K-Line Plymouth Switcher

There was a post last week about adding TMCC or DCS to a plymouth and I believe Gunrunner John replied that he installed a mini commander in a plymouth

Joe, 

Thanks for the information. I found the post, https://ogrforum.com/t...mouth-upgrade-advice

I guess I should of searched the forum before posting, my bad. 

Chris

Before you do expensive custom mods on it, suggest you run it for a while to determine if it has good electrical pickup all around your layout. Some of the 4-wheel locos are prone to stalling on switches, especially if they have traction tires. Some 4-wheel locos do better on layouts without switches.

Ace posted:

Before you do expensive custom mods on it, suggest you run it for a while to determine if it has good electrical pickup all around your layout. Some of the 4-wheel locos are prone to stalling on switches, especially if they have traction tires. Some 4-wheel locos do better on layouts without switches.

Ace,

I do agree with what you are saying, but currently in the process of planning my layout. I just saw this little guy and thought it would be great to add a tmcc board inside. 

Chris 

I have installed a mini commander 2 in a K Line Plymouth.  Takes a bit of patience and some cutting of the plastic engine control  console.  Basically cutting it in half and re-assembling it to fit in what space is left after the ERR installation.  I got the Mini2 with the smoke option from ERR.  Added the backup light with a diode on one of the motor terminals.  If you're good at working in tight spaces, go for it.  It really works well when it's done and programmed up.  Unfortunately I didn't take any photos when I did the installation.  

Like the Plymouths; let us know how the conversion works out. I've put a (Cruise) Commander (no sound) in a cramped Lionel 0-4-0 slope back tender, but never a little motorized unit. The electrical pickup issue is a real one, but some don't have it by happy coincidence of design/track. With only 4 wheels and some insulating traction tires, the issue is almost as often a "common" issue as much as a center-rail "hot" issue - sometimes both! 

The die-cast shell and antenna installation/grounding may also be a challenge. A tether/permanent "tender" car with a pickup roller can solve both issues.

Still, go for it; if the ERR installation doesn't work here, you can put it in something else (voice of experience).

Patrick1544 posted:

I have installed a mini commander 2 in a K Line Plymouth.  Takes a bit of patience and some cutting of the plastic engine control  console.  Basically cutting it in half and re-assembling it to fit in what space is left after the ERR installation.  I got the Mini2 with the smoke option from ERR.  Added the backup light with a diode on one of the motor terminals.  If you're good at working in tight spaces, go for it.  It really works well when it's done and programmed up.  Unfortunately I didn't take any photos when I did the installation.  

Patrick, 

Thanks for sharing your experience in installing the mini commander into the plymouth. I don't know if I am good at working in tight spaces, but I am willing to give it a try. 

Chris 

D500 posted:

Like the Plymouths; let us know how the conversion works out. I've put a (Cruise) Commander (no sound) in a cramped Lionel 0-4-0 slope back tender, but never a little motorized unit. The electrical pickup issue is a real one, but some don't have it by happy coincidence of design/track. With only 4 wheels and some insulating traction tires, the issue is almost as often a "common" issue as much as a center-rail "hot" issue - sometimes both! 

The die-cast shell and antenna installation/grounding may also be a challenge. A tether/permanent "tender" car with a pickup roller can solve both issues.

Still, go for it; if the ERR installation doesn't work here, you can put it in something else (voice of experience).

Yes, when I saw it today at the show I thought it was pretty cool little switcher and instantly thought about putting a tmcc board inside. I have to agree that the electrical issue will be a problem and I am think of adding two connections the front and the back of the tender in order to tether it to a custom car that I can build. 

Chris 

Here's a post of mine from a while back.

https://ogrforum.com/t...-switcher-now-w-tmcc

Like Patrick said, you need a lot of patience. I found it best to break it up into many small tasks. The bd. I used was from a trackmobile which is a Mini Commander 2 feature set with a strobe. I purchased all the extras from Boxcar Bill who unfortunately is no longer with us. Good Luck! Also, the mini commander 2 is on sale now for $35.

How come you didn't put sound in it?