SRman Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 At the time I bought my 30064, I had a Bachmann 36-558 decoder installed. Control and smoothness weren't bad, but I felt that the smoothness in particular could be further improved. I bought a Lenz Silver mini+ decoder online from Rails, and that arrived in the post yesterday. Tonight, I swapped the decoders, and it more or less proved me right: the Lenz decoder is just that much smoother and more controlled, albeit, at twice the price of the Bachmann one. Still, I think it was a worthwhile expense, and I also think that the USA tank is now running at the fullest potential of the model.I'm sure I'll find a use for the Bachmann decoder in due course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
worzel Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 WOW I have been wrestling with my conscience about buying one of these as a) I can't run this on my home layout (the royal branch line ) and b) the railway budget is so overspent it makes the national debt look like an irrelevance but on the journey up to warley i reasoned that a) Bachmann wouldn't ever make a KVWR version ever again b) I did actually travel on the footplate when I was a volunteer on said railway in my teenage years c) they were on special offer and d) I would be paying the ebay bandits a fortune in coming years if I wasn't brave now . ( see midland pullman ) So I took the plunge Chris Nevard offered to give it a run on his excellent layout on the stand but I demurred preferring to do this at home wise move if I had I'd have been there all day and not seen this years excellent exhibition ( is it me or was it much better this year than last ) what have Bachmann done ???? this loco is so smooth it's unreal I actully couldn't belive it so I ran my 64xx the latest loco I have from Bachmann which I thought was really good against it the USA is another step on and the motion is true poetry what a lovely model well done to all at Model Rail when I win the lottery I'm going to get it sound fitted 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I was at DougN's place yesterday afternoon, for his 11 year old's birthday. I took 30064 along to show off, and tried it out on his train of Bachmann Collectors' Club wagons (18 wagons plus a brake van) when he wasn't looking. It surprised us with the ease with which it hauled them even on the tricky uphill curve on Doug's figure-of-8 layout. Yet more praise for this lovely little model. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 ... and a few photos taken on DougN's layout. Not the best quality as they were snatched off on my phone camera as the train was moving. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 SRman I wish you had told me you were going to take a few photos. I would have done a bit of a tidy up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Spur of the moment, Doug! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevor7598 Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I was not expecting to find the USA tanks on sale at Warley. I was intending to send off for 30071, but when I saw them at £110, my bank card leaped out of my pocket on it's own !. What a superb model. Congratulations to all concerned, and for a commission not expensive. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 28, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2016 I caught the Worth Valley version on Chris Nevard's new layout yesterday. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwenglish Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I would also like to add my thanks for these superb little engines! The original plan was only to buy one! Like many others have said, the running qualities are superb, and with 68 becoming our go to engine at our first exhibition when everything else decided it was one of those days, I just had to have another! Stuart 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Just fitted a sound chip from Howes Models to my dock tank, just running in at the mo. But it does look like I need to fit a 'stay alive' to the decoder. There isn't much room so I have to but the chip and speaker in the Cab. Any one else fitted a sound chip? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevor7598 Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I noticed sometime ago that 30064 in lined malachite sold out very quickly, 30073 was also in this livery, and might make an excellent choice if a re-run of these exquisite models is ever considered. Consider one sold already !. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brittannia Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I purchased a USA dock tank at Warley, to compliment a Roco HO USA sound tender engine which has just been released and on its way to Dukinfield Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted December 28, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) I noticed sometime ago that 30064 in lined malachite sold out very quickly, 30073 was also in this livery, and might make an excellent choice if a re-run of these exquisite models is ever considered. Consider one sold already !. 30073 had an extended bunker, which hasn't been modelled, as yet. Afaik all the green ones were uniquely different. 30064/72/73/75 have different alterations (72/75only wore green in preservation only, 72 having a unique bunker extension fitted in the 70's and went green in the 90's, 75 being a Yugoslav import). DS238 wainwright would be possible in BR dept service, but both ds233/8 have had extensive alterations in preservation too. I bought an additional 30064 thinking to do a renumber, as I saw them selling out, now I'm on the fence knowing if I did a renumber it'd be incorrect, if I did the mods it'd destroy the finish. I purchased a USA dock tank at Warley, to compliment a Roco HO USA sound tender engine which has just been released and on its way to DukinfieldI'm eagerly awaiting one of them too, the photos look fantastic ! Edited December 28, 2016 by adb968008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevor7598 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 30073 had an extended bunker, which hasn't been modelled, as yet. Afaik all the green ones were uniquely different. 