LGB Allegra 20220 - first impressions..

[Philbahn]

Phil a great deal of help to people who have bought the analogue version..
Not an easy job and well documented. Pity the pantographs are not powered, mind you yhe middle one isn't.
The digital version accepts cv altering very easily, i altered the pantographs so that they rise and fall the way they do on the GE 44's. Main tip I can give iidentify the cv and alter one at a time making aa note of the original

 

[PhilP]

I am getting there..
I was trying to work-out if there was one of the 'updates' on the Massoth site which would upload/program the 'extended capabilities' CV's in one go.. It appears not??
I have also found a 'feature' of the software for the PC Module.. It uses a template file to decide what it does, and does not, read.. If there is not an entry for a specific CV-value in the template file, it is not read or displayed.

This means there are big 'holes' in the CV list.. The 'extended capabilities' drop into one of these holes. - PITA!

I have started a thread in the DCC section about this.
Am still having a 'senior moment' trying to get into the Massoth forum to post questions about this.. Will keep trying.

PhilP.

 

[Philbahn]

Phil have you got the full list of cv's. If not I can send the full booklet

 

[PhilP]

I have the paperwork with the 20220 set. The paperwork from the Massoth XLS 'kit', and the printout from the Massoth forum of the fitting of the XLS and extended SUSI stuff..
Having (quickly) looked at the paperwork with a digital set, I would need to sit quietly, to work out why they present Cv value information in the way they have!

I am slightly worried in case a setting has been missed in the Massoth forum notes, and am left wondering what other CV's are present in the decoder(s) we never see..

I would have to nip upstairs to see if the XLS paperwork lists the CV's that do not appear in the software listings..

 

[Dinas Bryn]

Well Gents I saw Phil's set at the NW Meet to-day it ran great, thinking of my old O guage time I had 2 wires from the motor to pick-ups on wheel and I had trouble with them Les

 

[Philbahn]

Well I am happy with it but it is 20225

 

[muns]

Looks great Phil.

 

[Philbahn]

Looks great Phil.

Yes Mark, it is quite a lovelly bit of kit. However I don't think it will see too many garden visits due to is weight. I will see if I can get a few pictures later on today

 

[PhilP]

Yes Mark, it is quite a lovelly bit of kit. However I don't think it will see too many garden visits due to is weight. I will see if I can get a few pictures later on today

Using a bedroom as a workshop..
I definitely agree on the weight issue. 14kg according to the bathroom scales!
31lbs in 'imperial'. Proviso being the notorious inaccuracy of bathroom scales. Suffice to say you do not want to lug it up and down stairs very often! ???

Box dimensions (standing up, handle at top) are:
Width 81.5cm (32in)
Height 61cm (24in)
Depth 17cm (6.75in)

 

[PaulRhB]

Phil, do you keep it coupled up or have to take it apart each time, if so how easy is it with those drawbars?

 

[PhilP]

Not having a GR in the garden (or house) Everything has to come apart / go together all the time..
I have thrown down some track on the garden path (weather permitting, and the gradient is to much really), but have a four foot length of track, and rollers to work on. - Hence I MUST get something to test on this season..
I volunteer at Chasewater, and there is a G scale presence there, but it is tight radius, and presently in bits. - Has to move for 'Santa' and then move back.. We are also looking at moving it out of the Heritage Centre / loco-shed so it does not get covered in shi stuff when they are grinding-off and rubbing down 12" to the foot stock!

If I had an Allegra set:
I would leave the cables connected to the power-cars, and cut the packaging to allow them to still fit in the box..
If was a millionaire, I would have a multi-level storage system, behind glass, and would leave everything connected up!
I find 'messing' with the couplings to suit the curves a 'phaff', but this is the first item I have had to deal with that type of coupling. - A bit like getting all the wheels on the track in one go.. It comes with practice I guess!

 

[PhilP]

Trying to get more for the decoder install series etc....

The Massoth decoder reference sheet has a sound entry described as:
"Gruezi in Bernina Express".. (note the 'u' has two dots above it). Google translate is no use here, and my Digitrax DCC system will not allow functions above 12..
The above is on F13 according to the 'hymn sheet'. Can anyone throw any light on what this is please??

Many thanks,
PhilP.

 

[Loco]

"Grüetzi" is a greeting. See this link http://www.englishforum.ch/language-corner/23981-who-uses-grutzi-who-uses-guten-tag.html

 

[PhilP]

Presume it is a variation in spelling/dialect between Swiss/German..
Definitely "Grüezi in Bernina Express" on the English side on the sheet, and "Grüezi im Bernina Express" on the German side ..

The function allocations for the Massoth decoder are obviously very different to those for the Marklin/ESU digital version.

Having read the 'loco' post, and followed the link (Doh!) I must presume it is another announcement?? "Welcome to the Bernina Express.." Unless I re-program (gasp!) the function to another key, I may never know!

I am also trying to get to a point in my other thread (and on the bench) where I can test the extra lighting functions. Though I fear I may have to re-program the decoder yet again! ???
The Massoth software reports version 2.83, so I would appear to have the wrong one for fancy lighting..

 

[playmofire]

FreeTranslation translates it as "Greetings in Bernina Express" which I suppose would be "Welcome to the Bernina Express".

 

[Philbahn]

Paul it is heavy, I don't think a magician could handle three cars joined together . LOL.

 

[Beddhist]

Presume it is a variation in spelling/dialect between Swiss/German..
Definitely "Grüezi in Bernina Express" on the English side on the sheet, and "Grüezi im Bernina Express" on the German side ..

That's correct. "im" is German for "in the", so the correct translation would be "welcome in the BE". I can only assume that the announcement will be in Swiss German and is played to passengers at departure.

 

[PhilP]

The 'mystery' of the third announcement is solved!..
It is indeed "Welcome to the BE.." in both Swiss/German and English, as is the "Welcome to the regional train.." announcement. - Nice to have something in English for a change!

One step forward..
Happy the sounds are all sorted..

One step back..
I did have the enhanced lighting working..
It has now stopped. - I fear the SUSI bus has gone 'pop'.

 

[KandNWLR]

The 'mystery' of the third announcement is solved!..
It is indeed "Welcome to the BE.." in both Swiss/German and English, as is the "Welcome to the regional train.." announcement. - Nice to have something in English for a change!

One step forward..
Happy the sounds are all sorted..

One step back..
I did have the enhanced lighting working..
It has now stopped. - I fear the SUSI bus has gone 'pop'.

Having been on the orginal recently, I can confirm that the announcements are indeed English and German with a Swiss accent (though not Swiss-German, which is another thing altogether :-\). But yes, Grüezi is the the traditional greeting in these parts. I should get out more often, but all they speak is Swiss-German.

 

[PhilP]

Just had the £65 Marklin decoder and fitted it in one of these..
you do not get any fitting instructions, but do not really need any for the decoder as such..

Take the centre carriage apart. Pull out the serial board. Remove the three screws holding the main board. flip it over, and solder two wires to the pads for the speaker connections. Flip board back, ans replace screws. Plug in a volume pot. - I recommend this, as CV's are so awkward to change. Plug in decoder. solder wires to loudspeaker. Secure loudspeaker, and use one of the stand-offs to fix the volume control.

Job done, and it all works as it should.. No programming necessary.