Cheap Berkshires

[davefoxx]

Bob and Phill,

Thanks for your quick replies.  Just as I figured, the installation of a decoder in a Berkshire is completely out of my league, considering it requires the complete disassembly of a steam locomotive.  Phill, the following warning included in your online installation instructions answered my question very succinctly: "LifeLike's 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive is a good looking locomotive and runs well on DC. However, it is one of the most difficult to convert to DCC. Do not attempt this conversion unless you have a great deal of experience in converting steam locomotives to DCC. You must totally disassemble the drive train and gearing to get to the bottom motor brush, which is necessary for connecting the decoder."

Well, the good news is that I just saved myself more than $100.00 by not purchasing (and destroying) a locomotive and decoder.  ;D

Thanks again,
Dave

[UP_Phill]

Dave, for the price of shipping (prob around $15.00) and decoder, I'd be more than happy to install one for you. Total time taken would be around 3 weeks. Send me an email or PM if you like.

[Day One]

My plan is to install a couple SoundTraxx Micro-Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders in mine. I'm a bit of a glutton for punishment when it comes to this kind of stuff. I've only got 2 steamers and they both have sound. The Athearn Challenger and then a LL 2-8-8-2 that I put a Loksound Micro into. I'm interested to see the difference in sound between the Lok and Tsunami decoders. I've heard a Tsunami in an HO steamer and was pretty impressed so hopefully the results will be similar with these Berks. I'll be using the #826002 Medium Steam version.

I'll take pics as I go along and will eventually post the results up w/ some sort of write up and maybe a youtube video of the results.

[Day One]

received my berks today!  ;D

One looks and runs fine...the other has no left side driving rods anywhere in the package and the front of the smoke box was loose in the packaging. Also, the loco was crammed in the insert upside down. I've emailed mb klein but tis friday on memorial day weekend and then I leave town on tuesday for a couple weeks so this could be a long drawn out replacement process.

Nuts...

On a side note, since the front of the smokebox was off I could see that it is indeed a LED light which from what I have read indicates that these are not from the first run. This is good! I believe they added all wheel tender pickup to the 2nd run so that should make installing the sound decoders a bit easier and more wheels picking up juice is always a good thing.

[Chris333]

I got my ConCor tender trucks for mine. Thanks Victor!

Got my chunk of 3/8" dia solid tungsten rod from E-bay... Ready to wear the bearings through. 

[victor miranda]

Hi chris,

plan on making siderod crankpinbearing bushings.....

it is pretty easy.
easier than making traction tire grooves anyway.

gonna post photos of your latest creation?

victor

[Mark5]

Walthers could get a lot more dough outta me if they'd make the VGN berks like they did in HO ...