I picked these up today at my wife’s displeasure ( displeasure is the nice way to say she was p*ssed off ). I payed $100 a piece for these MKT Atlas master locomotive series DCC GP40’s. Both are brand new and support duel mode so I can run them on DC and DCC.( no sound )
What will I need to do to switch the incandescent bulbs out for LEDs and add ditch lights and maybe strobes later. I’ll be changing the couplers out shortly. I haven’t added the parts that came with them yet.
Hoo Ray for you!
{and who care what the wife thinks…just kindly remind her in the same manner on her next purchase of what?.. a new pair of shoes? …a new outfit?..a new piece of jewelry?..a new handbag?}
They run extremely smooth. I just can’t stand the dimming and brightening of the bulbs ( dumb I know )
Those are nice looking. Funny thing is my wife is not only supportive of my MRR she often encourages me to get something when I am waivering on a purchase. We were in the LHS right before Christmas and I was going to pick up some cows for my layout when I was drawn to the showcase with the Athearn Genesis SD70Ace on top. I was all excited at the detail and she said go ahead and get it, you know you want it. So I did [:D]
Are you keeping those as MKT, patching/repainting them, or protolancing?
In case of the former and assuming that you’re following prototype. MKT was gone before ditchlights, but I’m not sure if they had strobes or not. However it is your RR and you can do as you want.
/ end rivet counting
I’m keeping the MKT and aware they didn’t have ditch lights ( no clue on the strobes ),but I’d like to add a little fun detail to them for the heck of it. [:D]
Gotta figure out how to add LEDs to the directional lights.
They also have a MKT switcher I’ll be getting with taxes. It’s a Genesis with DCC and sound and super find detail for $189.
Adding LEDs is pretty easy. Make sure you use the right resistor and have the polarity right
Dunno how well they would work in directional on DC (DCC user) but on DCC they work fine.
Debating on letting the shop where I got them do the LED’s so if they mess up, it’s covered lol
Hey Tony. When they are on DCC, the light bulbs will stay bright all the time. Dimming lights is a DC thing. Far as LED’s I can help you with that the next time you drop by.
Ken
I’ve added LED’s to a couple of Atlas dual mode decoder locomotives. I just removed the wire nuts and bulb, wires and all, and wired up LED’s without resistors. I can’t recommend that since whenever you read about installing LED’s into just about anything they say you need to use about 1000 ohm resistors, soldering the resistor to the longer wire that comes out of the LED (cathode or anode?). I used Minitronics Yellowglo White LEDs
If you get the polarity wrong, its okay, you just flip them. It doesn’t hurt the LED if it doesn’t light up because of polarity.
I have burned out 2 LED’s experimenting with another light board that I thought had sufficient resistance. The LED’s got quite hot before they blew. Didn’t take long.
Unlike those, the ones I have installed into the dual mode decoders stay cool when I tested them and I have tested them for a while so I think I’m good to go without the resistors. The worst thing that will happen is I’ll ruin some LED’s, since it shouldn’t hurt the dual mode decoder. I’ll just wire up some resistors then.
You need a low wattage soldering iron if you’ll solder anything onto the decoder board. A stronger wattage iron will melt the decoder board and that will be a real problem.
The package of Minitronics Yellowglo’s I bought had the correct ohm resistors included in the package.
Congratulations on your new locos!!! They look great, plus I have a soft spot in my heart for the old MKT, used to get my Dad to take me across the river to watch them when I was a kid. We always went to the MoPac depot first, then sometimes I got the bonus trip to the old Katy depot which is now gone because of “vandels” who burned it down.
I’ll never understand wives who have the attitude yours has expressed. Should we assume she’d be happier if you spent your money at the local “sports bar” with your buddies? Or maybe had the gambling bug? There are a thousand things you could be “wasting” money on and not be at home in your basement. Next time she crabs at you for spending money on your hobby just remind her how much she spends on “her personal maintenance”. You know, make up, beauty shop, new clothes, personal hygene products, all of the things women spend their money on they consider necessities. And how many pairs of shoes does she have? My first wife had that problem with my spending although she spent money like water on herself and her 2 daughters she considered my trains as “unnecessary” toys and a waste of money. Luckily “all” women aren’t as selfish or short sighted as my first wife. #2 loves my trains and my old clocks which is another of my hobbies. She’d be the first to agree that I have more than I need and has given me “the look” a couple of times but has never said anything negative about it.
Hopefully yours will get “smarter” as she gets older and realize that if you aren’t doing something you enjoy she might find herself in the same boat at some point.
Good luck Tony and enjoy those new engines, they look great!!!
Mark
Always been an MKT fan even when I was little and MRR. Plus you don’t see them very much,which makes them that more likable to me. I’m also debating between Rock Island or Southern Pacific as some other engines I might get soon.
ROCK ISLAND!!!
Mark
Just tell her that there are a lot of worse things you could be doing! Anyway, they look good. Atlas has always put out a decent locomotive. don’t forget the sound!
Ya know how you feel - I just picked up two new Atlas MEC locos on eBay and my wife was freaking. I agree - lots of guys spend $ on sports, golf, gambling, drinking etc. But hey some wives just don’t see the value in a nice loco I guess. She DID pick out some nice houses and a Hog House for the layout though!!
Great Loco’s Good Luck with them
As for your wife, tell her at least she isn’t married to some of us who put out a lot more for trains.
Also use the typical female line. “But it was on SALE” [swg]
Looks like you had a great day! More fun projects.
My better 3/4 is the same way, Eric. #1, she really likes to see me happy (and vice-versa) and #2, it relieves her of any lingering guilt when she spends money on fun. Win-win!
Do you have any of the old MKT’s in the “red” scheme? How about the Rock Island, red or “bankrupt” blue?
Mark
My Other Half is into trains also, and so supportive to my hobby, but likes Nscale, I HO.
If I waiver or hem and haw on a purchase I usually get a “go ahead and buy {or order} it!” ANd I love to send off emails with links to specific trains items as ideas and have them actually show up under the xmas tree!!! Or for my birthday!
Naturally I do the same.
I just got home from the fire house and my wife still won’t talk to me lol. So the day has started off nicely hahaha. I’v been contemplating Rock Island blue. Might try to get a MKT in red to go with the ones I have now.