RETIRED GUY PROJECTS

[DeaconKC]

I took a look at the C50. If that's the Hitoyoshi one, it's quite expensive and definitely not one to experiment on. I have a few tenders for C62 hanging around and can try experimenting on them.

WOW! This is awesome to see. Because I can order the tenders for either the D51 or C62 to replace the tenders on my C50s and C56s. even if it wouldn't be sound, this is really encouraging to me. Thank you so much!

 

[Kusojiji]

Take a look at the Kato Japan parts site. C62 tenders are still available.

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング 商品検索 - kato

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング

www.e-katomodels2.com

D51 only has the Orient Express one available.

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング 商品検索 - kato

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング

www.e-katomodels2.com

If you need help in ordering these, let me know.

 

[DeaconKC]

Take a look at the Kato Japan parts site. C62 tenders are still available.

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング 商品検索 - kato

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング

www.e-katomodels2.com

D51 only has the Orient Express one available.

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング 商品検索 - kato

KATO鉄道模型オンラインショッピング

www.e-katomodels2.com

If you need help in ordering these, let me know.

It won't translate the pages over into English for me! How much are the C62 tenders?

 

[Kusojiji]

¥2090 = $13.23 @ 158 ¥/$.

I don't remember what the difference was between the two, if there was any.

 

[Kusojiji]

I got the EF58 put back together and found that the cab and rear lights work if I let it sit to charge the stay alive cap up, and then cycle the power on and off. So, I got it all wired back and ran it. Well, I'd say that I am not impressed. I wrote to the guy about the issue about the cab and rear lights and the fact that it starts making the blower sound intermittently while just sitting there with nothing enabled. Also, when I push the stop button, it surges forward and then slows. I played with the BEMF settings and no change. Also, ramping up the speed doesn't change the sound of the motors. I'm not feeling too good about this thing at this time. We'll see what he comes back with.

 

[Kusojiji]

I now remember why there were two models of the C62 tenders for sale. It's the running numbers. They come with C62 2 or C62 3 already installed. Here's a pic of one that I installed the rear tail lamp LED.

 

[Kusojiji]

Planning my exit strategy for my EF58. I'm pretty sure that the decoder will be coming out, so I need a replacement system. There is another company that sells stuff, so I've been checking what they offer. I was planning on an MTC21 board and was getting ready to design a mount for the board until I realized that an MTC21 PCB is about 7 mm tall as the pins are long. Took more measurements and found that it ain't gonna fit. I have only 5 mm of space. So, will be going with the system that I installed in my EF65, which is a N18 PCB and an N18 decoder. This thing is 4 mm in height. It utilizes all 4 AUX ports for the tail lights, so I won't be able to get the cab lighting in. The MTC21 hs 6 AUX ports which is why I wanted that one at first.

The decoder on the EF58 will be located at the removable roof piece like this one.

 

[Frenchie]

Impressive, model railroading is definitely an adventure !

 

[Kusojiji]

While I was bored, I decided to make a Next18 wired socket for a maybe project.

Got the specs, drew up this picture and got soldering.

Forgot to install an extra VCC and GND for a stay alive, so I added them and updated the drawing. Next18 decoders normally don't have pads onboard.

 

[Kusojiji]

Rapido wrote back and told me that the loco worked, including sound. He recommended I go back in and make sure that the decoder is still seated. So I grabbed a handful and went in, I mean, nothing to lose at this point as this is getting ridiculous. I found out how they managed to get the decoder to fit by removing one of the screws that holds PCB in place. Pretty sad, huh? That allows the whole thing to move so that the top can be reinstalled.

Anyway, I pushed down on the decoder and fired it up. It made sound! Then it fizzled out. Loco still moves but the board is scalding hot at a cap above the connector. So I removed the decoder and found that the microscoping E24 connector is damaged and that there was some junk on the board.

I pushed that part of the connector back in as best I could and removed that garbage. Put it all back together and it started making sound again. This time for at least 30 seconds before dying again. So I wrote back to Rapido sending all my photos and findings and asked they send a replacement decoder. Standing by.

In the meantime, I put the blanking chip back in and will run it DC.

 

[Kusojiji]

RAPIDO wrote back and they will be sending a new decoder. Awesome! I put a few more hours on it in DC mode last night. It runs great! I have two crewmen waiting to be permanently stationed onboard.

 

[Kusojiji]

I put a few more hours in working with the decoder guy and we identified the errant sound. I recorded it and sent it to him. It turned out to be an air pump that comes on and I have no control. That's fine. As for the surge, I found out that what I thought was a STOP in JMRI, was actually IDLE. What JMRI does is when you press IDLE, it sets the throttle to zero and lets your deceleration (CV4) carry it to a stop. Once I got that straight, I tested by manually slamming the throttle shut from 5 and it did the same surge. I let him know so waiting for his response.

In the meantime, I sealed up the speaker for better sound with blue tac.

And installed the rest of the parts such as the vertical metal hand rails. Also reinstalled the pantagraphs.

And a size comparison with an EF510. I thought the EF58 was longer, but they are the same size. EF510 is noticeably heavier.

Will be putting in some running hours tonight.

 

[Frenchie]

Your work is stunning ! And yeah, never give up !

 

[Kusojiji]

Thanks! Some shots:
Cab light on

Headlight

Tail light

And shunting light

Pulling some coaches

 

[Kusojiji]

I am not completely sold on the sound though. I have another decoder from a different guy coming tomorrow for my EF65, so I will see how it sounds as I have downloaded several sound profiles. It doesn't have as many functions, so if I do change it, I'll lose the cabin lights.

 

[Kusojiji]

I bought these 15x11x2.5 mm speakers, one for my EF65 and a spare. Well, gave it a try on my EF58 and dang, it sounds 100% better than those two larger round speakers that I had installed.

So, I'll just cut the wires to the round ones and leave them there. They are there now to keep the red lights from bleeding out. The better speaker will find a home where the caps are and the caps are going to move to two slots under the main chassis. Not sure what these are for, but it seems perfect to hold caps.

Will design an enclosure for the speaker.

MTF

 

[Kusojiji]

Caps fit perfectly and cannot be seen from the side.

Speaker enclosure created and installed. Had to raise the decoder up by .5mm to clear the components on the underside.

Sounds so much better.

 

[Kusojiji]

Also finished the sound install on my EF65. Had already designed and printed the speaker enclosure, so all that was left to do was to install the speaker into it and get it all fitted.

Had to fix the file that I downloaded for it as the headlights would come on at the opposite side of direction of travel. Also had to fix the shunting lights as the wrong side would come on. Easy enough.

 

[Kusojiji]

Decided to redo the speaker in my J36 as it didn't sound that good once I compared it to mt Athearn Consolidation. I thought a large round speaker would be better than a small cube, but I guess I get what I paid for (jungle site cheap stuff).

So, I designed and printed up a round sound chamber for the speaker and it fits right inside the indent in the weight.

And then glued the speaker on.

And tested. Wish I could add an mp3 here as it sounds simply marvelous!

 

[Kusojiji]

Zipped up the mp4.