GraFar 3 car DMU class 101 or 108?

[DodgerB]

I'm getting either of the 2 models below for christmas....

3 car 101


3 car 108


Not sure which one to go for!
My preference is probably for the 101, mainly because it has the white section to break up the blue colour, and doesn't have the weird yellow line above the door!

Has anyone tried either of these?

[EtchedPixels]

The weird yellow line is first class Yes some DMU stuff once had first class. They are basically the same mechanism so perform near enough identically.

The 101s were probably more widely ranging than the 108, and the blue/white livery reflects later periods than plain blue. Historically the 1965 liveries were supposed to be plain blue for suburban stock, and blue/white for express services. Some DMU stock always was blue/white but much of it was plain blue for a long time. The 3 car set also has a unit number in the later form on it which dates it towards the end of the class 101 days (late 1970s/1980s)

So in part it depends upon location and period. I believe out of the box the 3 car 101 has Scottish numbers/destinations and the 108 Eastern ones.

[DodgerB]

Thanks! Unfortunately not in "'orrible blue" doubles the price.... 

Thanks for the info EP and OM! The wife also prefers the look of the 101, so that seems the favourite!

OM: do these graham farish models have working headlights?! it's not mentioned on the product page at all... 

[BobB]

Both the 101 and the 108 have working lights.

I prefer the all blue because I traveled in them more in this livery. Silly reason i suppose !

[DodgerB]

cheers! well that's ahh... removed that particular surprise!

Also, as I'm only on DC am I correct in thinking that this model, being "GraFar DCC ready" will just run fine on DC straight away?

[EtchedPixels]

Yes, and when you see the light you can upgrade to DCC sound with it quite easily

[DodgerB]

Yes, and when you see the light you can upgrade to DCC sound with it quite easily

hummmmmmmmmm stop being annoying!

I'm on the verge of putting my main order in, so I could still theoretically have a rethink and go DCC......

... it would solve some complicated cab control I've been thinking about in the centre part of my layout.... 

[DodgerB]

ok... seeing as you opened this can of worms ( ) if I went DCC could I still just run all my points off the CDU, exactly the same as with DC?


Presumeably the difference would be if I wanted to computer control everything, and then I'd have to add a decoder onto each point?

[EtchedPixels]

Yes on both counts.

Whether it solves the complicated cab control or merely changes the complication who knows 

[DodgerB]

ha good point!

but in theory, DCC does away with the need for any isolating sections, right?


However, in the fiddle yard which is slightly hidden, I could still add a DC style isolating section (about 15-20cm or so) at each end and flick on/off with a switch. That way I could run a train in on DCC, flip the switch when I know it's passed the first section, and it will automatically stop when it gets to the non-powered 2nd section at the end of the fiddle lane (ie the other end from which it entered). Is that a good idea?

[EtchedPixels]

non-powered 2nd section at the end of the fiddle lane (ie the other end from which it entered). Is that a good idea?

Ermm no. But you can have otherwise non powered switched sections fed by the same DCC controller just fine to do that.

You can also use DC and asymmetric DCC for certain control effects but it needs to be generated from the DCC supply.

[DodgerB]

Ermm no. But you can have otherwise non powered switched sections fed by the same DCC controller just fine to do that.

You can also use DC and asymmetric DCC for certain control effects but it needs to be generated from the DCC supply.

not sure what any of that means, but never mind!

I've had a good ol read of brian lamberts dcc pages. I think dcc would be pretty cool, but I don't think I can really go for it this time. It would cut out a whole bunch of locos until I could (if it's even possible) get them converted. Plus you have to buy a decoder per loco. plus new controller. then if you go for short cct detectors that all drives the cost up. again for block detectors etc if you want computer control.

and im not even sure it would be an improvement; with 2 dc controllers you can start 2 trains simultaneously, but presumably with dcc you have to start one, then dial in another, and start that later.
I have 3 dc controller inputs, and don't think i can really control more than that anyway! with one for the outer loop, one for the inner loop, and one for the industrial siding / shunting yard, i dont see there's much extra i'd gain off dcc.
yes it would solve any control issues over which controller controls the outer points, middle double slip section, and inside station area, at any one time, but i'm sure with a good bit of thinking there's a perfectly reasonable dc solution.
Just thinking now, the outer points would always be controller 1, the double slip could be totally isolated and switch to controller 1 or 2, and the station block could be rotary switched to 1, 2, or 3. (ie 1 to drive a train to the outer loop, 2 to drive it neatly to the inner loop, and 3 to do something else with it or get it to the shunting yard/industry area).

yes it would be very cool to have loco lights always on, and the sound is amazing, but thats another expense.
given unlimited funds i would probably go dcc, but even with the funds I do have I think dcc just gets too expensive too quickly, without enough benefit for my situation.