Modifying non-powered units. Good idea or waste of money?

It's a hobby, not an investment. Go for it.

I'm not using modern electronics on a project I am completing, a Florida East Cost GP9 in red and orange.  I found an inexpensive dummy engine, and then found a power truck for it.  Took a while to figure out the proper geometry of cutting the floor of the dummy frame to take the power truck, but came out OK.  Had to get an E unit from the Train Tender, at least I think I got one from him, maybe another source.  For lights I am using LED's and built a rectifier/filter/regulator board to feed 5 volts to the LED's no matter what the track power.  Did not realize that one of the controllers I am using puts out a high freq. AC signal, so when I first hooked it up, I got full lamp brilliance with hardly any engine control AC on the line, a bonus.  Now, just have to reposition the horns, remove the dynamic brake fans and touch up the paint.  I don't do this to save a buck, I do it because I can and I enjoy doing things like this.  One fellow said this was all a waste of money, all hobbies are wastes of money in the eyes of many.  Sitting around drinking beer watching millionaires chase a ball around on TV is pretty stupid when you think about it, but for a lot of folks, that is their one and only leisure time activity.  Others may look on and enjoy your work, but you are doing it for fun, not because somebody is paying you too.

elementdude195 posted:

Hi Everyone,

I was thinking of trying to add smoke, lights, and electro couplers and maybe (prob not) adding motor power to my 2 non-powered modern diesels.

I know you can buy ERR boards and such to do this in tmcc. But I came across a better idea. I have no clue if this will work. I saw a few websites have cheap legacy powered b units with smoke and etc for under $100. If I remove the components and try to shove them into my non-powered units think that would work? Not sure if its a waste of money or if I will be destroying my non-powered units.

Thanks!

Whoa, where did you find legacy powered B units for under 100? I want in!

I was wondering exactly the same thing. 

I would say that what you are proposing is an inexpensive to get a model that you want.  You can always sell the shells of the B units that you don't want and thereby reduce the price even more.

Go for it.   

NH Joe

I have found powered Bs with full features, smoke, lights, couplers for under 100 bucks but they were Odyssey. 

Pete

I considered putting tmcc lights, couplers, etc. in dummy engines but lately Lionel is not putting the pickups on the trucks which makes the cost really high(er).

Once you add motors to the project, you are better off buying another powered unit. For me I do add the roller pick-ups, cab interior, and sound. Possibly smoke in the mth dummy units. Lionel's dummies as stated above are more challenging with adding roller pick-ups.

Thanks for the replies. I feel I need to clarify about waste of money. What I meant by that was, is there a better way of doing this task?

I feel the powered legacy B unit is pretty much all assembled with motor and all seems logical to try it this way. What I am afraid of running into is I buy the B unit and the parts don't fit inside my non-powered unit. I wanted insight from anyone who tried this to avoid a costly mistake if this for sure doesn't work from others who tried it.

I don't mind experimenting as this will be a side project for later.

Thanks for the input.