Where the heck are these things coming from?! I've found like 10,000,000,000 of them on eBay but none here or on www.MicroMark.com are they being stolen from the warehouse or something?
Hi Jake,
This is just a 'guess'. I have a Spectrum Doodlebug which is, I believe 'DCC ready' (ready to plug in a decoder of your choice'.
I don't think Bachmann has made these for awhile. But recently, somewhere, I remember seeing something about the Doddlebug being 'reissued'(?) around Sept. of this year. I'm guessing that it will be the 'new run', and if so, I am also 'guessing' that it will be 'DCC Onboard' (ready for Bachmann or other DCC operation).
Perhaps you are seeing so many on eBay, or discount online stores, etc. because many want to sell their current 'Doddlebug' in advance of the coming new run. I think that Bachmann may also have a 'trailer' (?) for the Doddlebug.
All of this is just 'guesstimate' ... unless someone else, like Mr. Bach Man, confirms or tells you I'm totally wrong (which is altogether possible :-).
Pesonally, I really like my little Spectrum Doddlebug. So much so that I painted it for a 'fallen flag RR' (Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern RR) which never had or used them, being an electrified line for most of its life (I rode their trolleys as a kid).
(http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2605/fddsgaseleckr7.jpg)
lanny nicolet
I might have to find me one of these cheap jewels I got one that part of the dummy truck is missing and Bachmann never did send me the repair parts.
Stephen
Quote from: lanny on March 10, 2007, 10:52:49 AM
........ But recently, somewhere, I remember seeing something about the Doddlebug being 'reissued'(?) around Sept. of this year. I'm .......
Hi Lanny;
In the first post in the HO section of this board there is the following:
"DCC Gas-Electric Doodlebug w/ trailer coach: Painted, unlettered olive green, B&O green,"
It is in the Spectrum section.
That's it! Thanks Nigel.
lanny nicolet
They haven't been made in a few years, but there are lots of them out there still new in the box on dealer shelves.
As for Ebay, anything that sits around a little and then gets sold off cheap is likely to end up in excess on there.
Sheldon
Dear Jake,
My guess is that Lanny's exactly right.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
I just wish Bachmann would make a 65' doodlebug for those of us with less than 22" curves.... Would love to have dcc and sound in my belt-drive 'bugs".
can a doodlebug make a 18 turn?
i have a 80 foot plug door and it runs fine on 18 radius trurns
Quote from: John Murphy on March 11, 2007, 12:12:44 AM
I just wish Bachmann would make a 65' doodlebug for those of us with less than 22" curves.... Would love to have dcc and sound in my belt-drive 'bugs".
I managed to squeeze an MRC decoder into mine - just.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/843/B_O_railcar_part1.wmv (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/843/B_O_railcar_part1.wmv)
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/843/B_O_railcar_part2.wmv (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/843/B_O_railcar_part2.wmv)
Jon
HOplasserem80c
I can't give a definitive answer to your question about the Spec. Doodlebug negotiating 18" radius track. I suppose part of the answer would deal with how much free 'play' the power truck and the trailing truck in your Doddlebug has.
Experts on the forum could give you a much better answer, but I think that with rolling stock such as 80' HO cars, the trucks and coupers might often be one piece so they swing freely. I don't think the Spectrum Doddlebug has that much 'truck swivel play'. I 'assume' that if track is laid very carefully, it probably will negotiate 18" radius curves.
I have found that even with weight added above the power truck, my Doddlebug just doesn't have the 'power' to pull a trailer up my long 2.7%+ grades. But that's okay ... it does fine by itself and that's all I use it for ... stopping at every little wayside station and/or 'whistle stop' that my mainline passenger trains zip by.
lanny
Jon--Very nice model and sound. I am just getting around to DCC for my club. I have the 81409 series (B&M) with the 8 pin plug. I have read that there is a problem with that socket blowing decoders. What series is yours and did you have any problem? Does the headlight work ok?
Thanks for your help Dan
My doodlebug will negotiate 18" radii!
I love how the coupler is attached to the ruck so when the truck swivels so does the coupler. I managed to run a mixed freight around 18" turns with a mixed train in tow with no problems whatsoever.
Peace!
Dan (stj_lc)
There is an advisory somewhere (like an old thread here or on a site offering help on decoders) that warns of problems with the 'DCC ready' socket/terminals being miswired.
