ModelRailroadForums.com is a free
Model Railroad Discussion Forum and
photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Got my two new Terriers in today.
After running them in to ensure they work, it was time to get rid of those horrid tension lock couplings. Kadee 18 wouldn't fit as they hit the prototype coupling hooks that were factory installed.
Luckily, I had some spare 19s around and they fit perfectly. Spacing may be a little long, but as long as they work, its fine.
Comparison 18 to 19. Hopefully easy to see.
18's are 8.63mm, 19's are 10.61mm. I have an order in for the 19's since my Bachmann coaches need them. I also have an order in for the 20's (11.68mm) that my N2 needs. Nothing like yanking coaches off the track in a turn for some excitement.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
HORNBY TERRIER POPLAR DCC
Yeah, I just got it yesterday and I tore it all up to install the DCC. Last night was non-destructive by fitting a 6 pin 90 degree decoder, bent an extra 90 degrees. Not a lot of space in there.
Attached a TCS KA-N1 super tiny stay alive. This has 1000uf of capacitance and works pretty good with low draw coreless motors.
Decoder stack looked like this and ran like this, but I could not fit the body back on all the way. It was very close.
So, I removed the 6 pin socket and direct wired a wire decoder in.
So now, everything fits with a lot of room to spare.
Next up will be the headlamp and firebox flicker. I used a resistor board and put a yellow flickering led.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
HORNBY TERRIER DCC CONT
The firebox flicker board will be glued to the rear bulkhead.
I will need to determine where to drill the hole and align the led to it.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Got the body off the frame to get a better look at everything. The firebox door wasn't where I was expecting it as it is all the way at the bottom, below the coffee mug holder.
So, I drilled a 2.5mm hole.
And got the placement for the circuit board. It's stuck on with doublesided tape, so I can adjust if necessary.
Got the decoder programmed and had to reduce the intensity almost all the way down. My DC version will definitely get a larger resistor.
Had to make the headlamp, so I made 6 more. The paint is currently drying, so more to follow.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Decided to change the resistor for the firebox flicker as the 1K resistor required attenuating all the way down to 10 out of 255. I ended up using a 10K, so attenuation in the decoder is at 120. Gives me room to maneuver later.
I glued some wax paper on the inside of the firebox hole to help diffuse it a bit.
Got it all wired up.
Headlamp on
Firebox lit
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
DC VERSION HEADLAMP AND FIREBOX
Finished the Southern Terrier headlamp and firebox. This one went quickly since I had just completed Poplar (DCC). I forgot that I run my DC stuff around 4-7 volts vice the 13.8 volts that DCC puts on the track, so my resistor values are much lower.
I also remembered that I needed a bridge rectifier for the firebox. Everything was going to be connected to the 6 pin blanking plate.
And onto the 6 pin blanking plate.
Tested the firebox on a rolling road.
Got everything together and tested. Looks awesome! Will be running both tonight.
Yeah, it slid off the rollers, but she actually runs better like this.
A very impressive job! I hope they both give you endless hours of enjoyment.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
A very impressive job! I hope they both give you endless hours of enjoyment.
Thanks! Yep, they both ran for several hours last night. I'm glad I found that I could use that LED resistor board for my firebox flicker. I ordered a bunch more and am looking at the possibility of adding to my other steamers.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
HORNBY PECKETT HEADLAMP
Finally taking the plunge to get the headlamp in. Wanted to do a firebox as well, but the cab is glued on and I don't have access to drill a hole. The open cab would have made it easy to see the effect.
Anyway, got the .5mm hole drilled into this lug of metal. Took a while.
And found a location for the resistor board.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Got it done. Looks awesome! Finally!
I bought this back in Dec 2024 and finally got the nerve to drill into that metal body. Didn't want to mess up the beautiful paint job.
Got it done. Looks awesome! Finally!
View attachment 264033
View attachment 264034
I bought this back in Dec 2024 and finally got the nerve to drill into that metal body. Didn't want to mess up the beautiful paint job.
Great work Kusojiji, I am impressed, I'd love to have your skills !
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Thanks! I wish I had yours as well. One of these days, I'll start making a layout and will definitely reference your thread.
Thanks! I wish I had yours as well. One of these days, I'll start making a layout and will definitely reference your thread.
Whenever you'll have questions or need explanations, it'll be my pleasure to help if I can. I've already done so for an american friend.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
ACCURASCALE ANDREW BARCLAY HEADLAMP AND FIREBOX
Since I am on a roll, may as well keep going. Another 0-4-0 tank engine.
This one required a tiny decoder due to the way the slot is mounted. An ESU micro and a TCS KA-N1 stay alive fit.
Took the body apart and drilled the holes for the headlamp and firebox. Luckily, the cab roof came off so that I could drill the firebox hole. This guy is all plastic on the body, so it was much easier to drill out than the Peckett.
The details on the backhead are amazing. And it is cast with the firebox doors open...
So I put the led board together and marked the location that the LED needed to be at on the chassis.
Mounted the headlamp. I found a picture of the actual AB Efficient and the headlamp is a bronze color, so this one won't be white like my others.
Since I ran out of the resistor boards, this one will have a resistor soldered to the wires. I have 25 boards on order, but not here yet.
MTF.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
AB COMPLETED
Didn't forget to put the wax paper.
Well, had to move the firebox LED to the body as the previous location wouldn't permit the body to be put back on the chassis. So I changed the wires to the shellac tiny stuff for flexibility.
Got it all wired up with the stay alive disconnected for programming.
Headlamp on.
Firebox on. Flickering is erratic with these LEDs, as it should be. The ESU decoder has a firebox effect, but I just stayed with the flickering LED.
I love your work Sir. Truly elegant.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Thanks! If you'd like to see some video, this site allows it.
Really nice, liked your choice of music too.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
haha, I thought I removed the audio. I better watch it again.
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
I fixed the audio, not realistic, but gudenuf!
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website
(Learn More Here)
