@Lou1985 posted:If I didn't already have the model and the electronics I probably wouldn't have done the project. The cost is probably close to buying an already done modern locomotive, if buying everything now.
Anyone can go out and buy a command diesel....
Knowing that you created a command diesel from parts and pieces?????
Priceless! 👍👍
@RSJB18 posted:Anyone can go out and buy a command diesel....
Knowing that you created a command diesel from parts and pieces?????
Priceless! 👍👍
Excellent point, Bob!!
@Mark Boyce posted:Excellent point, Bob!!
Coming from the guy who put a mini-commander and railsounds in a BEEP.......yea 
Thanks Mark
@randr posted:I'm a glutton for punishment!
That does look like a challenge! 😊
@RSJB18 posted:Anyone can go out and buy a command diesel....
Knowing that you created a command diesel from parts and pieces?????
Priceless! 👍👍
Honestly it's one of several such steam and diesel locomotives in my collection, so it's not all that unique.
Amazing how little time I seem to now have after picking a retirement date and going on 3 months of vacation. Not sure where all the time is going. This project is quite literally what is on the workbench. All the work, assembly and painting was done in my garage. Its only on the workbench to support it prior to hanging on the wall. Finally a place to have trains out of boxes where my grand kids, visitors and family can see the rolling stock - me too BTW.
Not happy at all with the primer and the paint not sticking well to the primer coat. I think it will be quicker and easier to rebuild the entire thing than re-prime and re-paint. I'll hang this and live with it for a while before deciding on the next step. Overall dimensions are 10 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 4 inches deep. Wood is decent 1x4 pine stock. Spacing between shelves is 5 1/2 inches. I milled track grooves to allow the flanges to ride into the shelves. 80 linear feet of display - now to put rolling stock and engines up there.
@ScoutingDad posted:Amazing how little time I seem to now have after picking a retirement date and going on 3 months of vacation. Not sure where all the time is going. This project is quite literally what is on the workbench. All the work, assembly and painting was done in my garage. Its only on the workbench to support it prior to hanging on the wall. Finally a place to have trains out of boxes where my grand kids, visitors and family can see the rolling stock - me too BTW.
Not happy at all with the primer and the paint not sticking well to the primer coat. I think it will be quicker and easier to rebuild the entire thing than re-prime and re-paint. I'll hang this and live with it for a while before deciding on the next step. Overall dimensions are 10 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 4 inches deep. Wood is decent 1x4 pine stock. Spacing between shelves is 5 1/2 inches. I milled track grooves to allow the flanges to ride into the shelves. 80 linear feet of display - now to put rolling stock and engines up there.
Is your disappointment in the paint b/c you can see the wood grain?
Also, do your vertical pieces coincide with your studs?
Building a Labelle Observation. Woodwork is about done. Now to add the details.
Pete
@Berkshire President The supports are lined up with the studs so I will be fixing them into a solid base.
Regarding the paint. It is similar to trying to paint over an existing high gloss finish or putting oil base over water base. The coating looks great going on, but the surface tension is such that the paint pulls away from the surface leaving gaps in the coating. Second coat does the same thing. I think the water based coating was not compatible with the base.
Looks ok on the photo but not so much close up. Really, with the shelves loaded with cars, only I would know its there.
I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.
I pulled the "more complete" unit out of the box last night to take a closer look at what I have/ need.
The haves- motors, wiring harnesses, lights, etc. I tested the motors and both work.
The needs- boards, speaker, new BCR, smoke unit (optional)
This engine is a PS2- 3V so at least I'm starting off on the right foot. I'm OK with keeping it PS2, especially since PS3 diesel kits are MIA. If I can find the boards, it should go together pretty quickly since all the wiring harnesses are there.
This engine started life as a SOO, it has been sold to the Lehigh and New England 
As fate would have it, Beth at Public Delivery recently announced a L&NE custom RS3, which is on pre-order.....
The other engine is a New York Central. This one is just a frame and shell. I picked up a pair of motors from a forum member. Since this is a ground up build, I'll go with ERR Cruise M boards and add my own lighting.
And now the adventure begins..... 
