After my 1st attempt was eaten by the forum software here goes my 2nd attempt at what is not so much a guide, rather a log of how I did it. This is the engine:
I had to make a choice, before starting it all: Do a repeat of my Airwire conversions on my Bachmann Rail Truck and Davenport engines, using the Airwire Convrtr and a DCC decoder, or use the Airwire G3 wireless decoder and a sound card. Using an A meter, batteries and crocodile clips to power the track I tested the power consumption. Pulling two heavily loaded wagons up my 4% incline I measured almost 3A on take off and 2A continuous @ 24V. This is borderline for the Convrtr, so I decided on the G3 and a Massoth eMotion S sound decoder. The G3 was bought from Reindeer Pass, the Massoth and matching speaker from a German online dealer, who loaded the sound at no charge. Postage was negligible, as my mother happened to travel and brought it all with her.
As the range of my Convrtr setups with internal aerial is pitiful (about 2m) I decided to get the external antenna.
Right after all the decisions were taken Tam Valley released their large scale receiver, which would have given me another option.
All hand rails were removed to avoid damage. Instructions for removing the body were found in this very useful topic in the Massoth forum. This is what it looks like naked:
After taking pictures of the wiring connections for future reference I removed the circuit board, unscrewed the bottom plates from the bogies and removed the skates. The wheel pickups rest on the ball bearings, so there is no friction and I left them in. I also disconnected all the wires from the bogies, completely removing the black track wires.
Since I can`t take measurements under the body to find out how much room I have got I wanted to remove the cab. The Massoth forum instructions didn`t tell me how to do that and it`s not obvious, but I did get it apart in the end. Here is how: first, you have to remove the cab interior. Insert a screw driver into the slots (red arrows) and prise the body shell out. You can then pull the interior out. There are two lugs that engage with the body where the red circles are.
The cab is held by 2 obvious lugs on each end and two not so obvious hooks at the bottom. (yellow arrows and circles)
The speaker goes into the bottom of the fuel tank and I found 4 plastic screws to hold it in. After that the tank can be reattached.
The Massoth I attached with one screw where the original circuit board was and it rests on another lug, so is supported at both ends. This may have to move later, if I install a smoke stack.
I had to make a choice, before starting it all: Do a repeat of my Airwire conversions on my Bachmann Rail Truck and Davenport engines, using the Airwire Convrtr and a DCC decoder, or use the Airwire G3 wireless decoder and a sound card. Using an A meter, batteries and crocodile clips to power the track I tested the power consumption. Pulling two heavily loaded wagons up my 4% incline I measured almost 3A on take off and 2A continuous @ 24V. This is borderline for the Convrtr, so I decided on the G3 and a Massoth eMotion S sound decoder. The G3 was bought from Reindeer Pass, the Massoth and matching speaker from a German online dealer, who loaded the sound at no charge. Postage was negligible, as my mother happened to travel and brought it all with her.
As the range of my Convrtr setups with internal aerial is pitiful (about 2m) I decided to get the external antenna.
Right after all the decisions were taken Tam Valley released their large scale receiver, which would have given me another option.
All hand rails were removed to avoid damage. Instructions for removing the body were found in this very useful topic in the Massoth forum. This is what it looks like naked:
After taking pictures of the wiring connections for future reference I removed the circuit board, unscrewed the bottom plates from the bogies and removed the skates. The wheel pickups rest on the ball bearings, so there is no friction and I left them in. I also disconnected all the wires from the bogies, completely removing the black track wires.
Since I can`t take measurements under the body to find out how much room I have got I wanted to remove the cab. The Massoth forum instructions didn`t tell me how to do that and it`s not obvious, but I did get it apart in the end. Here is how: first, you have to remove the cab interior. Insert a screw driver into the slots (red arrows) and prise the body shell out. You can then pull the interior out. There are two lugs that engage with the body where the red circles are.
The cab is held by 2 obvious lugs on each end and two not so obvious hooks at the bottom. (yellow arrows and circles)
The speaker goes into the bottom of the fuel tank and I found 4 plastic screws to hold it in. After that the tank can be reattached.
The Massoth I attached with one screw where the original circuit board was and it rests on another lug, so is supported at both ends. This may have to move later, if I install a smoke stack.
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Bummer, I wonder whether I have made a mistake and the G3 is fried...