Got a pair of MP FP7a's that I am considering installing DCC. I'm pretty sure that no manufacturer has made a dedicated decoder for this locomotive as there is nothing I can find on the web about one. So has anyone hardwired a decoder in this thing? If so, what decoder was used and how difficult of an install is it?
See the following review of this loco: http://www.spookshow.net/loco/mpf7.html Apparently MRC recently released a version of this loco with DCC and sound. You might try contacting MRC to see if the decoder they used is available separately, perhaps as a service spare part. This list shows decoder #0001648 described as "Generic Diesel Sound for Model Power FP7 Dual Mode Decoder." http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/MRC/New Folder/Decoder%20Chart%202009-08.pdf
Just got one also. The BOX reads....'DCC Wired. I'm analog...sooo I don't know what it means. BUT. I took the loco apart and there's plenty of room for a decoder.
My two are the 2006 'Modeler's' version and my experience with them has been very positive which is why I am willing to invest more money to add DCC to them. My experience does not track with Spookshow's report but that may only mean that I was fortunate and he was not. That happens in this hobby and I have been on the other end of that equation as, I am sure, others have. Anyway I located a decoder for the pair. Model Power conveniently left a space in the rear of the chassis to fit a small decoder. So that's where it will go.
NP only had 2 FP7's and they never wore the pine tree scheme. Both came in the loewey scheme of 2 tone green white stripe. Spent most their life working from the twin cities then BN wrote one off in 1972 the other in 1980.
The intent of linking to Spookshow's site was not in regard to loco's performance but to indicate that MRC had released that loco with a decoder and that there was a photo depicting the decoder installation.
I understand that but the 2018 MRC release uses an MRC decoder made for that locomotive. I am not sure that decoder is available separately but if it was I would not use it as I prefer to not use MRC decoders in general and Spookshow's review did not heap praises on it. My preference is to go with another decoder.
