Lifelike gp-38-2

wiking Feb 28, 2007

  1. wiking

    wiking TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi,
    Doe's any one know if you have to hot wire these or can you just drop in a decoder? If drop in decoder is all that is needed What type do you need.

    Alan
     
    wiking, Feb 28, 2007
    #1
  2. jrwirt

    jrwirt TrainBoard Member

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    No drop-in available for any LifeLike locomotives. Some have talked about trying to machine the frame to shoehorn in a decoder designed for an Atlas loco, but I have not seen any results. This is a hard-wired installation.

    And it is too bad that LifeLike/Walther's hasn't gotten on board with the DCC ready concept because these are nice looking and nice running locos.
     
    jrwirt, Feb 28, 2007
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  3. DocGeoff

    DocGeoff E-Mail Bounces

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    Walther's could have had a considerable amount of my money if the GP38-2's would have come equipped for a drop-in decoder.
    If Atlas does an Espee or undec they win.
    Doc
     
    DocGeoff, Feb 28, 2007
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  4. N_S_L

    N_S_L TrainBoard Member

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    FWIW - I tried to hardwire in 3 38's from LL, all 3 had horrendus performance after the work was done. Either I had bad solder or they don't like being DCC'ed (I'm guessing the later).
     
    N_S_L, Mar 1, 2007
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  5. Arctic Train

    Arctic Train TrainBoard Member

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    How old are your LL 38-2s? I've got 3 of the older plastic frame types with the lead wads at both ends and they are a sinch to hard wire in a small Lenz or Digitrax decoder. All run fantastic and will creep along with no problems. Not the greatest in detail but for $25 they can't be beat.
    Don't know about the new runs with the metal frames. I figure if I'm going to spend that much money on a loco I'd rather buy an Atlas or Kato.

    Brian
     
    Arctic Train, Mar 1, 2007
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  6. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Alan:

    You can hardwire a Lenz mini silver decoder easily in that diesel. You must create some space for it in the frame.


    Stay cool and run steam.....:cool::cool:
     
    Powersteamguy1790, Mar 1, 2007
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  7. sillystringtheory

    sillystringtheory TrainBoard Member

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    I have 3 Life-Like GP-60s (same basic frame design) with hardwired DZ123 decoders that perform flawlessly. It was no simple task to install the decoders but at the same time it wasn't all that hard either. To mill my frames I used nothing more than a 12" mill file and a vise to hold the bare frame halves.
     
    sillystringtheory, Mar 1, 2007
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  8. dckuk

    dckuk New Member

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    I've contemplating NWSL wheel conversions and DCC for one of these (old style) and two GP-18s. Once you put Scale Replicas' details on them, they look pretty good for cheap locos. Not bad runners either. Once my control system arrives from Walther's I'll get to work a little more harder!!!
     
    dckuk, Mar 2, 2007
    #8

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