I would like to convert most of my locomotives (both smoke and diesal) to DCC. I don’t want to do the first batch myself, eye sight things, etc., I saw a post some where on this list suggesting the above as reliable people to do this.
Your comments please.
Typically DCC installs are easy. Tony’s has been doing them a while and have a good reputation for getting them right. I can’t see how you’d go wrong. I buy my decoders fro them because I get good advice about which one’s to buy.
I agree with SpaceMouse. You can’t go wrong with Tony’s. They do great work and fully support what they sell.
Paul
Tony’s is excellent. So it Litchfield station. However both are extremely backlogged with conversions right now I believe. So you’ll have to wait either way.
I’ve been waiting 2 months on two of my trains to be converted still with no word. And when my H8 gets here, that will be another one!
~Don
Are you driving distance to a good, honest, local train shop? They often have people that do DCC installations. Maybe they are not so backed up?
BTW … does anyone know if the Tsunami (steam) decoders are readily available, or are they on backorder?
Greg R
Greg,
They’ve been out for a couple of months now. Check with Empire Northern Models for availabliity:
http://www.empirenorthernmodels.com
Tim has good, competitive prices on DCC items like decoders and systems.
Howard,
Tim at ENM (see link above) also does installations and does VERY nice work. I don’t know if he would do any DCC conversions but it might not hurt to ask.
Tom
tony’s does a great job, but a decoder install from tony’s is VERY expensive. Look at the price list and you might change your mind. There are other companies that will install decoders cheaper, but its better just to do it yourself. The only skill you need to install a decoder is soldering.
Hmm, no advertising for yourself here, right?
OK, I’ll shut up…
–Randy
There’s also Bruce at Litchfield Station, and my personal favorite - Papa’s Trains (run by my friend Larry Eyman).
Litchfield Station:
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/
Papa’s Trains:
http://members.aol.com/lareyman/
I generally do my own decoder installs, but I sometimes save the tougher jobs for Larry at Papa’s Trains. If the loco needs repainted, I will often pay Larry to install the lighting, loco details, and repaint the loco for me. Since he does this sort of thing for a living, he knows what he’s doing and he charges decent prices.
I didn’t know you did decoder installs. [:D]
I don’t, really, I trained the cat to do it for me.
Talented cat. Does he wire DCC live frog turnouts to tortoises as well? 
Don,
Don’t be ridiculous! [V] He’s too busy installing the signaling system on Randy’s new layout.
Tom
Wow what broght this oe to the top? I didn;t see any edits.
Anyway, the cat is too busy tearing down the existing layout. I don’t think I’ll be having a layout for a while. I need to crack the whip on him though and get him back on decoder installs so I can earn some money to pay for this hobby.
–Randy
Randy, cats HATE static discharge shocks. I first noticed this effect when my kids were young and they would pat the cat on the family room rug, on a cold winter’s day when the Rh in the house was 16%. A spark of 2" is not uncommon. A charged capacitor located where the cat likes to “jump a freight” will definetly chase the “hobo” effect from the cat…it may in fact never attempt to enter your train room again.
This may depend a bit on just what you mean – if you mean installing decoders (sound or not) in DCC-ready locos, or locos that don’t require new motors, frame drilling, etc., then doing it yourself really isn’t that difficult. I have fairly bad eyesight, too, but use one of those lighted magnifiers (with the round flourescent tube around the magnifier), and I’ve done several.
I wouldn’t tackle the tougher ones myself, but mostly just because I don’t know what to do, and probably don’t have the equipment.
But yes, Tony’s and Litchfield in particular are very good. And Tony’s has an unconditional money-back guarantee on anything he sells.