Thoughts on Upgrading 3rd Rail Cab Forward Engine to Command Control??

Mike, have you considered the Blunami kit?  Blunami Thread

I may have to change out the board in the 3RD Rail Diesel I recently picked up at auction. I do not care for running TMCC to DCS hardware, and I prefer to use a pad to control everything as opposed to a handheld. At this point I believe the Blunami sound options are way better than either.  I tend not to use smoke, so for me the chuff / smoke timing is not an issue. Most likely I'll convert one of my 2 Weaver Brass GG1s to Blunami first. Too many projects at the moment.

GunrunnerJohn would be a good resource for ERR conversions.  jeff

Have to agree with scoutingdad, I think the Blunami product is the way of the future and I'm going to convert a loco soon.  It's much smaller, has many more options, and is less expensive than ERR or PS3.  Time will tell on reliability but it is a simpler board setup as well.

Actually PS3 is much less expensive than a Blunami 4408 which would be required in this engine plus it would give synchronized puffing smoke which you won’t get with Blunami. Remember a PS3 kit includes everything required except a smoke unit. Blunami is a la carte. ERR is the most expensive option these days.

Pete

Norton I'm seeing that a PS3 kit and a Blunami 4408 are both around $200.  But I believe you'll need some cables and other costs to program the PS3, correct?  Or am I missing something?

Mike says he has done DCS upgrades so should have the serial cable required to install the sound file. The wiring harnesses required are included with the kit as well as lighting, a speaker, and couplers.

A PS3 kit is 200 bucks. I think street price on a 4408 is a bit above that, maybe $210 if you shop around but then you need at the very least a rectifier, better with a voltage regulator plus relays to drive couplers and smoke units and the couplers, lights, and smoke units themselves.

The advantage of Blunami are myriad of sounds and for the tinkerer the ability to add features of your choosing like whistle steam, swinging bell, animated figures, and other steam effects but all those are not included in the initial price.

All depends what Mike’s goals are.

Pete

Thanks for the suggestions. My goals are basically to be able to control the engine with either Lionel tmcc or MTH DCS remotes/apps like I do with my other engines. I would like smoke to work and accurate sounds as well. Don’t need electronic coupler capability. Just curious as to what’s out there and what’s involved. Would even consider paying the right person to do it if that option exists, and I feel I’m in over my head! Thanks again, much to consider and research! Am I correct that 3rd rail does NOT offer any upgrade services or parts for upgrade? Again this is my only 3rd rail motive power at the moment.

Mike

I'd do the PS/3 upgrade in your situation, I've done quite a few TMCC and PS/2-3 upgrades for 3rd Rail steam, PS/3 will be cheaper and probably a bit easier as well.  Also, you'll be able to get more accurate Cab Forward sounds with the PS/3 upgrade, ERR has a very limited number of sound sets.  You will have to fit a smoke unit to that engine I expect, an early 3rd Rail will doubtless have a Seuthe smoke unit.

Here's how I install the MTH smoke unit in most brass steam.  The stack extension is just picked for the correct diameter for the stack and soldered to the removable brass cup on the smoke unit.  The spring is just an easy way to hold the unit in place and allow for easy removable.  To install or remove, you just screw/unscrew the brass stack extension though the stack and then you can just pluck the smoke unit out the boiler front.

I have done plenty of Brass upgrades to PS-3.  It is more delicate work because of the brass.  Normally Tender mod is pretty straight forward, but engine mounting of wire harness PCB, wire routing, tach mounting, lighting does vary.  Some have TAS smoke units and they can be modified for PS pretty easy.  I do agree it is the least expensive method to get full function DCS/DCC command operation.  G