6-8005 j1e Hudson, update to TMCC modification questions

Nice engine, it was made in 1990. I have had one since new and am thinking of adding ERR. Let me know how you make out.

I already upgraded mine on this thread here: https://ogrforum.com/...ive-gets-an-overhaul

My upgrade was a bit more extensive to get the things I wanted in it. Though it might take a LOT more modifications to get a wireless drawbar on it and make it communicate with the PT tender. I honestly don't think  it's worth the trouble.

The 18056 model, made in 1997, already has a wireless drawbar.

You should be able to do the wireless IR drawbar for it.

John,

How do you think I could add a Wireless drawbar to it with the AC Commander? What do you think of putting the AC commander in it with it's sound Electronics? Will there be enough room?

Thanks everybody else for your comments.

Jerry

You're trying to put everything in the locomotive?  That may be tight, I have no idea if it'll fit.  You can probably fit the AC Commander in there, it's a similar size as the LCRU.

Hi john,

My next question was going to be if it could fit a beer cooler in it but only one that held 12 16 oz bottles. Much thanks for your info

Best,jerry 

Keep in mind though that there's a big fat weight in the 18005 loco model where the command equipped Hudsons like the 18056 had the LCRU (look on my topic to see what I mean). I don't know if removing that weight affects the locomotive's pulling power, but I kept mine in there just in case.

Thanks  for all the replies. Much appreciate

Jerry

You can add distributed weight if you need it, obviously if the spot for the electronics has a weight in it, you have to do something.

There's also that issue of finding a way to mount the antenna in the locomotive. This locomotive doesn't use the cotter pin method to mount the handrails. It uses solid metal stanchions. The TMCC Hudsons used plastic stanchions to use the handrails as the antennae.

When I was faced with the antenna issue, I found some plastic stanchions and replaced the metal ones.  I also made the handrail out of nickel wire so I could solder to it inside the shell.  Where it passed through the boiler shell, I used clear heatshrink to insulate it.  I had to slightly enlarge the hole for the antenna to enter the shell.