gollygosh!

I have the remains of an etched kit of one of these......actually found in the same box as an incomplete whitemetal Atlantic, bought for a pund or two....proceeds to fav charity...

I was informed it was a model of a loco found in a museum somewhere......the 1930's first build date means this little gem would suit steam and modern eras.....certainly is a strange piece of equipment

 

I first saw it at Nürnberg in 2008 in it's pre-production form.

It is a fascinating little loco and the fact that it is easy ti convert to DCC - as long as a suitable adaptor is made available, then it should be fun on any suitable layout.

 

Interesting item. It looks way better with the paint on.

 

Great review Doug!

Those photos won't allow any flattery will they - about 3 times the size of the loco!

60134

 

Saw the twin pack of these at Arcadia a week or so back. They do look really good in the flesh and was tempted but I used Fleischmann Profi couplings and it would be difficult to convert them.

 

Anyone know of an adaptor that will work (with a decoder with 6-pins NEM 651 and the Shunting Tractor Series 208 with 8 pins on the PCB)?

 

The spacing on the shunting tractor looks like it's 0.1 inch pitch (2.54mm). If that's the case, it should be relatively easy to make one but that's not really what you want....

David

 

It turns out that you don't have to hunt for an adaptor after all. There is one supplied with the model. OK, there wasn't an adaptor with my one, but I suppose it was mislaid as the model had been opened up by others (for testing and photos) prior to being sent to me.

This is the adaptor:

I have updated the review here with the DCC Decoder installation photos.

 

Doug,, Is that a Locpilot #52685 or 52688 chip?
I'm having a heck of a time finding anyone who has it listed on their website here in the U.S.
I've gone down ESU's dealer (err sorry Stockist) list and cant find it listed with anyone.
I saw your review and had to have the 'Sogliola'. I do like the ecclectic, haa
He does run suprisingly smooth in DC.

 

Fantastic little model, just seen them for real at mdr-direct in cookham, he's got two types in stock, one with the buffers, and another with the board like in the review. Amazing how small it really is when it's in front of you! Not my bag, I've got too much bad trackwork that would stall it, but they seem pretty good value at £76. I'm not sure if it's the pound exchange rate or ontracks cut of the profits, but the Hornby international stuff is starting to look too expensive compared to the competition. He also had one of the modern red DB railcars in, again cheaper than the ontracks online price, but still expensive compared to Liliput stuff, from, let's face it, the same company in china.

 

QUOTE (kskato @ 17 Apr 2009, 19:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Doug,, Is that a Locpilot #52685 or 52688 chip?
I'm having a heck of a time finding anyone who has it listed on their website here in the U.S.
I've gone down ESU's dealer (err sorry Stockist) list and cant find it listed with anyone.
I saw your review and had to have the 'Sogliola'. I do like the ecclectic, haa
He does run suprisingly smooth in DC.

The decoder in the photos is: #52688

I have ordered another decoder to test in the Sogliola, the TCS EUN651 6-pin NEM651 N Gauge decoder. I ordered that from DCC Supplies. When it comes, I'll take some more photos and put them up.

 

When a retailer is the main agent for a manufacturer (Ontracks/HI, Gaugemaster/Piko, etc.) they have to list at the manufacturers RRP while supplying to the trade at wholesale prices to allow other retailers a fair share, this inevtiably makes them look pricey!

60134

 

Update:

Here is the TCS EUN651 6-pin NEM651 N Gauge decoder with the 6-pin NEM651 adaptor on the left.

The decoder and the adaptor.

Fitted to the model.

The TCS EUN651 has excellent running characteristics with Back EMF giving good control at slow speed. I also like the various lighting effects that are available and I've set up a direction flashing light on this little shunter that will warn those in the vicinity of the shunting in progress.

 

Doug,,
Thanks for the reply.
I went on another search and found the TCS EUN651. Much better availability in
the U.S.
Thought I fried the first one _ @&@^%$% !!
( damaged by 'shortage' the email said )
TCS has another one coming to me.

Sure appreciate your pics on the EUN651 , I will use those for a guide.
Hopefully I won't mess -up this time !

 

Thanks for the review Doug.

Courtesy of that, I searched one out on the internet and have bought it - the HR 2080.

Terrific little loco - the other half loves it - and it looks great trundling around the layout.

David

 

Re: the video at the end of the review, does anyone know the make and model of the small brown box car being pulled by the shunting tractor?

Thanks,

 

Just purchased one. While it runs, it does so with a pronounced clicking and, in one direction there is a rocking movement. I took the keeper off and all seems to be in order. I note several of the gears are not fixed to their axles and wonder whether gears moving on the axles are the issue and need to be glued on.

Cheers

Mark