Noel

I totally understand that prototypically, but if some were sold 'pristine' at least modellers could choose to weather themselves at whatever level they preferred. Most unweathered models look toy like (e.g. MM0171, MM5229, etc). Even if lightly weathered, modellers could add additional 'filth' if desired. As the survey asked, perhaps the solution might be to produce half heavily weathered, and the other half either pristine or lightly dusted.

Hi IT. I have downloaded the LokProgrammer and the template library. I finally figured out how to play the sound while simulating driving the loco using throttle input slider, but I cannot find a way of pressing function buttons to test the sounds of functions while the prime mover is playing. It appears a very complex process mixing a sound project. I will start reading the manual over the weekend and hopefully will then decide if LokProgammer is for me or not. If I can get one of the new 'Full Throttle' sound project off the ESU USA loco library for EMD567 but add Irish horn, station whistle and station announcement from the old ESU 071 sound project, I might be able to brew a half decent 141/181 project that supports 'Full Throttle' driving, and in time make an 071 FT project as well. Today I installed my first LegomanBiffo 141 sound decoder (LokSound) and I have to say the sound is fantastic, better than any other 141/181 I have heard so far. The drive being a LokSound V4 however is a little direct and rather responsive, but sounds great. However it has one really daft feature, which initially I though was rather clever, that is when you change direction, believe it or not it actually plays the sound of the driver opening the cab door, leaving the cab, shutting the door, walking down the footway with foot steps, opening the door to the other cab, getting in and closing the door behind him. Yea, kind of clever you might think, but while this lengthy sound sequence is playing you have no throttle control, so you can't shunt this loco. In real life the driver would not change cabs when shunting in a yard. If this sound was available with 'Full Throttle' drive features we might have the best of all worlds.

Hi Guys Is this similar to colour and livery that is planned for the first run (i.e. white/ivory with blue 'Irish Cement' logo? If yes I'd love to buy 12 of them either pristine or lightly factory weathered (e.g. similar level of light dusting done on MM factory weathered locos). Photo David Orr's photobucket Unfortunately I would have no interest in buying heavily weathered ones like the photo below. Photo Noel Enright's photobucket PS: Great work guys

Hi Fran, thanks. Done. It depends on how the weathering is done. If gentle weathering with the blue wording clearly visible, I'd prefer that, but if filthy/manky dirty and blotchy like some old prototypes I wouldn't like as i don't think such heavy weather scales well down to model size and the logo would not be clearly visible. Will the first batch have the blue irish cement logo? BTW, great going guys. I'd take four packs gently factory weathered when available.

Thanks IT. Btw, on the ESU site where one can play demo sounds, some 645's sound quite different to each other, some are much more low pitched guttural and throaty, but others the more normal high pitched GM. Can you test play sounds with the LokProgrammer on a PC without connecting a decoder to the USB programer (i.e. can the PC test sounds)?

Lucky escape - Darwin explains this sort of thing

That sounds positive. So would the EMD 12cyl 645E3 product code 74439 suit as the prime mover for an 071, and I could add back the Irish horn, whistle and station, announcement. The FT one on the ESU site doesn't sound very like 071? Very few 12cyl 645s with FT on ESUs web site. The EMD 16cyl 645E3 V2 (FT) (prod 76410) sounds much more like the MM0071 prime mover even though its 16cyl. Confused!

I hope your right. One of their not very clear FAQs suggested you couldn't use the LokProgrammer to mix sounds from two or more '.esux' files if you wanted FT.

Reading the ESU website FAQs it looks like 'Full Throttle' won't work with current MM 071 or 201 sound file versions until ESU convert them to FT versions which doesn't seem in the immediate future. As IT suggests it may be possible to download US FT sound files and add back the Irish horn, guard whistle and station announcements, but another FAQ seemed to suggest that sound channels could not be mixed with FT versions - not very clear. I had hoped it was possible to just download a firmware update for existing V4 decoders without replacing the sound, but it looks like the sound recordings are remixed to work with FT (Full Throttle drive), and only US versions currently available.

