Last week, I installed a decoder in my Roundhouse 2-6-0 Mogul. The installation, actually went allot smoother than I had expected. Really, I didn't even have to raise the coal load as many do. The room is kinda tight, and even tho I didn't have to raise it, I did want a little more room as to not crowd the decoder against the motor. Many know that this is a Tender install, because on the 2-6-0, and 2-8-0 Roundhouse/Athearn locomotives, the motor drive is located in the tender. This is just a little experiment I am trying out to allow a bit more room, and flexibility in that space, and as a side effect theroetically should allow air circulation around the decoder to aid in keeping it running cooler. 1st, I will explain my theroy as to what I am doing. I cut the coal out of the cover of the tender. Then, what I want to try is to take a small piece of nylon stocking, or spandex (in the pictures, it is nylon stocking). Color it black with dye, or even permanent marker in this case. Glue the nylon on the inside edges of the cut out opening. When the glue is dry, you basically have a flexible, nylon insert where the coal used to be. Then, using white glue, glue black dyed kitty litter sifted to the size you want to use, over the flexible nylon. I have used kitty litter, dyed black, and other colors to use as coal, rock, or anything like that I want it to be. When the cover is put back on, the load is as flexible as you want it to be to stretch over the decoder and wires, not causing them to be smashed and conformed into place. This coal load will also allow air to circulate in and around the decoder and motor as well helping keep things from over heating, especially in a cramped location. Here are a few pictures I have taken so far to see if this is going to work as I hope. This is the tender top with the coal cut out. This is the top, and piece of nylon stocking (the wife is gonna kill me when she finds her stockings) This is the nylon cover in place, it is not glued in yet. This is in place. Notice the decoder you can see through it. The kitty litter coal is not in place yet, and the nylon is still not glued yet. I just wanted to get an idea how this will look. I will make the nylon a bit tighter so it doesn't look too overloaded.
This next picture is a coal car I did some time ago, using kitty litter coal load. I just added this picture to give you an idea what a kitty litter coal looks like. But the tender will have a load similar to this.
I have a feeling that if you survive your wife's loss of her stockings, this might turn out pretty nice..Me?? I would not dare try it......
The secret to survival is, when you see the wife putting on her stockings. Simply walk past and bump her "accidently" knocking her into her dressing table. Then gasp, say your sorry, and point down and say "Im sorry honey, you must have snagged your stockings on the dressing table..." Results may vary...
Updated pictures Here are a couple updated pictures. This one, the nylon is glued in place. It should be sinched up some, but it isn't real critical. here it is with Kitty litter white glued in. I deluted the white glue some to thin it. But you dont want it too thin. You want it to have a consistancy that doesn't flow around like water, but enough to spread evenly to get hold of the litter, and stay in place. I ussally dye kitty litter with an acrylic black/water wash before applying it, but this time, I didn't. It really isn't that important when you dye it. This is it dyed with a black/water wash. It is still wet when this picture was taken. But when it dries, it will have an inconsistant gloss to flat finish, just a real coal does. This will also stiffen up, but will remain flexible. The flex is good, because it will allow the decoder to take as much room as it needs to without crushing it into place. The coal load will raise some as it covers over the hump of wires/decoder. When this dries, I will take another picture of it actually on the tender.
Ok.. You tell me.. Did it work or not? I think it did... I think I might find me an N scale cat, and set her up on the coal load, just as a bit of "tounge in cheek" humor...
YEs, I totally agree, it worked, and much much better than I would have thought or expected....good job...
That's certainly one good way to deal with the decoder installation. Your resulting coal load looks way more realistic to me than any of the pre-molded plastic ones I have seen. Nice work!
That is the reason I do coal with kitty litter, because I have always hated the plastic molded loads like that. They all just seem way too "perfect" unlike a real pile of rock or coal would be. I like the inconsistancy, and the fact that no two loads will ever look alike.
that really looks good. looks very realistic. very good job, might have to borrow that idea for my 2-6-0. thanks
Great work Tudor! Another superb tutorial... now where is Flash at to add this to the "How To" section... -Mike
Looks good, I wouldn't have thought of it. Only problem is I'm single and don't own a cat, getting the kitty litter should be easy but I don't think the store clerk will believe what I want the stockings for.:tb-biggrin:
Oh that's easy! After 3... 1, 2 ,3 Let's do the Time Warp again! Let's do the Time Warp again! :tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin:
Tudor, Any chance you have a link to some of these pictures? It's a great idea, that should be a permanent part of TB. Thanks Marty
