Best way(s) to 'build' a GP7/9 3 engine lash up??

Not sure what you want to do.

Do you want to create a Lionel TMCC or Legacy lash-up using 3 GP7's, or do you want to create a 3-unit GP7 locomotive consist with or without dummy unit(s)?

Woodson posted:

I want to build a 3 engine Geep lash up, with railsounds, and all the 'bells and whistles. (no pun intended).. I'm looking for recommendations on the build.. I have several MPC GP7/9s.. The easiest way appears to me to buy a lash up and add my own shells, customized or otherwise.. Is it feasible and/or cost effective to update my own stock to aforementioned railsounds etc.. Your ideas and opinions, please!! TIA 

Are you trying to do this with TMCC? I believe all that information is covered in the Lionel TMCC booklet.

Woodson posted:

I want to build a 3 engine Geep lash up, with railsounds, and all the 'bells and whistles. (no pun intended).. I'm looking for recommendations on the build.. I have several MPC GP7/9s.. The easiest way appears to me to buy a lash up and add my own shells, customized or otherwise.. Is it feasible and/or cost effective to update my own stock to aforementioned railsounds etc.. Your ideas and opinions, please!! TIA 

Woodson, like Tom am not sure what you are asking.  First off the term "lashup" was coined by Lionel decades ago for the process of electronically "connecting" multiple TMCC (and TMCC II) engines together to operate is one engine with a TMCC remote controller.  Thus all engines in the "lashup" will respond as one to the remotes commands.  When MTH came out with their DCS they continued the use of the term.

If you are just running conventionally (transformer) control you should first make sure that all the engines you want to team up run at close to the same speed and direction at a transformer settings.  Once you find engines that run close to each-other, just couple them together in any order as you desire.

Ron

Number 90 posted:

Not sure what you want to do.

Do you want to create a Lionel TMCC or Legacy lash-up using 3 GP7's, or do you want to create a 3-unit GP7 locomotive consist with or without dummy unit(s)?

 

Yes, I want to create a Lionel TMCC 'lash up' using GP7/9 units like the ones Lionel came out with..

The easiest way appears to me to buy a lash up and add my own shells, customized or otherwise.. 
Is it feasible and/or cost effective to update my own stock to aforementioned railsounds etc.. 

Well it depends on how much fidelity you really want to see. Most MPC engines had Postwar undersized fuel tanks, chincy looking air tanks and stamped metal rails. Also most MPC geeps had the pullmore motor which are more labor intensive and not as good a performer asa can motors are. The latest Legacy has all the bells and whistles you want with separate details added on. Being a Diesel detailer myself, unless the road name is a not so popular road you are better off buying new. IF you know how to detail, then by all means go for it. As you add up the costs of the brass details and the time and effort of your labor plus the cost of the electronics, you will far outspend what the mfg's produce and charge at msrp. 

Seriously, Do you want to have this much fidelity? IF is a very expensive and difficult hill to climb to achieve a look like this:

Atlas O and Lionel GP7's

Lionel Legacy GP9

If your not really into scale and just like to run your engines weather you have can motors ( which I agree are better ) or pul-mor motors you can add TMCC easy by going to electricrr.com they sell what you need. now as the previous person said if you want all the bells and whistle and are into detail and scale then you probably would do better buying new. you leave to many open questions. Like what do you have now and what do you want as a end product. 

rtraincollector posted:

If your not really into scale and just like to run your engines weather you have can motors ( which I agree are better ) or pul-mor motors you can add TMCC easy by going to electricrr.com they sell what you need. now as the previous person said if you want all the bells and whistle and are into detail and scale then you probably would do better buying new. you leave to many open questions. Like what do you have now and what do you want as a end product. 

Your ideas are more in line with what I want do.. I used "Lash up" which I know is a Lionel term, but in reality I want to build a 3 engine MU.. I realize what prrhorseshoecurve is saying, but I'm not into perfect scale modeling.. I think one of Jim Barrett's early back shop videos was about building a MU, but that was before Railsounds and TMCC.. To answer your question: I have several MPC Geeps, powered and dummies that I want MU using TMCC and Railsounds, they would function as one unit, rather than put them in boxes or giving them away.. Probably the easiest thing would be to purchase a Lionel "Lash up" and add my own shells and weathering etc.. I think a call to electricrr will be in order.. Thanks for or your input and keep it coming!! BTW, if I'm not using the correct prototypical language, please don't beat me up too badly.. I know there are many 'purists' here, but that's really not me.. That's a discussion for another time..

I know these diesels are not all Gp7/9's, but are ERR equipped diesels of different makes that will operate together.

First 2 diesels are powered with sound and the second 2 diesels are dummies with sound.

These MU'd diesels are a mix of powered with sound. dummy with sound and just dummy with no sound.

CBS072 posted:

I know these diesels are not all Gp7/9's, but are ERR equipped diesels of different makes that will operate together.

First 2 diesels are powered with sound and the second 2 diesels are dummies with sound.

These MU'd diesels are a mix of powered with sound. dummy with sound and just dummy with no sound.

Thanks for the information!! BTW, the scenery looks great too!!