SRman

Lendons were very friendly and helpful to me when I ordered some parts recently. They were up front about extra time being needed due to covid precautions and restrictions, and I was perfectly happy with that. All in all, they were very pleasant to deal with, and able to supply exactly what I wanted.

The originals had cab lights that stayed on regardless of any other settings. Dapol's "solution" was to tell users to put some electrical insulation tape over the cab light contacts. These also had the quirk that the lights at the wrong ends lit up when on DCC - the simple solution was to resolder the brush wires in reverse order. This meant that if the decoder was removed and a blanking plug put in, the lights would once again be reversed! They also never offered replacement pcb's to the newer design. For the newer models, a 4-function decoder should work forward and reverse headcodes, and forward and reverse cab lights. You may have to check the decoder to see whether it has powered or logical outputs for the 3rd and 4th function outputs.

They missed a trick with the 24s and 25s because they numbered them continuously instead of separating out the sub-classes. It would have saved a lot of confusion among modellers in distinguishing members of sub-class 25/2 from sub-class 25/3, as an example.

I should add to my previous post: my preference when adding separate functions is to solder to the base of the pins for a 21 pin connection, rather than to the decoder, as this means the decoder remains removable should the need arise. With more functions than those available from the pins, then there is little alternative to soldering directly to the pads on the decoder. There are breakout boards available, but they add bulk to the decoder mounting and the space may not be available for this, particularly in the class 37.

There are plenty of wiring scematics showing the output pins etc. for 21-pin deciders on the Internet, but if you have the August Hornby Magazine, they did a sound-fitting article for the Bachmann/LT Museum LUL S Stock, complete with diagrams showing both sides of an ESU LokSound 5 decoder.

Wonderful footage, and cleaned up very nicely.

I fancied the Heljan ex-GWR 1366 small pannier tanks, but couldn't justify one at the asking prices, until a few came out as bargains. I didn't care what livery it came in because my plans included repainting it to join my small industrial fleet. Thus, a GWR liveried example arrived, and ran perfectly on test, so got painted into BR express steam blue. I have left the original number plates on it at present, rather than adding my own custom plates (from Narrow Planet). It will gain a name after I do some white lining (LNER style). I think the blue suits it rather well. It is seen here on my German Christmas train, which is also gaining a few fictional liveries. 1366 PT and Christmas Train in July - cropped 1 by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr P_20200805_224802_vHDR_Auto by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

From the pics I have seen, that looks pretty good to me, Peter.

The thought occurs to me that the BIL's brake compartment could be used to house batteries and/or a motor generator for future use, seeing as it probably would have to be upgraded to more modern standards for use, particularly if main line usage is envisaged. As to the cost or practicality of my suggestion, I can't answer that. It may be prohibitive, but I would like to think such a unit could find its way back onto the main lines eventually.

In the absence of a suitable file for your v4 (if you don't want the Howes version), you could buy a new v5 with the sound file you want on it, and reblow the v4 for use elsewhere. I have done this on a few occasions, including with v3.5 decoders. There are still a few v3.5 projects available from various suppliers.

Those Bentleys seem to have some attempt at styling. The Rolls just appears to be a slab.

Definitely, apart from the layouts in the Brake coaches. The similarities of the FK, CK, SK and SO types were too close to be coincidence (using the post-1956 classifications).

Perhaps it would be better to say they used Maunsell designed underframes, and also basically Maunsell interior designs too, so at that time they were eveolutionary developments of Maunsell stock, with the new curved side profile and different window shapes being the most noticeable differences. After the multi-door Bulleids he started to get more adventurous with the designs, although even the later multi-door stock was built on longer underframes to set that standard for a long time to come.

With limited overseas travel opportunities from here in Oz, the 2021 timescale fits in fine with my bucket list plans! I really want to travel on the Schwebebahn, but can't see me being able to travel there before 2022 anyway. I wish them nothing but good luck and good progress with their repairs.

I was late coming in on this topic, but the moment I saw it I thought WAGR X/XA class, as already identified by others above.

Lelant Saltings is in the middle of nowhere but has the Park and Ride facility, to discourage traffic from going into St Ives itself. I liked the old first gen DMUs because you could have a view forward through the drivers windscreens from the leading passenger saloon.

I can't see a post count. Could someone enlighten me, please?

I haven't tried this, but it may be possible to alter the marker light guide so that the white side is cut and redirected slightly to the main white light for the headcode, leaving the red one alignd with a lower tail light bulb (I can't remember if there is a second light for the reverse direction). Alternatively, cut the light guide on the red side and cover that marker from the inside as you don't really need a tail light normally when hauling trains.

Most retailers have pre-sold all of their Hornby coach allocations already. I had one pre-ordered with Rails, and hastily scouted around other retailers to see if I could order from somewhere else. I got onto Hampshire Models and pre-ordered a couple, but I can't be sure they will be able to supply - they have accepted the order. Fingers crossed.

Quite by accident, I found a double-tracked steel bridge that looked like it would suit part of the long front viaduct. The kit is from Faller and labelled as a German S-Bahn station. The style of the kiosks on either end reminded me of a couple of London Underground station entrances, although I could see I would have to do some scratchbuilding and modifying to achieve what I wanted. By pure luck, when I tried the bridge for length, it was exactly the same length as the temporary place-holder 3-arch viaduct from Triang. The width was ideal also, although I would have to cut down the pavement sections supplied in the kit - I actually decided to dispense with those as the style was a bit modern, preferring to use some Slaters British style paving slabs. The rear shop/station entrances have to be sealed off or labelled as 'private' with only a narrow path to them beside the LT tracks. The roadway is to be cobbled and styled as a dead-end road that may once have been a level crossing but now just terminates adjacent to the lowered running lines. Anyway, work on the kit has been proceeding, and the shop at the right will remain as a shop, while that on the left is to be more open entrance, possibly with the tops of some escalators and/or stairs coming in from the side, leading to subways under the lines and the subway entrance on the LT platforms (already in place). The first two photos show the basic bridge structure placed over the lines on the viaduct it is to replace, while the next two show it in situ with nothing yet painted, but giving a fair idea of how it will look. The original intention was to have more brick arches along here, but this bridge will open up the view of the LT trains a bit more. The original trackbeds are being filled in a bit so the German wooden platforms become lower wooden walkways on either side of each track. While all of this is only temporarily placed, I have ensured that running of trains is still possible.

I used Humbrol 85, which is a satin not-quite-black colour. That was on the Mainline ex-Railfreight version which was also missing several black areas. P_20190117_214856_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Presumably, when/if one breaks down and clogs up the entry to Waterloo, they'll announce they are suffering from 'arteriosclerosis'!

The technique is only an ESU one, for versions 4 and 5.

I have several Piko locos on DCC with no problems to report. Seeing as the OP lists the decoder fitted as an ESU, you could try the ESU 'auto tune' function. It may possibly be required more than once to get the best result. On the main line, ensure there are a few feet of clear track in front of the locomotive, then program it on the main: set CV54=0, then go out of programming mode, and select function F1. The loco should shoot forwards at high speed, then stop. The decoder, meanwhile, is altering various parameters to try to match the motor requirements.

On my first EFE '38 set, I painted out the cream window pillars using the (edited) Cherry Paints LT Train Red. It was a perfect match. Note that I also painted the bauxite coloured roofs to a sort of tunnel grey. P_20190109_101107_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr