Excellent review - thank you

My brother and I (experienced DCC modellers) had a complete nightmare opening up the body to install the DCC decoder, nothing got broken but that was down to luck. The seating got jammed within the retaining clips making the body almost impossible to release from the chassis (chassis based screws would have been much better and would not have affected the aesthetics of the model), we also had an issue with the head code shroud, luckily no issues with the lighting PCB connection. We almost gave up with the DCC decoder installation and was about to return the model to the shop. DCC installation is not for the faint hearted, your patience will be tested throughout the DCC installation. The model has proved to be a very reliable runner apart from the slight flicker of the lighting in the dummy coach provided by the fine coupling mounted electrical connections. Frustration that the head codes and interior lighting are not controlled via individual function controls.

they great got 2 of these good price 125.99

I'm glad I didn't need to open it up. Happy with DC. Mine runs fine. Luck of the draw. Interesting video.

Good review. I fancy one of these but I think if I do take the plunge I will get the retailer to fit the decoder first!

I had to open mine for the decoder addition, and fortunately had no issues. I agree it's a good running model.

How do you find the Hattons decoders?? I have bought quite a few to fit into my locomotives, so cv5 190 setting sets the speed at 75mph?? Interesting video 📹.

All for some gamer lights. Basically all it is, can't see many of us going to the next logical step in this quest for light detail that would involve setting our model railway rooms up with dimmer lights set on a realistic light cycle so it gets darker as we sit there of an evening and play with our toys. Odd state of affairs when we want realism, but we also don't tend to do realism. The realism is essentially a gimmick we never use that doesn't really give us any benefit in terms of asthetics because we run around with headlights on when they wouldn't be, cab lights on at night, lights in carriages on in the day when we'd never be able to see the lights in the day looking from the outside. If I stop and think about it we were actually much more realistic modellers 20 years ago before any of this came in and robbed us of hundreds of quid in the name of "realistic" effects that are not realistic. Body detail, great, even sound thought this can get a bit naff at points, great, but the lights. Pure money pit.

Bachmanns combination of screws and hard plastic clips is the work of the devil. I can't see any need for the clips, and often remove them once I'm inside a model. The screws should be enough.