Just got a MTH dummy BNSF can you install factory lights and smoke unit?

MTH makes an electrification kit with pickups, lights and cv board. You would need the one for six wheel trucks. I have done two so far; they were about $40 each. You would have to find a separate smoke unit.

          John

john, thanks.  ill have to look that up on the website.  its a kit huh?  thats nice to know i dont have to rig it all up!  why not just include the stuff???  amazes me

Chris

Hey Chris,

I have a number of MTH Premier dummy units that are lighted and have an on-off switch under the chassis, hopefully yours will also.  Can't help you out with adding smoke, I'm sure it can be done, not sure how you'd control the smoke volume?

Stack 

John H, I'm glad you asked this question as I've been wondering the same thing.  I'm also curious if there's a "kit" for adding remote-controlled "proto" couplers to MTH dummy units.

ERR makes a dummy board that can run Lionel couplers.  I haven't tried MTH couplers with the board.  It would be a TMCC engine but could be used under DCS w/a TMCC/Legacy command base.

Jim

The PS2 board doesnt have the power to run 2 smoke units. Wiring in a 2nd smoke unit would blow the circuit on the board and you'd have none.

There are smoke units that have their own control boards, whereas the PS2 board runs the smoke unit. A PS1 smoke unit is self contained and would probably be a better choice for a dummy setup, although if I remember right, PS1 units were either on, or off.

The PS2 board doesnt have the power to run 2 smoke units. Wiring in a 2nd smoke unit would blow the circuit on the board and you'd have none

How'd they  do it in the 2500 HP Transfer Diesel?

The Engine below started out as a Dummy MTH Dash-9.  I found a parts list for the powered version of the same era and ordered the pickups, smoke unit, couplers, and interior wall.  Then I installed a TMCC dummy board to control everything.  I did have to make light boxes out of styrene so the head/tail lights would not shine through the rest of the engine.  It works great with my other Modern TMCC Engines.

Chris-another thought while you're working on the dummy.  On my MTH units that I run in tandom I swap one coupler so that the exterior couplers are remote.  It's a simple process, you run a single wire through the body.  I've done it with all my cow/calf switchers.

fellas, thanks.  Bruce.  good idea with swapiing the couplers.  I can make a male female connector and be able to unhook the wire there.  great idea. 

allan.  did you just order selected parts from MTH or a dealer?  I thought I bought the same BNSF.  turns out they are 2 different engines!  the 3 photos.  the engine on the left is the dummy SD-70 MAC.  the other is a premier Dash 9. 

got the parts diagrams for the SD-70 Mac of the day.  do you have to buy the number boards or do they light up already.  looks like in my one pic that they are solid. Id have to cut them out! and the numbers are different, so i think they are going to be left behind. smoke units are 50.00.  looks like the bulbs are on harnesses for the ditch lights and the headlights and rear. 3.00 is good.  pickups are 5.00 a piece.  now a TMCC board for this application?? what will it do? operate the smoke unit?  turn lights on and off with the DCS?   thanks

Chris

Chris,

Is the SD70MAC a Premier also?

@Chris -

I ordered the parts directly from MTH.  To find the correct parts, I looked in the catalog that had the dummy engine and found the matching powered engine.  Luckily, the powered version had a parts list that I then logged into the MTH parts order form and got them, including the smoke unit.  I've attached the Dash-9 parts list I used.

As for pics of the inside, I did not take any, but it is really easy to do.  What you will need is the Mini Commander EX from Electric RR (www.electricrr.com).  The basics will be wiring the hot/common from the pickups/frame, and then running wires to the couplers, lights, and smoke.  In addition, you can get a Railsounds 4.0 Board from them and wire that in to the EX board so you have full sound.  The EX board will also let you MU your engines together.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I will be happy to answer them.

Barry brings up an interesting point that there is (at least) one MTH engine that drives more than 1 smoke unit.  If this approach applies to your engine, I'd think you could build a tether that sends the smoke, lighting, and coupler signals to the dummy without needing to add any electronics boards (or power pickups) to the dummy.

Another option is the MTH powered-slave board.  Yes, it has the electronics to drive motors which you wouldn't use, but it also has independent electronics to drive a smoke unit and lights.  It mimics the signals of the master-unit via a 10-pin tether cable including passing through the coupler signal. If nothing else you might study one of these A-A sets to see how the wiring is done in the master A to branch off the signals to send back to the slave A or dummy in your case.

Yes, they do indeed look good!  I have the RK NS SD70M-2 and have been looking for a dummy SD70ACe, but now I dont care if its a dash 9 or whatever, I think variety is better!  

I'd definitely like to see what you have done already, or at least when its finished

-Mike 

Chris, I ordered the parts online.  The system was pretty simple to use.

Sounds good Chris.

I was looking into a dummy SD70ACe last night and its around $150 before shipping. Adding that smoke unit and it not having electrocouplers (i dont think it does), it would almost make sense to buy another engine.  After seeing how much its going to cost you, has that crossed your mind?

Mike 

Mike, I thought about that very thing, dumping money into these with no power.  with DCS you can lash up engines, so that might be my thing.  I like it, but I know what you mean.  http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-2268-1  this is the powered dash 9 proto 2 engine I have.  Im going to keep looking around at shows and such also and the bay.  well see!  maybe Ill keep it and add the 3rd one!  one long a.....  train!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTH-PREMIER-BNSF-GE-DASH-9-20-2268-1-CAB-4449-DIESEL-ENGINE-PROTO-SOUNDS-2-NIB-/321095709011?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ac2cbb153   there is one on the bay here is the link, but Im not spending that much for one.  I spent under 300 for mine, used, this one is new I guess, so the price is high.  not for me right now. 

Chris

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTH-PREMIER-BNSF-SWOOSH-ES44AC-20-2822-3-CAB-7791-NON-POWERED-HARD-TO-FIND-/230938782037?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item35c5062955

old listing but this is the price with one that has the lights in it already you switch off.  no smoke.  if I do all of this, I might get some money out of it some day.

That one is not bad.  Its hard to find these engines (even though you have premier, and I RK) lower than 300, well at least it seems that way.  When you say you can do a lashup on the DCS system, what do you mean?  I know when the term "lashup" is used, its two engines together.

mike,  when you put the 2 engines on the same track hooked up, I think that you press lashup on the remote and I believe, never done it, they drive in sync and not against each other.  and I am not sure if you can do this with any diesel and not sure if you can sync a diesel and steam engine either.  I would think 2 of the same engine and you would be good to go.  let the experts explain.....  maybe a topic on the DCS section

Ahhh got it, I was wondering how that'd work Chris.  If I indeed buy another, I will post that question... or maybe before.  When are you starting on this project? (my attempt at getting your thread back to the point!)

Mike