Quote from: Ton N on June 10, 2021, 03:20:30 PM

Quote from: Biglars on June 09, 2021, 07:21:43 PM
If anyone has questions that is one of my videos.

And Biglars does it? Does it run on 10 inch radii with 18 ft cars?

Ton

I have Chopper couplers on this loco (like in WW1) all my 18' cars have knuckled couplers. I did not want to swap out couplers for the test. 18" cars will go around the same radius pulled and pushed by a Heisler. They they are around the same length locomotive.

Nice work.

If anyone has questions that is one of my videos.

Bob,
Here is a link to instructions I wrote up years ago.
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27377

A video of slow speed operation from a porter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7hrWafbok8&t=5s

Over 2 minutes to go half way around a 42" long oval.

For anyone interested. Here is the just released trench locomotive running on an unfinished section of my RR I use to store equipment in the process of being completed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8FEcV8hutE

They were all either DCC ready with conectors or Came with a DCC decoder plugged into the connectr. The conectors have 8 pins.

This thread also started out as a small shelf idea.

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25014

This little ON30 mine layout might be of interest to you. It is 20" by 40"

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42723

It depends on the sound card you want to use. The Shay and the Climax have 8 pin commenters inside the fuel bunker and sound close to the same, its all about fitting the unit in the bunker.  The Heisler drop in board is 21 pin and would be a difficult install.

Scroll down this page and I think you will find something you need.
Mount Blue kits are very well made and go together easily, I have built many of them.
http://mountbluemodelco.com/products.htm

Adding sheet lead under the cab roof
Add Lead fireman and engineer
There is some space under the front pilot to add weight.
Any metal detail parts you add will increase weight slightly.

The factory decoder is hard wired into the porter. The extra wire is minimal, you can desolder the wires from the board but you will need a steady hand.  Also the wires to the decoder are not color coded so you better refer to the instructions and then color code the wires as you remove them.  From there get the smallest sound decoder you can. 

I still think it would be cheaper to buy one with sound. Go to eBay and search on seller thefavoritespot they have some buy it now for the price of a decoder. 

You can add almost any sound decoder if you place it in a tender behind the engine.  My advice would be pick up a new porter with sound from the favorite spot. The engine with sound will most likely cost less then an add on decoder and save you a lot of work.

I have not seen the Bachmann oem decoders for sale anywhere. 

If you just purchased the engine new you should contact Bachmann for a warrantee repair. 
If it was used can you see if the Pistons on the side are moving up and down so we can help identify the issue.