After converting one engine to sound, I am hooked. Some of the installs in my older diesels are challenging, but they succumb to persistence. Also, my 3D resin printer gets a work out making special speaker cases and other detail parts. I have settled on ESU sound decoders. Also, I have switched from 0201 LEDs to 0402s- MUCH easier to solder to the current limiting resistors! Also, I can barely see the 0201s...
Kato steeple cab electric............................I had the old version with the plastic pantograph which was not bad, but this one is even better. It has a folding/extending metal pantograph and a flywheel. It comes from the factory with Kato knuckle couplers that work with MTs (the old version had Rapidos). It runs even better than did the old version.
Well, a very nice surprise today. Fedex dropped off a package from the z place. I thought one of these was a Kato built ConCor 4-6-4 and the 2-8-2 a first run Kato. But when they arrived, it turned out to be a current Kato Mike. Will test run later.
Slight correction. It does not have a fly wheel. It certainly runs like it does but that's because of the use of a coreless motor. I've taken off the shell to take a look see about putting in a decoder. No flywheel. This is part of Kato's Pocket Line series.
I visited my local train store today and bought a bunch of Unitrack and some Woodland Scenics foam risers. When I got home I started snapping track together so I don’t have pictures but I’ll have layout photos fairly soon. Instead of seeing track in packaging you’ll see it on the layout.
Well, the Rivarossi is on the RIP track, it made some noise but wouldn't budge. However, both Katos took off like scalded cats, zipping around the layout like Katos are supposed to. I am especially happy about the 4-6-4 as I have several Southern Crescent passenger cars already, so that consist will be gorgeous.
The jumbo size bottle of Excedrin to deal with headache of installing decoder in the stupid design of the Atlas locomotives. Hey Paul, 1952 wants their frame technology back! Everyone else has an easy installation of the damn motor leads! Yours break too easily!
Well my Tomix Track Cleaning Car came today! A week early too! Checked package tracking this morning and it said it was still just south of LA, CA after arriving from Japan just last week. Then about an hour or two later my wife told me it was out for delivery. That was a nice surprise! I tested it out and it kept getting hung up on my Kato auto three color track signal that the wheels pass through to change the light color. This signal was a pain sometimes anyway, as some of my freight cars had trouble going through it also. I only tested the vacuum and it worked really well until I attached the brush that is held into place with peel and stick tape, it causes me to have to use lots more power and it gets hung on the switches. I think if maybe I give it a "shave" it may work better. Also, I might just have to find an older Atlas/Kato locomotive that still has the rapido couplers that weighs about 1 1/2 times more than todays DCC ready locos that I won't mind cranking up the power on and with the weight pulls better. Ralph
I would push mine around with a Kato SD45 old mech I had for that exact reason. It was a heavy engine and wouldn’t usually cause any issues. I would push mine as it would clean the tracks ahead of the locomotive which produced fewer stalls.
Christmas came a bit early for me! Well this is a present I bought for myself. It’s a Bachmann Class J #611 with water tender. This is a model from the second run which are rated as pretty good. Not as good as the 3rd run but miles better than the first ones. I tested it out on my layout… well as fat as I could with my layout in its current form and it runs pretty ok. I’m happy!
My shelves showed up for my trains and plastic models. I'll get them installed probably after the holidays? Came with 5 shelves! Finally somewhere to put a few items and display them.
in2tec, I really like the CB&Q FTs! And is that Tri-motor a Ford or a Fokker? Truly nice displays! Ralph
It's the Junkers Ju52/3 German aircraft. It turned out really good, the ski's turned out to be a PITA to install, mainly cause it's a 1:144 scale and was hard for me cause the parts are so tiny, and at the time did not have the correct glue, but now I do, although I haven't used it yet. I did the Winter white theme and it turned out really well, I think! Got it on clearance at the local hobby shop for like $10.00 several years ago. I'd like to have another one, but it was an old kit, don't think they make that exact one anymore? The CB&Q FT's are really nice too, both powered and DCC Can't wait to get my shelves installed at some point
I think it turned out excellent. I’m getting ready to build a Ford Tri-motor and it also has the ski option which I think would look really good. As far as the FTs, they will have to remain on my wish list for now.
Decided to try out the new Digitrax duplex throttles and it arrived today. Tried it out right away with the UR93 I got awhile back it and it works. This will actually be for the Ntrak club as will be transitioning to duplex.
Supplies for painting my hobby items of all kind. When the airbrush just won't cut it Needed some tiny masking tape too! Some fine tip brushes too! Needed a wide range of paint brushes for different jobs.
My son and wife got me gift cards to use at PnP trains or where ever I found to buy trains. Well I just got back from PnP and they had just picked up a collection earlier in the week which had some Great Northern F7s that would work great with my GN passenger cars I bought a few weeks ago. As some of you know, I love passenger trains and while I don’t really model GN I do run “excursions” frequently and this one just happens to be “visiting” my town. The locos are old mech Kato so they will most likely never get decoders which isn’t a big deal since the train is too long for my layout and we can run DC trains at shows with the command station box I built to use with my club. The train is in motion in these pics so they are not very clear… sorry but I will get some stationary ones tomorrow.
Hi David, Funny that I saw this post as I just installed 2 of the ESU Atlas legacy sound decoders in 2 Atlas Dash8-40BW. The first install was more like a prototype - what not to do on the subsequent installs. I had real fun soldring the motor leads to the pads on top of the decoder and one of the LED's came off from the crappy pad - underside of the decoder! Since I soldered the motor leads; I attempted to re-solder the led with the board in place; I destroyed the LED pad in trying this.......great!!! It was the front headlight so I had to use the existing smd led which is not nearly bright enough. Everything works well enough for the first try..... 2nd install was more thought out and was entirely less stressful. I soldered 1 1/2" wire leads to the existing motor contacts and then soldered the other end of the wires to the decoder motor pads on the underside of the decoder. This way, if I need to work on the decoder or motor, I don't have to unsolder anything and the contact is secure. I also had to "stuff" foam material underneath both the front and rear ends of the decoder to make sure they make positive contact with the frame. I used an 8x12 speaker and everything works great. The ESU decoder and the sound file really make that ancient Atlas Dash 8 run like it has never run before-no exaggeration! I've put these installs off because of all the expected trouble that I anticipated..... now I feel comfortable doing more of these installs. Merry Christmas, Brian
