Smudge617
Well-Known Member
I need to do the same, I'll keep most of my steamer's tho' as they have sentimental value to me as someone who, many years ago, rode on the footplate of the great's like Gresley, Mallard and Scotsman
Can we talk Brands
- Thread starter Hutch
- Start date
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the actual conversion is pretty simple to do, it's finding space inside the body for the decoder, I ended up milling chunks out the chassis to fit one, and was an N scale decoder.
RIGuyUK
Well-Known Member
Lucky you!!!! I never even seen a steam loco in action until I was 45!
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
mmmmm, strange, they shouldn't have done that, usually that's the only way a decoder will fail, unless it was faulty to start with.That works for me - where and when ???
Um, all the decoders that have blown on my bachmann dcc engines were "factory installed decoders" - not my doing at all
RIGuyUK
Well-Known Member
Exactly the same here, a B1, I've told my friend he can never dispose of the loco as it owes me!!!!
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Greatest feeling in the world, I worked at Steamtown in Carnforth, (now closed) Mallard, Scotsman, Gresley, two Black fives, (one was Pendennis Castle) a couple of tank engines and a assortment of other's, all working, I was hooked on steam engines from day one.
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
That is where I am worried - getting into the engine to start with THEN having to put it all back together.
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
And where back to shitty QC ...
Anyway, enough about "them" I might just buy a BLI 2-8-0 with DCC etc already installed - darn sight easier for me
Diesels I can work on - well, Kato engines and TCS drop in decoders anyway - Steamers - they scare the poo outta me 
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Thats the beauty of the cell phone camera. you can take hundreds of photos of disassembly. If you get taken away from the project for a while, its very well documented.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
I'm kind of in the camp as Tony. I have had several Bachmann's in N scale and had very crappy luck with them. The only time I have considered them for Ho is when they came out with the Siemans Charger. I have read they did a tremendous job on them. Unfortunately, I drug my feet on the Midwest Amtrak and its long sold out at most places with a decent discount.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Why, there's no difference, still have an electric motor and drive, it's only the wheel configuration and the piston rods, everything else is the same.And where back to shitty QC ...
Anyway, enough about "them" I might just buy a BLI 2-8-0 with DCC etc already installed - darn sight easier for me
migalyto
Well-Known Member
I suppose they look more complicated than they really are, but they look intimidating to disassemble and reassemble!
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
Doing the install isn't the issue - it is as Mike says below, getting into them to do that which worries me. With a diesel (well Kato anyway) you drop the body/shell off and that is it - you have access to everything you need whether you use a drop in or hard wire decoder.
Steamers - as you said, wheel configuration and piston rods and what ever else needs to be removed just so you can start
You hit it on the head In a nutshell Sir!
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
WHAT, !!!!! heaven to bettsy, where the heck did that idea come from, unless you need to replace a cracked gear or a pick up, you rarely remove the wheels on a steamer, and as they are all connected, they lift out as one complete set, and go back as one piece, you just need to slot the bearings (if it has any) back in the same as you would a diesel.
In most cases to remove the bodyshell from a steamer
slide front bogey/pony to one side
use a screwdriver to remove screw under said bogey/pony
lift front of chassis and slide forward slightly to release rear tab in bodyshell
How much easier do you want it to be.
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
@Smudge617
All I know is the first (and last) steamer I tried to remove the body of to do a DCC install fell apart and parts went every where, including the wheels and a lot of little bits and pieces. I swore - I would NEVER do another after that. I have also seen instructions for DCC installs and there seems to be a lot more to be removed. It might depend on the engine as well, or make, but one I looked at had you removing individual body parts, fire boxes, cabin, things down the sides, the boiler part and so forth.
As said, it might depend on the steamer or make, but from what I have seen - not as easy as just removing the trucks.
All I know is the first (and last) steamer I tried to remove the body of to do a DCC install fell apart and parts went every where, including the wheels and a lot of little bits and pieces. I swore - I would NEVER do another after that. I have also seen instructions for DCC installs and there seems to be a lot more to be removed. It might depend on the engine as well, or make, but one I looked at had you removing individual body parts, fire boxes, cabin, things down the sides, the boiler part and so forth.
As said, it might depend on the steamer or make, but from what I have seen - not as easy as just removing the trucks.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
But that's what I'm saying you shouldn't be removing the trucks at all and removing the firebox??? If you remember which loco it was, let me know.
I've only one US steamer, and as I recall that was only one screw, think I need to dig it out and have another look.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Just had a look at the Mike your talking about, nice looking locoAnd where back to shitty QC ...
Anyway, enough about "them" I might just buy a BLI 2-8-0 with DCC etc already installed - darn sight easier for me
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
@Smudge617
I have no idea as it was so long ago. All I can assume is it was a bachmann thing. Other than that, I really can't remember sorry. I am guessing it was probably a 2-8-0
Yep it is - the BLI one your talking about right. I do have one of them and can't wait to run it. Also can't wait for BLI to release the DCC ready engines as well. Lets hope they are reasonably priced.
I have no idea as it was so long ago. All I can assume is it was a bachmann thing. Other than that, I really can't remember sorry. I am guessing it was probably a 2-8-0
Just had a look at the Mike your talking about, nice looking loco
Yep it is - the BLI one your talking about right. I do have one of them and can't wait to run it. Also can't wait for BLI to release the DCC ready engines as well. Lets hope they are reasonably priced.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
At $370 with paragon 4 sound, that's not bad.
I like this one tho'
7834 USRA Heavy Mikado, KCS 562, Light Gray, Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC, N (NP)
This is BLI's third production of the USRA Light and Heavy 2-8-2 designs in N scale, commonly called Heavy Mikados and Light Mikados! There were 233 original USRA Heavy 2-8-2's built plus another 957 copies, covering 23 railroads. It was an extremely successful design. The USRA Heavy Mikados...
broadway-limited.com
goscrewyourselves
I'm the one
I wish BLI would offer three types of engines:
1. DCC Ready (which I believe are coming)
2. DCC, and
3. DCC with sound.
I don't know about anyone else BUT i really don't care too much for sound so am a bit apprehensive about paying for something that I really don't want just to get what I do want and need - DCC.
I think if BLI had those 3 options at reasonable prices, they would do better and have a lot more customers.
1. DCC Ready (which I believe are coming)
2. DCC, and
3. DCC with sound.
I don't know about anyone else BUT i really don't care too much for sound so am a bit apprehensive about paying for something that I really don't want just to get what I do want and need - DCC.
I think if BLI had those 3 options at reasonable prices, they would do better and have a lot more customers.
