I want to install the proper lighting in an Athearn Bombardier Coach/Cab Car, so when the train is in "push mode" the Coach/Cab Car will have a headlight and ditchlights...and was wondering if anyone has done anything like this. Athearn sells a kit to install electrical pickups on a 4 wheel truck for about $3...so I am thinking I will try it and it should work with some possible modification. Can I get away with electrical pickup on just one truck, or should I install it on both trucks? I will use LED's for the lamps...and I am thinking a DCC decoder to control the lights. I can then consist the Coach/Cab Car with the Locomotive, to contol the lights correctly in either direction. Comments? Thoughts? Suggestions?
You should have pickups on both trucks unless you also want to install a keep-alive capacitor. Are the pickups axle wipers or wheel wipers? If they are axle wipers, you will definitely need to put pickups on both trucks, since each truck can only pick up power from one rail.