Bob
We will look forward to seeing your progress, Bob!
@Mark Boyce posted:We will look forward to seeing your progress, Bob!
Thanks Mark. Just like my comment about @Lou1985 's GEEP, I enjoy doing this stuff....OK call me crazy......🤪🤪
@RSJB18 posted:I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.
I pulled the "more complete" unit out of the box last night to take a closer look at what I have/ need.
The haves- motors, wiring harnesses, lights, etc. I tested the motors and both work.The needs- boards, speaker, new BCR, smoke unit (optional)
This engine is a PS2- 3V so at least I'm starting off on the right foot. I'm OK with keeping it PS2, especially since PS3 diesel kits are MIA. If I can find the boards, it should go together pretty quickly since all the wiring harnesses are there.
This engine started life as a SOO, it has been sold to the Lehigh and New England
PS32 board with 3V connectors (currently available from MTH parts) would be an almost drop in replacement. You can load it with a PS3 sound file as well for updated sounds.
@Lou1985 posted:PS32 board with 3V connectors (currently available from MTH parts) would be an almost drop in replacement. You can load it with a PS3 sound file as well for updated sounds.
Thanks Lou. I don't have a TIU, I use a remote commander. If these boards aren't programmed, I assume I will need to find a local shop/ train friend who can do it for me. Correct?
Ray's Electric train works will sell you a board and preload it with a soundfile of your choosing.
@RSJB18 posted:Thanks Lou. I don't have a TIU, I use a remote commander. If these boards aren't programmed, I assume I will need to find a local shop/ train friend who can do it for me. Correct?
MTH parts & sales will load the sound file for you if you purchase that option (~$10) when ordering.
@RSJB18 posted:I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.
And now the adventure begins.....
Bob
Bob, I presume that the work will be done at the Pen Argyl Shop. It's good to know that there are a few other L&NE fans out there! I can't wait to see progress reports.
@Rapid Transit Holmes posted:Bob, I presume that the work will be done at the Pen Argyl Shop. It's good to know that there are a few other L&NE fans out there! I can't wait to see progress reports.
As mentioned previously, this engine didn't arrive with a shell. I was looking for a suitable shell and thought the red dot in the L&NE logo would go well with the SOO chassis, and save having to repaint it. The reds are close enough for gov't work. Doing some research, the L&NE did own # 612 along with several other S2's.
Since I run north east roads, these will fit in just fine.
Thanks
For quite some time I wanted to make a chain link fence for my layout.
A few weeks ago I bought metal screen, and last week went to Hobby Lobby, bought a couple packs of 1/16" brass rods.
Cut the metal screen into 1 1/4" sections, cut the brass rods to length and height, soldered them together and painted grey. Wire tied the screen to the fence frame. Placed the fence around the motorcycle shop.
The chain link fence looks great, Trussman!!
Received the PS3/2 stacker boards and related parts from MTH yesterday. I had just ordered them on Sunday and they shipped right out. After I placed the order (boards and speaker), I realized that a new heatsink kit was required as well. I wrote to customer service and they were nice enough to waive the second shipping charge and add it to the same order.
I ordered the spec'd 40mm speaker but it doesn't fit in the fuel tank. Anyone have any suggestions?
Bob
Bob, That is certainly quick turnaround on your order from MTH!!
