After starring at a ERR MiniCommander II setting on my workbench for over a year, I decided to crack open my K-Line Plymouth Switcher last November and install it. I've done a number of TMCC upgrades and knew this would be a challenge. I promised myself I would only work on it one to two hours at a time. I did have trouble fitting the front headlight LED in and spent longer than I should have one evening. The kids heard things coming from the basement they ought not have heard. The simple recipe for this is the MiniCommander II, some parts from Boxcar Bill, (couplers, wiring harness, etc.), LED's, a little ingenuity, and a whole lot of patience. I was able to install a flashing LED on the cab roof as the bd. I used was from a Trackmobile and has the embedded feature of a strobe. I don't know if the stock bd. from ERR has this. The switcher comes with a power distribution bd. which I cut traces and rerouted power to the lantern lamps through diodes used to control directional lighting on the stock loco. This was done to reduce voltage to the lamps to extend their life and reduce heat. The smoke unit is operating, but only through the On/Off switch with track power. At 18V it fills the basement with smoke in five minutes. The antenna is a piece of fine wire extending from the cab to the bell. I need to work on getting that as straight as possible and then tack it to the bell. I figured I have close to 40 hours into this and as I told a good friend, I wouldn't do this again for even the closest of family and friend, but I'll be happy to share my experiences. Sorry if the video quality is not to good.
I am always wishing they would make a smaller board with cruise. What were it's limits?
