Tales from The Room of Doom. Dipping a toe in various bucolic backwaters.

[Andrew Young]

Evening Rob.

That is a lovely looking locomotive.

Dare I ask, if you have had time for a quick test, what the running is like? One or two reports (on the Internet therefore not necessarily reliable) suggest that some have 'issues'. And that the instructions mandate a thorough running in period.

Frankly I trust your view well above some random geezer on YouTube.

Best of wishes.

Kane

Kane,

Whilst there will undoubtedly be the odd rogue model in any batch, the availability of forums / YouTube etc means that sometimes the knowledge of these isn’t always in proportion to the number affected.

Interesting comments regarding Rob’s experience with the Bombay version and stresses the need to test run any purchase within the warranty period.

I bought a ‘Hawthorn’ blue one which arrived yesterday. Tried it on my NG7 layout with its uneven track. The six wheel chassis copes admirably with it and ran both well and quietly in both directions. I’m happy enough with it for now and will run it in in due course.

The only problem I’ve got now is that I could be tempted to have another and I really really don’t need any more 4mm scale distractions!!

Andrew

 

[Kane Clements]

Kane,

Whilst there will undoubtedly be the odd rogue model in any batch, the availability of forums / YouTube etc means that sometimes the knowledge of these isn’t always in proportion to the number affected.

Interesting comments regarding Rob’s experience with the Bombay version and stresses the need to test run any purchase within the warranty period.

I bought a ‘Hawthorn’ blue one which arrived yesterday. Tried it on my NG7 layout with its uneven track. The six wheel chassis copes admirably with it and ran both well and quietly in both directions. I’m happy enough with it for now and will run it in in due course.

The only problem I’ve got now is that I could be tempted to have another and I really really don’t need any more 4mm scale distractions!!

Andrew

Hi Andrew.

I agree with your first paragraph, hence the cautious wording of my original post. I figured an opinion from Rob is of greater value than that of somebody unknown on net.

I generally wait before I buy, on this occasion I decided that most of the batch would be sold through very quickly. Which seems to be the case. So I have pounced straight away.

BW

Kane

 

[Flaxfield]

Morning all.

There is an update on the Manning Wardle front, and it's not the best.

The noisey Bombay is going back. The noise levels developed to such an extent that there is clearly something amiss. The issue this identified is that there are some interesting decisions made regarding the components.

I think the noise in this case is down to a lack of lubrication. Given the amount of oil on the exterior of the baseplate on this particular example, I do wonder if this was identified at the factory and oil was squirted about in an attempt to address this. If so, it clearly didn't.

The ideal is to drop out the chassis. As far as I can see, you can't.

Okay, access the motor and apply some oil onto the bearings. Mmmmm......far from straightforward as this requires the removal of the saddle tank and there will be collateral damage and this is also required for decoder fitting.

As well as the motor, remove the baseplate from the chassis, drop out the wheels, remove excess oil, clean and lube the bearings and gears. Replace. Er........no. You cannot remove the base plate more than a couple of mm as the brake shoes are moulded onto the baseplate...not an issue BUT, the brake rods which are also part of the brake shoe/ base plate assembly run beneath the footplate.........to which they are seemingly glued.

Far from ideal..

Therefore, I am now on my second SECR example as extensive running has failed to loosen up a tight spot, tight enough to cause the loco to pause, mid rotation when pulling away or slowing down.

However, the second SE&CR example is an uneven runner, again despite extensive running in and dependent on how it emerges from more time on the rollers today, may well go back.

So, of the four which have so far passed through my paws, two have failed and a third is teetering on the edge of the abyss.......

Updates will follow

Rob

 

[Kane Clements]

Morning all.

There is an update on the Manning Wardle front, and it's not the best.

The noisey Bombay is going back. The noise levels developed to such an extent that there is clearly something amiss. The issue this identified is that there are some interesting decisions made regarding the components.

I think the noise in this case is down to a lack of lubrication. Given the amount of oil on the exterior of the baseplate on this particular example, I do wonder if this was identified at the factory and oil was squirted about in an attempt to address this. If so, it clearly didn't.

The ideal is to drop out the chassis. As far as I can see, you can't.

Okay, access the motor and apply some oil onto the bearings. Mmmmm......far from straightforward as this requires the removal of the saddle tank and there will be collateral damage and this is also required for decoder fitting.

As well as the motor, remove the baseplate from the chassis, drop out the wheels, remove excess oil, clean and lube the bearings and gears. Replace. Er........no. You cannot remove the base plate more than a couple of mm as the brake shoes are moulded onto the baseplate...not an issue BUT, the brake rods which are also part of the brake shoe/ base plate assembly run beneath the footplate.........to which they are seemingly glued.

Far from ideal..

Therefore, I am now on my second SECR example as extensive running has failed to loosen up a tight spot, tight enough to cause the loco to pause, mid rotation when pulling away or slowing down.

However, the second SE&CR example is an uneven runner, again despite extensive running in and dependent on how it emerges from more time on the rollers today, may well go back.

So, of the four which have so far passed through my paws, two have failed and a third is teetering on the edge of the abyss.......