Added the MTH DDA40X to the roster. It came to me as a PS/1 with a dead board. Since I don't run conventional anyway, I upgraded it to Lionel Legacy. Other than the power wires from the pickups, all the wiring is hand assembled, I can tell you there's a lot of wires in a full Legacy upgrade! The shell was a bit whacked up, so those repairs came first, fixing all the mounting posts, removing several internal braces that prevented the installation, and fixing a large chip in the nose. The closest sound board I could find for Legacy was the DD35A. I reasoned that one is pretty close prime mover sounds to the DDA40X. The existing smoke units were converted to be Legacy compatible, and the spring contacts were used to supply all the new LED lighting in the shell. One interesting hitch was the narrow body had trouble fitting the Legacy encoder board on the rear motor. I rounded the corners of the board so the trucks could swivel enough to make my O72 curves without binding. This one certainly won't run on anything smaller than O72! I'd have put the motor on the front motor, but it had the same issue being in the narrow part of the body as well, so I opted for the better performance controlling the rear motor.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Added the MTH DDA40X to the roster. It came to me as a PS/1 with a dead board. Since I don't run conventional anyway, I upgraded it to Lionel Legacy. Other than the power wires from the pickups, all the wiring is hand assembled, I can tell you there's a lot of wires in a full Legacy upgrade! The shell was a bit whacked up, so those repairs came first, fixing all the ,mounting posts, removing several internal braces that prevented the installation, and fixing a large chip in the nose. The closest sound board I could find for Legacy was the DD35A. I reasoned that one is pretty close prime mover sounds to the DDA40X. The existing smoke units were converted to be Legacy compatible, and the spring contacts were used to supply all the new LED lighting in the shell. One interesting hitch was the narrow body had trouble fitting the Legacy encoder board on the rear motor. I rounded the corners of the board so the trucks could swivel enough to make my O72 curves without binding. This one certainly won't run on anything smaller than O72! I'd have put the motor on the front motor, but it had the same issue being in the narrow part of the body as well, so I opted for the better performance controlling the rear motor.
Very impressive John. Full Legacy, dual smoke units too. Can't wait to see the test runs.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Very impressive John. ..
right??
and I was happy with a little spray-can upgrade to old tobacco stained lionel buildings
(HO scale)
In the process of painting/lettering/weathering the next two in line:
The above GP7 is to become Kansas City & Gulf #402, the RS-1 will be KC&G #115.
Long process still ahead: Decals, then several layers of weathering applications to reflect a bankrupt railroad trying to reorganize, circa 1964.
Andre
@RSJB18 posted:I ordered the spec'd 40mm speaker but it doesn't fit in the fuel tank. Anyone have any suggestions?
Bob, I suspect you need a flat 4 ohm speaker, many are too tall for the skinny tank space. Here's a list of 40mm speakers, see if you find one that's thin enough to fit in the tank.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Bob, I suspect you need a flat 4 ohm speaker, many are too tall for the skinny tank space. Here's a list of 40mm speakers, see if you find one that's thin enough to fit in the tank.
I actually found a 28mm speaker that is spec'd for these units. I missed it on the parts list when I looked the first time. I measured the tank and thought the 40 would work.....oh well, it won't go to waste.
The bad part is now they are out of stock. Should have ordered it when I looked yesterday. 
This is the 40mm
@RSJB18 posted:I actually found a 28mm speaker that is spec'd for these units. I missed it on the parts list when I looked the first time. I measured the tank and thought the 40 would work.....oh well, it won't go to waste.
The bad part is now they are out of stock. Should have ordered it when I looked yesterday.
Here's a whole list of 28mm 4 ohm speakers that have a maximum seated height of 1/4".
Found another of my K-line MP-15's that had to be wired in series. A few minutes on the bench and it's all good now.
Bob
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Here's a whole list of 28mm 4 ohm speakers that have a maximum seated height of 1/4".
Thanks John. I've bookmarked the link.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Very impressive John. Full Legacy, dual smoke units too. Can't wait to see the test runs.
Here you go Bob, the first test run with some revenue cargo.
Certainly doesn't disappoint John.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Certainly doesn't disappoint John.
I think it's a keeper! I've done a few Legacy diesel upgrades now, I have a Rock Island E8 A-B-A set that I've converted to Legacy, the A units are powered with sound and smoke, and the B-Unit got smoke and sound to make everything look like it is working. With all three units with sound, it's an impressive sounding consist.
Is that string of tank cars the official test train?
How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃
Oh boy Alex that's a lot of NYC locos on the bench. Almost looks like Harmon Yards.
Got this from the 'bay:
It came with a horn and one power truck:
So I gutted it and replaced the lionel trucks with a match set of K Line power trucks:
Next will be command control and sound, will be using a Soundtrax Tsunami2 EMD decoder and a 50mm 8 ohm 3 watt speaker.
Should be a real workhorse when completed!
Update: Electronics installed with new LED headlight and 50mm speaker.
Test run:
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