Bachmann Class 25

While searching around in the loft, i came across a Bachmann Class 25 that i had completly forgot that i owned.

She was bought some years ago, placing her on the track she ran really well.

I feel a new project coming on. No 25 173 fits into my era, domino headcode, blue with Yellow ends and it looks as if at some point i weathered her, not remembering Bachmann ever selling them in this condition.

In fact, i think she has been renumbered at some point as i cant find 25 173 ever being sold by Bachmann.

According to my 1978 spotters book, 25 173 was shedded at Cricklewood.

Taking the body off to see what we have.

An 8 pin blanking plug, the remains of a sticky pad, had it been fitted with sound at some point and this was to hold the speaker in place ?Also 2 wires on the left hand end of the PCB that have been cut. Looking inside the body its fitted with lights.

 And yes they do work. Perhaps a nice Sulzer sound chip and connecting the wires up to Function 2 could result in a nice sounding class 25 with lights. (Will i need to add resistors?)

No 25 173 is already fitted with a driver and his mate. Pick out some of the detail in the cab, add some pipe work and screw couplings to the buffer beam could, present ourselves with a very nice model of 25 173.

As regards to accuracy, im no rivet counter regarding Class 25s but looking at photographs No 25 173 looks right.

Am i right in thinking that the gap under the running gear was for a train heating boiler ?

Yes, deffinatly becoming a project. 

Rails of Sheffield's new Terrier A1/A1X

 Rails of Sheffield's new Terrier.

Was it worth the wait ?

I'll say, yeah.

It arrived yesterday (Monday) No 2644 Southern Railway in Dark Olive Green.

What do i think ?

 Its a stunning model, loads of detail. I don't have  the Hornby version so this is not a comparison. Is it worth the extra 25 ish quid ? well, yes. It runs beautifully after a spot of running in. The firebox flickr, well i like it, this will eventually be sound fitted so that can be made to only operates when you open the firebox door to shovel coal in 

Shall we put something else to bed while we are at it.

It measures up nicely.

The cab detail is all there, all the pipe work, yes its all there. The westinghouse pump is beautifully represented. Wondering if you could by these as spares for other models.

It weighs in at 101 grams but don't let that put you off as its more than capable of pulling a decent length of train.

Two Kitbuilt Roxey Mouldings Carriages, Drovers Brake van, Etch kit with 10g of added lead, Gas tank wagon (white metal kit) Machine truck also a white metal kit, Oil tank wagon yes, a white metal kit and Two bogie bolster wagons which are also of white metal, it didn't even hesitate. I have not got a layout at the moment to fully test this but you get the idea.

https://youtu.be/g6g0lYP-BLQ 

  Ran out of track unfortunately.

Here's another video for you, yes you get two this time.

https://youtu.be/3m7bfmd1NDw

Well that's it, i'm a very happy bunny.

Talking of Bunnies.

https://youtu.be/krd7KIVl34Y

Bachmann Class 205 'Thumper' set

 Bachmann's Class 205 'Thumper' set.

I thought it was time to fit sound to my 'Thumper' set. As most of us probably do, i had a quick flick through various youtube videos to see which i thought sounded best, i went for the Legomanbiffo variety, so a quick call to DCC Kits and the order was duly placed. It came the next morning, how's that for service.

https://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/  

Ooo a nice 21 pin chip, plug and play then, that will be done in 10 minutes. Ha, yeah, well, Three hours later and a short session Sunday morning its running.

So what happened.

Getting the body off was simple enough, Two screws at the front and those horrible tabs towards the rear. the Two parts come away.

Unplug the blanking plate, plug in the decoder, attach two speakers, job done. Add a few passengers. This is how it looks inside.

All good then, not quite, see the headcode box towards the front, it don't look quite right, me thinking, well it will be ok. putting it all back together, putting it on the test track its going backwards, well what i mean, the headcodes, red while going forward. 

Pulled it all apart again, guess what, the headcode light pcb fell out, i knew something was wrong with it. Resoldering that back in and swapping the motor wires over so that it goes the right way.

 Here's a video.

Bachmann 205 thumper

At the moment i only have a 3 foot test track so cant really wind her up but she sounds great.