HO U.S. venture

1909 Views 22 Replies 6 Participants Last post by upnick, Nov 22, 2008

upnick

Discussion Starter · Nov 18, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

6

Following on from piermasters inspiration in his ''My physiotherapy project'' thread i have purchased several items to make up a diesel fueling point amongst them some kits from Dave to start me off (thanks Dave).
How far this venture goes depends on space and my imagination

this Morning i recieved three cars stock cattle car & an open hopper U.P.needing some weathering down as they are a little bright for U.P. the other car is an Athearn 'Blue box' Delaware & Hudson weathered covered grain hopper i wanted to purchase a weathered car to set me off, and it was reasonably priced

.

The three locos for the project are SD40 Milwaukee from Athearn and two more SD40'S Norfolk & Southern ....... Union Pacific the Milwaukee has been converted to DCC with a TCS M4 the other two already factory fitted with decoders From Bachamnn i would have prefered Kato but want to keep the finances of this down if possible they will be weathered and detailed to enhance the basic locos ....... snow ploughs have been ordered and piping work will add more details.

Once i'm more mobile i will make a start on the board in the mean time here are a few pics so far.

Milwaukee before conversion to DCC a roof light is now added the rails needing attention as can be seen in the picture.

A start on the weathering of the N&S SD40

The weathered up Delaware & Hudson covered grain hopper

Overall view of the hopper.

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

harkins77

· #2 · Nov 18, 2008

They look good nick. I thought they looked good on ebay but they look more fantastic in the pictures you've taken.

zmil

· #3 · Nov 19, 2008

Hi Nick

Looks good , are you finding the HO easier to work with?

Regards zmil

pedromorgan

· #4 · Nov 19, 2008

i do miss athearn blue box. i used to go into totally train with my pocket money but then the shop went all posh and expensive.....

I have a small ammount of Athearn Blue box sapres tucked away. try and rescue the handrail stansions but if you cant then send me a message. i should have plenty of spares of those.

Peter

upnick

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 19, 2008

[quote name
I have a small ammount of Athearn Blue box sapres tucked away. try and rescue the handrail stansions but if you cant then send me a message. i should have plenty of spares of those.

Peter
[/quote]

Hi Peter,

Many thanks,
I will look at the handrials today and let you know shame they got damaged i have a good idea the loco ran very little or not at all.

upnick

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 19, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

3

Hi Zmil,

I do enjoy the larger scale of HO but still cant get used to the scale difference compared to my N gauge

of course the advantage is a decoder isnt a problem to install .... i even am thinking of a sound install in another loco if i an find either another U.P. or N&S

There is of course more choice in HO for accesories trying to work out now the minimum board width i would need to have a so i could run them within a reasonable sized layout keeping some interest but not too large as you know i am restricted for space

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zmil

· #7 · Nov 19, 2008

Hi Nick

At least there is plenty of room in HO Loco's for sound
I'm just about to do a sound install in one of my Favourite Loco's , mind you I don't have the decoder yet
and I'm out of Isolated backplates as well , but I do have a few ESU speakers to play with
I just wonder whether to hook them up 2 in series or 2 in parallel

Regards Zmil

upnick

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 19, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

3

Hi Zmil,

Now in series or parallel is confusing me

i have just looked around for a sound decoder and though not Loksound or Tsunami quality of course i have ordered a Digitrax (sorry Richard)

sound bug with a suitable decoder to plug it in to enough to have sound but as i said i am trying to keep the cost down.

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Richard Johnson

· #9 · Nov 19, 2008

*** Why apologise - if you are happy, then thats really all that matters! Experimentation is good for all of us.

Richard

upnick

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 19, 2008

2

QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 19 Nov 2008, 14:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** Why apologise - if you are happy, then thats really all that matters! Experimentation is good for all of us.

Richard

Lets hope i'm happy when i get it installed Richard

I do like HO and to have sound in a smaller space will be good

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upnick

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 20, 2008

Hi all,

I recieved the decoder Digitrax DH165AO this morning and have looked at the instruction which confuses me where the lighting functions solder to the pads there could somone indicate where on this diagram of it where the white/yellow/green leads go and where the blue positive connection is made please three lights are in the loco body.