Horses for Courses is dead right. Personally I prefer the RealDrive on the Zimo precisely because it is not too throttle responsive, it has huge inertia settings and accelerates and breaks slowly in a very prototypical manner. However some folk do not like this and prefer the more direct throttle response of the LokSound 4.0 decoders (i.e. before the recent addition of 'Full Throttle' drive). I too have both and like both, but I nearly drool when driving the Zimo with real drive. I love the way heavy trains labour out of a station with the GM thrashing and notching up and down automatically in a very realistic manner. F5 puts it in light train mode which makes it more throttle responsive like the LokSound 4.0. Now I have not yet driven the new LokSound 'Full Throttle' decoders which seem a huge improvement in terms of prototypical drive and sound, and possibly an improvement on the Zimo. I can't wait to get one and try it, I really like the sound of their new features 'Drive Hold', 'Coast','Brake','Dynamic Brake' and 'Run 8'. Will report back a comparison with the Zimo once I get my hands on a 'Full Throttle' decoder. http://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-full-throttle-features/

Thats a good system. Doubt its the cause unless the cabs function buttons were reallocated.

Pray tell what is MTH?

Agree in its day NMRA brought standardisation which was vital at that time. Much like Posix Unix standardised all the 'X' O/Ss in the 80s, but the unix/linux/berkley like OS running on an iPhone or Android is completely buried and invisible to the modern human user and all the new goodies have been added since.

LOL Seriously though the electronics design behind DCC is jurassic 1970s technology and it shows. Two rail track is capable of handling a form of fast ethernet/IP traffic capable of 'on the main' instant reprogramming and over the rails, live sound transmission from a central controller to micro amps and speakers on locos instead of needing all the electronics on the loco. RailCom is going some way to improving DCC, but ultimately its still in the dark ages - needing specialist hardware like a LokProgrammer good and all as it is simply reinforces the point. JMRI looks like it was released after MS-DOS 7!!! Cab ergonomics seem from the Motorola cell phone brick pre Nokia era. At least ESU have done a half decent job hiding the underlying old protocol with a decent UI on its newer systems.

Yes the joys of DCC designed in the late 1970s. Reminds me of the first hobby electronics computer kit I had in 1979, a UK-101 with a staggering 4k of RAM. When I upgraded to 8k, I think I was one of four guys in Ireland with 8k in what we later came to know as a home computer or PC. 'Modern' DCC configuration reminds me of a time when I had to learn hex and programme a 6502 processor in machine code. At least the human intuitive iPhone came along and brought us all into the 21st century. If Steve Jobs had overseen the design of DCC we might never have heard of a CV. On a serious note, decent spec 4-FN decoders cost about €25 and decent 6-FN about €35.

Correct with a 6 function decoder such as the MM one. But with other less expensive 4 function decoders the running lights and head lights should work normally bi-directionally using F2 and F4 on 071/201.

FYI, I have Lenz 4 function decoders working fine in my 071s. The only thing that doesn't work is the cab lights (which is no loss imho).

Hi Eddie. The links below may shed some light. Doesn't sound like they are DCC decoders, but if they are its easy to change their addresses on a DCC test track. Some ESU Ecos controllers are multi-protocol and can control DCC or Marklin chips. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Märklin http://www.esu.eu/en/products/former-products/ecos-50000-dcc-system/ecos-command-station/ http://www.marklin-users.net/forum/yaf_postst1024_DC-vs-DCC-vs-AC.aspx

F4 on any manufacturers DCC chip should turn headlights on, so I don't think the chip is your problem, there seems to be a fault on the loco itself. Ps. Lateral thinking unless your DCC controllers cab has had the FN buttons reprogrammed and F4 is not actually F4. Highly unlikely but a remote possibility.

Wow what great pictorial record of that era. And not a tram in sight. Some interesting formations.

Pure class - modelling at a different level. They ooze atmosphere from the golden era.

I know exactly how that feels I have a few pristine tippex baby GMs with IR logo but they almost look toy like the colours are so clean. One day I will have to risk it.

Looks like she's sold. A nice buy for the new owner.

Welcome. 141/182 class were as much part of the scene in mid 90s as 071s, especially on secondary duties and often paired in consists. 201s were really only talking over mainline intercity trains from about 1996 onwards. Upto that 071 was the mainstay loco for intercity.

Super job remodelling one of those old triang hornby mk1s into a superb example of a CIE GSV. Looks the biz. 182 was the first Murphy Model I saw back around 2008 and bought it on the spot thinking wow, Irish models have gone into another dimension. That model got me back in the hobby. Your successful GSV conversion has me thinking about my Crimson & Cream liveried BR Mk1s that also have riveted on bogies and have been in storage boxes since about 1979. I doubt I could match your efforts but it would be pleasing to try and convert one or two instead of buy more RTR. Now that your a dab hand at weathering presume your 182 might get de-pristined a little.