O-EM-OO9 workbench - wheely good? Maybe

[76043]

So I tried the 60:1 Branchlines / Romford option and as predicted the torque required to shift the worm is a bit too much for the DS10. The 50:1 is ok though.

I then tried the High Level / Mashima 45:1 option that came with the loco and as I thought it is the quietest the loco has been so far. It's doing some more running in, so I'll see how it goes. I could invest in a beefier HL motor at some point.

The wheels are 20mm, so will be changed, but this is still a test bed at present, I may look at the body next.

Tony

 

[76043]

The 14xx chassis is looking a bit more 14xx now, I soldered back on the rear frames, this time with Ricey's favourite 145°.



Start made on attaching the body to the chassis with a cab floor in styrene. The moulded handrails have been cut off and holes drilled for replacements.

Then more running in now on my home made rolling road. The Mashima / HL combo seems the best at this point.

 

[76043]

I've been musing on how to deal with the front spectacle plate. As it stands it's horrible.

So my options seem to be either custom etch a very thin overlay or hand cut an overlay from brass sheet. Plastic isn't an option.

Etching seems to be very expensive, so looks like hand cutting for a one off Guy Williams style out of 8 thou sheet.

Any other suggestions gratefully received.
Tony

 

[76043]

I couldn't be bothered with the metal bashing solution, so cut a piece of 1mm styrene to fit the gaps and form an arch behind the existing material. Then glued small triangular fillets in the top corners. The top left is before and right is after.

I also realised the height of the bottom edge was too high, so out with the files and rounded corners soon appeared.

Tony

 

[76043]

Anyone any idea what sort of chip this is please?
Thanks
Tony

 

[simond]

Can you not interrogate it?

Read cv8 and look up the manufacturer code?

I didn’t read through this article in depth but I think it should help.

Identifying Your DCC Decoder

This week’s post is a ‘how-to’ about DCC decoders and identifying which ones you have. As DCC (Digital Command Control) is becoming evermore popular, second-hand locomotives already fitted with DCC…

jamestrainparts.com

 

[76043]

That's of course the best option Simon @simond

I was being lazy and was hoping someone might recognise it as at least a sound decoder. I'm not familiar with them at all.

The previous owner hadn't finished the loco, so only wired up the decoder to the tender pickups. Is it possible to use a function decoder for this sort of arrangement?

Tony

 

[simond]

Hi Tony,

I really don’t know. My understanding is that function decoders don’t offer sound, or motor control.

best
Simon

 

[richard carr]

Hi Tony

Generally you can tell what kind of decoder it is by looking at it, but that's not one I'm familiar with.
It isn't a function decoder, those are for controlling points, signals and other accessories, they cannot produce sound. Given that that one has a speaker attached I'm sure it's a sound decoder of some sort.

The best way to find out is to use decoder pro and read the decoder, it will tell you what it is.

Richard

 

[76043]

Thank you Simon and Richard for your help and candour. I use DCC-EX so will attempt to read the chip.
Cheers
Tony

 

[davey4270]

That's way more than an attempt, looks just superb to me! I'll be very happy if mine turn out that good.

Have you modelled a roof repair at each end? I'd be interested to know more.

Tony

I have a picture of this particular specimen with its roof in this condition.

 

[76043]

Finally got round to test turning some Bachmann wheels down to 2.3mm wide so they fit in my EM Bachmann wagons.

I've turned down both sides, but maybe for the amount I have to do only the front is needed, wheel see. (See what I did there?)
Tony

 

[76043]

Can you not interrogate it?

I tried interrogating the chip with Decoder Pro and got a 308 error. Disconnected the capacitor and speaker and still no joy. Turns out a 308 error is often not enough power, I don't have an alternative power supply at present so I'm the chip has gone back into my bag of chips.
Tony

 

[76043]

More lathe work, this time on the Bachmann Pannier wheels, turned down the face to 2.4mm wide. The EMGS supplies 3mm to 2mm axles, with a 16.5mm shoulder, old axle also shown. At this point all looks good for actually having a workable route to regauging RTR...

I may turn down the flanges to get the wheels down to 2.2mm. Maybe.

Maybe...
Tony

 

[76043]

More progress, wheelset runs true, pressed on using the mini lathe. Needs a Peco fibre washer on each end inside as a metal one will short.
Tony

 

[76043]

I've now got this. I did machine both sides of the wheel, but in any future version I would machine the rear face first, then the front and not take so much off the front as I did here.



It works, no binding. The motor is poor though.
Tony

 

[76043]

First batch of Bachmann wagon wheels turned down. All 2.3mm wide now. Before and after in the centre.
Tony