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Richard Johnson

· #12 · Nov 20, 2008

QUOTE (61215 billy carver @ 20 Nov 2008, 20:08) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>hi , tried to dcc this today it ran very jerky after beeing really smooth in analouge . removed capacitator still ran badly.took chip out and repleced with another still the same so tried the chips in another loco and everything ok.put blanking plug back in 101 smooth running again .

ideas please anybody .billy

QUOTE (upnick @ 20 Nov 2008, 21:43) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi all,

I recieved the decoder Digitrax DH165AO this morning and have looked at the instruction which confuses me where the lighting functions solder to the pads there could somone indicate where on this diagram of it where the white/yellow/green leads go and where the blue positive connection is made please three lights are in the loco body.

Now if you'd bought a TCS A6x you'd have better back EMF and a goof proof warranty!

Oh well....

Nick, here is the digitrax connection diagramme

Richard

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upnick

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 20, 2008

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for the diagram, i did look at the TCS A6X but needed the 8 pin connection for the soundbug and so chose the Digitrax DH165AO

upnick

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 21, 2008

Help guys,

I have tried the sound install in the loco and the speaker is too big for inside the cab .... having cut away as much of any surrounding material from inside the cab still no go, so its either a smaller speaker or house the speaker in a car behind the loco.

If i house the speaker in a cattle car i have then theres plenty of room for the sound to get out and space to build up a baffle box, my problem comes when looking for a very small two pin connection from the loco to car so the loco is not permanantly attached, i'm happy to have it this way not my initial idea but a compromise ........... if it was a steamer then the tender would be used after all.

Using Kadee couplings the wires wont be as obtrussive blending in. if anyone knows of a tiny two pin connector i would be greatful.

poliss

· #15 · Nov 21, 2008

Express models do a 2 pin micro-connector.
http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/acatalog/Mi...Connectors.html

upnick

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 21, 2008

2

QUOTE (poliss @ 21 Nov 2008, 16:43) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Express models do a 2 pin micro-connector.
http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/acatalog/Mi...Connectors.html

Hi Poliss,
Many thanks

just sorting the car for the speaker now ..... now where are the Kadees

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zmil

· #17 · Nov 22, 2008

Hi Nick

You should be able to fit a reasonably large speaker in a cattle car. The Thing to be careful of is Having the Sound decoder on with no speaker by accident. Even if you fit a small speaker in the loco somewhere maybe a good idea.

I'm not sure if the Sound decoders have any protection for the Amplifier output in case of speaker failure or no speaker present.

Regards Zmil

upnick

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 22, 2008

Hi Zmil

I soldered up the speaker on exteded wires to test it last night and nothing decided to leave it as i was tired......

I didnt get the meaning of your sentance .... '' The Thing to be careful of is Having the Sound decoder on with no speaker by accident.''

could you explain to me please

hope i havnt done anything wrong.

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zmil

· #19 · Nov 22, 2008

Hi Nick

If the speaker is accidentally not connected to the sound decoder (by unplugging etc ) it may damage the Amplifier in the decoder

I could be wrong though , there may be a protection circuit built in . But better to be safe than sorry

Regards Zmil

Richard Johnson

· #20 · Nov 22, 2008

*** Nick, there absolutley MUST be room in that loco! Stop and think before you add a wagon permanenttly coupled!

or.... Buy a different 8 ohm speaker or cut some metal!

We install in US diesels all the time and never, ever have trouble finding space for at least 1 speaker, often managing 2 of them, even in Kato which needs a wee bit of metal cut very often.

We NEVER use the cab either - there is just no need!

I think your biggest problem is choosing that huge decoder which takes a lot of the available space - a Standard sized decoder plus the sound bug would have been less room taken than the huge PCB type decoder you selected - or even better, a loksound V3.5!

Richard

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

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