Anyone think PS3 would fit in a 0-4-0 docksider and have a reasonable DCS file?

I would say no I don't believe the boards would all fit unless you added a tender and a draw bar but would take a lot of work. so I doubt it could be done for a reasonable amount.

Alan

Would an ERR mini commander fit? Is Scott making mini commanders?

Alan Mancus posted:

I would say no I don't believe the boards would all fit unless you added a tender and a draw bar but would take a lot of work. so I doubt it could be done for a reasonable amount.

Alan

Alan, 

I‘M going to have it repainted like a Pearl Harbor docksider I found online. So, no tender. It’d have to be a boxcar. Minimal wiring for the motor, the headlights and maybe a front coupler. 

One of the last projects Jeff did before he shuttered  JDS was to put PS3 into an 0-4-0 Docksider. It was quite a project, requiring the shell to be ground out a bit. I believe he used HO boards and smoke unit. I don’t know who he did it for, but yes, it can be, and has been done.

The ERR Mini-Commander II and the ERR RailSounds Commander should fit, that gives you command capability. I'd probably

I haven't looked at the HO PS/3 boards, but those might make PS/3 fit into that little guy.  That would be a bit of work as there are no wiring harnesses and the tiny 1mm pitch connectors are somewhat a PITA to work with if you're hand wiring things.

FWIW, that little locomotive is fairly heavy, so it would be interesting to see if the PS/3 HO hardware has the stones to actually do the job.

Marty, this is a project to which I gave much thought.  I concluded that the PS3 S-gauge board, which apparently is only used in the O-gauge 44-ton GE, will fit in place of the existing board.  I reached this conclusion my measuring the boards on each of these locos, both of which I have.  I eventually decided not to proceed with the project, because I didn't want to spend the dollars.  Not only the price of the board, but also having to replace the couplers.  Plus the fact that the docksider, with its grooved wheels, is noisy and really has little pulling power to tackle my grades. 

BUT, please make your own conclusions about whether the PS3 board will fit.  I could have erred.

I have heard that the HO PS3 boards have a 1-amp capacity.  My running tests showed that under certain conditions, the Docksider can pull more than one amp.

If you stall the Docksider, it'll pull way more than an amp!  The power handling was my reservation about the HO board.

RJR, GRJ

Thanks for the input. Once I get a 0-4-0 docksider, I'll play. Bummer that is noisy and doesn't pull well. Fortunately, I found these

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum....php?1,179624,179734

http://www.pacificng.com/imgli...n.php?g2_itemId=6366

haven't seen anything close to it in O. I have something closer in N, but....

My real goal is a Pearl Harbor Navy Yard Steamer that is as close to a prototype as possible.

Marty

The corrugated wheels make it a pretty noisy runner, but mine will pull around 8-10 modern boxcars up a 2% grade, so it's probably pulling enough for an 0-4-0 switch engine.   Mine has TMCC but no sound, never got around to doing an upgrade for everything.

Marty, since you apparently don't have a Docksider, I'm attaching some pix.  The one with the ruler is of the board in a 44-ton.  The others are of the inside of the docksider.

GRJ, do you have any definite data on the ampacity of the HO board, which I assume would also need an external rectifier?

It would be interesting to know why the 44T's board has never appeared in anything else?????

I have found some submini speakers which would easily fit. 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The corrugated wheels make it a pretty noisy runner, but mine will pull around 8-10 modern boxcars up a 2% grade, so it's probably pulling enough for an 0-4-0 switch engine.   Mine has TMCC but no sound, never got around to doing an upgrade for everything.

That might be all I need. I'll just want to pull a few Pearl Harbor 19th century boxcars over at Nj Hi-Railers. I imagine my biggest issue will be getting through turnouts.

The Dockmaster is very sensitive to power gaps in the outside rails.  I have used mine deadheading  to test the layout, and found some locations where a jumper across the outside rails is needed.

Please keep us posted on your progress on upgrading a docksider to DCS

RJR posted:

The Dockmaster is very sensitive to power gaps in the outside rails.  I have used mine deadheading  to test the layout, and found some locations where a jumper across the outside rails is needed.

Please keep us posted on your progress on upgrading a docksider to DCS

Thanks

will do, if I do. TMCC might be the way to go. I might need a few leads to powered trucks on a boxcar. Thanks

Doubt the need for leads.  My layout is Gargraves switches, O72 & 100"  The docksider rollers never lose contact with center rail. 

Maybe MTH could be pressed to produce this loco in PS3 if enough persons express interest.  They have the castings, etc., for the locos and the boards, so investment should be minimal

I dusted off my MTH 0-4-0 Docksider and gave it a spin.  Still runs, still makes considerable track noise.

Mine retained the fan driven smoke.  However, since the Mini Commander II I used didn't have the current capability to turn it on/off, I have a little module in there that turns off the smoke when the locomotive stops.  I also gave it electrocouplers, so it's a pretty handy little switcher.  I hooked my Trackman 2000 cleaning car and four boxcars to it, it had no problem pulling those around and even backing them up.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I dusted off my MTH 0-4-0 Docksider and gave it a spin.  Still runs, still makes considerable track noise.

Mine retained the fan driven smoke.  However, since the Mini Commander II I used didn't have the current capability to turn it on/off, I have a little module in there that turns off the smoke when the locomotive stops.  I also gave it electrocouplers, so it's a pretty handy little switcher.  I hooked my Trackman 2000 cleaning car and four boxcars to it, it had no problem pulling those around and even backing them up.

John

Maybe I can pick your brain, when I find the right steamer. Looking at the 3rd rail site, I thought the options were smoke OR couplers. I don’t need a detailed description, just that the mini II can do both. 

The MC-II can't do both, my smoke is controlled by the physical switch and my automatic shutoff when the locomotive stops.