LL C424 and ATLASC420

[trainforfun]

Hi guys
a while ago I was looking for Life Like ( LL ) C424 parts ( that I had modified for hardwire DCC ) , mainly to replace a truck that melted on a turnout because of a very small short circuit , yes the breaker never tripped , this has been repaired since then but not the trucks unfortunately ...
Then a couple of months ago I saw a sale ( last one on the shelf ) in my LHS of a brand new Canadian Pacific in script lettering , so I decided to buy it for my missing truck and other parts that I may use in the future .
Shortly after my friend Eric suggest I should use a sound ATLAS mechanism under the LL body and he told me there was a sale for an ATLAS C420 gold and he also told me the prototype had the same prime mover ( sound ) , the body lenght was about the same but the trucks were closer by about 2 feet , or about a scale 4 mm.
I decided to jump in and thought I could live with a small difference like that , the only point was will the body be the same width and lenght .
I had to order a new fuel tank and trucks sides in black from ATLAS to replace the grey one coming with the C420 ( D&H )
So shortly after it arrives , I tried it and to my surprise it fit but it was very , very tight !!! Yeah !!!!!!

I had to add a light pipe for the front headlight because the nose of a C420 is longer than a C424 .
I also modify the fuel tank , because CP had like 2 half drums on each side of the big square fuel tank . The 2 air tanks were also on the right side and none on the left side .
I also ordered wall mounted bell from Miniature by ERIC ( not installed yet )  to be installed on the right side as per pictures .
There is a picture of the ATLAS/LL C424 unit compared to my other LL C424 .

The sound of the ATLAS unit is great , a real ALCO sound , I am now thinking of modifying the other one to get rid of the LL mechanism , which is good , but impossible to find parts when in problem .

The ATLAS unit have now solid wires to bring current to half bodies instead of copper strip , I think it's a good move from them , because it never loose contact , a frequent problem with copper strip , never good for a sound unit as it have to reload everytime .

Pictures to follow !!!

[trainforfun]

This is the ATLAS C420
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ATLAS mechanism DCC sound


LL C424 with wrong fuel tanks

[trainforfun]

Difference of trucks spacing , CP red is LL mechanism , CP script is ATLAS mechanism



Modification of the fuel tanks and air tanks :

[trainforfun]

Painted fuel and air tanks :

[trainforfun]

I also modified the tanks on the LL C424 :

[Pomperaugrr]

Beautiful work sir!   

[trainforfun]

Beautiful work sir!   

This is Eric ( the "devil" ) who made me bought the ATLAS C420 DCC sound unit , I will be gratefull to him forever !!!!!
Thanks my friend .

[peteski]

Were nice retrofit job!  And sound too!

However (from experience) I disagree about the wired trucks.  If the strips are clean, polished  and properly tensioned, the are dead reliable.  Wires OTOH do, and will eventually break, especially when the are used between constantly shifting items, like yhr truck and a chassis. It is also slightly easier to disassemble the wire-free mechanism. IMO, changing strips to wires was an unnecessary "improvement".

[mandealco]

Nice result Louis.  The prototypes of the C-420 and C-424 sound quite different, though they both sound great.  The C-420 has a V-12 251, while the C-425 has a V-16.  Easy to live with the difference and some C-424s were re-engined with 12 cylinder prime movers.
Cheers
Steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Were nice retrofit job!  And sound too!

However (from experience) I disagree about the wired trucks.  If the strips are clean, polished  and properly tensioned, the are dead reliable.  Wires OTOH do, and will eventually break, especially when the are used between constantly shifting items, like yhr truck and a chassis. It is also slightly easier to disassemble the wire-free mechanism. IMO, changing strips to wires was an unnecessary "improvement".

Yeah, but that's a lot of "ifs".

In service, I'll take my chances with the wires.

Also, @trainforfun , this is excellent, and a fantastic way to ensure that Atlas will soon release the C424 with a new sound equipped mech. Thanks for taking one for the team bro! 

[peteski]

Yeah, but that's a lot of "ifs".

In service, I'll take my chances with the wires.

We have to agree to disagree again.
In my 40+ years of "playing" with model trains, taking many of them apart to be serviced, wires to me always spell "failure" at some point.  There is nothing "if" about it.  It is a guarantee. Especially if no strain relief is used where the insulated wire is stripped and crimped/soldered.

[trainforfun]

Also, @trainforfun , this is excellent, and a fantastic way to ensure that Atlas will soon release the C424 with a new sound equipped mech. Thanks for taking one for the team bro! 

I did that thinking of all of you ....
ATLAS bought the LL lines so it's possible they will do it one day !
Hope not before a couple of years !!!

[PRSL66]

 :)Great work, might try this myself!!

[Pomperaugrr]

This is Eric ( the "devil" ) who made me bought the ATLAS C420 DCC sound unit , I will be gratefull to him forever !!!!!
Thanks my friend .

I would say, I provided "encouragement."  You did all the work with the modification!

Eric

[BCR 570]

As my esteemed friend from NZ mentions, there is a difference in original prime mover sounds, and ESU provides sound files for both.  I have a C-420 sound file in my C-420, a C-424 file in my CN C-424, and C-425 files in my four C-425s.

If the correct wire is used and the connections are sound, wire pick-ups will be fine.  My three RS-3s with wire pick-up have performed brilliantly and require no maintenance.  I cannot say that for the wipers on the C-425s as they require occasional cleaning and tweaking to maintain sufficient pressure.  I will be converting them to wire pick-up at some point, and all future additions to the fleet will have the same.

Tim