Introduction At a recent model show, Dad picked up a Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) on a whim. This is not the normal kind of model we’d normally look at, but for some reason it stood out as a fairly decent model, and the price… Read More »Upgrading a Budd RDC
A lot has been written and said about Rapido’s excellent APT-E, so I won’t talk about the model’s merits here, except to say I’m really happy I took that chance to grab one when the second batch came around last year. That said, when I… Read More »Rapido APT-E: Sound upgrade
I’m pretty happy with my new Hattons Class 66s (review here), but there’s one thing missing from them – drivers! I’m generally a bit lax about fitting crew to my locomotives – it seems to be a job that gets pushed to the back of… Read More »Class 66 drivers
It’s finally here! After multiple delays, a false start around Christmas-time and certain global events threatening to affect its arrival, my sound-fitted Hattons Class 66 has finally arrived. Or rather, they have arrived – after placing my initial order for 66957 “Stephenson Locomotive Society” in… Read More »Hattons Class 66 review
Out of the box, neither of my Hatton’s 66s run smoothly, due to the rotating axleboxes not being aligned correctly with the holes in the bogie frames. This means that when the wheels rotate, the axlebox either works itself loose due to it constantly being… Read More »Fixing the axleboxes on a Hatton’s class 66
Whilst I await the arrivial of my Hattons class 66 (update: delayed again due to axleboxgate!), I decided to fit my trusty old Bachmann 66 with a sound decoder. I’ve had the loco for about 10 years now and it’s always been a good runner,… Read More »DCC Sound: Bachmann class 66
I have fitted DCC sound to a handful of locomotives in my collection, but so far, it’s only been diesels that have received the upgrade. Today that changes, as I’m going to be adding sound to one of my favourite (and most dependable) steam locos:… Read More »DCC sound: Bachmann 4MT
I’ve recently acquired a rather nice little Hornby Terrier loco. It’s one of the ex-Dapol tooling models, so while it’s not up to the standards of the more modern Hornby offering, it’s still a reasonable model that I’d like to get running. As it’s one… Read More »DCC in a Hornby A1X Terrier