My DCC Journey

[Rog (RJ)]

2. "Is it worth the cost of respraying? (spray painting is not one of my skills!)."
Only you can decide if it's worth it for you.

3. I don't do sound but if it was me, I'd wait for the correct sound to become available.

[yelrow]

i would never consider repainting any of my locos, as to my mind, it would make them no longer original, and worth less. There is nothing to stop you having visiting locos on your layout. I have visiting ones from America and Germany. I have zero interest in any region or colour of locos. If hornby, etc, release a loco, i like, i buy it. Ones layout is an individual thing. I would certainly not paint my P2, red, or stick a transfer on it. I have 8 TTS sound locos, and 2 MTH sound locos, (sound on these far superior, in every way). To me, running only green locos, or only GWR, ones, vastly restricts your choices. I have over 100 locos now, many with very sentimental connections. No doubt my views are controversial, but, tis my layout, and i am the Fat Controller.

[Tallpaul70]

Thanks to Rog and Yelrow for their contributions.

On the DCC front I am continuing to use TTS as much as possible, although the different versions of classes such as the 37s are a trap for the unwary with quite marked start and stop sounds from say 37/0s and 37/5s. However, the difference is less marked when on the go(IMHO) so I just need to arrange for those that stop(except in emergency!) to have the right sounds

I agree with the idea of visiting locos, but I do try to base them on real events even if I stretch the year in which the events occurred!

So my layout will be Western Region main line from London, but only having the relief lines as I don't have space for 4 lines. I chose the reliefs because to me they have a greater variety of trains and locos, and most of them are slower than the expresses so will pas my observation point a bit slower.

I will run the layout and therefore have locos and stock for c1962, c1992 and c2016.

So I can have a few steamers in 1992 and 2016 I will run 2 up and 2 down steam specials which is a bit more than the usual happening in those years!!

As 2016 was originally going to be 2007, until I saw and liked the 800s and the GWR Green livery, I have a number of locos and stock that are ok for 2007 but changed livery by 2016 hence the need to change liveries. I can get away with a few diesels in old liveried as preserved or hired in items, but not all that are in the wrong livery.

Hope this explanation helps you understand my need for livery changes.

Best regards
Paul

[yelrow]

hi, again, i have 1938 hornby dublo 3 rail, 3 ovals, running next to 2017 TTS loc0s also, 3 ovals. 3 rail on tinplate, and Sound locos on peco flexi. Above them 2 ovals of Triang TT, year unknown., 2 ovals of N gauge, and one oval DC. Underneath them, are 5 ovals of DC, and 2 more 3 rail ovals. All a bit of a mixture, but was told a long time ago, that the older locos, need to be run, not just left on shelves to gather dust. Means i can choose which era to play with, as and when. Just to relieve the boredom have 2x 44 foot DC ovals running round the outside room walls, with lift out section, plus an N gauge oval between them. Hence able to run 3 Flying Scotsman, at the same time. This would have been a tad simpler, had i not been restricted to downstairs for 18 months, during which time, i entered the DCC world, thanks to my lady wife. Once able to climb the stairs again, we integrated the 2 systems, and gave her back her dining room. I wont bore you with my O gauge clockwork trains, or current Z gauge stuff, but suffice to say, that as i wont hear of parting with any of it, it all has to run. john

[RAF96]

Sounds like you may have enough room to slot in some S gauge and 009 to make up a full set John.

[yelrow]

hi rob, dont forget T gauge, looked at 009, but costly. Had everything except Z gauge in uk. Added DCC; here. Keeps the mind active , dont you know.

[Tallpaul70]

I find 00 quite enough to keep me busy in mind as well as body, but each to their own!

I flirted briefly with N gauge in my youth, but while it solved the space problem, I found the models too small and fiddly, and the couplings so out of scale, although admittedly they have since improved!

Cheers
Paul

[yelrow]

Paul, i am really a Hornby Dublo 3 rail devotee. No comparison when listening to these run. Dont need any other sound. However, like Topsy, my collection grew a bit. and i cant be doing with the thought of selling ought.

[Tallpaul70]

Paul, i am really a Hornby Dublo 3 rail devotee. No comparison when listening to these run. Dont need any other sound. However, like Topsy, my collection grew a bit. and i cant be doing with the thought of selling ought.

Hi there,
I know what you mean about 3 rail! My brother in law is a 3 rail fan, although he finds it difficult now in his mid 80s with nowhere to have a permanent layout.
Selling things I agree, is hard, I found. It was just a matter of what did I need most? I have sold some locos that would be difficult to
convert to DCC or are in a livery not appropriate to my current layout needs.
I asked myself the question:- which will you get most enjoyment out of- a loco sitting in its box rarely seeing the light of day, and not useable on the layout, or a new loco that fills a gap in the loco fleet and which can be used regularly on the layout?

Cheers
Paul