Hi!

Since we had some recent discussions about DC to AC digital conversion, here is my latest project: A Bachmann three truck Shay. The pick-up is under the tender, the decoder is an Uhlenbrock 76500 which is small enough to fit in the housing. The loco has a lot of really good detail. All metal, directional lights, lighted firebox. However, I had to do some modifications to the trucks to make is run on M-track. However, now the running characteristics are very good: prototypically slow at max. speed, very smooth and quiet.

I am quite happy with the loco and conversion




This picture shows the fine detail of this loco, the gear drive with moving pistons an control rods.




This picture shows the Shay pulling a Roco Ep. I lumber car up a grade. All six axles are powered, but no traction tyres.



Hans

Hi Hans,

A very impressive work!!! Compliments!!!
Best regards

Stefano

GREAT WORK - congratulations [:p]!!!

John

Thanks everybody for their kind remarks.

Pierre: The loco was a fine runner on Atlas DC standard curved track.
To make it run reliably on M-track I had to modify several things including grinding off some truck detail:

1) The trucks were tightly seated in their bearings, limiting easy rotation. After some widening, polishing and oiling of the truck eye, the trucks now rotate freely.
2) The draw bar between the loco and the tender was too short, again not allowing not enough movement. I fashioned a longer (2mm) draw bar from copper wire. I also added a piece of black shrink tubing to the cardan axle to prevent its slipping out of the holder.
3) The frame of the each truck had a detail (about a mm thick)that touched a center contact in the switches causing a short. I had to grind down that detail, painted the surface black and added clear laquer for added insulation.
4) Because of the small RP 25 wheel diameter, the switches have to be fitted with an elongated counter rail. I use brass strips about 6 cm long.

I was able to buy the loco new at a local train show at a substantial discount.

Hope it helps. Hans

Very interesting topic, it's not really my style models but still...
Would it be possible to post some pics of the bottom of this loco? I would love seeing how it looks.

Nicely done, Hans.
Congratulations.
Pierre.

???

John

Nico, it was a question since I had always thought when digitalizing an analog AC loco (id est: fitting with an decoder) same loco would become an digital AC loco ... [:I] Please tell me why she isn't AC anymore, then ?

Many thanks
John

Many thanks, Nico - now I see the picture ! And I'll try to avoid wrong termini technici in the future ...

Best Regards
John

This forum is just great - almost every day I can learn something new

Hi!
Were currently out of town.

Stephen:
The loco has still its DC motor.

The loco was originally a DC analog loco. DC is often synomymously used for 2-rail operation since no major system uses AC power with two rails. Conversely, since there is no major model train system that uses three rails with DC power but AC power, AC is synonymously used for 3-rail operation.

So the loco was DC (two rail) analog. Thanks to modern decoders and adding a pick-up, the loco can now operate as a 3-rail or AC analog loco. In addition, it can now also operate digitally.

Nico: I believe, I used the terms correctly: I converted a DC analog loco to AC digital or to spell it out: A DC two rail analog loco converted into a AC three rail analog and digital operating loco. However, my defintion is based on the operation modus while yours is based on the electrical wave form.

I am participating in forums for many years. One thing I learned, was to use my wording carefully and to the best of my knowledge, but especially not to use absolutisms or to sound patronising to participants. If I were to point out an error, I would do so respectfully, because if I found out one thing: there always will be someone in that forum who would come up with an example, a definition or explanation to proof me wrong.

Hans Dietrich