Updates will follow

Rob

Hi Rob.

That is rather worrying. My plain Open Cab in maroon arrived yesterday (earlier than expected ) and runs well for a first test.

I’ve got a Bombay coming on Tuesday so I have my fingers crossed.

I’d like a third and might plump for another open cab version, instead of a second Bombay.

Hmmmm!

Anyway have a good w/e.

 

[Willl]

This is slightly concerning news Rob. I’ve bought two but have not been able to get hands on them yet. I love Rapido’s broader direction but have always been a bit sceptical of their design choices, and part of me wishes that all the manufacturers would dial the detail back by 10% to enable models to be made more durable and serviceable… it feels like Bachmann continue to hit the right balance.

An example of this is the recent trend of cast connecting rods, which look good but in my experience are rarely 100% straight and lead to tight spots to when running..

I hope you’ll tolerate my rant/thread drift!

Will

 

[Flaxfield]

Thanks everyone.

Well, I feel as if I have reached a bit of an impasse.

The SE&CR job has spent literally all day on the rolling road, in one direction or another and as such has far exceeded the recommended running in period.

Going forward it's tolerable. Not excellent but tolerable. An odd word to use, of which more anon. In reverse, it has a hesitation when moving off, at one o'clock and seven o'clock. Not tolerable.

There is a part of me that says that perhaps the oomph that a decent decoder will provide at these points of hesitation will overcome whatever it is that is causing this hiccup, hence the use of the word, tolerable.
That is totally against the advice I'm so quick to offer, which is to have a loco running well on DCC, it must first run well on DC.

Taking that as read, it doesn't so it probably won't......

Now, if this loco came apart in a different way to fit a decoder, I'd at least have a try. But it doesn't. I am therefore loathe to try, fearing the ensuing damage to bits that may result, vecause it's not simply a case of popping the decoder in. There is a degree of grief involved.

So, this second SE&CR job will reluctantly be going back.

This leaves me with one remaining Bombay that awaits proper running in.

So, that is three out of a possible four which have failed.

I still want a SE&CR example so I am now considering getting a factory fitted sound job. Obviously, I could await a replacement DCC ready example but based on the fact I really don't fancy fitting a decoder into these, I no longer feel that this is a good option.

Assuming I can get a decent running SE&CR example, will I look for other examples to buy ?

No.

I could be having really bad luck with these, but this has really put me off a model that I was really looking forward to getting my paws on.

Rob

 

[Captain Kernow]

So sorry to hear of these troubles, Rob. As you know, I originally ordered two - the green 'Forward' (from your excellent L&B) and 'Hawthorn' from elsewhere, due to high demand. A planned trip to West Cornwall with Captain The Mrs Kernow late last week, ostensibly with a sewing type focus, saw an (allegedly) unplanned lightning visit to Camborne and a red open cab one was also purchased.

Upon testing the red one on 'Bethesda Sidings', I found myself up against an old and vexingly familiar problem. The loco ran sweetly enough (on DC) and seems to be improving the more I run it. Unfortunately, I then realised that the persistent stalling on the OO-SF crossover on Bethesda was due to 'fat flanges'. Compared with other Rapido locos that I own (Y7 and 44XX), the flanges on the MW are just slightly fatter, causing the inside radius of the flange to bind on the narrower track. The Y7 and 44XX were tested and found to be fine.

Although I didn't need to test, testing of the pretty blue one and 'Forward' revealed the same issues.

So these MWs will join the ranks of the Planet Industrials Kerr Stuarts and the Accurascale Manor (and I know that the latter two were made in the same factory). The Manor was returned, of course and the Kerr Stuarts will all have to have their wheel changed (one will become P4, anyway), but I'm a bit stumped regarding the MWs. If the statement made by someone on RMWeb that they have heard that 'a certain wheel manufacturer' will made wheels for these (with 1.5mm axles), then re-wheeling may be an option. I don't fancy dismantling the chassis, however and taking a chance on turning the existing wheels down a tad (don't even have the correct form tool, anyway).

This is - for me - a major disappointment, although I fully recognised that I am in a minority, having been stupid enough to be persuaded to have a go at OO-SF in the first place.

What is planned, however, is a new layout - representing an intermediate station on the outrageously improbable Radnorshire light railway that runs into Bethesda. I have the pointwork already and spent much of yesterday afternoon testing the MWs through it (no problems found), so that's at least something to look forward to.

Apart from that, these locos are very sweet on the eye indeed.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

I could be having really bad luck with these, but this has really put me off a model that I was really looking forward to getting my paws on.

I can sympathise as I had a similar experience with the Minerva 7mm Class 14. I stuck with it, corrected the cab door error & cab colour, got replacement Precision decals as the Railtech ones supplied were the wrong size, and tightened up the loose crankpin nuts.
But it still waddles down the track & doesn't run as smoothly as my Dapol locos, or Minerva Pannier, so what should be pride of my British 7mm roster just - isn't.

 

[Flaxfield]

I've bitten the bullet, decided to step away from the DCC ready examples and ordered a sound fitted SE&CR MW.

We shall await it's arrival.......

Rob