Dean Park Station Video 161 - 'How To' Fit A Decoder In A Class 47

In this video I go through the fitting of a 21 pin decoder on the Bachmann Class 47, which is not the easiest model to get into! I hope you find this useful.

[@robwallace266]

Thanks Dave, this video was a brilliant help. I swapped a 47/7 body and was struggling to put the new body back on. Cheers for your help. 👍

[@DeanPark]

My pleasure :-)

[@arnach11]

Dave! A massive thank you. Just come back from hols and what a nice welcome home present. I now have a great excuse to save some petty cash for a new class 47 purchase and follow your great instructions. I had not used the plastic shims or any substitute on my current 47, looks like that was what was causing me problems. Also the Peco loco servicing cradle looks like a good buy to preserve the paint work on the loco. Will update you in due course as soon as I have managed to save up for a new 47. Cheers.

[@DeanPark]

Hi, did you not ask me for a 47 video on this? I cant remember lol. Glad it was of use to you. Dave

[@arnach11]

Hi Dave, yes I did and I really appreciate you doing this video and the additional comments and tips from your viewers. I only got back into railway modelling 2 years ago after having seen your videos and Richard from Everard Junction and the first loco I bought was a Bachmann Class 47 - Firefly. I was super impressed with its detail, the last time I was building model layouts was in the early 80s when I was a young teenager and I have to say the detail now is amazing. What put me off buying more 47s tho was the nightmare I had of removing the body. I ended up pulling the glazing from both ends while removing the body to install the decoder. I managed to glue the glazing back but then getting the body back on was equally painful. I now see the error of my ways and this has given me confidence to buy at least another 47. Thanks again.

[@mandbhomestead]

Great video full of tips for getting loco’s apart. Looks good on the layout. Thanks for sharing. Ken

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

Very informative and helpful. I have thirteen Class 47s requiring decoders.

[@robmasterman]

A very useful production Dave...Thanks very much....Bob

[@ChippingfordModelRailway64]

Thanks Dave, that’s one problem loco fixed for me. Appreciate the 8 pin tip too which explains the bizarre lights on my Heljan 58 ha ha. Ivi

[@DeanPark]

Chippingford Central cheers, glad you found it useful :-) bizarre lighting and heljan.... not uncommon lol. Dave

[@richardthompson2688]

some very good tips thanks

[@johncarvil498]

Well explained Dave............John.

[@brucewelsh1969]

I use out of date credit card cut into strips to remove the body shell. Great video as usual. I know there was some choice words when removing the body shell of one of my 47/7's.

[@davidstrains4910]

Great video will definitely help me I feel left out Ive only got 1 class 47

[@thebritfarmer]

Good how to Dave. You don't test to see it works though before putting the body shell back on? For the CVs do you apply those values to all of your locos?

[@cedarcam]

How I wish Waverley had come apart as easily as Tamar One of those clips was a nightmare to release. After a lot of effort to fit the speaker because of that wiring in the way I again struggled to refit the body. Only difference to your re assembly I make is to test run the loco before inserting the screws checking the lights work as I have found sometimes the contact has needed adjusting On this occasion thank goodness everything works fine.

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

Forgot say, I also have Tamar 31-651DB

[@lner3777]

Excellent video and good tips . Will you be getting anymore class 47s they are great models.

[@DeanPark]

I am sure more will be added to the collection yes....more £££ lol

[@lner3777]

DaveClass47 you can't go wrong with a class 47

[@daviemaclean61]

Very informative Dave. With so many 47s (other locos aside) have you ever accidentally bought duplicates? I know I have!!! ;-)

[@adamc1272]

Hi Dave, loved the video as usual. Despite being extremely careful, I got the dreaded snap on one of the window clips and the window is now loose inside the cab. Is there any way of removing the cab that you have employed? The whole thing makes me quite nervous as I'm new to the hobby so any tips would be gratefully received, and if there aren't any - fair enough! Best wishes, great video. Adam.

[@DeanPark]

Hi, glazing falling out is more common than you might think. Plus cab remove is a nuisance!, but possible. Where there are two brass wiper pick ups on the roof you have to put a thin screwdriver in the and try pivot it up a little, to get the cab to come out you’ve got to ease the body apart at the doors to try get the cab over the door glazing, Clips, when keeping the cab pivoted. Not easy to explain, but it can be done.

[@adamc1272]

@@DeanPark thanks so much for getting back to me mate, I really appreciate the advice. 👍🏼

[@adamc1272]

Dave, I finally went for it and your explanation worked perfectly! Big moment. My first layout has come on a log way and a lot of that is down to some of the things I've learnt from web sources and of course KZbin channels - yours has been a big reference for me, particularly as I'm modelling a similar era. Many thanks for you all your great content.

