Nice work, Geoff. Glad the loco had the space and design to make it relatively "easy." (Certainly not easy for me, but you clearly have it down to an art form). And it looks great on the layout, too!
Greetings Geoff 🌞 fantastic video 👏👏👏 really helps take the fear out of doing a conversion 😇 Just goes to show that modifying an older Class 73 would give you a far better model than the plastic rubbish 🗑 now on release 😳 no twin fly wheel's today 😫 no weight at all 🤬 Very best wishes from County Wicklow ☘️
Hi Paul . you are so right . Ive done a few Conversions this week and they all run well even the old Metal gears . Just investigating an old Dapol class 66 today , just ordered the decoders as I run out lol
Thanks for that Geoff that was very interesting. It always seems such a big thing to make these changes, and it does require some skill to do it well. It is so useful actually see what needs to be done. Stephen.
Hi Stephen , the first one is always the hardest . Half the problem is knowing where to put the decoder and what decoder will fit. I might try to make some working Lights next time I'll how that goes first . Geoff
Hi Geoff. The plastic chassis pegs are available from Bachmann-Europe. These would need to be ordered over the phone and you would need to specify that they are for legacy farish models.
A good job done. Although, very well explained, it’s not a job for the faint hearted. I tried a few years ago with a few of mine. Whilst some worked they were awful, so I vowed to buy DCC. Despite having said all that the reason for doing it its definitely a case in point.
HI John , the first one I did I Didn't check if it run ok on DC so when I did the conversion I found loads of issues with split gears Grr . this Class 47 was fairly new and run well so that made all the difference this time . Just working on a Class 87 now however the Split chassis Screw holders are broken so just fired up tinkercad to hopefully make some . Fingers crossed
Hi Geoff. You're right about your tools sounding as though we're at the dentist! I made the mistake of buying several locos from the Masterpiece range of Graham Farish models, leaving me (as you have had to do) to convert them if I want to run them on DCC. Thankfully, my Class 47 is a later(?) model and is DCC ready. Needless to say, I won't buy any more analogue models. That's a nice little test circuit board you have there; may we have details, please? There is considerable opinion on running DCC locos in DC mode and I am very wary of this; would you please either reply or make (a short?) video on this issue as others may have the same concern.
@@flinthillsmodelrailway I do have a question for you. I have done 2 class 31s and 2 class 04s and on all 4, my decoders have died out. I can't understand why. They simply stop responding and I end up sending them back to the supplier who sends me new ones. I use Lenz 6 pin wired decoders for these conversions. Wondering if you have ever had any issues converting after a couple of months running them hard.
I've never used a Lenz decoder , Only Zimo ( Mainly) and the odd ESU . Not had any issues at all . I sure the Zimo and the ESU both have a Temp cutout which resets . I guess the old loco might be pulling more current . Ive ordered a Train o Matic decoder today £18 instead of the £34 for a Zimo so will try that and see what happens. keep me posted on this . Cheers
@@flinthillsmodelrailwayI use a z21 Start controller. The track voltage is fixed. I get anything between 17.3 to 17.9 volts .. and today I started looking for a lower voltage output power supply to hopefully give me decoders a better chance .. at least this is what I am suspecting. I can go as low as 14v on the track and I will be OK. That is my plan!!
yes I agree that sounds a better option , I'm running at 15V using the Digikeijs DR5000 . I did have it on 18V by accicdent but the DCC concepts ZEN decoders didnt like it . I then noticed the voltage switch was up . Fingers crossed no decoder issue for ages ( except for a new one that had an issue when I tested it before install so that went back ) Geoff
The mystery of the split chassis conversion is now solved for me :)
Nice work, Geoff. Glad the loco had the space and design to make it relatively "easy." (Certainly not easy for me, but you clearly have it down to an art form). And it looks great on the layout, too!
