Chris Shutt
Second Gen Lash-up
The EFE Rail pacer has had a few modifications and is now performing very well.
It turns out that it is quite a fine model. I missed out on the original Railtrack version, so I cannot compare to its forerunner but it is a nice thing. I'd read many stories about poor running and as a result I was a little uneasy until I got to grips with it. Here's what I have done to this little model.
First off I have fitted a LokPilot V5 Micro decoder - The lighting options fitted as standard in the circuitry from EFE are actually very good. This saved some head scratching as I like my multiple units to be able to switch out lights when running coupled. I normally set one car to F0 for head and tail lights and the other car to F1 to operate directionally but EFE have taken care of this already. The lighting as fitted is intended for the last style lights installed on the prototype, but I needed to back date them to new condition. This meant a dab of black paint over the driver's side white LED on the circuit board. The painted marker light were then toned down with a wash of transparent orange paint - a compromise, but reasonably effective. The markers do not stand out too much when trailing with the red lights lit, but show just enough to indicate they are working when leading with the second man's headlight illuminated.
The running was a bit lumpy to start, but the LokPilot allows quite a lot of flexibility, so it was actually quite easy to sort out the slow speed running and match the performance to the rest of the DMU fleet. This is important as when running in multi there should be no speed variability between units and certainly no 'snatching'. The CV's to look at are below for those interested with my final values shown.
CV 51 = 31
CV 52 = 13
CV 53 = 70
CV 54 = 5
CV 55 = 18
Of course, you should not adjust anything you are not comfortable with, and my numbers are not definitive - just there for a guide.
Next up, I have changed the destination blinds to read Sheffield at one end and Leeds at the other. The blinds are easy to pop off and modify, and I used home decal paper to make new labels cut to fit over the light box before replacing.
I have also fitted a driver figure to each cab. I use Noch figures and cut off their legs and re-position their arms before I give them a BR uniform and stick them in the cab.
Second Gen Lash-up
The EFE Rail pacer has had a few modifications and is now performing very well.
It turns out that it is quite a fine model. I missed out on the original Railtrack version, so I cannot compare to its forerunner but it is a nice thing. I'd read many stories about poor running and as a result I was a little uneasy until I got to grips with it. Here's what I have done to this little model.
First off I have fitted a LokPilot V5 Micro decoder - The lighting options fitted as standard in the circuitry from EFE are actually very good. This saved some head scratching as I like my multiple units to be able to switch out lights when running coupled. I normally set one car to F0 for head and tail lights and the other car to F1 to operate directionally but EFE have taken care of this already. The lighting as fitted is intended for the last style lights installed on the prototype, but I needed to back date them to new condition. This meant a dab of black paint over the driver's side white LED on the circuit board. The painted marker light were then toned down with a wash of transparent orange paint - a compromise, but reasonably effective. The markers do not stand out too much when trailing with the red lights lit, but show just enough to indicate they are working when leading with the second man's headlight illuminated.
The running was a bit lumpy to start, but the LokPilot allows quite a lot of flexibility, so it was actually quite easy to sort out the slow speed running and match the performance to the rest of the DMU fleet. This is important as when running in multi there should be no speed variability between units and certainly no 'snatching'. The CV's to look at are below for those interested with my final values shown.
CV 51 = 31
CV 52 = 13
CV 53 = 70
CV 54 = 5
CV 55 = 18
Of course, you should not adjust anything you are not comfortable with, and my numbers are not definitive - just there for a guide.
Next up, I have changed the destination blinds to read Sheffield at one end and Leeds at the other. The blinds are easy to pop off and modify, and I used home decal paper to make new labels cut to fit over the light box before replacing.
I have also fitted a driver figure to each cab. I use Noch figures and cut off their legs and re-position their arms before I give them a BR uniform and stick them in the cab.