Mikado 4501 posted:This is a pretty in depth topic with a lot of different great ideas to take note of. I'm in the process of purchasing an Kenner-Parker era F-3 that could benefit greatly from this same kind of treatment.
I converted my childhood LTI Santa Fe freight ABBA F3s to AC Commander from a mechanical E-unit. The great thing is the inside of the bottom of the fuel tank is flat, since there is not battery holder. The ERR board installed with no drilling using one of the screw holes in the bottom of the fuel tank. There was even a spot for the Program/Run switch behind the front motor (originally there for the horn on/off switch if the frame was forca dummy A unit).
I didn't add Railsounds to the A unit as I already had the Railsounds 2 B unit for the set. I ended up adding a LCRX to the B unit to make it TMCC controlled. Even though it was originally conventional the board and sound chip were TMCC compatible. So it now has TMCC control of revs as well as brake and coupler release sounds.
If you'd like I can post pictures of the upgrade.
