For lighting in coaches, instead of pickups direct to the bulbs would it not make more sense to have the pickups serve a rechargeable battery circuit which in turn connects to the bulbs. This should eliminate flicker.
Hi - thanks for the suggestion and absolutely yes. Incredibly, those class 370 coaches have capacitors - which are very visible through the windows of the coaches - but they don't hold charge for any length of time so don't prevent flickering. This was corrected on the second release of the train but there's no offer from Hornby to fix the first batch. Regards, Chris
I have recently bought the APT. Rails of Sheffield have had the whole thing on huge discount, half price, so i thought why not?, as i have always loved the APT. I had the 1980 model years ago. I opted for the 5 car set, looked at the 7 car set but didn't want an unpowered motor car. I then bought a second powered motor car reduced in price, the instrument coach at half price and the 4 coach packs again at half price. Thats the whole formation at about 60% of the origonal price , very happy. On inspecting the model for the first time i was a little underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, its a lovely thing, but i just felt it had a slight cheap feel to it. The last loco i bought was an Accurascale Class 55, amazing model..do you know where i am coming from. APT interiors are very 'plastic'. Pantograph is well below standard, should have been a nice etched one. The model is probably worth what i payed for it but the RRP for the whole thing would have been well over £1000, i think well overpriced for what it is. I don't have a layout at the minute so can't fully enjoy the model, but when i do, i have a new 16x8 ft planned in the next couple of years i hope i won't regret buying it.
Thanks for the comment! To be brutally honest, the model is best enjoyed as an ornament. I have 3 motor cars, two of the 'old style' one new. They all have running issues which developed over time. I believe there are issues with communication through the board and messages from the decoder are not getting to the motor all of the time. The coaches, old and new, have a horrible squeal from the pickups which, at least for the new version are worth it as the capacitors actually do their job and keep the lights on (the old ones don't). I want to love it, like you I love the actual train and its history, character, likewise Hornby. But I can't love this, it's below par in every sense. Such a shame! Regards, Chris
My APT wont even move unless I give it 65% Power and its a 2023 release. At full power it goes slower than my Bachmann Blue Pullman! Its like Hornby wanted to replicate the prototypes problems in real life lol.
That's a shocker! I was really disappointed with them for that 2023 release - it looks great and good luck to anyone who's waited but it's an absolute acknowledgement from them that the first one, that I spent a small fortune on, was garbage. Hope you get your power issues sorted. Regards, Chris
I really don't think you should have to, how many coaches are you running? Maybe consider contacting their support people? They've always been very helpful with me.
@@WirenwoodModelRailway I only have the 7 car coach pack! It cant even really run on my test track that well and its on a flat surface. I might contact support see what they say
Definitely do that, as that makes it not fit for purpose! My old one runs up the incline with 2 extra coaches on it without issue, so yours should handle what you're doing with no issues.
All that money , I thought with all the hype it was given on the yesterday doc it would of been a lot better, I’ll stick with my set I got new in 1985 but I feel for you all who out there hard earned into buying and supporting hornby hope all goes well
Oh, I don't know. I don't think it's a scam because I chose to spend the money. I had 2 of the old sets on my last layout and it was a struggle to keep it working reliably. The new set is such an upgrade in terms of running. I just maybe think those interior lights were a mistake, they're too bright and there's significant compromise with the squeaking pickups. And I'm surprised that mine fell apart but Hornby were very attentive and helpful. It's an expensive train, but they all seem to be these days!
I think it's a bit of a missed opportunity, they could have built in DCC decoders on the coaches (as Bachmann does on some of their stock) but I guess the price would have been a higher. It's a bit silly that DCC only controls the directional lights on the driving cars and not in the coaches.
Hornby APT? they really are making some premium junk these day's? The hunt couplings are really good though. I use them on a Bachmann 168 DMU they are so much better than the originals.
Thank you - I'm sure that dirty wheels can cause sparks but I don't think that was the case here, I think it was the low running magnetic couplings. It looked like one set in particular, I'll tighten the coupling screws slightly once it's back on the layout and see if running the couplings a little higher solves the issue.
I use hunt magnetic couplings on the APT and they vary in differing lengths so that they overcome issues such as one described in the video.
Thank you, I've switched to using them too now!
For lighting in coaches, instead of pickups direct to the bulbs would it not make more sense to have the pickups serve a rechargeable battery circuit which in turn connects to the bulbs. This should eliminate flicker.
