I have a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. I am hoping to add a DCC decoder soon, and was wondering if it was possible to add smoke to a loco that did not come with it? If not, does anyone have a recommendation of a good steam loco that has smoke and sound (DCC ready)?
I guess you can add smoke to any locomotive. You said you wanted to go to DCC. remember what goes up comes down. With smoke it is a film of oil.
I assume this means two main things; I would need to clean the track regularly and may not want to put the train in a room with nice furniture?
How would I add a smoker to my train?
It's not just the track. It's the structures, the vehicles, the meadows, the water, the figures, the....
Smoke IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. Any smoke is unrealistic in HO.
However, if you still want to do something that every experienced model railroader avoids and preaches against, look for Many New Products to find a install in any locomotive smoke maker. But be aware that the builder/owner does not use his product in his own locomotives.
Gene
Read Gene's post.
Smoke. BAD idea.
This is the same reason that the late John Allen barred smoking in the trainroom.
Rich
GREETINGS!!
Is SMOKE a bad idea in a burning building? Also, does anyone have any idea about making it BLACK? I've tried adding OIL and that doesn't work, but I really want to make a realistic burning building!!
THANX!!
Ernie
As was stated, to add smoke to a train is not realistic, nor worth it. But if you want a real HO prototypical smoking train, there is only one on the market and that is MTH's K-4 Pennsy. It puffs smoke in sinc to wheel revolutions (4 puffs per revolution), has a large oil container and has a 28 function decoder. It will set and talk to you all day long, if you push the right buttons. He is coming out with the HO Triplex in January that will have all the bells and whistles, but will have 24 pulling axels!
It is a 2-8-8-8-2. Then that brings you to needing an operating system to handle these high tech units. MRC makes the only system, in its Prodigy line, that will do it, but you will be unable to run the old DC (analog) trains with it. MTH has their own system but it is DCS, not DCC, and that is a whole new ball game, as you can't mix the two! But any of this you get into takes a lot of bucks. For instance: 5 years ago I received an $80 DCC train for Christmas. I decided to build me a railroad. I now have over $17,000 in it and still building! Happy railroading!
I wonder how many motors that Triplex will have.
Ram, It will have 2, as there will be a second one in the tender. You can see all the models and see a video at
http://www.mthhotrains.com/news.asp
Quote from: bevernie on December 18, 2007, 06:51:18 PM
GREETINGS!!
Is SMOKE a bad idea in a burning building? Also, does anyone have any idea about making it BLACK? I've tried adding OIL and that doesn't work, but I really want to make a realistic burning building!!
THANX!!
??? Ernie
GREETINGS!!
Seemingly, no one has noticed my questions, so I'll ask them again!
Surely, someone has an idea!
THANX!!
Ernie
Hendersonville, NC
Ernie-
YES, it is a bad idea to put smoke in a burning building, and for the same reasons it is bad in a locomotive. The smoke will end up depositing an oily residue over your layout, your track, your rolling stock and your room.
BAD IDEA. BAD IDEA. BAD IDEA.
I have seen some pretty realistic smoke created with whisps of a cotton ball and paint.
Matt
:'(GREETINGS, MATT!!
And THANK YOU for your reply, even though I am a bit saddened by same!! I am planning to build a depiction of a burning building with all the trimmings, and "SMOKE" was going to be very much a part of it! I got siren sounds (taken out of FIRE TRUCKS from GOODWILL), flashing lights, all the trimmings!! Now, I'm CRYING!!!... But THANX!! anyway!!
THANX!!
Ernie
Sleuthe makes a smoke unit for engines (and could probably be modified for a burning building.
Ever stand next to an American Flyer steamer operating with a smoke unit for many length of time?? The nose will know!!
Also if you are using smoke oil, expect a residue on everything.
It is Sleuthe #117. It is a general type smoke unit. Stephen
There are several types of smoke pots on the market, including the sleuthe, but if you are really want to spend your time watching the smoke, instead of refilling the unit with oil, check out Micro-Mark's smoke unit. It has a large reservoir and an electric fan. That sucker really generates the smoke and you don't spend all your time refueling! I have 2 of them, but I modified them to cut back on the volume of smoke. The 1" fan is on the bottom and it is simple just to restrick some of the air flow. You might say it is my version of a Nascar restrictor plate for smoke units! You can see this unit at http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82602
This unit cost $39.95 + shipping, but it works. I have used 2 of them for 5 years and no problems. Most of the cheapo units put out so little smoke, sometimes its hard to see if they are working. The only draw back with Micro Mark's is its size. Its not real big but you couldn't use it on a HO train. About the only gauge it would fit in would be G scale. But it works fine for scenery, you just have to make room for it so as to hide it. I have one in the chimney on a log cabin and one in a Liquor Still.