Narrow Gauge Diesel conversion from HO.

[Smudge617]

I tried running my Blackstone K37's and I suspect that whoever had them before had set the to some code that I am not aware of. I think I can ferret this out on the programming track when I get it set up. They make some sounds like the turbo generator but don't move. I'll guess it will be OK to DCC the other KATO, but maybe I'll get some experience with all this first.

Sounds like someone may have swapped out the decoder and not programmed the correct address, if it's no 03 or the cab No. just reading the decoder on your programming track will tell you the answer.

 

[747flier]

I got that sorted out but there were other issues. One has a working headlight (With F0) but the other does not. Biggest issue and I will have to send it to Blackstone, the drivers on one side do not pick up current, leaving only one truck in the tender for that side, as one can guess it doesn't like frogs. The other one the previous owner broke off the pin and screw which holds the wire connectors between the cab and tender in place. As this is part of the frame, aargh. But I think I can make a tube and plate from brass and set up a screw, maybe... The KATO which I have a DCC in runs fine.

 

[747flier]

A thought on the narrow gauge conversions from HO... The KATO's seem to bump and not fully enjoy passing through the turnouts. I suspect that the flange depth for the HO locos is greater than for narrow gauge specs and they may be bumping along on the frog bottoms?

 

[747flier]

I printed a new series of shells and painted and yesterday installing lights. I am waiting on tiny surface mount LED's (for ditch lights) and resistors from Amazon. Perhaps I should not rely on them, such tiny items shouldn't take a month-six weeks to ship if they supposedly have them in stock. I have one that is currently DCC mobile equipped and it runs really well, interesting how one can adjust the momentum etc. I think the next one I will try a sound installation.

 

[747flier]

I printed a shell in the old style and am doing a little surface repair with putty and will re prime today. For the headlight the 1.5 mm LED with resistor attached works OK but for the rear lamp the resistor get in the way, being somewhat "fat". For the lower headlights (ditch lights?) on the newer ones still waiting for Amazon to ship them, I expect she. other items from digikey will arrive long before the other will even ship.

On this loco shell I'll try a different green, the Tamiya green is perhaps a bit too dark. Often small holes shrink and fill in so in this print I enlarged them for the hand grabs then ran a fine drill thru. Looks like it will work well.

Tom

 

[Smudge617]

I printed a shell in the old style and am doing a little surface repair with putty and will re prime today. For the headlight the 1.5 mm LED with resistor attached works OK but for the rear lamp the resistor get in the way, being somewhat "fat". For the lower headlights (ditch lights?) on the newer ones still waiting for Amazon to ship them, I expect she. other items from digikey will arrive long before the other will even ship.

On this loco shell I'll try a different green, the Tamiya green is perhaps a bit too dark. Often small holes shrink and fill in so in this print I enlarged them for the hand grabs then ran a fine drill thru. Looks like it will work well.

Tom

Tom, you realise you only need one resistor for both lights, not for each one.

 

[747flier]

Depends on in series or parallel and size of resistor etc. These particular LED's already have the resistor of appropriate size soldered in line. In this case The front and back lights come on at different times.

 

[747flier]

Yesterday was a bit of a day for the old "Train Platz". It has been downstairs in the workshop in the garage area taking up a parking space that may be of convenience this winter. With the help of my girlfriend we moved it upstairs in the studio. Not as easy as it might sound. Too big to get around the corners and up the stairs, I made a ramp of sorts, to reach the small deck off the second floor end. A wide board with cross boards, the slid it up, resting it on the crosses, till we could pull it up and over the rail at the top. Surprisingly the track work endured successfully and my one (so far) DCC diesel makes happy circuits and switches. Theoretically tomorrow my tiny surface mount LED's and resistors arrive. After some snipping with Brenda at Digitrax over the correctness of my paperwork, the smoked one is being replaced and has been shipped. Coming along nicely with yet another GE shell, maybe I'll get another KATO NW2. There is a guy who sells the cheap (used) but wants almost $30 to ship them. The last one I bought from someone was shipped for about $11.

I'll try wiring the small LED's in with the headlight as ditch lights which the rebuilt one's had.