed 5200) but they noted as others have above that its lighter than the standard model and were surprised it struggled with 6 Bachmann Mk 1's. They said they fettled the bogie support bracket and removed the spring which improved haulage capacity but didnt then go beyond saying it would now move 6 Bachmanns. It'll be interesting to see what RM make of it, assuming they give it their normal loft layout haulage test - 3 foot radius curves on a 1:48 IIRC, hauling Hornby Pullmans. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold zr2498 Posted July 3 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3 The sound installation, lighting and coupling modifications to the Caprotti are now finished. The links to those two threads are further up this page. Detailing also added, so just weathering and crew to do later. I'm very happy with the final result, but it has taken quite some effort to get there. I would hope that Hornby can address the coupling length and lamp (size and positioning) issues on future models. 7 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Couple of questions regarding the Caprotti. Would anyone know the driving axle diameters please for conversion to EM gauge? And when is the single chimney variant due? cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 8 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8 On 01/07/2024 at 19:14, spamcan61 said: It'll be interesting to see what RM make of it, assuming they give it their normal loft layout haulage test - 3 foot radius curves on a 1:48 IIRC, hauling Hornby Pullmans. Having now read their review, they rather irritatingly don't include the usual haulage test. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 8 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8 25 minutes ago, spamcan61 said: Having now read their review, they rather irritatingly don't include the usual haulage test. Which probably says a lot in itself . They have a habit of glossing over deficiencies 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MikeParkin65 Posted July 8 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 8 18 minutes ago, spamcan61 said: Having now read their review, they rather irritatingly don't include the usual haulage test. Its a curious review/description pointing out some rather specific errors whilst ignoring the bigger picture, the biggest as you say being this 'maid of all workhorse' can't apparently (I haven't got one) pull the skin off a rice pudding! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted July 8 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8 22 minutes ago, spamcan61 said: Having now read their review, they rather irritatingly don't include the usual haulage test. I think you know why that might be....more weight and modify the front truck pivot and springs. (I am well pleased with mine now that is has been 'fixed'.) Also after having had the chassis in and out of the bodyshell so many times I have had to remake the rear sand pipes in nickel silver wire. Using the bits of the broken plastic as a pattern it was a relatively easy process. Cheers Ray 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Isherwood Posted July 8 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8 27 minutes ago, Silver Sidelines said: I think you know why that might be....more weight and modify the front truck pivot and springs. (I am well pleased with mine now that is has been 'fixed'.) Also after having had the chassis in and out of the bodyshell so many times I have had to remake the rear sand pipes in nickel silver wire. Using the bits of the broken plastic as a pattern it was a relatively easy process. Cheers Ray As usual with magazine reviews - if you can't say anything nice, say nothing. CJI. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireline Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 3 minutes ago, cctransuk said: As usual with magazine reviews - if you can't say anything nice, say nothing. CJI. Which is in diametric opposition to many on RMWeb. 😉 3 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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