Is the Sunset SP Mikado a must have engine?

Frank, I have one, and you are correct, it is a great looking loco.  But it was made before 3rd Rail was putting TMCC into their locos.  So, I sent it to TAS to have TMCC installed.  Unfortunately, Mike Reagan (was still there then) said he would have to use an external antenna so mounted one in a trailing boxcar for me.  Unfortunately, it never picked up the signal well so would not respond to my CAB.  Later I spoke with Mike after he was with Lionel and he suggested tightening the screw where the antenna wire is attached to the  board, which I did.  It now runs better, but still with an external antenna.

I've not gotten around to it, but plan to write Scott Mann to see what I would have to do to use the tender truck wheels as the antenna connection like he is now doing.

Bottom line, if you don't run TMCC, it is a great loco.

Peter,

For the price, it will fit the bill, so to say. I believe it is a MK-6 by the engine number. I know where there is one NIB and it is tempting! The tmcc is nice but I can run dc then decide if I want tmcc installed. I would like to get a model of most of the engines SP had in steam. I am trying to decide if the AC-9 SS is coming out with will have  place on the roster.

Frank

It was a nice piece, but they forgot the boiler taper.  The Hodges trailing truck and tail beam were done for the 3- rail crowd, so one cannot complain about inaccuracies there.

For most 2- railers, the underlying shape can be slightly inaccurate, so long as all the little details are sort of attached.  Not me - I can add left- off parts, but am not happy with having to re- boiler a finished locomotive model.

Most of the time TMCC is added to a steam engine, the tender body is insulated from the frame and the body becomes the antenna.

Can that be done with this loco?

Audidriven,

UUUMMMMM maybe, what are you in the hunt for?? 2-10-4,2-10-2,AC-4,5,12????

Let me know by email---  fgroza@msn.com

Frank

Roy,

Without seeing the tender, anything is possible, by using nylon washers, bolts or some sort of insulating material. i would think the tender would work as a antenna, not sure of the range it would give for reception.

Frank

Email sent Frank.

I converted a SS UP Mikado to TMCC using Electric RR Co Cruise and Railsounds Commanders.  It was sorta like building a ship in a bottle getting the electronics and speaker into the vandy tender from the rear  -- the only way to gain access to the tender on this model.

Used the original SS speaker which is mounted vetically at the front of the tender under the coal load.  Drilled a few holes under the tender deck to let out some sound.  Can't see them when the engine and tender are connected because I also close coupled them. 

Mounted the ERR boards on the original SS internal speaker mount which runs the lenth of the tender inside bottom. 

Got some plastic stanchions used to isolate the antennas on several Lionel engines  from Lionel and used them to isolate the brass handhold rods on the tender sides and attached the antenna to them.  Works great.  No signal problems. 

Did simulated 4 chuffs/revoltution by mounting 2 magnets on a tender wheel and using a reed switch -- both from ERR.

Used the original Sluethe smoke unit and attached it to the ERR board.  I think i may have also used the reed switch in the smoke unit circuit along with a resistor to simulate chuffing on this conversion.  Can't remember for sure and ain't gonna pull it apart to check.  But, anyway I've had moderate success with this.  Nothing like the puffing with an engine with this feature.

All in all it's a nice running and sounding engine.  But, it was the hardest of the 10 to 15 TMCC conversions I did before converting from 3RS to 2 Rail O Scale on my home layout.  

Hope this helps.

I have a wonderful Williams AC-12 that I got off liveauctioneers for 300.  It came loaded with ERR and RS.  Runs great.  I found as Roy mentioned the tender was used as an antenna.  The frame was insulated from the body just using black tape.  Though it smokes like a beast I'd like to someday convert it to synchronize the smoke with the chuffing. 

Austin Bill, I'm glad to hear everything fits even though I know it's very tight.  I'll have to build up some courage before tackling that one. Which sound chip did you use?  I always wonder what engines would be candidates for the Generic Steam chip versus the Northern or Atlantic chips, other than what the name suggests.   

audidriven

It's been a while but I'm pretty sure I used the Atlantic sound chip as I felt it might be appropriate for a smaller engine like a mike. The whistle sounds like it fits a smaller engine.  Since I don't have any recordings of the whistle for the prototype I have no idea if it is even close. 

I'm most pleased with the insulated tender handrails solution using the Lionel plastic stanchions for the TMCC antenna.  Rather than having to isolate the tender body and drawbar. 

Are you using the TMCC on your 2- rail setup?