Another great video I learned from....luckily I was able to get my p42 to work without soldering after hrs of playing with it. I actually applied pressure on the side of the body where the motor brass clips would be. I wanted to stay away from soldering until I absolutely needed to....it actually took more time and work than when I added decoders to to my atlas gp38s!
It's a little different because I am not super advanced with modeling like Dan is. Do you think it might have broader appeal to see someone less experienced doing stuff like this?
Board replacement decoders like this are pretty easy. Minimal soldering and minimal modifications, if any. If you don't care about sound, it's even easier because you don't have to fit a speaker in there.
I don't really know, as I don't have a GP35 and have not tried to do anything with one. It's a smaller loco, and it's quite likely that to add sound you will need to cut the frame. Our N Scale DCC installs Volume 1 program could be very helpful to check out if you decide to try it.
I wish you would have shown how you placed the tape around and put it back instead of going off camera. Since that is the hardest part of installation it would have been nice to see the full complete method you did.
I want to get into DCC for my N scale DC layout, which is small, I watched the DC and DCC video for beginners, I think i'm going to use Digitrax for my layout but how do you make or set up a programming track for your DCC locomotives. If you guys haven't done a video on making a programming track, I think it will help a lot of people program there locomotive without frying it.
Thanks! It was fun to make them, and even more fun to find out that I could do it. I am seriously considering doing some more complicated DCC installations in the future. Stay tuned...
Maybe. I did not have any, and honestly don't know if the shell would fit back on if the speaker sat any higher inside. Also keep in mind that the Kapton tape is over the back of the speaker, and the speaker is facing downward.
Would be a good experiment. Scotch makes some real thin double sided tape. We use it to stick laptop bezels back together. Could use that and see if that and pointing the speaker away from the frame increases the sound volume. I'll bet it would.
Could the capacitor get taped and placed below the l.e.d. on the little shelf looking part of the front of the chassis, or is there not enough room under the shell there? Just bought the starter set and will eventually go to DCC.
Two weeks ago I showed the second unit I installed the same kind of decoder in. We ran a poll to see if people wanted to see this one too. They did, so here it is.
Some do, some don't. This one (Digitrax SDN144K0a) does. They also have one just like it but without a speaker or a capacitor. It costs less and is easier to install because you don't need room for the speaker and capacitor.
As an idea for a "Johns Models" video, how about a conversion of a O scale 3 rail, to an O scale 2 rail? Just an idea and hope you consider it. Wonderful video as usual! -Andrew
Another great video I learned from....luckily I was able to get my p42 to work without soldering after hrs of playing with it. I actually applied pressure on the side of the body where the motor brass clips would be. I wanted to stay away from soldering until I absolutely needed to....it actually took more time and work than when I added decoders to to my atlas gp38s!
Nicely done John! Great job! I'm really enjoying John's Models.
It's a little different because I am not super advanced with modeling like Dan is. Do you think it might have broader appeal to see someone less experienced doing stuff like this?
I think it might. I enjoy watching both advanced and not as advanced.
Awesome work John! I started in N not too long ago and never thought about adding DCC to them. Mostly Atlas N .
Board replacement decoders like this are pretty easy. Minimal soldering and minimal modifications, if any. If you don't care about sound, it's even easier because you don't have to fit a speaker in there.
I just ordered my first DCC loco, an Atlas GP35. I'm thinking about sound, if it's fairly easy.
I don't really know, as I don't have a GP35 and have not tried to do anything with one. It's a smaller loco, and it's quite likely that to add sound you will need to cut the frame. Our N Scale DCC installs Volume 1 program could be very helpful to check out if you decide to try it.
One thing I can tell you, though, is that Atlas makes very good models.
I wish you would have shown how you placed the tape around and put it back instead of going off camera. Since that is the hardest part of installation it would have been nice to see the full complete method you did.
I want to get into DCC for my N scale DC layout, which is small, I watched the DC and DCC video for beginners, I think i'm going to use Digitrax for my layout but how do you make or set up a programming track for your DCC locomotives. If you guys haven't done a video on making a programming track, I think it will help a lot of people program there locomotive without frying it.
great video John, i enjoyed watching these videos
Thanks! It was fun to make them, and even more fun to find out that I could do it. I am seriously considering doing some more complicated DCC installations in the future. Stay tuned...
I tried and tried but had no choice but to solder also
Hey it works lol good job guys!
Nice work John.
Just goes to show even challenged folks can do this stuff if they try. :D
Good job
Hey John/Dan are you excited about the NMRA visiting the SBHRS?
Haven't heard anything about that.
Huh....its this Saturday
Oh riiiiight the layout tours thingy!
I was going to be out of town making a video about the V&T so it didn't register on my things to get excited about meter because I couldn't be there.
Now are you going to try weathering the models John?
One thing at a time! :))
Would it be better if you used double sided tape underneath the speaker? I would think kapton would muffle it
Maybe. I did not have any, and honestly don't know if the shell would fit back on if the speaker sat any higher inside. Also keep in mind that the Kapton tape is over the back of the speaker, and the speaker is facing downward.
Would be a good experiment. Scotch makes some real thin double sided tape. We use it to stick laptop bezels back together. Could use that and see if that and pointing the speaker away from the frame increases the sound volume. I'll bet it would.
Could the capacitor get taped and placed below the l.e.d. on the little shelf looking part of the front of the chassis, or is there not enough room under the shell there? Just bought the starter set and will eventually go to DCC.
There are light pipes there = no go. If you want to re-do the lights it might be possible.
Hmm...ok, thanks.
Well done! :-)
Thanks. It provided an unexpected sense of accomplishment and seems to have demonstrated that it might not be as hard as it seems to do.
Next time you come thru Tehachapi bring them and run them on the layout. Backroads
Sounds like a plan, Backroads!
wait wasn’t there a video on this made not a long time ago
Two weeks ago I showed the second unit I installed the same kind of decoder in. We ran a poll to see if people wanted to see this one too. They did, so here it is.
Does the speaker come with the sound decoder usually or no? I'm just getting into DCC and am curious.
Some do, some don't. This one (Digitrax SDN144K0a) does. They also have one just like it but without a speaker or a capacitor. It costs less and is easier to install because you don't need room for the speaker and capacitor.
As an idea for a "Johns Models" video, how about a conversion of a O scale 3 rail, to an O scale 2 rail? Just an idea and hope you consider it. Wonderful video as usual!
-Andrew
I do not own any O Scale anything. No track, no nothing. Seems like a good idea, though! Thanks for watching!
:)