My Fiddletown and Copperopolis loco has gone DCC

[Chris Wright]

I bought the new F&C loco and coaches at the Ilton show and it ran well straight out of the box on DC.  I had already bought a Digitrax DZ125 decoder ready for it.  The decoder fitting was reasonably easy with the decoder mounted on the side of the motor in the cab below the window level.  (This is similar to the way it is shown for other locos on the Minitrains website).  The method of disassembly for this loco is to be in the 009 News I believe, but was pretty straightforward after carefully flexing the footplate that bridges cab to tender out of its mountings. 

There are 2 very fine wires from the pickups running forward in grooves in the boiler weight to the constant brightness (CB) unit mounted in the smokebox.  These had to be removed from the CB board and the front light wires (blue and white) from the decoder fed through from the cab along these grooves and soldered onto the CB board.  It looked all pretty straightforward except that the decoder wires were too thick to go down the fine grooves in the boiler weight and the very fine original wires were not long enough to reach back to the cab!  So I had to grind the grooves in the weight out a little bit wider with a cutting disk in the Dremel to allow the decoder wires through without fouling the clips where the boiler clips to the chassis.  Once this was done, it all went back together easily.  The decoder light wires power the original CB unit perfectly without any resistors and of course the headlight now only comes on when running forward as it should.  As a matter of interest, on my particular loco the headlight was not glued to the smokebox and was a bit wobbly, so I took the opportunity to superglue it from inside before refitting the smokebox front.  Watch out for the very fine wires to the light, they are very easy to break from the CB board while it is out for soldering.

The loco runs really beautifully on DCC and the light (now switchable) is a nice golden colour like an old oil light would be.  This is a really great loco.  Minitrains have a winner here.

Chris Wright

[petersmith1942]

Chris
I agree all your comments. I have used a TCS Z2 decoder positioned as yours. Must admit I chickened out re the front light. Might now think again on the next one especially as no resistor needed. Everything is straightforward except pressing the body back on to the chassis. I dont like forcing anything but it will be easier next time
I have managed to get a DCC Concepts TS4SAP with stay alive into a Krauss which now has a US Porter body (3D by Koala Creek) and its performance is great
The Minitrains are excellent and I hope the range will grow
Are you using it in its US guise?
Peter Smith

[Chris Wright]

Yes, I am modelling Colorado mining in HOn30 based loosely on the Gilpin.  No Shays of course and curves are too tight to even think about a Joe Works one, fortunately for my wallet.  But based on this new F & C loco, I have now renamed Central City as Fiddletown, because the lettering on the loco and coaches was just too good to ignore.  I hope Minitrains bring out more in this line.  Some boxcars would be nice.
Chris Wright

[invercloy]

Chris, don't suppose you'd be prepared to do a photo illustrated article for the 009 News on your DCC conversion, would you?
If you're interested please get in touch via contents@009society.com

Thanks,
Tom

[petersmith1942]

Chris
Andreas Schoenfeld has posted some pics of forthcoming freight stock including boxcars on the HOn30 Yahoo group
Peter Smith

[Chris Wright]

What is the url for the HOn30 Yahoo group?
Chris

[petersmith1942]

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/HOn30/info. Its members only but easy to join
Peter Smith

[Retiarius]

The lamp is an oil lamp, so surely it should be set to be non-directional?

[Chris Wright]

I don't think a front light would be lit if the Loco was running tender first,
Rgds Chris

[Retiarius]

I don't think a front light would be lit if the Loco was running tender first,
Rgds Chris

Not if its a long trip tender first but it would be unprototypical for it to be blinking on and off whilst shunting etc.

[Chris Wright]

That's one of the benefits of DCC, you can switch it on or off as needed.
Chris