Hi - thanks for the suggestion and absolutely yes. Incredibly, those class 370 coaches have capacitors - which are very visible through the windows of the coaches - but they don't hold charge for any length of time so don't prevent flickering. This was corrected on the second release of the train but there's no offer from Hornby to fix the first batch. Regards, Chris
You can get a special conductive grease it is designed to lub electical contact like the copper pickup to the metal wheel and it does work
Thanks Barry that's really useful - I'll look into it.
I think that if you put a washer under the hunts couplings then tighten it up it will be more horizontal and and won’t fowl the piano wire’s cheers Al
Great call! Thank you.
In a nutshell, you shouldn't have to address anything except perhaps a new motor after 20 years of running. ATB, Andy.
Ha, thanks Andy! It's back from Hornby now and is running much quieter. Fingers crossed!
I have recently bought the APT. Rails of Sheffield have had the whole thing on huge discount, half price, so i thought why not?, as i have always loved the APT. I had the 1980 model years ago. I opted for the 5 car set, looked at the 7 car set but didn't want an unpowered motor car. I then bought a second powered motor car reduced in price, the instrument coach at half price and the 4 coach packs again at half price. Thats the whole formation at about 60% of the origonal price , very happy. On inspecting the model for the first time i was a little underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, its a lovely thing, but i just felt it had a slight cheap feel to it. The last loco i bought was an Accurascale Class 55, amazing model..do you know where i am coming from. APT interiors are very 'plastic'. Pantograph is well below standard, should have been a nice etched one. The model is probably worth what i payed for it but the RRP for the whole thing would have been well over £1000, i think well overpriced for what it is. I don't have a layout at the minute so can't fully enjoy the model, but when i do, i have a new 16x8 ft planned in the next couple of years i hope i won't regret buying it.
Thanks for the comment! To be brutally honest, the model is best enjoyed as an ornament. I have 3 motor cars, two of the 'old style' one new. They all have running issues which developed over time. I believe there are issues with communication through the board and messages from the decoder are not getting to the motor all of the time. The coaches, old and new, have a horrible squeal from the pickups which, at least for the new version are worth it as the capacitors actually do their job and keep the lights on (the old ones don't).
I want to love it, like you I love the actual train and its history, character, likewise Hornby. But I can't love this, it's below par in every sense. Such a shame! Regards, Chris
My APT wont even move unless I give it 65% Power and its a 2023 release. At full power it goes slower than my Bachmann Blue Pullman! Its like Hornby wanted to replicate the prototypes problems in real life lol.
That's a shocker! I was really disappointed with them for that 2023 release - it looks great and good luck to anyone who's waited but it's an absolute acknowledgement from them that the first one, that I spent a small fortune on, was garbage. Hope you get your power issues sorted. Regards, Chris
@@WirenwoodModelRailway I have ordered another power NDM but I should not have to when you look at the price they are asking for it.
I really don't think you should have to, how many coaches are you running? Maybe consider contacting their support people? They've always been very helpful with me.
@@WirenwoodModelRailway I only have the 7 car coach pack! It cant even really run on my test track that well and its on a flat surface. I might contact support see what they say
Definitely do that, as that makes it not fit for purpose! My old one runs up the incline with 2 extra coaches on it without issue, so yours should handle what you're doing with no issues.
All that money , I thought with all the hype it was given on the yesterday doc it would of been a lot better, I’ll stick with my set I got new in 1985 but I feel for you all who out there hard earned into buying and supporting hornby hope all goes well
Oh, I don't know. I don't think it's a scam because I chose to spend the money. I had 2 of the old sets on my last layout and it was a struggle to keep it working reliably. The new set is such an upgrade in terms of running. I just maybe think those interior lights were a mistake, they're too bright and there's significant compromise with the squeaking pickups.
And I'm surprised that mine fell apart but Hornby were very attentive and helpful.
It's an expensive train, but they all seem to be these days!
I think it's a bit of a missed opportunity, they could have built in DCC decoders on the coaches (as Bachmann does on some of their stock) but I guess the price would have been a higher. It's a bit silly that DCC only controls the directional lights on the driving cars and not in the coaches.
Hornby APT? they really are making some premium junk these day's? The hunt couplings are really good though. I use them on a Bachmann 168 DMU they are so much better than the originals.
I'm struggling still with the Hunt couplings - they hang too low and short over electrofrog turnouts.
Dirty wheels that how it sparks
Thank you - I'm sure that dirty wheels can cause sparks but I don't think that was the case here, I think it was the low running magnetic couplings. It looked like one set in particular, I'll tighten the coupling screws slightly once it's back on the layout and see if running the couplings a little higher solves the issue.