Detailing a Bachmann Spectrum Loco?

[fiend540]

I got a great deal on a Bachmann Spectrum Conrail 8-40cw (22 bucks shipped!) and while I am happy with the deal I got I would like to make it a better looking and more realistic model but I need some help. I dont really know how much I want to spend on this loco or how much effort is worth putting into it so I am trying to do my research first. First I need to know how to determine if it is DCC equipped/ready or if I need to do something to make it DCC. Second i want to add detail parts like wipers/sunshades/plows/better number boards so I am looking for some good companies/websites out there there to get detail parts from. Finally I want to add working classification lights since it is kind of a Conrail signature, Anyone have advise for adding these?

 

[CoolRuehle]

DCC -- How to on a Bachmann Spectrum loco

I got a great deal on a Bachmann Spectrum Conrail 8-40cw (22 bucks shipped!) and while I am happy with the deal I got I would like to make it a better looking and more realistic model but I need some help. I dont really know how much I want to spend on this loco or how much effort is worth putting into it so I am trying to do my research first. First I need to know how to determine if it is DCC equipped/ready or if I need to do something to make it DCC. Second i want to add detail parts like wipers/sunshades/plows/better number boards so I am looking for some good companies/websites out there there to get detail parts from. Finally I want to add working classification lights since it is kind of a Conrail signature, Anyone have advise for adding these?

Here's a page that I followed to DCC equip my bachmann spectrum loco:

http://www.ppdnmra.com/decoder-inst.pdf

--Jon

 

[Espeefan]

First I need to know how to determine if it is DCC equipped/ready or if I need to do something to make it DCC. Second i want to add detail parts like wipers/sunshades/plows/better number boards so I am looking for some good companies/websites out there there to get detail parts from. Finally I want to add working classification lights since it is kind of a Conrail signature, Anyone have advise for adding these?

The referenced handout works. Different folks do things different ways, but that's all a a matter of personal taste. As you have found "DCC ready" can mean anything depending on who did the marketing. Lots of the old Bachman Spectrum stuff was around before DCC, so less friendly to installs than more modern models. That's why they're going so cheap these days.

For detail parts, I'd suggest you just go to Walthers website and do an advanced search under detail parts. They carry just about everyone, Details West, Detail Associates, Cannon & Co. Hi Tech Details, and on and on. you can buy elsewhere, but Walthers has lots of info in one place.

I did working class lights on one loco. I used the smallest bulbs I could find, drilled out the lenses, and poked the bulbs through the holes in the shell. I gave them their own function instead of using the headlight circuit. Be careful of how many milliamps of lighting you have. Total everything up and make sure it does not exceed the decoder's rating.

 

[UP2CSX]

I've used 3mm LED's for class lights with success. No worries about heat and they draw almost no current. If you want to get really fancy, you can get tricolor red/green/white LED's and assign each leg of the anode to a function on your DCC controller and be able to change the class light color at will.

 

[MGWSY]

CR 8-40CW's never had class lights just red marker lights. I have turned down LEDs to fit the Marker lights for various CR locos. Here is a SD60I I did.

 

[fiend540]

Awesome thanks guys. I don't know how much work I am really going to get into detailing this loco the more I think about it. It will definitely be getting a DCC upgrade if it needs it but above that I am not so sure if this model is good enough to even bother super detailing. Oh well I am going to open her up later tonight to see how old of a model I am dealing with.