I've been getting the layout ready for a show  (Colchester, England) in a couple of weeks and have been messing around with one of the Spectrum 2-10-2 models.

I ditched the tender and replaced it with one from the 2-8-0 Consolidation, modifying the coal bunker and adding rear steps and light (both from the long tender)

I also added a footstep on the front pilot after removing the cowcatcher - this has been modified again since the photos were taken this evening!!

Finally I painted the loco black/grey before adding the Belt Railway of Chicago decals. I will be adding more weathering when the paint is fully dry.






Jon

I have been busy over the weekend installing three new Soundtraxx decoders into a couple of P1K RS2s and an Atlas RS3 (by far the harder one to do.

Here's a link to the video footage on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslTeRxNzoE


I also have a request - a couple of the RS units should have a steam generator. Does anyone know who does the generator exhaust detail part and where to get them.

Thanks,

Jon

I finally managed to locate a second CNW F3 at a local show yesterday enabling me to make a matching A-A set.

I soundchipped one of them and chipped the other with an NCE chip, after removing the Lenz chip that was already installed (didn't have speed tables and I was unable to match the speed of the 2 locos)










Naturally , I shot a video clip so you can also see and hear it in action.

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/album508/abd


Jon

I went down to a swapmeet near Harrogate yesterday. Here are a few of the bits and pieces I managed to pick up.

Bachmann 2-10-2






Brass Baldwin 0-6-0 - oil tender








Brass Baldwin loco - sloped tender







They weren't cheap, but are exactly what I need to round off my Belt Railway of Chicago steam fleet.


Jon

Here is my most recent project - adding sound to a Stewart/Bowser DS-4-4-1000. Although it isn't a Bachmann product, I hope it gives some idea as to where to fit the decoder and speaker in some of the smaller diesel models.
 

Since I have no idea what a Baldwin engine sounded like I fitted one of the new Soundtraxx DSD101LC decoders with 1st gen EMD motor sounds and a 1" oval speaker(8 ohm).

Here is an unmodified chassis block and circuit board with 8-pin plug.







I cut away much of the front chassis weight to lower it to the same height as the rear weight - ie just above the worm gear housing.

I also stripped out the circuit board and cut the plastic holding lugs from the motor housing.

After adding some lead above the motor as a heat sink, I wired up the sound decoder, using the salvaged resistors from the circuit board for the LEDs.




The speaker is fully enclosed in a baffle made of plastic sheet and all holes are sealed with Squadron putty. the LED for the front light has been taped to the top of the baffle.






I have managed to fit everything under the loco's hood so as not to mess up the detailled cab interior at all, something I was keen to avoid.


Jon

It is reasonably well accepted that the basis for this loco is the Illinois Central 2-8-0.

Using the Model Railroader book on steam locos which has some photos and a drawing in it, I hacked off a few bits, moved some others and added a few more to come up with something resembling the IC prototype.


Detail #1  The sand dome (plastic sheet)










Jon