I am new here an new to the Hobby, I recently bought a new in box Rivarossi Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO…
I want to convert it to DCC… Is that possible and if so, does anyone know the part number and where I can buy on… I have the box and instructions (in Italian I think)…
Please help me if you can…dtbarron
I have a later model Big Boy with the can motor and small wheel flanges which happened to have a Rivarossi decoder in it. I have since replaced it with a Soundtraxx Tsunami sound decoder and I mounted it in the tender. This can be a big problem getting the tender open since it is glued together. The original was in the loco just ahead of the cab. If you have the later version with a can motor you shouldn’t have too much trouble, just check the space available in the engine and choose a decoder that will fit and can handle at least 1 amp. Digitrax and NCE are two I would recommend. This is not an easy job for someone new to the hobby and I would suggest you have someone who has done this before to help or do it for you.
If you have one of the older models with the open motor in the cab, you need to make sure you know what the stall amps are so you can get the right decoder. Again, I would recommend you get some help on this.
-Bob
This model has been around for a long time and there are many variants. The one I converted was a Red Box Rivarossi era (Pre the Hornby takeover) and it followed the layout as shown on the Wiring for DCC web site http://www.wiringfordcc.com/hrbigboy.htm I installed a Tsunami in the tender and ran the wires between the tender and the loco. Opening the tender was indeed the very hardest job.
Hello. Yes thanks, this came in a Red Box…here is what is says, Rivarossi and then in a white rectangular square it says… 1577
4-8-8-4 Big Boy
Union Pacific N. 4022
Can I ask if that is what you have and What Tsunami you used and did that then make It DCC??
Thanks David