Roundhouse Little John Review

[Llongfordrailway]

Hello all,

I picked up my little John engine yesterday and I completed a review last night of it for those who may be thinking of getting one. The link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_LLoEAwxW0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks

Daniel

 

[playmofire]

Your video appears to be classified as private and so cannot be accessed by other people.

 

[Llongfordrailway]

Now sorted. Not sure what happened there

Daniel

 

[Mobi]

Is the rechargeable battery in loco sealed for life?

 

[Llongfordrailway]

Hello Mobi,

The rechargeable batteries inside are sealed in plastic but could be replaced if needed. I'm sure Roundhouse would supply more if required

Regards

Daniel

 

[Mobi]

How long they last and how much they cost? Is the battery a standard one or Roundhouse proprietary one?

 

[Llongfordrailway]

Hi again Mobi,

Your best asking Roundhouse, I'm not too sure.

Regards

Daniel

 

[Trainman58]

Hi guys,

I have had my Little John for months now and reckon it is totally what I wanted. I have run it all over NZ and had a heap of fun with it. I also have a Accucraft Baugley Drewery which also fits the bill. One is mainline NG and the Little John is industrial NG. I use them accordingly. For Little John I use a rake of hoppers consisting of Swift Sixteen hoppers and a rake of 6 that I make myself first. Looks really cool in a rake of 12 wagons. The only criticism I have is the silly racing car radio controller the company sends out with it. I am in the process of changing it to a stick version as the other one it too user unfriendly- you cant just set it and leave it- bugs the hell out of me. Otherwise it is magic as a model. I just need to weather it and add details etc. I have also added a HLGW sound unit to it as well. That adds another dimension to it now as well.

 

[GAP]

Hi guys,

I have had my Little John for months now and reckon it is totally what I wanted. I have run it all over NZ and had a heap of fun with it. I also have a Accucraft Baugley Drewery which also fits the bill. One is mainline NG and the Little John is industrial NG. I use them accordingly. For Little John I use a rake of hoppers consisting of Swift Sixteen hoppers and a rake of 6 that I make myself first. Looks really cool in a rake of 12 wagons. The only criticism I have is the silly racing car radio controller the company sends out with it. I am in the process of changing it to a stick version as the other one it too user unfriendly- you cant just set it and leave it- bugs the hell out of me. Otherwise it is magic as a model. I just need to weather it and add details etc. I have also added a HLGW sound unit to it as well. That adds another dimension to it now as well.

Is holding down the trigger the issue?
If it is then a simple but effective work around might be to use a re usable cable tie to hold it in when set and forget operation is needed.

 

[Mobi]

I contacted Roundhouse and they confirmed that internally it uses 8 AA NiMH batteries. Replacement pack is £15.

 

[Llongfordrailway]

Hi trainman58,

How did you get on with fitting the sound unit? I've thought about fitting on in my little John but didn't think there'd be enough room.

Daniel

 

[Trainman58]

Hi Daniel,

It was so easy. The speaker fitted against the radiator perfectly and we put the sound chip on the floor of the cab. Before it was installed we encased the unit in heat shrink and made it more less obvious. By the time it is manned it is not noticeable. The loco sound really good pottering along around my layout. Now this is fitted I am going to make it a bit more grubby and work worn - more industrial. It is so suited to a factory somewhere!

It is both the trigger and the wheel that really puts me off the radio control set I think. I love the loco, I have no problems with the quality or the standard of workmanship- it is just not a racing car! My problem and I will convert it over to a more conventional "stick" controller.

 

[railwayman198]

My Roundhouse Criccieth Castle also came with a wheel style controller, though not identical to the one supplied with Little John. With the Criccieth Castle controller I can use the wheel to set the desired speed then turn the controller off and the loco will continue trundling around the layout at the set speed until the controller is turned back on. Does the Little John contrller not have this facility?

 

[Tony Walsham]

Hello Daniel.
If you are considering using a regular stick radio you might like to investigate the knob controlled pocket size TX handpiece I make.
No need to replace the ESC, but if the loco is not DSM2 compatible you will also need the correct RX instead of the one fitted stock.

 

[Trainman58]

My Roundhouse Criccieth Castle also came with a wheel style controller, though not identical to the one supplied with Little John. With the Criccieth Castle controller I can use the wheel to set the desired speed then turn the controller off and the loco will continue trundling around the layout at the set speed until the controller is turned back on. Does the Little John contrller not have this facility?

Hi Phillip,

I don't know- to be honest I hadn't tried that. I will do when I have it out next time. Good thought- thanks.

Henrik