Rob, but you are aware that the decoder is most easily accessible under one of the covers/hoods on the roof and can simply be detached?

Frankly, it seems a bit unpractical to send such a delicate model back and forth between the UK and Holland when you could simply insert an ESU decoder from a second model and see what happens then.

Take a look at the location of the decoder on top of the green printed circuit board: http://hag-info.ch/hag/f.../userpix/177_GTW_7_1.jpg

Rob, take an ESU Lokpilot model no. 64614. They are currently quite cheap (less than 30 Euros/Swiss Francs), easily available and suitable for HAG GTW's. Without sound, but at the moment you want to determine whether something is wrong with your railcar rather than listening to the "music". Testing the model with a second decoder seems less of a hassle to me than the shipping adventure.

http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...okpilot/lokpilot-v40-m4/

So today I receive a Marklin 6647 analogue controller and a 21 pin blanking plug. I try the gtw with the decoder still in it using the analogue controller and the sound card starts up and the engine moves. So I take out the decoder, fit the blanking plug and nothing happens. So I re-fit the decoder and try again. Yet again the sound card starts up and the engine moves.
I phone up the Dealer in Holland and explain this, he is surprised and asks me to try to enter it into the MS2 again to see if it works. I try again but nothing happens so phone him again and explain.
He has requested that I send it back to Holland for testing and repair so I have just dropped it off at a courier to deliver, further news as it happens , regards Rob

Thanks Mike, what you say sounds entirely plausible regarding the chip and AC power. I do not however possess another chip of a similar nature, or loco I can easily swap it with. It is now on it's way back to Holland as we speak, cheers Rob

here is something for historic lovers

Mmmhhh... - I should probably better leave this answer to our "techies", but it probably depends on how old your 703 is. The first deliveries of these models featured a mechanical "drag switch" for the change from head to tail lights on the driver cabin end. The newest light gimmick deliveries from "New HAG" should be equipped with a decoder for the entire illumination. Whether all this affects the conversion job surpasses my knowledge.

I would try to exchange the DC wheelsets for AC types, add/replace a centre slider, connect whatever lighting is inside to this slider and then watch what happens. This shouldn't cause an explosion or any other hazardous results - but don't hold me responsible.

Not 540 but 551 in my opinion.

And if I'm not completely mistaken, the bulbs in this car should be "digital safe", and you most probably won't need a decoder - but taking digital advice from me is probably not the best thing you can do...

Rob, you might be right - there is certainly some confusion regarding these numbers. In an older parts list I have additionally found the number 702070-75 which is associated to the designation "drag switch slider". This particular part is more expensive than any of the other sliders and thus might contain the entire switching mechanism I referred to above.

Sorry for the confusion, but it's unfortunately not totally untypical for this manufacturer...

Rob,
another option is always electrical couplings which will eliminate a slider and also a second decoder, as the ESU decoder are strong enough to take Led''s. although having a drivers cab it may be better to install an function decoder in the driver cab carriage to avoid having numerous cables going there for the change over of lights and interior lights, this would also reduce the type of electrical coupling you need (pins) and I would recommend just a 2 pin coupling but also a single contact coupling would do the job (red wire for decoder and brown wire from wheels).


John

Stefan, it goes like this, the mold is prepared, the next person looks at it, the next person has another look, the next person noticed it, gives it to the next person, this person thinks this is how it should be and the next person thinks if it has gone through all the other channels it has to be right, the final inspection its not about the mold its about the looks, it drives, everything works, just perfect and in the box ready for delivery.

John

Is it a hidden or private group? I can't find it.

I'm too stupid to find it, so I wait till someone posts a link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hagtrainsho/

yer tis Tom, cheers Rob

not bad

Disappointing to say the least.

I gambled and bought the Ae 6/6 Thun. It's actually pretty good but clearly it is a gamble.

That's more or less exactly what our dealers are beginning to do: sending back all the mispainted and misprinted stuff to the factory before it ever reaches us customers. Evidently, this is the only way the manufacturer will learn his lesson.

BTW, the standard forum font and color seems to be perfectly adequate for normal posting, no need for "shouting".