As I recall, two of the lines were switched and this could lead to problems under certain circumstances. I believe that the problem does not affect the simpler decoders as they do not use the miswired contacts. Probably headlight only decoders and likely headlight/taillight decoders would be OK and more complicated ones would be vulnerable or something like that.
There was a simple fix involving cutting a trace or two on the bug's pc-board and the problematic trace(s) can be apparently be easily seen as well.
To anyone:
I am trying to take the doodlebug apart. How do you remove the body from the underframe????
Do you pry the sides from the frame, I tried this and was afraid to break the sides and the window frames.
The blowup of the parts isn't a very good help to take the unit apart.
I would like to add new underbody detail, ladder grabs on the roof, grabs on the doors and various other details without totally destroying the unit.
Thanks for your help
Al
Hi Al,
This won't be much help ... others will be able to give you some step by step instructions. But when I took my Spec doodlebug apart, about a year + ago, to paint it and add people inside, I remember it was quite difficult.
Someone then suggested, if I remember correctly:
(1) making sure all the correct screws, couplers (I am guessing here, not having my doodlebug at the computer to look at), etc. are removed.
(2) gently, with a very thin edge tool (like a small jewler's screw driver) pry the body open just a little in one place, and then insert a 'flact' style toothpick.
(3) watch for plastice tabs that lock the body to the under carriage (so you don't snap them off). If you see any, pry them gently loose to release the body from the under carriage and again, add a flat toothpick in that place.
I think, with patience, little by little, you should be able to get the doodlebug shell seperated from the body. It can be done for sure, because I did it, painted the shell and added people and weight over the rear truck (inside) and got all back together.
Best wishes in your efforts!
lanny nicolet
Hi Lanny,
You're correct on that and using a thin flat tool like a number 11 blade or an Artists palette knife perhaps? ( dull is fine) go around the sides and gently ease the body up and off. The problem that I had was that when it was assembled they used a ton of glue to hold in the windows and that ran down and basically locked the body and interior to the frame. Once the glue bond that shouldn't be there is broken it comes apart easily.
NOTE! WARNING ( yup here it comes) Inside of my packaged railcar (doodlebug) there was a small warning insert with a drawing of the circuit to be modified if..
"WARNING! IF USING AN ADVANCED POLARIZED DCC DECODER, THE GREEN JUMPER WIRE MUST BE CUT.
NOTE: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR DCC MANUFACTURER."
There is an illustration showing the diagonal green wire. Make a drawing of dots. Two rows of four vertically. number them left to right 1, 2 3 4 etc. the green wire connects 4 to 5.
Hope this helps some.
Cheers,
Rich R
Larry
A big thank you for your suggestion about the tooth picks to pry the doodlebug apart. I tried your method and it worked very well. As soon as I had the toothpicks along the sides the frame just slipped out of the top unit. I am now working on the additions and modifications.
Again THANK YOU!!!
aL
Quote from: stj_lc on March 14, 2007, 05:08:46 PM
Jon--Very nice model and sound. I am just getting around to DCC for my club. I have the 81409 series (B&M) with the 8 pin plug. I have read that there is a problem with that socket blowing decoders. What series is yours and did you have any problem? Does the headlight work ok?
Thanks for your help Dan
Hi Dan,
Sorry but I dont know what series mine was.
I found the easiest way to add MRC DCC soundchip was to rip out the 8-pin and board, and hard wire the decoder to the pickups, motor and light.
I mounted the speaker under the seats.
If memory serves, the 8 pin socket was situated in such a way that if I had used it for the decoder the roof would not have fitted back onto the railcar.
Jon
Caboose Hobbies has several Doodlebugs listed on its web site. However,
they aren't expected until June 2007.
I have just purchased a Bachmann Spectrum Santa Fe Doodlebug #81403. Can anyone tell me if this is a simple plug slot for DCC and, if so, what decoder to use. I would like to get DCC and Sound if possible. My Doodlebug did not come with any DCC instructions mentioned in the previous replies.
Appreciate any help - I am totally new to adding DCC.
Tom Konczal
jon grant 4472,
Can you tell me which decoder and sound chipset you put into your doodlebug - it looks and sounds GREAT!!
Tom Konczal
Anyone with a Doodlebug from Bachmann can go here to find the repai for the shorted # 3  pins:
http://home.neo.rr.com/mrwithdcc/doodleb.html
I used my ohm meter and found the short then used a safety pin to scratch / break the connection. No more short.
I would like to know also what decoder is used to get function and sound. Anyone???
Pete