so i pulled it out , had a look at all the bits and pieces and got out some tools and started cleaning flash off the cast parts . couple of hours later and i’ve got the thing partially assembled . no detail parts yet , and of course i’ll need to paint everything but i’ve got the tender done , the wheels and motor in the frame , but not the side rods etc. i put it on the test track with a DC pack and it moves … barely ! seems like with only the center set of drivers turning (no side rods remember) and no boiler weight it doesn’t get much traction . at least i know i did the electrical stuff right . and i can see now what i’ll need to do to get it to work with a DCC decoder
question 1 ) any recomendations for a decoder ? the tender is pretty small , it even makes my spectrum 4-6-0 seem roomy . i’d like sound but i’m not sure anything that small is available , and speaker space will be very limited
question 2) why the heck didn’t i build this 20 years ago ? i’d have built some kind of layout to run it on if i had , i’ve missed 20 years of fun with this little beauty [:(]
and to those interested in pictures … yeah i know i really have to get this digital camera and posting pictures thing figured out . maybe this week
I have a TCS T1 in my MDC 4-6-0. If you dont think that will fit try the TCS MC2. You could use an M1 which is a little bit smaller, but the MC2 is cheaper and has a removable harness. Just to be clear the MC2 is only a hair bigger than the M1. Since the MC2s came out the only time I needed to buy an M1 is for a spectrum 0-6-0 saddle tank switcher.
I have a TCS T1 in my MDC 4-6-0. If you dont think that will fit try the TCS MC2. You could use an M1 which is a little bit smaller, but the MC2 is cheaper and has a removable harness. Just to be clear the MC2 is only a hair bigger than the M1. Since the MC2s came out the only time I needed to buy an M1 is for a spectrum 0-6-0 saddle tank switcher.
BTW: I tried a DH123 Digitrax and although it fit in thickness, it was too wide for the shell to close. You pretty mcuh ave to go with an N scale decoder.
I have a fondness to seeing how many variations I can come up with Bachmann’s 2-6-2. I know it is their USRA 0-6-0 with pilot and traling trucks added to it, But iu comes off as such a funky little engine that I just have fun seeing what I can do with it. I have one factory finished UP. I have anouther that I custom painted UP. I have one thats a parts basher I picked up off E-bay. I am Going to refurbish and put with a vanderbuilt tender. And I have a parts basher 0-6-0 that I am figuring out what to do with. I am probably going to change out driver sets to get the side rod assembly that comes with the 2-6-2 rather than the 0-6-0. I am wondering what to do with the tender. I am thinking another Vanderbuilt tender. But I dont know if I want it to match the other one or put it with the vanderbuilt tender Bachmann made to pair with their 2-8-0
When I get my model shop back in operation I will keep you aprised.