@Hump Yard Mike posted:

I have a LGB 4075 drovers caboose that I would like to install pick ups on for lanterns.  It already has solid metal wheels, but no contacts installed.

When searching around online, I can only find references for upgrading 2 axle wagons (this caboose is 4 axles).  Has any one done this already and have pictures along with the parts needed.

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I haven't done it, but have you seen this?

LGB (and others) offers a plunger set that just attaches to the truck and rubs on the wheels to pick up power. like #63193

You attach the wires to your own circuitry.

I have done this in scratch builds.

  When I had this problem with the very same cars I balked on shelling out that money for the pickups . Instead I put in small LED'S in the lanterns and other LED'S for interior lighting. I hooked them up to a 9 volt battery case in the bathroom of the car and installed an on/off toggle switch under the car.  Those LED'S will stay lit all the way down to 4 volts.  I use the old batteries out of my smoke detectors . Storing the cars in the house during the winter these lights are still going after 3 years.

Thanks everyone for comments.  The bearing wheels look nice, but their cost is roughly the price of what I bought the car for and was hoping for a cheaper solution.

I was thinking there might be a plunger solution out there instead to use with the metal wheels that the car came with, I just had not seen it done on this type of car before.  I thought others might have a picture on how they mounted it and if there was a specific plunger model that would be needed for this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5UisXVR8oA

https://modeltrainsounds.com/project_4.htm

John

Mike,

I'm inclined to agree with Choo-Choo Mike, re batteries.  But utilizing a different arrangement.

Check out this kit from Evans Design... (Forum sponsor, BTW)

I've used an earlier version of this kit on a couple of Ambroid caboose kits in O scale.  I substituted the pre-wired Tomar LED marker lights for the Evans LED's.  Here's a couple related photos...

The Evans kit comes with a battery (2032 'coin'-type), holder, push button on/off switch.  The battery/holder is visible in the top photo, the push button switch just to its left.  The button has an extension I added to reach through the floor (you can see the black tip just below the floor at the switch).  Per communication with Evans, I could've added an additional LED to this set-up as a desk light (I was contemplating a simple single window vignette) without overly taxing the 3volt battery.

I also have an LGB 4075 Drover's Caboose, as in your photo.  It was to be part of our outdoor garden railway...which is a fast-fading project at our age!  It's never been on the rails, still has original plastic wheels.  But, I measured the opening in the base of the marker lights.  As per the LED choices Evans offers in this kit, the LGB markers should easily take a 3mm chip LED...plenty of light for those markers, IMHO.  (The Tomar markers in the photo use nano LEDs)

Since the baggage compartment doors are operable on this model, you could very easily mount the switch and the battery holder accessible behind one of the doors.  And...best of all?...you just eliminated the need to dink with power pickups from the wheels!!

BTW...as Choo-Choo Mike mentioned with his experience, my two O scale cabeese () still have the original batteries.  Of course, admittedly they have not had much run time of late.  They're both on a display track.  But I just checked them while retrieving the LGB car and they both brightly light.  Besides, if you haven't noticed at the battery kiosks in the big box stores (HD, Lowes, Menards, etc.), 2032 batteries are relatively cheap...and plentiful!

Suit yourself.  I'm a believer in the K.I.S.S. approach, which is why I'd take the batt-powered approach.

In fact, now that I have the LGB caboose in my lap as I write this, I believe I'll do just that!!  If nothing else, it should be a 'perk' when I finally part with it!

FWIW, of course.

KD

Here's an inexpensive solution done with AA batteries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQc3xDXkf0A

John

For G scale I assume the axle is metal and only one wheel is insulated in which case here is what I do on my HO 'cabeese'

I just wrap bronze wire about 3 times around the axles and run a black soldered wire into the caboose.

Some inexpensive strips of LED's that run on 12 volts can be inserted inside the caboose.

I put a 'V' bend in the wire for 'flexibility'.

Hope this 'helps'.

Joe,

You were spot on regarding the pick up mounts already being there for the plungers.  I ordered the LGB 63193 Electrical Contact Set and just used plungers from it because my model already came with the metal wheels.  

That Guy,

Wheel bearing sets were very nice.  I ordered the LGB ones for a work project and was impressed, but they were more than I wanted to spend on this project ( close to the cost of the caboose).

Samparfitt,

I was headed down the road of using your idea until I saw the plunger mounts on the trucks already.  I will probably use try this approach on a future project.

All,

Thanks for all the previous replies!  I  finally got to this project today and worked with my grade school son on it as it was his caboose he got for Christmas.  A really fun day working with him learning new skills ( wire stripping, heat shrink, resistors, rectifiers, soldering, LEDs, etc…).

Pics below.  We ended up coloring the clear lenses on the marker lights and installed LEDs for the interior and marker lights.  A little bright for me, but he really liked it that way.  The lights really seem to help it come alive!