30064/72/73/75 have different alterations (72/75only wore green in preservation only, 72 having a unique bunker extension fitted in the 70's and went green in the 90's, 75 being a Yugoslav import). DS238 wainwright would be possible in BR dept service, but both ds233/8 have had extensive alterations in preservation too. I bought an additional 30064 thinking to do a renumber, as I saw them selling out, now I'm on the fence knowing if I did a renumber it'd be incorrect, if I did the mods it'd destroy the finish. Many thanks for that. I am not into the detail variations of the USA tanks, so the extended bunker on 30073 escaped my notice. I have fond(ish) memories of 30064 and 30072 ( which was the regular loco ) at Guildford. I say ' fond (ish) ' because 30072 replaced Guildford's lovely little B4 30089, never to be seen again. I am sure any tooling mods.to produce further variants of the class, would be welcomed, and would sell well. My 30071, purchased at Warley, is one of Bachmann's finest efforts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Many thanks for that. I am not into the detail variations of the USA tanks, so the extended bunker on 30073 escaped my notice. I have fond(ish) memories of 30064 and 30072 ( which was the regular loco ) at Guildford. I say ' fond (ish) ' because 30072 replaced Guildford's lovely little B4 30089, never to be seen again. I am sure any tooling mods.to produce further variants of the class, would be welcomed, and would sell well. My 30071, purchased at Warley, is one of Bachmann's finest efforts. I'm afraid any new runs or tooling revisions will be up to Bachmann in several years' time. The present range of available 'USAs' sees out Model Rail's contract with Bachmann. In due course the tooling will revert to Bachmann and they might or might not see fit to add the 'USA' to their standard range. However I think it is unlikely that enlarged bunker versions will be issued as they require substantial retooling, all the bunker extensions being different. We have done all the variants that are practical from the existing toolings, where the details suit more than one locomotive. It may well be that, in due course, I will look at how the 'odd-balls' can be created by kit-bashing one of the existing models. (CJL) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Finally managed to get my hands on NCB 36 (was removed from my hands by management just after it arrived from Kernow in Sep) and what a model this is. Superb. Although i suspect that my allowance will nto allow it for some months to come, count me in for another one (probably 30071 - I'm pretty sure that this was loaned to the NCB for a while, right? ) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGiraffe22 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I was going to buy one in Southern black until I found out we didn't actually start using them till after the war, but I just read that some were used in the build up to D Day? If that is the case then I may be tempted as my layout is set on the South coast in '43/44. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Yes. They weren't converted or painted as Southern locomotives until after the war. Even the SR liveried one is only just 1947. http://www.semgonline.com/steam/usa_dat.html So if you are strict about era, it's the US Transportation Corps one. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGiraffe22 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks I might just. It'll make for an interesting addition, shunting wagons with tanks on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesndbs Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks I might just. It'll make for an interesting addition, shunting wagons with tanks on! I can say they are great for shunting wagons with tanks 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGiraffe22 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 They look great! Might just have to at some point this year, I can't imagine the US Transportation Corps ones will sell out too quickly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MikeParkin65 Posted January 4, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2017 Just fitted a sound chip from Howes Models to my dock tank, just running in at the mo. But it does look like I need to fit a 'stay alive' to the decoder. There isn't much room so I have to but the chip and speaker in the Cab. Any one else fitted a sound chip? I'd be really interested is seeing a clip of this in action if thats possible Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Finally managed to get my hands on NCB 36 (was removed from my hands by management just after it arrived from Kernow in Sep) and what a model this is. Superb. Although i suspect that my allowance will nto allow it for some months to come, count me in for another one (probably 30071 - I'm pretty sure that this was loaned to the NCB for a while, right? ) If you are chipping the NCB one be aware that the extra handrails fitted to this are very tightly fitted to the smokebox and need to be undone to get the body off. Mine refused to move and when the left one finally did give it carried away the semicircular handrail on the smokebox door as well, breaking off one of the handrail knobs. Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Francis deWeck Posted January 6, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 6, 2017 Got my 30067 (MR-109) courtesy of Kernow who chipped it with a Zimo from my stock. Superb service. Great little runner, as well as a good hauler (6 Bachmann Mk.1 coaches without a murmur or hesitation). Looks like it will be responsible for much of the shunting, as it seems better than many other locos (including a Craftsman 05) in my collection. If all locos were as good as this and the SLW Class 24s. Well worth the cost. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I'd be really interested is seeing a clip of this in action if thats possibleWell after I fitted the sound chip, the next day I manage to stupidly loco left the layout on landed on the floor, so it's going into the works for repair! The smoke box handrail and buffer beam step broken off! You can imagine what sort of words I might have said! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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