Many thanks Antony . I guess the AC / DCC (Just kidding) 3 rail version might be tricky
That was really interesting Geoff. Very well presented and explained. Cheers Euan
Many thanks! Euan
Greetings Geoff 🌞 fantastic video 👏👏👏 really helps take the fear out of doing a conversion 😇 Just goes to show that modifying an older Class 73 would give you a far better model than the plastic rubbish 🗑 now on release 😳 no twin fly wheel's today 😫 no weight at all 🤬 Very best wishes from County Wicklow ☘️
Hi Paul . you are so right . Ive done a few Conversions this week and they all run well even the old Metal gears . Just investigating an old Dapol class 66 today , just ordered the decoders as I run out lol
great video - and works a treat with the class 87 too (although I needed to mill out a recess in the top, as the roof profile is somewhat flatter)
Thanks for the info Geoff
Thanks for that Geoff that was very interesting. It always seems such a big thing to make these changes, and it does require some skill to do it well. It is so useful actually see what needs to be done. Stephen.
Hi Stephen , the first one is always the hardest . Half the problem is knowing where to put the decoder and what decoder will fit. I might try to make some working Lights next time I'll how that goes first . Geoff
Great video Geoff will definitely have a go after seeing this as I have a Deltic to convert
excellent let me know how you get on
Hi Geoff. The plastic chassis pegs are available from Bachmann-Europe. These would need to be ordered over the phone and you would need to specify that they are for legacy farish models.
Thanks Clive that's great news . many thanks
Hi Geoff just watched this video and I plucked up courage to do one of mine and it worked out all ok so thank you Mike
sorry for the late reply - i just found a load of messages that I didn't know I had, Sorry about that. Im so pleased it all worked for you Geoff
A good job done. Although, very well explained, it’s not a job for the faint hearted. I tried a few years ago with a few of mine. Whilst some worked they were awful, so I vowed to buy DCC. Despite having said all that the reason for doing it its definitely a case in point.
HI John , the first one I did I Didn't check if it run ok on DC so when I did the conversion I found loads of issues with split gears Grr . this Class 47 was fairly new and run well so that made all the difference this time . Just working on a Class 87 now however the Split chassis Screw holders are broken so just fired up tinkercad to hopefully make some . Fingers crossed
Hi Geoff. You're right about your tools sounding as though we're at the dentist! I made the mistake of buying several locos from the Masterpiece range of Graham Farish models, leaving me (as you have had to do) to convert them if I want to run them on DCC. Thankfully, my Class 47 is a later(?) model and is DCC ready. Needless to say, I won't buy any more analogue models. That's a nice little test circuit board you have there; may we have details, please? There is considerable opinion on running DCC locos in DC mode and I am very wary of this; would you please either reply or make (a short?) video on this issue as others may have the same concern.
Hi do you have a video of a farrish class 43 hst to dcc
sorry for the late reply - i just found a load of messages that I didn't know I had, Sorry about that. Yes I'm working on one now
Job very well done :)
Many thanks . will try to sort some light in the future
@@flinthillsmodelrailway I do have a question for you. I have done 2 class 31s and 2 class 04s and on all 4, my decoders have died out. I can't understand why. They simply stop responding and I end up sending them back to the supplier who sends me new ones. I use Lenz 6 pin wired decoders for these conversions. Wondering if you have ever had any issues converting after a couple of months running them hard.
I've never used a Lenz decoder , Only Zimo ( Mainly) and the odd ESU . Not had any issues at all . I sure the Zimo and the ESU both have a Temp cutout which resets . I guess the old loco might be pulling more current . Ive ordered a Train o Matic decoder today £18 instead of the £34 for a Zimo so will try that and see what happens. keep me posted on this . Cheers
@@flinthillsmodelrailwayI use a z21 Start controller. The track voltage is fixed. I get anything between 17.3 to 17.9 volts .. and today I started looking for a lower voltage output power supply to hopefully give me decoders a better chance .. at least this is what I am suspecting. I can go as low as 14v on the track and I will be OK. That is my plan!!
yes I agree that sounds a better option , I'm running at 15V using the Digikeijs DR5000 . I did have it on 18V by accicdent but the DCC concepts ZEN decoders didnt like it . I then noticed the voltage switch was up . Fingers crossed no decoder issue for ages ( except for a new one that had an issue when I tested it before install so that went back ) Geoff
Nice job once again :)
sorry for the late reply - i just found a load of messages that I didn't know I had, Sorry about that
@@flinthillsmodelrailway Fear not .. happens to everyone :)