WHAT’S ON THE WORKBENCH AT THE MOMENT

The chain link fence looks great, Trussman!!

Received the PS3/2 stacker boards and related parts from MTH yesterday. I had just ordered them on Sunday and they shipped right out. After I placed the order (boards and speaker), I realized that a new heatsink kit was required as well. I wrote to customer service and they were nice enough to waive the second shipping charge and add it to the same order.

I ordered the spec'd 40mm speaker but it doesn't fit in the fuel tank. Anyone have any suggestions?

Bob

Bob, That is certainly quick turnaround on your order from MTH!!

Added the MTH DDA40X to the roster. It came to me as a PS/1 with a dead board. Since I don't run conventional anyway, I upgraded it to Lionel Legacy. Other than the power wires from the pickups, all the wiring is hand assembled, I can tell you there's a lot of wires in a full Legacy upgrade! The shell was a bit whacked up, so those repairs came first, fixing all the mounting posts, removing several internal braces that prevented the installation, and fixing a large chip in the nose. The closest sound board I could find for Legacy was the DD35A. I reasoned that one is pretty close prime mover sounds to the DDA40X. The existing smoke units were converted to be Legacy compatible, and the spring contacts were used to supply all the new LED lighting in the shell. One interesting hitch was the narrow body had trouble fitting the Legacy encoder board on the rear motor. I rounded the corners of the board so the trucks could swivel enough to make my O72 curves without binding. This one certainly won't run on anything smaller than O72! I'd have put the motor on the front motor, but it had the same issue being in the narrow part of the body as well, so I opted for the better performance controlling the rear motor.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Added the MTH DDA40X to the roster. It came to me as a PS/1 with a dead board. Since I don't run conventional anyway, I upgraded it to Lionel Legacy. Other than the power wires from the pickups, all the wiring is hand assembled, I can tell you there's a lot of wires in a full Legacy upgrade! The shell was a bit whacked up, so those repairs came first, fixing all the ,mounting posts, removing several internal braces that prevented the installation, and fixing a large chip in the nose. The closest sound board I could find for Legacy was the DD35A. I reasoned that one is pretty close prime mover sounds to the DDA40X. The existing smoke units were converted to be Legacy compatible, and the spring contacts were used to supply all the new LED lighting in the shell. One interesting hitch was the narrow body had trouble fitting the Legacy encoder board on the rear motor. I rounded the corners of the board so the trucks could swivel enough to make my O72 curves without binding. This one certainly won't run on anything smaller than O72! I'd have put the motor on the front motor, but it had the same issue being in the narrow part of the body as well, so I opted for the better performance controlling the rear motor.

Very impressive John. Full Legacy, dual smoke units too. Can't wait to see the test runs.
Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Very impressive John. ..

right??
and I was happy with a little spray-can upgrade to old tobacco stained lionel buildings

(HO scale)

In the process of painting/lettering/weathering the next two in line:

The above GP7 is to become Kansas City & Gulf #402, the RS-1 will be KC&G #115.

Long process still ahead: Decals, then several layers of weathering applications to reflect a bankrupt railroad trying to reorganize, circa 1964.

Andre

@RSJB18 posted:

I ordered the spec'd 40mm speaker but it doesn't fit in the fuel tank. Anyone have any suggestions?

Bob, I suspect you need a flat 4 ohm speaker, many are too tall for the skinny tank space.  Here's a list of 40mm speakers, see if you find one that's thin enough to fit in the tank.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bob, I suspect you need a flat 4 ohm speaker, many are too tall for the skinny tank space.  Here's a list of 40mm speakers, see if you find one that's thin enough to fit in the tank.

I actually found a 28mm speaker that is spec'd for these units. I missed it on the parts list when I looked the first time. I measured the tank and thought the 40 would work.....oh well, it won't go to waste.

The bad part is now they are out of stock. Should have ordered it when I looked yesterday.

This is the 40mm

@RSJB18 posted:

I actually found a 28mm speaker that is spec'd for these units. I missed it on the parts list when I looked the first time. I measured the tank and thought the 40 would work.....oh well, it won't go to waste.

The bad part is now they are out of stock. Should have ordered it when I looked yesterday.

Here's a whole list of 28mm 4 ohm speakers that have a maximum seated height of 1/4".

4 Ohm 28mm Speakers 2W to 4W

Found another of my K-line MP-15's that had to be wired in series. A few minutes on the bench and it's all good now.

Bob

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Here's a whole list of 28mm 4 ohm speakers that have a maximum seated height of 1/4".

4 Ohm 28mm Speakers 2W to 4W

Thanks John. I've bookmarked the link.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Very impressive John. Full Legacy, dual smoke units too. Can't wait to see the test runs.

Here you go Bob, the first test run with some revenue cargo.

Certainly doesn't disappoint John.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Certainly doesn't disappoint John.

I think it's a keeper!  I've done a few Legacy diesel upgrades now, I have a Rock Island E8 A-B-A set that I've converted to Legacy, the A units are powered with sound and smoke, and the B-Unit got smoke and sound to make everything look like it is working.  With all three units with sound, it's an impressive sounding consist.

Is that string of tank cars the official test train?

How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃

@Alex M posted:

How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃

And I thought having 2 S-2's in pieces on my bench was a lot......

That's quite a pile of engines Alex.

Bob

Oh boy Alex that's a lot of NYC locos on the bench.  Almost looks like Harmon Yards.

Got this from the 'bay:

It came with a horn and one power truck:

So I gutted it and replaced the lionel trucks with a match set of K Line power trucks:

Next will be command control and sound, will be using a Soundtrax Tsunami2  EMD decoder and a 50mm 8 ohm 3 watt speaker.

Should be a real workhorse when completed!

Update: Electronics installed with new LED headlight and 50mm speaker.

Test run: