Hi Steve, Very Fine job! Looks great! If it helps, the first three of the six pads by the small connector board are for a LokSound PowerPack and the W pad for the control wire is controlled by Aux 7 of the decoder. This helps by not soldering to the decoder. Your soldering is very clean and neat! Thanks for the weathering tips too! I enjoyed!
Hello Nick, I always forget about the solder pads on the board for the keep alive until after I solder direct to the decoder 🤦♂️ one of these days I’ll remember them lol Thank you for designing and producing the boards for all of us modelers!!
to weather grilles, I use a very thin acrylic black, turn the shell on its side, and let capillary action fill the paint between the lines. Allow to dry before flipping over to do the other side.
Howdy Steve! Solo Contracting/Larry uses Scale Sound Systems speakers almost exclusively I think. He is probably your best bet for any questions you might have. I am just getting started... haven't done my first install/upgrade yet, but the speakers I have bought so far are custom sized for specific engines/manufacturers. Well done and thanks for sharing 🤠
Scale Sound Systems speakers are well worth the investment. He has a “UFIT” series with a wide range of dimensions. You can measure the space you have available and order one that fits. I did a pair of Dash 8s recently and modified the rear weight and made a screw mount pad to fit in the larger Athearn universal speaker he offers. I had a couple on hand and they fit the space well.
Nix Trainz sells the step light castings without the LEDs, so you can use your own and save some money. Also, I have used Scale Sound systems speakers on well over a dozen installs and have never had a problem with them fitting or interfering with the wiring. They are all "drop-in" replacements if you order the correct speaker for the exact model you are upgrading. Some installations (usually two speaker ones) require the removal of a weight.
Ill have to order some of the step light castings from Nix Trainz for future builds. I always thought they only sold them with the LED’s already attached, thank you for letting me know they sell them separately! Ill have to check out the Scale Sound speakers I keep hearing alot of great things.
Around 35:00…you might be thinking of Nixtrainz Loco Lights. While I may disagree with some techniques used in this build (such as removing weight as well as buying Silver instead of Gold which is a $30 value over buying the V5 separately) I am very pleased with the final result! Awesome stuff.
I believe you are correct with the Nixtrainz lights. I purchased these a few years ago and at the time modeling money was tight so I had to get the silver units to be able to afford both. I do try to get the gold units now to save money as you mentioned. Thank you for watching!
I really want to thank you for this video I just completed my 2nd build with my 3rd one ready to go. I would love to know the brand of led's you used and where to get them? The one's I got have much shorter wires and they can be a pain. Scale Sound Systems that you mention I bought one for my last build it was suppose to be a drop in replacing stock rear weight on my Athearn SD59M-2. Ihad to file down the ends to get it to fit and the wires coming from the trucks it had no groves in the sides like stock weight so I had to create those also. And the other thing was the factory weight had a part cut into it for the manual brake wheel which protrude on the inside of shell so I had to Clarence the speaker housing for that also. So as far as being a drop in I don't thick so , but it does sound good lol oh yeah the speaker housing is 3D printed.
Thank you for watching!! As far as a source for LED’s I don’t exactly have one. I have been ordering them off Amazon for the last year now mainly making sure that they have the same Red and Blue wires as shown in the video. Its a bit of a gamble as some of the ones I have purchased have had a blueish hue to them some times but for the most part I have been pretty lucky. Always get the color as warm white and you generally should be good.
www.amazon.com/ZZHOB-Pre-Wired-Pre-soldered-Resistor-Connector/dp/B0993TJBP7/ref=pd_aw_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0?pd_rd_w=g7EfM&content-id=amzn1.sym.7335cc90-0588-4dac-bfef-0bcc5bc215ab%3Aamzn1.symc.ae52853f-a23a-4ed5-9a04-13eb114ad53a&pf_rd_p=7335cc90-0588-4dac-bfef-0bcc5bc215ab&pf_rd_r=2FN6J1YEZKJGD5Q4NPR2&pd_rd_wg=aLpyR&pd_rd_r=01e91845-bb64-4b4f-b298-9c087980a692&pd_rd_i=B0993TJBP7 This would be the style I would order. I can’t remember for sure if this is the seller but the pictures look familiar to me.
Great Informative Videography and Presentation how to’s why’s and wherefores. Question where did you obtain the mountain Pennsylvania hillside backdrop’s??
Thank you! All of my backdrops are from Trackside Scenery and are from their Hickory Hollow collection. tracksidesceneryshop.com/index.php?id_category=38&controller=category
Looks Great - I am hoping to start a similar conrail project soon. I skipped through some of it and may have missed you say it, but im assuming the decoder buddy has resistors pre-wired for LED use? Are you able to selectively dim the LED's if needed so the marker lights aren't as bright as the headlights?
Thank you! Yes the decoder buddy has built in resistors for the LEDs. Also you can set the brightness on each light function differently although you will need a LokProgrammer from ESU to easily do that.
Excellent tutorial steve, I got to locate a bottle Scalecoat CR blue for some detail parts on my N scale CR locos. Must of tried 3 other brand paints and the shade wasn’t right. What’s the CA adhesive you use with the brush?
Thank you! Hopefully Scalecoat will be back soon. The CA glue I use is a brand called Hobbybond that I order off Ebay. I have been using it for a few years now and its always worked well.
Hi Steve, Very Fine job! Looks great! If it helps, the first three of the six pads by the small connector board are for a LokSound PowerPack and the W pad for the control wire is controlled by Aux 7 of the decoder. This helps by not soldering to the decoder. Your soldering is very clean and neat! Thanks for the weathering tips too! I enjoyed!
Hello Nick, I always forget about the solder pads on the board for the keep alive until after I solder direct to the decoder 🤦♂️ one of these days I’ll remember them lol Thank you for designing and producing the boards for all of us modelers!!
to weather grilles, I use a very thin acrylic black, turn the shell on its side, and let capillary action fill the paint between the lines. Allow to dry before flipping over to do the other side.
That is an excellent way to weather grills!
Howdy Steve! Solo Contracting/Larry uses Scale Sound Systems speakers almost exclusively I think. He is probably your best bet for any questions you might have. I am just getting started... haven't done my first install/upgrade yet, but the speakers I have bought so far are custom sized for specific engines/manufacturers. Well done and thanks for sharing 🤠
Thank you for watching! Ill have to check out the Scale Sound Systems stuff on a build soon.
Great job on the details on the LMS I know it takes time and in the end the results show
Thank you!
You do excellent modeling and your a good teacher
Thank you very much!
again, great stuff steve!!! i remember seeing these units in dunkirk,ny many moons ago. yours are damn close !!!
Thank you!
That was an amazing detailed transformation..😲👍
Thank you!
great project stevo
Thank you!
Scale Sound Systems speakers are well worth the investment. He has a “UFIT” series with a wide range of dimensions. You can measure the space you have available and order one that fits. I did a pair of Dash 8s recently and modified the rear weight and made a screw mount pad to fit in the larger Athearn universal speaker he offers. I had a couple on hand and they fit the space well.
I will definitely have to check out the Scale Sound speakers in a future build!
Nix Trainz sells the step light castings without the LEDs, so you can use your own and save some money. Also, I have used Scale Sound systems speakers on well over a dozen installs and have never had a problem with them fitting or interfering with the wiring. They are all "drop-in" replacements if you order the correct speaker for the exact model you are upgrading. Some installations (usually two speaker ones) require the removal of a weight.
Ill have to order some of the step light castings from Nix Trainz for future builds. I always thought they only sold them with the LED’s already attached, thank you for letting me know they sell them separately! Ill have to check out the Scale Sound speakers I keep hearing alot of great things.
This is an awesome build you gave me a lot f helpful tips. Thanks for sharing this
Thank you!
For scale sound systems if they dont have a speaker housing you want they will custom make ones designed for your locomotives.
I will definitely will have to check out the Scale Sound speakers!
Around 35:00…you might be thinking of Nixtrainz Loco Lights. While I may disagree with some techniques used in this build (such as removing weight as well as buying Silver instead of Gold which is a $30 value over buying the V5 separately) I am very pleased with the final result! Awesome stuff.
I believe you are correct with the Nixtrainz lights. I purchased these a few years ago and at the time modeling money was tight so I had to get the silver units to be able to afford both. I do try to get the gold units now to save money as you mentioned. Thank you for watching!
Hi CR Steve & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks CR Steve & Friends Randy
Thank you Randy!!
I really want to thank you for this video I just completed my 2nd build with my 3rd one ready to go. I would love to know the brand of led's you used and where to get them? The one's I got have much shorter wires and they can be a pain. Scale Sound Systems that you mention I bought one for my last build it was suppose to be a drop in replacing stock rear weight on my Athearn SD59M-2. Ihad to file down the ends to get it to fit and the wires coming from the trucks it had no groves in the sides like stock weight so I had to create those also. And the other thing was the factory weight had a part cut into it for the manual brake wheel which protrude on the inside of shell so I had to Clarence the speaker housing for that also. So as far as being a drop in I don't thick so , but it does sound good lol oh yeah the speaker housing is 3D printed.
Thank you for watching!! As far as a source for LED’s I don’t exactly have one. I have been ordering them off Amazon for the last year now mainly making sure that they have the same Red and Blue wires as shown in the video. Its a bit of a gamble as some of the ones I have purchased have had a blueish hue to them some times but for the most part I have been pretty lucky. Always get the color as warm white and you generally should be good.
www.amazon.com/ZZHOB-Pre-Wired-Pre-soldered-Resistor-Connector/dp/B0993TJBP7/ref=pd_aw_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0?pd_rd_w=g7EfM&content-id=amzn1.sym.7335cc90-0588-4dac-bfef-0bcc5bc215ab%3Aamzn1.symc.ae52853f-a23a-4ed5-9a04-13eb114ad53a&pf_rd_p=7335cc90-0588-4dac-bfef-0bcc5bc215ab&pf_rd_r=2FN6J1YEZKJGD5Q4NPR2&pd_rd_wg=aLpyR&pd_rd_r=01e91845-bb64-4b4f-b298-9c087980a692&pd_rd_i=B0993TJBP7 This would be the style I would order. I can’t remember for sure if this is the seller but the pictures look familiar to me.
Great Informative Videography and Presentation how to’s why’s and wherefores. Question where did you obtain the mountain Pennsylvania hillside backdrop’s??
Thank you! All of my backdrops are from Trackside Scenery and are from their Hickory Hollow collection. tracksidesceneryshop.com/index.php?id_category=38&controller=category
Very nicely done.
Thank you!
on your step lights and various lights try the tacky glue from Microscale.
Ill have to order some of that and give it a try, thanks for the tip!
Looks Great - I am hoping to start a similar conrail project soon. I skipped through some of it and may have missed you say it, but im assuming the decoder buddy has resistors pre-wired for LED use? Are you able to selectively dim the LED's if needed so the marker lights aren't as bright as the headlights?
Thank you! Yes the decoder buddy has built in resistors for the LEDs. Also you can set the brightness on each light function differently although you will need a LokProgrammer from ESU to easily do that.
They do make a red 0402 led that you can use
The red 402 is what I use in my builds but I still have to paint the lenses red for the look when the lights are not on.
Excellent tutorial steve, I got to locate a bottle Scalecoat CR blue for some detail parts on my N scale CR locos. Must of tried 3 other brand paints and the shade wasn’t right. What’s the CA adhesive you use with the brush?
Thank you! Hopefully Scalecoat will be back soon. The CA glue I use is a brand called Hobbybond that I order off Ebay. I have been using it for a few years now and its always worked well.
Before blue devils were blue devils
Back in the good old days!!
great job but to much for me to do
Thank you! Everyone has their own level of enjoyment as far as building goes and thats one of the beauties of this hobby!