Cost to Upgrade Protosounds 1 steamers

I've cooled somewhat on the idea of upgrades, unless you're absolutely are in love with an engine. I don't have the time to attempt upgrades myself. And if, when you're done, it doesn't work, then what? How much more time are you going to throw at it?

If I had an upgrade done, I'd have an experienced person do it (and remember that will include shipping costs in many cases). But when you run the numbers, given the cost of materials and labor, you have to start with an engine you almost got for free to make it work financially. Although I might mess with a ERR upgrade myself sometime, just to try it, I wouldn't ever attempt a PS3 upgrade. 

In most cases, I've found you're better off getting an engine in the secondary market, with everything already installed and ready to go. If it has a problem, just send it off to a qualified person to repair. That seems to be a more cost-effective choice than starting from scratch with the purchase of an engine, and then purchaseing an aftermarket command, cruise and sound system, and then paying to have it all installed.

I suggested he do exactly what you said.  Sell some of the old to fund the cost of the layout construction. 

I second this approach. Building the layout will be the focus for quite awhile. Building a layout and converting a bunch of engines seems a bit overwhelming to me.

If you go this route you might be able to get a quantity discount on the conversion costs. Also factor in shipping costs and ebay fees (sell on here first).

If you do decide to convert engines, and do it yourself, I suggest this. Pay a pro to do a diesel and a steam loc. If you like how it runs, then open it up and take lots of pictures. Try doing one yourself but first read the manual and refer to the pictures. Write down each step and make notes. Then try one and see how you like doing it.

I've done Train America Studios and ERR with cruise. The newer ERR boards are small and once you've done one, the rest aren't that hard to do. It isn't for everyone though.

GRJ, does it matter what year-make Z4000 for PS-1 operation?

Wally

Not that I know of Wally, but I only have one from around 2013.

If me, I would sell off the PS1 locos I don't want and start there.  Some actually bring good money, especially some of the more rare and big steamers.

Then I would buy kits and do my own PS3 upgrades.  Just did my first one last month on my PS1 GS4.  Super simple, just read the instructions as Marty stated.  Download the color instructions from the MTH site as it helps versus the B&W ones provided in the kit.

For the sound files buy an inexpensive laptop and your good to go.  You don't need a Corei7 with a solid state drive, high end graphics card, and 16 gigs of ram for an upgrade.

www.Modeltrainstuff.com sells the PS3 kits for 180.

I had purchased a 3rd Rail SF Class 2900 (2012) and when I put it on my layout this year, it would stop on my 072 curves.  I mistakenly thought that putting PS 3 into it, with the better cruise control, would fix my cruise issue.  It did not and, while it did not stop on curves with Proto 3, it did slow down unless I ran it faster than 30 smph.  After emailing Scott and getting good advice from Hot Water on this forum, I decided to give it up and I traded it for a 1995 Proto1 engine converted to Proto 3 (plus some $$$ to me).  It does not have the detail; however, it can pull my Super Chief 9 car consist without slowing down on curves.  I do have to have it modified to have the 6 wire connector (the 4 wire connector plus two external wires has issues on my 3 curves). 

Great topic so far. I am amazed when I read that some can do a PS-2 or PS-3 upgrade in less than 5 or 6 hours. Of the several that I have done I think my best time was about 6-1/2 hours. Mind you I don't hurry and perhaps I am a little too particular, since they are my own engines. My next one to do is another scale K-Line Berk, which makes a great little engine once converted, but takes extra time due to custom smoke unit fitting and a custom tach tape to get the speed and chuffs right.

like others here I decided which PS-1's I wanted to keep and upgraded them. Then I sold off the unconverted ones at about 30% of new cost and never looked back. That has worked well so far.

Cheers,

Rod

The last three I’ve done had miswired harnesses from the factory and required a few extra hours of troubleshooting. In all cases the miswiring damaged wither the tack board(on two PS3 diesel upgrades) or the power board (ps2 steam upgrade). I would not upgrade a fleet of locos, but only a choice few and sell off the rest