Can the shell from a Walthers RS2 be put on a Kato chassis? I have a Kato that runs really well, but it's a road that I'd like to change. I haven't had much success getting the Walthers unit to convert to DCC
I can't answer your question about swapping a Walthers shell onto a Kato frame. However, I working on adding a Loksound Select Direct and a 12x8mm speaker to a Walthers RS-2. Spoiler alert: There is some Dremeling involved. I will make a post in the DCC section if I can get it to work. Hopefully someone else here can chime in on the shell swap. If you're only looking for motor control, TCS makes a decoder that will fit the Walthers RS-2. See here for their instructions: http://tcsdcc.com/installation/n-scale/walthers-rs2/k2d4
I have a Walther's RS2, and it took the same decoder as my Kato RSC2. Kato also made an RS2, which is the same chassis as the RSC2, except with 6 wheel trucks (the trucks are interchangeable on the Katos, by the way). I've never tried, but I would assume the shells would interchange since they use the same decoder. Probably the trucks as well. Atlas is now making an RS2 as well, which is based on the Lifelike, which became the Walthers. Not sure what changes Atlas made (if any) to the model before releasing it under their name. I'd be interested to see your sound conversion Sharky.
I have two LL RS2 locos that I installed Digitrax DN163K2 decoders in by following the instructions that Digitrax provides on their website at http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB400/life-like-n-scale-rs2-modifications-needed-for-the/ The installation was straight forward and the locos have never given me any trouble since their conversion to DCC. Regards, Ron
I don't remember if it was the Kato or the LL that had two different frames, but I think it was the Kato. I remember have a difficult time with one of them and then had once from a later run and the DCC board fit was better. All that aside, I have a few from each manufacturer and they all run flawlessly on DCC.
