I bought a new Lionel Cammelback and it runs and sounds great. The questions that I have is there a Odyssey or cruise control out there to put in the Camelback to maintain a constant speed? Train America has the engineer on board but it doesn’t have it for the Camelbacks. With the TMCC I have to tweek the speed every so often and I have four lockons on the track. Any help would be appriciated.
Laz,
TAS has aanounced two new EOB units. The first is for up-grading open frame AC motors to cruise, and it’s due in November. The second is an up-grade unit for fly-wheel equipped TMCC engines, due in January.
I can’t wait for either of these myself! Of course, the Camelback can wait…because I’ve been ripped off by an unscrupulous eBay seller in PA…but THAT’S another story!
Jon [8D]
Jon,
I’m new to this TAS so what will I need? Only the motherboard? Does that have the cruise control in it? Anything else?
Thanks,
Laz
Laz,
From what I understand, when they’re ready to start shipping these, there will be an information area on their web site: http://www.tastudios.com
They’ve described it as a simple plug-in board that will require maybe a little soldering knowlege. The kit will come with a fly-wheel tape and a sensor that will have to be glued or tie-wrapped to the CAN motor. If this all sounds above your skill level or time commitment, they will do the install for you at an additional charge. I think that that’s what I’ll do, unless the instructions are ridiculously easy to follow.
The nice thing about these folks are that they always post the install instructions on their site, so you can decide for yourself before you spend the money if you want to do the install or have them do it for you!
I’ve seen a picture of the AC EOB, and it appears that they’ve designed a fly-wheel and sensor that will fit between the brushplate and commutator face of the open frame PullMor motor. How the brushes still contact I don’t know, buty it does look intriguing.
Jon [8D]
Jon,
Sounds like an easy enough plan, I 'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for the info.
Sorry you got ripped off on E-bay. I have gotten lots of stuff on there, and knock on wood, haven’t got ripped off. I’m from Pa. too, was this guy a dealer or just a regular Joe?
Laz
Regular dealer. Went on eBay as either “ellenco” or as “Blackjack1251”. Either of these was a front for “Ellies Lokie Shop” in Mahanoy City, PA.
I won a LIRR TMCC equipped Camelback from Blackjack1251 on July 19th. Finally around September 1st I got a package. It was the cheap version with no TMCC and no coil couplers. At the request of the dealer I sent it back three days later. And that was it. It’s been three months now and no train and no refund.
Two weeks ago after e-mailing and phoning this dealer to no avail, I contacted the Mahanoy City Police Department. When I explained that I was calling to complain about an internet deal gone bad, the desk Sargeant asked: “is it Ellies Lokie Shop or some other business?”
That’s when I knew I had been had. They have a list of complaints about a mile long. I need to call back Monday to find out the disposition of the case.
Caveat Emptor of The North
Jon [8D]
Jon,
Any word on that disposition? I hope things worked out for you.