Magnetic MU cables & Lionel GP30 Kadee Redesign

Nice mods, Mario.

Looks even better than your original design. I usually trim the ears off anyway and only use the middle screw holes. Unless of course I'm limited for space.

Thanks, guys!

Keep a weather eye open for what's coming next... Magnetic MU cable ends!  Here's a mock up (I haven't received my magnet order yet).

I recently saw the video about the HO guys doing this, and though again... Why are we doing this? O is the King of Scales. So I drew some up and printed them as a test. 

The roundness of the plastic print smoothed the edges for me, so I didn't have to try and did that in the drawing. There's a 2mm x 0.030" deep hole in the connector end, as I ordered 2mm diameter x 1mm (0.039") thick neodymium magnets.  The other end has a hole, as well. 

The HO video...

They have them for N, too, but not O... Yet.

Mario it looks good. Definitely an improvement. Just in time for me to start ordering some more. I was watching the video and noticed that they also had air hoses. That defiantly would be great in O!   

I'm working on it...

Fantastic MU cable and connector ends!

I want some of those mounts Mario! Still have not had time to work on my GP30 yet think these would save me a lot of time to go with the pilot spacers you designed

Magnets arrived today. 

Air hoses coming soon!

As LOS had mentioned, I guess the ends are metal and most aren't painted. So...

Also drilled out the Kadee lift pin and inserted an eye bolt and attached it to the coupler cut bar. 

CentralFan1976 posted:

Also drilled out the Kadee lift pin and inserted an eye bolt and attached it to the coupler cut bar. 

Nice work on the MU cable   Great detailing on the lift pin and cut bar.  

That is a beautiful conversion and so prototypical!

I finally got PSC early EMD MU stands and added them to my GP20. 

Hi Mario

    I am interested also. Do you have any plans for air hoses? Nice work.

Ray Marion

Ray Marion posted:

Hi Mario

    I am interested also. Do you have any plans for air hoses? Nice work.

 

Ray Marion

Hey, Ray!

its been too long!

i do have plans for the air hoses, as well. 

Stay tuned!

Great idea!  Why is it that magnets are just as fascinating today as they were when I was 5?

I played with them recently and created a magnetic tether between loco and tender that ties all roller pickups together.  Probably not the safest of electrical circuits but the smooth operation over switches and quick connection outweighs the consequences.  Crude as it is, some improvement in soldering and well placed, colored shrink tube could duplicate the connectors you've created, without the need for a 3D printer.

A LionMaster Pennsy T1 that embarrassed itself on every #5 switch became a docile and obedient giant with the engine to tender electrical connection. 

BTW, when you solder a wire to a small magnet there is almost a total loss of magnetism.  I simply added another live magnet to the dead one and covered both with shrink tube, flush with the magnet end.  Note the tender connector isn't as neat as the engine connector....a case of improved assembly skill in relatively little time.

Bruce