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I scored a C&O Yellowbelly Hudson in great cosmetic condition.  While it did run in command, it wasn't really what I'd call a good runner.  Time for some improvements.

First step, send it off to Pat @harmonyards for a Pittman motor transplant.  I also picked up the Vision Line Hudson cab interior to dress up the large empty hole in the cab, these models had no cab details!  Pat did a great job of installing the Pittman with a real driveshaft, the cab interior was fit perfectly in place, and he even cleaned up the wheels on the scale pilot to look more like the prototype.  WOW, really looking good!

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Got it back and Started the electronics, lighting, and smoke unit upgrades.  First up, I mounted the smoke unit and the ERR Cruise Commander to make sure they'd fit inside the shell.  After some tweaking and trimming of internal stubs in the shell, all was well.

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That out of the way, I started wiring up the lighting in the shell.  A total of 19 LED's are used for all the lighting, (1)Headlight, (2)Number boards, (6)Ground lights, (2)Cab Lights, (4)Flickering Firebox, (4)Lighted gauges.  All of the wiring terminates in an 8-pin connector for connecting to the chassis.  This makes it a breeze to take this one apart, three screws and one plug!  I bench tested all the lighting to make sure everything was wired right to the connector.

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For the curious, here's the wiring diagram for the shell lighting.

Yellowbelly Locomotive Shell Wiring

Then it was on to the chassis wiring, everything fit pretty easily this time, not like some upgrades I've done.  Not shown is the IR sender on the drawbar, I added that after the picture.  This will use the totally wireless IR link between the locomotive and tender.  Naturally, this upgrade includes the Chuff-Generator and Super-Chuffer II, gotta' have good looking smoke!

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Here's the fully finished locomotive, note the headlight, number boards, and ground lights are all on here.

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A better view of the ground lights illuminating the drivers.  These are automatically controlled and will go off at around 10 scale MPH.

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The cab view, note the lighted gauges and the flickering firebox with multiple colors.  Of course, the cab lights are also on as we're stopped, they go off when we start to move.  Finally note the purple glow on the drawbar, that's the IR sender for the tender serial data stream.

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None of my steam conversions are complete without good looking fan driven smoke!

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Next installment, on to the tender.  I'm busy mounting axle wiper strips, pickup rollers, and the electrocoupler.  Then I'll move on to the internal electronics.

*** to be continued ***

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  • 611B0021-64D0-46CE-A9F1-2E231A547C97
  • 993F62A0-5C99-4BE3-93E2-EE3C240BAE05
  • 9595420A-D08D-48A8-8851-2734CA6E59DA
  • 20230101_175219
  • 20230105_105839
  • Yellowbelly Locomotive Shell Wiring
  • 20230107_105134
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Last edited by gunrunnerjohn
Original Post

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Thanks guys.  I probably made this more work than necessary going with the IR link, now I have to add power to the tender.  Got the wheel wipers done, now I have to rig the pickup rollers.  Then I can actually move forward with the actual electronic installation in the tender.

This looks great, John! You and Pat make a fantastic team. What cars are you going to pull with it?

I have eight C&O passenger cars, that'll be it's first task.

@ScottM posted:

Great project! I have the same engine, so this is very inspirational!

I will be following this thread closely.

I hope someone gets some value from the thread!   It is moving along, just working out a couple of wiring issues before sticking the stuff in the tender.  Powering the tender was a bit tedious, but that's done now.  I attached the wires to the trucks, so they're ready to go back on when I have the tender stuff mounted.

I hope someone gets some value from the thread!   It is moving along, just working out a couple of wiring issues before sticking the stuff in the tender.  Powering the tender was a bit tedious, but that's done now.  I attached the wires to the trucks, so they're ready to go back on when I have the tender stuff mounted.

Thanks John and Pat!

And yes, I get value from this!

Great work.

@harmonyards posted:

I should’ve centerdrilled the driver axles, and colored the axles to match the drivers,…just like the pilot truck!….…..shame on me!…..I left details on the table!…..there won’t be a next time!….always look for constant improvements,….😉

Pat

Pat,

I am missing the implications in center drilling the drivers. I get the color difference s but please help those of us in the learning mode to understand what you wish you had done. Thanks in advance.

@hokie71 posted:

Pat,

I am missing the implications in center drilling the drivers. I get the color difference s but please help those of us in the learning mode to understand what you wish you had done. Thanks in advance.

I think Pat was referring to the how the prototype looks...



Note: image is linked, not uploaded.

NOTE FROM PUBLISHER...the image was showing here so it was deleted because of potential copyright issue

Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER
@hokie71 posted:

Pat,

I am missing the implications in center drilling the drivers. I get the color difference s but please help those of us in the learning mode to understand what you wish you had done. Thanks in advance.

Ryan’s answer is spot on, if you look at the pic he posted, you’ll see the centering hole in the middle of each driver …….this is how the real railroads machine these giant parts.,…

Pat

John, this is terrific and I can't wait to see the completed version with a awesome video pulling those passenger cars. I feel like u and Pat thought of everything that could be possibly done to upgrade this (with the minor exceptions previously noted).

Upgrading some semi-older stuff to today's styling always gets my attention and envy.

Will u have it ready for Trainstock?

@zhubl posted:

Maybe I missed it but out of curiosity what’s controlling the ground lights?

The Chuff-Generator has an optional output to control the ground lights.  Most people have never used it, but I've done them on a number of upgrades.

John, the cars you have for this are not the Lionel ones are they? I think you had said something about them elsewhere but can't remember if that was on Pat's post on this.

I have some K-Line heavyweights and a couple of MTH ones as well.

Will u have it ready for Trainstock?

Sadly, I won't make Trainstock this time.  I did a number on my back, and sitting in a car for at least several hours as a stretch is quite painful.  I'm hoping to beat it into submission and be back at it soon.

The Chuff-Generator has an optional output to control the ground lights.  Most people have never used it, but I've done them on a number of upgrades.

I have some K-Line heavyweights and a couple of MTH ones as well.

Sadly, I won't make Trainstock this time.  I did a number on my back, and sitting in a car for at least several hours as a stretch is quite painful.  I'm hoping to beat it into submission and be back at it soon.

Nice work, gentlemen.  An excellent model of a gorgeous Hudson.

Thanks!

- Mario

PS; I'm glad to fall outside of "most" people.  Inspection lights are one of my favorite details of my CV.

Beautiful work, John.

Relating my basic upgrade experience with this engine.  The job really progresses with ease when the subject has interior space galore, fore and aft. Along with the CV, they're a relief from squeezing guts into switchers.

Your lighting adds an overwhelming improvement compared to the basic factory headlight.  What a great collaboration between both of you....and...as a showcase vehicle for your products, ideal! 

Bruce

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