First Super-Chuffer install that really needed the smaller Super-Chuffer II board.

Very nice John 😎

I just installed the II in a lionmaster Challenger, it was the equivalent of putting a VW 1600 DP from a bus and put it in a Cadillac DeVille!

I suspect the Challenger had a bit more room for it.  

Nice work John , I love the new smaller foot print super chuffer. Pretty much fits anywhere. 

Alex 

Thanks Alex, I had my doubts when I opened this one up, but that little sucker is in there.

John 

When I get 2-8-0 s or Atlantics for upgrades , I  cringe  Lol 😂 

Alex 

How do the LionChief Plus smoke units perform? What value resistor did you use?  I have one that I pan to use in a Camelback upgrade and am concerned with the high temp and plastic body of the smoke unit.

Thanks

-Jim

The LC+ smoke unit is actually working pretty well, produces a nice quantity of smoke.  I use a couple pairs of series diodes to slightly drop the voltage and I'm using the stock 16 ohm resistor, it actually tests out as a 17 ohm resistor.  The big sin is not keeping the smoke unit wet if you're using it, when they get dry, they get hot!

Noted on this as I have basically the same engine missing all its electronics! Will need to keep this in mind!

Well, if you have a clean slate, you can go either way, DCS or TMCC.  If the Odyssey board wasn't there, I could have put the MTH smoke unit in this one, all the DCS electronics goes in the tender for DCS upgrades.  For this upgrade, I had to work with the remaining space as I wasn't changing the control system.

Very cool John.

So if all the electronics have been removed except the motor, would I still use the Cruise commander M?

Dennis, you'd need the full Cruise Commander if you remove everything.  You'll also need the RailSounds Commander if you want sound.

If you run TMCC and DCS, the DCS upgrade for steam ends up being cheaper than the TMCC if you want all the features of chuffing smoke, etc.  The DCS upgrade kit for $200 or so has all of that.  For TMCC, after you do the CC and RS Commander, you have to add the Super-Chuffer and Chuff-Generator (or equivalent).  In either update possibility, you'll have to change out the mechanical for a fan driven unit if you want command controlled smoke and synchronized chuffing.

Dennis Holler posted:

So if all the electronics have been removed except the motor, would I still use the Cruise commander M?

Hey Dennis,

If you removed all of the electronics, and only have the wiring and motors, the cruise m is NOT for you. The Cruise M is a drop in replacement for engines already equipt with TMCC. You should look into the Cruise Commander and a matching sound board. Or a DC Commander if you don't want cruise but I wouldn't, go for the Cruise.

Edit: John beat me to the punch 😁😁

Ok, thanks guys.  I didn't do the removing, just bought it cheap that way.  I'll open it up and make sure nothing was left lol.

I've picked up some stuff that way.  I figure any MTH PS/1 unit I get is a stripped unit as I don't run conventional.

Hello everyone, I am wanting to add fan driven smoke in my k-line tmcc full-scale Hudson. What part's are needed and where can I find them? Also would like the to be able to hit Aux-9 (smoke boost) on cab1 at idle for effect. 

Funny you should ask.  I just finished a K-Line Hudson, and I'm working on a K-Line K-4 now.  I use the MTH smoke unit, and for TMCC I change the resistors for one 20 ohm resistor.  I create a mount using 1/16" fiberglass sheet, it's quite strong.  I boost the stack up slightly with a large washer for spacing.  Here's the mod in pictures, note that I had to shave the post of the smoke unit for the screw head.

Obviously, for great looking smoke control, I recommend the Super-Chuffer, but I guess I'm kinda' prejudiced.

This is a PS/2 upgrade, but the mounting of the smoke unit is identical for TMCC or PS/2.  The great part about most of the scale K-Line with the mechanical smoke unit is the mount is the same for all of them.

BTW, here's the Hudson I did on the rollers after sticking the boiler on, but I didn't have the pilot wheels on yet.  This was the TMCC upgrade with the same smoke unit and mounting technique.

that's really nice work John!

Thanks, it took several for me to work out the best scheme for K-Line stuff.  I done probably a dozen or so smoke upgrades, finally decided to make a few of the mounting plates so I didn't have to design them for each upgrade.