Quote from: njee20 on May 08, 2026, 04:45:36 PMI'm perhaps being unkind, but the NGS doesn't seem the most forward thinking on such matters. That the 'official' forum is hosted on groups.io speaks volumes!

Nothing wrong with groups.io - it's just a different style of interaction.

But yes, the NGS can be a bit slow about these kind of things. Thats because it's entirely run by volunteers, and no-one is coming forward to volunteer. Anyone who wants to help the NGS get better at what it does only has to volunteer.

Will probably put this here.  I'm going to stop my threads on Aberffilli, The Nova Scotia South Shore and Bad Katsberg for a good reason, but I need a little help

I've expanded what was Aberffilli, jacked up the NSSS and attached them all together so I have 1 layout!  Its now about 10x14 U shaped layout that I can sit in the middle of, and while the old layout still exist, I'm going to just have scenic magic to separate them and trains will be able to run through them all!.

I have no pics yet as the room is a mess as I've been given a large full height set of shelves for the other end of the room, so its an absolute tip until I get them setup.

I'll explain more in the future but I'm going to start updating things here instead

G

Quote from: Nbodger on May 08, 2026, 06:47:43 PMRumoured he has taken refuge in Macdonalds. 

No, that can't be right. They don't serve VB in there.

Rumoured he has taken refuge in Macdonalds. 

get some dummy oil lamps to use if the lights fail

in the olden days the lights were v dim anyway really and not that noticeable

it is still annoying when electronics fail on a new loco though so I get that

I'm perhaps being unkind, but the NGS doesn't seem the most forward thinking on such matters. That the 'official' forum is hosted on groups.io speaks volumes!

Quote from: Michanglais on May 08, 2026, 07:36:03 AMI kinda think it would still be useful to have someone who had meetings and input with manufacturers

Something I thought The N Gauge Society might have the "clout" to do.  Can't say I've seen much online presence from them other than the web site.   I remember when I was a member of the Worldwide Group 20 odd years ago and looked after the WW group web pages for a while, there tended to be a lot of objection and FOMO to online content not being available to everyone.

Quote from: Cols on May 08, 2026, 03:45:15 PMThe lights worked for only 3 months before going out on a permanent(?) basis, (fortunately, I am relying on headcode discs). ...it seems that Dapol's electrical connections are sometimes a bit "iffy" ...

It could be a wiring connection problem but I believe more common with Dapol diesel locos is a failed BAT54C diode which controls the directional lighting. It's not an expensive component and can be replaced if you're ok with soldering small components. A forum search should find further discussions about lighting failures. 

Quote from: Cols on May 08, 2026, 03:45:15 PM(some of their tender locos have a very "delicate" electrical connection between loco and tender...).

They're not the best design, but I suspect some of the problems are down to owners not handling the loco carefully - always pick up and support loco and tender in one hand so the tender cannot swing about (that can also be a cause of the cardan shaft coming adrift).  There are usually spare/replacement connection wires in the detail pack.

Quote from: cmason on May 08, 2026, 02:15:18 PM@Bealman
 is that van the Polizei visiting the club looking for you?

Sadly, no. I have it on good authority from the Wollongong Mental Health Authority that, far from George being released to go home he did, in actual fact, go AWOL when permission was given for a mercy visit to the bowlo. They haven't seen him since so have assumed George has gone on the run and a BOLO has been put out. The ambulance in the pic has been readied for a rumble on him being sighted loitering at a bus stop

The Dapol Class 22 is a very nice model (I'm strictly an analogue modeller, by the way...). I have had mine from new for around two years; it is a lovely runner!

However, I have found a minor, though rather irritating snag with this model. The lights worked for only 3 months before going out on a permanent(?) basis, (fortunately, I am relying on headcode discs). I have been told by fellow modellers that that is about "par for the course" with many of Dapol's diesel loco models, particularly this one: it seems that Dapol's electrical connections are sometimes a bit "iffy" (some of their tender locos have a very "delicate" electrical connection between loco and tender...).

Despite my little gripe, I would still recommend this model - it is a beautifully powerful, smooth, highly controllable, and quiet runner!