I don't have the opportunity to find out here in the UK, there were two Dealer's here but neither want to know now which kind of tells it's own story, cheers to all, Rob

Hi John

what I would like to ask is there any improvement between the older type DC analogue and newer version digital motor driving characteristics ?

The answer to your query is, "Generally, yes."

I have number of Hag locos with the older motor, and 2 Re 6/6's and an Ae 4/7 with the newer type 88 motor. The newer motor was introduced by Hag in 1988. I understand that the reason for its introduction was that the older motor was too large for correct 1/87 scale models. Older Hag models such as the SBB Re 4/4'' and the BLS Re 4/4 are over scale, particularly in height and width. Hy reducing the thickness of the castings, the Had models of the Re 4/4', the Ae4/4 and the Ae 8/8 are closer to scale.

Whereas the older motor had a flat commutator like the Marklin LFC and SFC motors, the type 88 had a drum commutator like the Marklin DCM, but the constructions is far superior, and there are no brush alignment problems as with the DCM. The brushes are also quite long. I have an Re 6/6 which I acquired new in 1988. It has quite a bit of use over the years, and still has its original brushes which still do not need replacing. Its overall dimensions are smaller than the older motor, enabling Hag to produce correct scale model of the Re 6/6.

Its running qualities are generally better than the older motor. It is smoother and quieter, and has a lower minimum speed. However, there are some examples of the motor that are a little noisier than others. I have one in a second Re 6/6 that I acquired secondhand some years age. It runs smootly, but there is noticeable gear noise. My Ae 4/7 also has the newer type 88 motor, but I only acquired this loco new a short time ago and it waiting for me to fit a decoder. I have tested the motor with 2 wires from a transformer and it appears to run quietly and smoothly but I won't know until a decoder is installed and it has had a run on the layout.

On the other hand, some of the older motors can be exceptionally quiet. I have a BLS Re 4/4 which I acquired new in 1972 for the sum of $34. It is the quietest of the Hag locos I own with the older motor. It was converted to DCC with an ESU Lokpilot v 3.0 decoder some years ago and is one of my favourite locos despite its age. It is quieter than my noisy Re 6/6.

I am sure you will be impressed by the haulage powers of your 2 Swiss Express locos. Back in the 1970's, I tested one of my Hag Re 4/4's haulage power against my Marklin 3047, and was surpriised when the Hag won.

Geoff

According to a statement made today by one of HAG's semi-official spokesmen in the German speaking HAG forum, the Starbucks IC double-deck coach will not be produced because there are not enough orders.

Since the HAG company owner wrote exactly the opposite in his own little "manufacturer forum" on March 26, 2015 and announced a production batch for the last quarter of 2015, it remains to be seen who has the correct facts...

Regards, Stefan

A first glance at the list of exhibitors at the Nuremberg Trade Fair 2016 shows the absence of a certain company... Nothing new or worthy of showing, I assume.

This is a HAG question although it is not related to any previous discussion, so if the Mod's want to move it to a new topic, please feel free.

I have my eye on a HAG Ae4/7 13 002-31 on Ebay to complete my stud of Swiss locos. Here is the link if you want to have a look -
http://www.ebay.de/itm/28176472...trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

It is in excellent condition and has scarcely been run (see the slider) but my view is that its current price (Euro 494.99) is a bit on the high side. (It started at Euro 550 but the seller has already reduced it once.)

It would be my first HAG loco so I want to ask the HAG experts here a number of questions:
1. Is this model up to the usual HAG quality? There is a suggestion that quality is dropping at the moment but this model dates from about 2002
2. Does this model have a good or bad reputation for reliability?
3. Is Euro 494.99 (ChF535, $545, £360) a reasonable price for this loco in this condition? I have been unable to establish what it would have cost when new, but such research that I have been able to do suggests that ChF475 / Euro 440 would be nearer the mark but locos of this type and quality do not come on the market very often.

The item has 11 watchers but it had them at the previous price as well, which suggests that they too think that Euro 494.99 is high.

Any advice will be gratefully received as always.

Edited by user 20 December 2015 11:04:16(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The original manufacturer's recommended price was 680 CHF according to the HAG-UNUM database.

780 CHF as apparently stated by the Swiss dealer Roundhouse is far too high.