Mini Commander 2 kit

I think all the mentioned engines are dual motor units.  If you take the motors out and use the engines as a dummy the mini 2 would work for lights and future sound if so desired.  If you want the units powered, I would use a full DC commander. You can not guarantee this engine will not be the one receiving much of the work at some point on the layout.

The DC Commander and latest ERR sound board should fit in any of those engines.  Curious on how you figure the mini 2 + sound may not fit in a GP-38-2? I do not have a Weaver engine so maybe those are different.  Most any diesel I've had apart has had plenty of room.  Gun Runner John on here fit the Cruise Lite, which is larger than the Mini 2, and the railsounds commander in to an RMT Beep. 

The Weaver GP38-2 are the older ones with 1 horizontal can motor inside the long hood and uses a chain drive system. I have ERR sound systems in 3 of my dummy engines that I MU to TMCC powered engines without sound.

The MC-II is not really suitable for that locomotive.  That chain drive takes a considerable amount of power, there's a lot of friction in the drive.  I've done a couple of them, and I had to use the full Cruise Commander in them.  Obviously, if you don't want cruise, you can use the DC Commander.

Thanks, I was trying to save a few bucks.

Wrong place to save it.

Keith

The Mini 2 will not work well in a consist, it does not do the directional lights or the horn and bell in a lash-up. John, I am not familiar with the engines he has.  Might he be able to use the Cruise Lite, I have put several of the C Lites in my double motored American Flyer PAs with no problems. Cruise is definitely an asset in any locomotive.

Ray

The O-gauge chain drive with the single motor draws too much current for either the MC-II or the CC-Lite, at least IMO.  I had a pair on the bench for upgrades and was going to use the CC-Lite.  Once I measured the current draw well over an amp unloaded on the rollers, I changed my tune.  This was after lubing everything and making sure nothing was out of whack.  Both units were similar, that leads me to believe that anything short of the full sized boards would be a mistake here.