Here is what I posted last night on MLS. Copied so I don't have to type it again. Hope the snow doesn't stop your delivery. I am thinking you guys really need snow pack in your area.
Also working on a quick way to install Accu couplers on the Bachmann engines and rolling stock. Nothing against the Bachmann couplers, as they do work as close to flawlessly as you can, but the looks?
? Sorry BAchmann, its a personal problem.
"In answer to a MLS question this engine should navigate 5' radius curves. It won't be pretty, but gets the job done.
I think that the installation will be relatively easy since the tender is large considering what has to be placed in it and no wiring has to be ripped out and replaced. You will have the battery packs in the rear. To do that you will remove a stud that is behind the water hatch and is attached to the floor. What purpose it serves is beyond me. It is plastic and a Zona saw or a Dremel tool will remove it. Then you have the room for 3 rows of 4 batteries, giving you 14.4 volts (16v with charging). This falls under AirWires 18v max above which have to break the batteries up into two groups.
I have checked and you can fit either Sub C or D cells. This will give you between 3800 and 5000 Mah or 4 hours of operation with lights and sound.
From there you have to install the speaker (place provided for up to 3" speaker. I would use a Phoenix or other high quality speaker. Sort of like your stereo, worth the investment. This fits under the Bachmann board.
Next is locating your on/off switch and volume controls. I drilled holes either side of the speaker for these. On/off on engineers side with forward being ON. You can get away with a single pole, double throw. The volume control comes with the Phoenix sound unit and plugs into the board. I located a fuse holder behind the coal doors, which slip out for easy access to the fuse. The Phoenix board sits nicely behind the fuse. In the pictures that were posted I had the fuse in the rear. Next install will reverse the positions. I was using a 2k2 board and it would not fit between the mounting posts for the Bachmann board.
You will have to wire the batteries to the fuse and then to the on/off switch. From there you feed the power to three places, 1 the AW board, 2. the Bachmann board. The AW board has screw terminals (no soldering) the Bachmann board will require two solder connections.
I placed the AW board on top of the Bachmann board. Some double sided stickey tape will do the job on top of the old plug in for the jumper board for DC operation.
There will be two wires that connect the AW board to the Phoenix board. A plug is used at the Phoenix board and screw terminals at the AW board. Two wires will feed the power for the motor from the AW board to the Bachmann board with solder connections. I wire to fire the head light and one for a reverse light will go from the AW board to the Bachmann board with solder connections.
I mounted the charging jack under the tender hatch (some drilling) and that will require connection to your batteries after the fuse and before the on/off switch.
The programming jack is a plug in and you can mount it under the coal load or just wrap it in tape (preventing a short) and drop in into the tender.
Finally the two connections from the Phoenix board to the Bachmann board for the chuff will be necessary and that is where the transistor will be used and we have not finalized that connection. Work in progress.
So far we have approx 8 solder connections excluding those used to hook up the batteries to the fuse and on/off switch. Not bad and we hope that we can help with how to solder to the board without melting down things.
In answer to Mike, the engine does very well. It pulls, starts smoothly and has good speed control with no extra programming on the AW receiver. I set it to 128 steps and it pulled smoothly from a start on level track with no load. Better than the pilot model. With a load of 5 tank cars and a 10 lb Accu caboose, it started smoothly on a 3% grade. Kept running at under 1/2 throttle.
If you look at the video enclosed, we were pulling 15 cars up the same grade with no stalling. Admittedly we had some issues starting on the grade, but that train was heavy and all friction bearings.
With the competitions K-27 they came with incorrect motors, wheel gauge problems and had to be remotored before they performed properly. Their electrical pickup was poor in the first runs. This engine seems to do it all right out of the box. Lube it, and enjoy.
Till tomorrow"
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