Old Minitrix F9

[BCR751]

I have an old Minitrix F9 that I have painted and detailed to represent a Via Rail FP9.  I would like to run it on my "in progress" layout which is DCC.  Problem is, the old Trix unit has a terrible mechanism and it's just not worth it to upgrade it to DCC.

Does the Trix F9 shell fit on any of the more modern F-unit frames that are, or could be made, DCC ready?

Doug

[mathi]

Hi Doug!

Minitrix used this mechanism in many german locos so it is very common to put decoders in tose old goodies. If you are skilled in hardwiring decoders and some minor milling (by handtools) it won't be a great deal.
In my opinion this will make your minitrix a nice DCC runner. I can give you lots of pictured links if you like to.

Regards
Mathi

[pnolan48]

This is the heavy, brass-geared rocket with huge flanges? It will pull very well, and last forever.

I loved it in 1977 or so, when it cost $10. Not so much today.

I've found that I can fit nearly any F shell onto nearly any F mechanism with a bit of fiddling. Sometimes I have to grind a bit; at others I need styrene pads between the shell and the mechanism. This also goes for E, FA and PA shells on their respective mechanisms. But I've never had a snap-off, snap-on event between makers.

I haven't tried a modern F shell, such as IM, onto the old mechanism because there was no point. But I have fitted Bachman F-7s onto Lifelike GP-20s, although the 1-foot difference in wheelbase was a problem. My Minitrix shell, IIRC, was larger (wider) than others.

The Minitrix shell always looked too tall to me, so I never paid attention to it once I went to DCC.