DCC
As I don't have a layout at the moment my DCC activity is mainly using JMRI, running via a Sprog II on an IBM Thinkpad 600e to test locos/installations.
I have used the following decoders:
- ZTC 213A
I bought this along with a ZTC521 handset, the decoder doesn't like DecoderPro and has never performed as expected, it's used in 37670 - Lenz 521W
I have used five, all fitted to Graham Farish locos. This model is replaced by the Gold Mini which is slightly smaller. - CT Electronik DCX74
I have three of these fitted to Arnold, Roco and Hobbytrain locos.
Life-like installation
The Life-Like chassis as used in my Class 37 is not designed for DCC, but lends itself to the installation of a decoder because of it's simplicity, and the ease with which space can be created for it. I've chosen to use the ZTC213 decoder, which I bought with the controller. The decoder sits in the nose of the 37, I had to remove part of the weight at the No1 end to accomodated it.
New Graham Farish installation
Thanks to Gareth Cutting for an explaination of his approach to this model, also to Andre Kritzinger for his description of fitting a decoder to the US chassis upon which the new Farish chassis is based. I completely dismantled the chassis and used a minidrill with disk cutter to mill out a space around the motor brushes, I also added a strip of insulating tape to the edge of the frame, just in case the motor moves in relation to it. The wires are soldered to the brush caps and attached to the frames by being pinched between them and the fixing screws that hold the chassis together. All of these (57 010, 57 011 and 56 115) are fitted with Lenz LE521A decoders.
I've fitted lighting to my 37s and 57s using surface mount LEDs. This was inspired by Gareth Cutting's article in Model Rail magazine. My poor soldering and a mismatch of LEDs lead me to abandon representing tail lights. In addition to the boards carrying the LEDs I etched some circuit boards to install above the chassis to connect the wires and resistors and provide a location for the decoder to sit in.
The original version, with rear lights, the 3 headlights are on, but the camera flash swamped them a little:
I've posted pictures of the locos with the lights on the locos page.
Atlas installations
My Atlas locos (GP40-2s and an SD35) are both models produced in the last 5 years, so have been designed for simple DCC conversion. Digitrax produced the replacement decoder and light boards for these models.ÖBB 1042 and 1044
The Roco 1044 and Arnold 1042 both have circuit boards and lights. The 1044 has space for the very small CT Elektronik DCX74 decoder between the chassis top and the shell. The slightly more modern (late 1990s?) 1042 has a space provided in the chassis. The modifications to the circuit boards are shown below with removed areas in green - click for larger versions of the pictures.
ÖBB 1016
The model above is a Hobbytrain 1016 marketed exclusively by Conrad. Amazingly for a model selling at just over £40 it features:
- flywheel drive
- white LED directional lighting
- couplings attached to the chassis rather than the bogies
- flush glazing
- DCC ready lighting board (see below)
- space for a Decoder
- Cab interiors
- Instructions for fitting a decoder (albeit in German)
