Proto 1000 Diesel EMD F3A-B Set

Do anyone know if these come with DCC plug? If so what decoder would fit? And one last question, how good are they as modells?

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31416

I also wonder the same about these : http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31733

Thanks Magnus

The PC board in the unit has locations to solder the decoder wires to it. You also have to cut a circuit in two different places. The PC board is marked “cut” so it is easy. I have a number of these units.

I used Digitrax DH123D decoders for mine and it was an easy install. The units run very smooth and quiet. They will pull what ever you put behind them.

As far as details go, I am not a rivet counter, so the detail is fine to me (half of my Athearns don’t even have the handrails installed yet).

Depending on which release version of these engines you have, a TCS A4X decoder may be a better choice. You won’t know until you open it up and see which circuit board you have.

http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/walther_F3_A4X/walther_proto_1000_f3_a4x.htm

I have a Athearn BB GP35 that was built in 1975 and came with hook horns, and the handrails aren’t installed yet. I did paint the front handrails black, not truely prototypical, but it will look good. As far as Proto 1000’s go, sounds like you’ve got a good choice picked out, but I’ve heard mixed reports about the performance when first ran, like gears that come cracked. That’s no big deal though. I figure the detail is just fine.

-beegle55

According to both First hobby and Walthers both the F and E units have an 8-pin plug and thus no soldering necessary. Is this incorrect?

Magnus

There have been different versions of this locomotive made by Proto; some with and some without the 8-pin socket. That link I sent about the TCS A4X decoder explains the difference.

According to their ad: “NMRA DCC eight-pin plug for easy decoder installation … Each set includes a powered A and a powered B unit” - So you’ll need 2 decoders - as delivered.

Using one decoder for 2 engines may burn out the decoder and void any warranties.

As for Quality: Not as good as InterMountain, Genesis, or Stewart, but detter than Athearn B.B. At half price - how good does it have to be?

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31416

As for E-8’s: those were Passenger Engines, and supposed to be fast.So your choice is slow vs. fast; Proto 1000 vs. Proto 2000; freight vs. passenger; 2 powered units vs. 1 + dummy; and DCC Plugs vs. wiring…

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31733 Incorrect. Where does it say “comes with DCC plug”?

Since the F-3 Proto 1000 chassis is geared down it’ll be too slow for you for passenger, why don’t you get both? At half price, that’s just paying for one?

Not to worry. At those prices, they’ll be sold out