When I first connected my AirWire board I used the most basic setup just to see how it would work. I connected the motor output to the battery terminals on the Bachmann board. I used a generic sound file for the P5 that used the AirWire speed control for its input. It worked ok but not to my satisfaction. That is when I tore into the wiring and changed everthing to suit my demands which is total control of all fuctions and sounds through the AirWire remote unit.

"Trainman"

Dan,

I don't remember which speed control variable I ajusted.  I will have to connect the engine to my puter again to determine that. Will let you know what I come up with. I know I have it set to 128 step control.

"Trainman"

I too experienced the humming noise from my K-27 under the 128 step setting. I was able to reduce it to almost nothing by using the computer interface and ajusting the settings. That seems to work quite well. How I did this was place the engine on a set of rollers next to my puter. With the AirWire connected, simply played with several of the settings to achive the desired effect.

"Trainman"
San Diego

Jack, Up to now I have used three types of radio control systems on my G scale garden railroad. The first was Locolinc, which had good range but the DC voltage their receiver put out would make my engines vibrate at low speed. I then tried AristoCraft TE 75mhz system. It cured the vibration problem but the radio range on that system was so bad it made it unusable. I desperation I tried the AirWire 900 system. The difference between it and the other two is like night and day. All my engines run smooth and quiet. The range on the AirWire is such I could sit in my easy chair in the house and operate the trains. I mean we are talking more then sixty feet. Since I am battery powered, I do NOT have to clean my tracks of anything more a few leaves. In my opinion, the 900 mhz system is the only way to go. It is my understanding that AristoCraft may be coming out with their version of a 900 mhz system but the AirWire version is already hear and it works great! I hope this long disertation answers you question.

By for now;
"Trainman"

Richard, I recently installed an AirWire system in my Bachmann K-27. In my case, since I am running with a follow behind battery car, I chose not to use the smoke option. I used the smoke leads from the tender to the engine to control the bright LED I installed in the engine, in place of the dim one it came with.  That is an option you may or may not want to pursue. I simply rewired the LED to the old smoke leads and connected them to the headlight output of the AirWire board. Unless you are good at this type of stuff, you may want to wait for the Bachmann folks to publish their ideas on how to customize that unit. I have done a fair amount this type of work so it did not bother me. With the proper rewiring, you can control all lites and functions of the K-27 through the AirWire transmitter.

"Trainman"

I decided to just remove those retainer clips on the undersides of the plugs. They work very well without them. 

Thank you, locoron, for that information. I was able to dis-assemle the lights on my 2-8-0's but those on the K-27 were much more stubborn.

Regards,
"Trainman"

  I thought I would update the forums on this chuff transistor circuit. I was informed of this transistor circuit last weekend at the Del Mar Train Show. Stan Ames sent me the transistor ID and information on how to install it.
The circuit is now up and running in my K-27. It is powered by an AirWire controller fed from two lithium-ion batteries, wired parallel, located in a trail behind battery car. The sound card is a Pheonix P5. Both came from Jonathan at Electric Model Works.
The chuff circuit is performing perfectly. I am getting the exact sounds from the sound card that I programmed it to emit. It is using the chuff circuit as it's que. Now this K-27 looks and sounds just like the real Mc Coy.
I do not know,as yet, how to post either pictures or attachments to these forums, but if anyone would like to know any information on this circuit, how it installs or how it works, just send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help. I will be gone till next week on a clampper outing but will be returning in time to watch the Chargers and New England play, yipe!
As stated above this circuit came from Stan Ames. If this did not work the magnets on the axle were plan "B".

That's it, everybody out there take care,
"Trainman"

I have made repeated attempts to disassemble the headlite on the K-27 to replace the feeble LED with one you can actually see. The lens appears to be glued in place, which means you have to destroy it to get it apart. It is the same type assembly as the Connies, without the side markers. I doubt Backmann is carrying any parts for these yet. Does anyone know how to get these lites apart?

I picked up four of the new Jackson and Sharp coaches this last weekend at the train show here in San Diego. They are the perfect passenger car for the K-27. I did a test run yesterday after converting the K-27 over to AirWire and Pheonix. They look very good behind that engine and they track smooth and quiet. I would hold out for the AMS 1:20.3 coaches.

Can anyone out there tell me what transistor number is to use in the chuff circuit on the Bachmann K-27's? I have a diagram of the circuit that I picked up at the Del Mar Train Show today here in San Diego but I forgot to get the transistor number so I can run over to radio shack to pick one up.

Thanks,
Mike Ballou
Carmel Valley RR

Yeah, the K-27 is one nice unit. I received mine last Monday but had to set it aside because I am in the process of converting my two Connie's over to AirWire and P5 boards. The 2-8-0's are extremely well built and reliable engines. They and the new K-27 compliment each other quite well. I will soon be converting the K-27 to AirWire and P5, will see if it is as easy as the Connie's.

I had one ordered thru Caboose but cancelled it due to price difference at St. A-------. Ordered one from them on Friday the 4th and received it on Monday the 7th.  It's a great engine!

Back-mann, Ok, have a good time and a safe trip back. Will anyone from Bachmann be out here for the big train show next June in Ontario?

Mr. Bach-mann,

Here in San Diego, as of Friday nite at 8:45pm, we are still waiting for this "big storm" to arrive. Are you going to be at the up coming Del Mar show?