Here's a sneak peek at my recent decoder installs

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This is really the only one of the last 3 I did that shows any sort of innovation (or at least, what I think is a cool idea). The other two were about as plain and straightforward as could be.
The loco is a Walthers Trainline FA. For the eBay thread - I got TWO of these WITH shipping for less than the price tag still on the boxes of each one. And I researched it by finding the Model Railroader review in my back issues - these things truly do run at VERY slow speeds, amazing! Anyway, I installed an NCE D13SRJ in this one, and replaced the light bulb with a golden white LED, in this case a 5mm one from Miniatronics. Standard 1K 1/4W resistor. These locos have a circuit board in them to join the pickups and motor and headlight. Removing this board is best, the traces are poor at best so cutting them and solderign the decoder wires there is a bit pointless. However this leaves gaping holes in the frame above the drive, no place to securely mount the decoder. But,t he board screws on to the read of the frame, so I figured I’d cut a short piece of the circuit board, screw that to the frame, and use it as a shelf for the decoder. ANd here’s the results.

2

NIce job. I have not done many decoder installtions yet, but it is really satisfying when you can come up with a solution like this.

3

Right back in your element, Randy. [8D]

P.S.- What is that cut green wire all about?

4

Great Job!

5

F0R, F1, and F2 are not needed for a cab diesel. And rather than have a big bundle of wire, I cut them off short - notice the purple and yellow are also cut off. There’s enought here I COULD solder on extensions if I ever want to use them, but I can’t see myself ever reusing the harnesses, I’d just get another one. JST harnesses are low cost enough.

–Randy