Base 3 Modifications

Wow 500 bucks and your going to tear it apart? Lol! Why buy it?

@RickO posted:

Wow 500 bucks and your going to tear it apart? Lol! Why buy it?

The spirit of tinkering!*

_{*(and subsequent swearing as you break something and have to figure out how to put it back together again)}

@RickO posted:

Wow 500 bucks and your going to tear it apart? Lol! Why buy it?

To put his BASE 3 in a more appeasing case. That's one of the many beauty's of this hobby, taking a stock product and making it your own!

@H1000 posted:

To put his BASE 3 in a more appeasing case. That's one of the many beauty's of this hobby, taking a stock product and making it your own!

Yes, but ...

I don't recall anyone ever putting their energy into transformers, command control housings, or Lionel or MTH power supplies.

Locomotives, rolling stock, signals, operating accessories, structures, bridges, track, turnouts, yes.  Power and control, no.

Except for the ZW-D, of course, which was done as a prototype by Lionel itself:

     Lionel ZW-D (2/17/18) | George S

     Lot #104 Lionel ZW-D Transformer Preproduction Model (12/9/17) | Julien's Auctions

Mike

Have at it.  It's your money .

It'd be going under the layout always so looks aren't an issue for me.

If I ever get a BASE3, it'll just go where the Legacy command base is now...  I don't worry a lot about the cosmetics of one little box on the panel there.

Well Mike, just because we have never heard of anyone else doing it doesn't mean the OP can't!  He's allowed to expend his energy in whatever and however he wants.

I wish him the best of luck and look forward to seeing what he comes up with!

@H1000 posted:

Well Mike, just because we have never heard of anyone else doing it doesn't mean the OP can't!  He's allowed to expend his energy in whatever and however he wants.

I wish him the best of luck and look forward to seeing what he comes up with!

Agreed.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

... the ZW-D, of course, which was done as a prototype by Lionel itself:

     Lot #104 Lionel ZW-D Transformer Preproduction Model (12/9/17) | Julien's Auctions

Mike

Mike thanks for the links to info about the ZW-D "Yard Boss" prototypes on the Julien's Auctions site.  Pretty cool looking design.  I especially like the big buttons.  I guess the lack of portability was likely why it wasn't mass produced.

FWIW, There are a few other interesting Lionel prototypes from Neil's collection pictured on the Julien's Auctions site as well.   Thanks for sharing those.

Regarding the original question of creating an alternate Base 3 case and fitting the electronics inside it, I would say it's possible, if one were so inclined.

@Steve H,

I'm encouraged by @SirCaptain's enthusiasm in planning his proposed modifications with the Base 3.

He may not go as far as Lionel did with the ZW-D, or the other Lionel prototypes we saw in the Neil Young auction, but I like his urge to push things.

Sometimes they just need to be pushed.

Mike 

@SirCaptain measure up the guts and send me a drawing of the innards. I'll give it a shot. I modified the cab of my brand new little 0-6-0T. The glossy vinyl wasn't my taste so I printed a solid wall. Much more my style. I plan to do the same to my new RS3's at some point.