[@mike6147]

How much Anglo Saxon is in the outtakes? X

[@InterCity134]

At the risk of repeating what others have said it you already know: you can magnetize that smaller screwdriver. You just need a magnet to stroke along its shaft in one direction repeatedly.

[@DeanPark]

Yes I have done this too.

[@sub39h]

I know I've asked a similar question before but would you be kind enough to compare Tamar's livery to the Oxford Mk3 and the Hornby Mk2E please?

[@DeanPark]

I'll be doing that when I get the Hornby 87 to pull the the MK3a's

[@kirktonroadjunction193]

The 47's body shells are a pain in the #**@ to come off. I've knocked out a couple of the cab door windows on removal, I thought it was maybe not enough glue when they were made.. easy fix though!

[@DeanPark]

I have had to reattach many windows!! Not much holding them in place....which I suppose is good in one way, as if you want to respray etc you can strip the loco down and get rid of the glazing for when you are painting etc. But its a bit annoying when the glazing starts floating around in the cab as you have to take the cab interior out....which is a right pain in the **** as well, getting it back in is just as bad! Dave

[@kirktonroadjunction193]

Luckily I've not encountered that yet, but I've not long fitted a decoder to one of my early Hornby class 50's and the body wouldn't come off. Turns out the mechanism that moves the adjustable louvers on one side was stuck (glued I think) to the chassis and with a wee bit of pressure I managed to remove the body, however the mechanism that moves the louvers also came off. They are an absolute nightmare to put back together again lol.

[@DeanPark]

You have to be VERY careful when putting the 50 body on that the louvres line up perfectly with the slots on the side of the chassis. If you force it the louves can detach. The new models, ie Ajax and Vanguard were shocking for that. I had to send one back as it arrived with the louvres floating around the box. The next one was fine until I took body off, then they fell out. I eventually sent it back to Hornby who repaired it. I dont think they need moving louvres....they should just fix them in place as its a bit of detail which is impressive when working, but totally needless. If they replaced it with a fixed moulding then it might reduce the cost by £5!! We live in hope!!! Dave

[@kirktonroadjunction193]

I've still got Ark Royal, Ajax and the 50th anniversary special D400 to fit decoders to. I haven't touched them yet after what happened with the louvers on Superb. I think in future if I buy any additional class 50's, I'll have the shop fit the decoders first lol.

[@janeswift9961]

Bachmann needs to address the wiring and the PCB, both of which are unsatisfactory. The wiring is too tight if you are adding a speaker (I ended up undoing the bundle on my 37) and the PCB flexes way too much - there is the potential for the PCB track and joints to be broken. There is also insufficient room for where the decoder sits, especially if you are fitting an 8 to 21 pin converter, but I suppose they are trying to lock you in to their hardware etc. Final gripe, although it should be clear when fitting the 21 pin decoder, it is possible to fit it the wrong way, especially if your eyesight is not what it once was! Thanks for the instruction Dave - Pete

[@jamesevans4498]

I have a 57 and I find getting the screws out is fine but getting those chrome ones back in..... Its the stuff of nightmares

[@gerrybvr]

Guitar picks (plectrums) can be useful. Tough and cheap

[@arnach11]

Thanks for that tip Gerry, I have a few picks lying around and will definitely give this tip a go.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

With the high cost of Models now ,why can’t they be designed with a compartment underneath the model similar to a battery compartment where by you open it fit the chip and off you go ,with the fragility of locos with high detail now could it be done ?,the only time you have to open up a model is for heavy servicing ,me I would chicken out and buy one with a chip fitted as I seem to be ham fisted hehehehe ,nice posting Dave ,all the best ,Mark

[@DeanPark]

1968concorde good point... it seems so simple lol. I’d love a model that was that easy to access. Dave

[@icklebean0365]

Hang on 19 or 20 class 47s!!!

[@sparkshot]

Good vid! Same sort of mess about with the Heljan Hymek. Personally I think it's a load of crap. Old Hornby style connecters can't be beaten. 1-2 screws and maybe a lug and hole at the rear - easy, no faff, no risk of breakage, user friendly. (Think A3 Pacific etc) This clip method is a pain in the ring and nothing else. Seems to be either cost cutting or a lame attempt at pointless innovation.

[@DeanPark]

Sparkshot the more modern releases from Bachmann are less of a pain to get the body off!... a little tweak to the 47 chassis and Bachmann will improve the body removal saga of the 47! :-) Cheers Dave

[@sparkshot]

@@DeanPark - good to know! Not brought a modern RTR loco for a long time though. The prices get me running to the hills. I've regressed into the 2nd hand stuff. Building a new 00 layout now anyway, recdntly started making vids on it. Keep up the good work, all the best.😀