LifeLike SW1200 - Suggestions for DCC/Sound “Tender”

[peteski]

Both Kato and Atlas make the type of truck (don't recall its name) which would be prototypically correct for your slug.
I prefer Kato trucks to Atlas because Kato wheels are either made from nickel-silver, or have very thick plating.  The newer ones also have low flanges, narrower tread, and more prototypical profile.  The most important thing is that they seem to be more reliable in conducting current from the track.

Atlas wheels are made of brass with thin nickel-silver(?) plating which wears off rather quickly, and then the wheels need frequent cleaning to reliably pick up power from the track.


Kato wheels on the left, Atlas on the rigth (Kato wheels are brand new,  Atlas - lightly used).


Used Atlas wheelsets (replaced with Katos).  You can clearly see the brass color on the threads after the plating wore off.

[nkalanaga]

Dwight:  That looks like one of the old Atlas-Roco trucks from the late 70s.  The few I bought didn't roll, and didn't run much better.

[Dwight in Toronto]

Ok Pete, I’m convinced re: the Kato trucks.   I assume that these will be available through the spare parts website if/as/when it’s back up and available. 

Nkalanaga - you’re probably right re: the “vintage” of those trucks (and it’s good to know what the shell & wheels came from). 
This project started out as a “what-the-heck, give ‘er a shot” experiment using no-cost scraps from the parts box.   Those crappy trucks served to prove the concept, and I can now spend a bit of money on selective improvement!

[Dwight in Toronto]

Just a wee bit of progress to share on this project. 

I managed to affix a Microtrains coupler to the front of the slug.  As part of that upgrade, I cut, filed and shaped several small pieces of styrene to fabricate a “shroud” surrounding the coupler in the front-end pilot area (not sure about the proper terminology - anyone?).  You would have to scroll back a pic or two to see how improper it looked prior to this small, but significant addition. 

Still holding off installing side grab irons, pending delivery of “CN Switcher” decals - its been one month since my LHS ordered them.  Hopefully this week, fingers crossed. 

Oh, one more thing - I ended up removing all the wipers from the high friction trucks on the slug.  It is now incredibly free-rolling.   The downside in doing so is that I forfeited all that extra track power pickup.  But on the upside, it has not been the least bit detrimental.  That little LifeLike SW1200 has been effortlessly, and reliably, hauling at least 12 freight cars (plus the slug) without any decoder drop-out whatsoever. 

[Dwight in Toronto]

I got tired of waiting for the slug decals to arrive, so I cobbled together a few handrails/grabs, put the consist on my 16’ test oval, and made a short YouTube video. 

Note that the lower headlamp that illuminates in reverse is as red as red can be IRL, but it appears washed out in the video.  Also, there is a slight wobble in the slug, so I will be revisiting those crappy trucks yet again (these will have to do until I can source a pair of Kato trucks). 

So, for the time being I think that I can pretty much call this one done.  It’s been a challenging, rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable couple of months pulling this one together, and it’s satisfying to be able to say that my entire N scale roster is now exclusively equipped with ESU LokSound.

Thanks to all for watching and contributing. 

(and here’s hoping the video works - as far as both YouTube and video attachments go, this is a first for me!)

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[Dwight in Toronto]

I finally applied decals to my N scale slug project, so thought I’d share the final result by way of a 3 minute YouTube “reveal”:

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Little side story:
My LHS had ordered the decals for me over two months ago.  I checked in with them several times to no avail, so ordered directly from Microsoft and received the packet within a week. 

The day after I put them on, the shop called saying “your decals are in”.  I value having this sizeable, well-stocked brick-&-mortar “trains hangout” pretty much in my backyard (one of only two big shops left in the greater Toronto area), so didn’t want to stiff them. 

I paid the $9.00, and didn’t even look at the packet ‘til I got home.   When I did, turns out it was the wrong decal set - they had ordered ‘modern diesel’ artwork instead of the old ‘CN switcher’ set that I needed.  It was just as well that I sourced the material on my own, otherwise I’d STILL be waiting!

[Steveruger45]

Impressive Dwight, nicely done.

[tehachapifan]

Looks and sounds great!

What did you use to film those videos? The clarity and depth of field is amazing!

Also, which sound file is that?

[Dwight in Toronto]

Looks and sounds great!

What did you use to film those videos? The clarity and depth of field is amazing!

Also, which sound file is that?

Thanks for having a look, and also for the comments. 

All I have for making videos is a 3 year old iPad.  The sound file is S0829 (“recorded from an EMD SW1200”).

[peteski]

That's pretty good Dwight!

[Dwight in Toronto]

That's pretty good Dwight!

Thanks for having a look. 

[carlso]

Very nice Dwight ! !

I especially like the way you posed it on the turntable, you easily showed several sides.

Carl

[Dwight in Toronto]

I had erroneously stated that, with the completion of this slug project, my entire N scale roster had now been equipped with ESU LokSound decoders.  I had completely overlooked this little guy - a Dapol Terrier that I had picked up on one of our trips to Scotland.

I’ve seen tutorials on how to carry out dcc installs on these, but no examples with sound.  I could probably equip it with dcc, but the only way that I could tackle sound would be to do something along the lines of the slug project.  That is, a  sound car of some sort, permanently tethered behind it.  Hmmm - something to think about!

https://youtube.com/shorts/k6dawsUueB8?feature=share

[peteski]

I also have that Terrier.
Purchased when they were first released several years ago. I managed to jam a Digitrax DZ124 decoder in the cab at that time, but it was not an easy install.  There is absolutely no room for a speaker in there without removing the weights, as most space in that minuscule loco is filled with what looks like tungsten weights.  With a short wheel base and relatively lightweight loco, electric pickup is also a problem.  I agree that a sound decoder/speaker would have to be housed in a permanently coupled piece of rolling stock.  Even better if that piece of rolling stock also provided electric pickup.

I did a write-up of my DCC install, but I think it was back in the Atlas forum days (before I joined this forum).

[craigolio1]

Fantastic project Dwight! It’s really turned out nicely. Interesting how the red light becomes not red in videos. I’ve suffered the same. So I totally believe your light is red!

Craig.