Bachmann class 108

2470 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Ravenser, Feb 15, 2007

william

Discussion Starter · Dec 11, 2006

Hi just a word as I'm on my way to my railway club I picked up a class 108 at the weekend
and I have to say it look's and run's very good I 'm not a rivet counter If a thing look's
and run's ok that's fine by me the unit I got was for 'Network Southeast' and is DCC ready
BILLY

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

7113

· #2 · Dec 12, 2006

Well said......

It's nice to know some of us still feel that way!

Regards

John

Brian Considine

· #3 · Dec 12, 2006

QUOTE (william @ 11 Dec 2006, 20:02) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If a thing look's
and run's ok that's fine by me BILLY

My sentiments exactly !

TERRYSVR

· #4 · Dec 12, 2006

Just received my green 108 from Hattonsand I'm hoping to fit the sound system from DCC Supplies, does anyone have any idea where the speaker can go?.

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CeeDeeI

· #5 · Dec 12, 2006

Waiting for mine from Hattons, green with whiskers. Hope it gets here for Christmas. Come on Santa Hatton, come on.

bangerblueed

· #6 · Dec 12, 2006

If you are planning to DCC it you do need two chips one for the power car and one to control the lighting etc in the trailer both programmed with the SAME address

Brian Considine

· #7 · Dec 13, 2006

QUOTE (bangerblueed @ 12 Dec 2006, 21:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you are planning to DCC it you do need two chips one for the power car and one to control the lighting etc in the trailer both programmed with the SAME address

Not always - some people use conductive couplings to save the cost of an additional decoder or use a fuction only decoder.

ashleyh

· #8 · Dec 13, 2006

2

According to the instructions, the Bachmann 108 actually has a decoder socket in the trailing car as well, making the 2 decoder solution probably the best way to go.

I'm highly impressed with this model, again I'm no rivet counter, but it looks right to me. The directional lighting is great, including a white LED for the destination panel, and there is interior lighting in both units as well (which you can only see under DC control when the lights are off).

I have not yet managed to figure out how to get the bodies off to fit the decoders, the instructions say to 'remove the screws indicated', but do not appear to inicate any

. The only screws visible on the underside are those holding the bogies on.

Any help or advice on fitting decoders would be appreciated please, as I am a little ham fisted at times, and don't want to risk damaging the bodywork during dismantling.

Thanks
Ashley

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william

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 13, 2006

2

Hi I've had the trailer body off to see where I was going to fit the chip there is one small
screw below the cab under the bogie it's the same on both unit's the body's are also fitted with clip's

on the motor bogie BILLY

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ashleyh

· #10 · Dec 13, 2006 (Edited by Moderator)

Thanks Billy, you are a star, I had not spotted those screws.

Right, body removed, so it's of to play DCC!

Thanks
Ashley

EDIT Err, not quite, getting the body of the motor coach is proving to be a nightmare because the chassis is cast metal and does not flex.

One piece of underframe detail has already dislodged, though looks stickable, there is nowhere safe to grip the underframe whilst trying to prise the clips apart.

Come on Bachmann, they know people want to fit chips into these, they have provided 2 sockets and lighting, great, but why not make the bodies screw fixed only?

TERRYSVR

· #11 · Dec 13, 2006

I have just spoken to DCC Supplies at Abberley in Worcestershire who supply the sound for the 108, he is fitting the sound decoder as we speak and I hope to collect it tomorrow and will let you know how it sounds. He has agreed to put a video link together showing how it fits and what it sounds like, hope this helps.

william

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 14, 2006

2

Hi again I started tonight fitting chips in my two 108 I've just picked up a blue/grey unit to
work with my Network Southeast unit anyway as has been said before removeing the trailer
body is no problem but removeing the motor unit body is!!!!!!!!!! all I can say is someone at
Bachmann must be having a right laugh as I fitted the four chip's in the end
I used EZ 3-function chip's as it was only for motor and light control now I have to refit
3 set's of step's and two what I think are battery box's the good thing is they both run
great and at the same speed

The one thing I may have to look at is the blind on the B/G unit say's
Carlisle but one thing at a time eh
BILLY

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TERRYSVR

· #13 · Dec 14, 2006

Collected my 108 from DCC Supplies with sound and its stunning. Andrew who owns DCC has taken pictures of the installation and is going to video the unit to put on the site its really good. Used Hornby decoder in second coach as they only cost £7.95 each.

Nitemare

· #14 · Feb 15, 2007

Hi all,

Sorry to ask what may be a silly question (new to DCC control) but to get directional lighting you use a deocder in motor unit (eg Lenz Gold) to run train and another less expensive one in the trailer unit to control lights??

Thanks,

Nitemare

Brian Considine

· #15 · Feb 15, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (Nitemare @ 15 Feb 2007, 12:26) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi all,

Sorry to ask what may be a silly question (new to DCC control) but to get directional lighting you use a deocder in motor unit (eg Lenz Gold) to run train and another less expensive one in the trailer unit to control lights??

Thanks,

Nitemare

Sometimes its easier this way (especially with 3 & over car units) - the other method is to use conductive couplings. Sometimes you can even use a decoder that has a US motor output for the lights !

BTW - not a silly question at all - ask away for anything else (no matter how "silly" you may think - we're hear to help where we can.)

Ravenser

· #16 · Feb 15, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

At the risk of saying something very controversial , it';s an ideal application for a Hornby decoder - assuming you can live with the loco address as 108

I've bought 2 x Bachmann/ESU decoders for exactly this application : given there is no unit number , I can live with using the class number as address. Installation tomorrow night

Both cars have NMRA plugs - I understand Bromsgrove Models have got TCS to do a function decoder with a plug

The 108 is a very nice model indeed - the best DMU we've ever seen in 4mm

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