Hornby Railroad

Have just fitted a decoder to the 'flying Scotsman'. The decoder used was a Lenz Silver L10331.
For those interested, here is how it went.
Removing the loco body was was very easy. There are two screws, one under the front wheels, and the other is the screw holding the tender coupling hole. Note that they are different threads, and which end they go. Holding the loco upright, allow the front wheels to drop down, and then pull forward. This will release the loco body from the rear lug at the bottom of the cab. Job done.

You will now see some red and black wires. One set of red/black comes from under the body wheel pick-ups, and the other set from the tender connector.
These two sets of wires join two black wires from the motor. A capacitor is across these wires. Cut the middle of the two black wires between the red/blacks and the capacitor.
You now have the ends of four black wires. Snip the capacitor on one of its wires if you do not want it, but leave it connected to the other wire in case you reconvert to DC.
The two long black wires connected to the short piece of black are the RIGHT wheel pick-ups (looking at the front of the engine from the rear). The two red wires with the short black are the LEFT wheel pick-ups. On the Lenz decoder the red wire goes to the red wire, and the black wire to the black wire (too easy !!). However, on a Hornby decoder this is reversed according to their leaflet.
The grey wire of the decoder goes to one of the black wires to the motor, and the orange wire to the other.
The lenz decoder I used has an eight pin plug connected. This was removed leaving a short amount of wire to solder onto the loco wires. You can use any decoder that has wires only. I used the Lenz because I use ABC. The Lenz standard would connect the same.

It is best now to put the chassis on the rails to test it. If it goes in reverse, then simply cahnge the motor wires over or change CV29 whichever is easiest.
When testing is complete, locating the decoder is a breeze. The loco chassis is the one used for DCC. It has a well in the centre of the chassis with two screw posts. This is where Hornby fitted the socket for DCC ready locos, and fitted a decoder in the DCC fitted.
I sat the decoder diagonally on its side (this is a large decoder 23mmx16.6mmx3.5mm so you can see that anything will fit.
Insulate all your connections, and tape down the loose wires to make a neat bundle. Fit the loco body back on ensuring the rear lug is connected in properly, and replace the screws. Job done.
The loco ran very quite and extremely well. It also has a good top speed, had to slow it down by CV 5. It pulled 4 coaches up an incline 330cm long to a height of 8cm. (would not do five).

Total cost was Loco £43 and decoder £17 - £60 for a DCC fitted loco. Very good value for money.

When I tried to DCC a 'Battle of Britain' loco recently, it was a nightmare. The body was very tight, bits fell of as soon as you touched it, and there was only space for the tiniest decoder, and then the body cracked open at the end, so it went back. And it was twice the price.

Alan

QUOTE (Gary @ 15 Nov 2007, 11:41) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The Tri-ang brand has far wider recognition overseas than the Hornby brand. It seems a no brainer to me. I don't see why Hornby haven't already done this?

Hornby certainly is better known internationally now with the general public due to the Hornby International branding on all the ranges they took over like Rivarossi, Arnold etc. They are keeping those range names alive but under the umbrella Hornby name. That's sensible marketing as they now have a respected quality in their own products and associated with those ranges they have bought which also have a reputation for quality. Triang is associated with the old style models and running quality so probably not the best image to make in a new era.
Nice to see them using the old moulds and selling at a good price for starting modellers.
Good luck they certainly have benefitted from the modern paint processes on the railroad models.