My NW 2 got a decoder years ago. I've two NW 2's and they are good running engines. First step (usually with a broken lug) remove the shell! There're points you have to pull the shell away. You see the body with only front truck left. I made grooves for the wires. Engine front. You see the opening with Zimo MX61/N decoder. And the front light LED. Next picture for the memory - it's better to have a picture for assembling - shows left side:
Now I opened the body. Also with memory pictures. It's a good idea to mark motor and trucks with Front and Right. You have less to think or guess with assembling. :angel: Now I screwed the two half bodies together. Next step: Milling. Wolfgang
I guessed it would require a lot of chopping about, the only other decoder fitted NW2 I have seen he put the chip in the cab..... it looked terrible. How big is the speaker?
Yes, I did some millling. And I have only simple tools. You have to work very slowly, it gets hot! With ESU you can choose your speaker. There're a few with different size: ...They are available in various sizes, namely 13 mm, 16x25mm, 16mm, 20mm, 23mm, 28mm, 40mm, 20x40mm and 2x16mm. Wolfgang
Hard at work. But be carefully! You can get problems with power tools. And damage your model. These are the finished halfs. I used the speaker box as template and had often to do more milling. I made some grooves for the wires, you see the dummy red and black ones. Along with the red wire will go the two brown wires for the speaker.
A first testing with ESU LokSound micro in its place. And the body with speaker box. You see the channel for the two wires to the speaker. Till next time. Happy toooot Wolfgang
With all that cutting and milling, I'm going to save myself alot of work and just get a Broadway Limited NW-2... It was tough enough just getting DCC in my Kato NW.
John, you're right. But I own two Kato NW 's. And they are good runner and heavy puller. Should I put them into the box? No, I use them. And installing sound is a little bit of challenge. :angel: I have so much fun with my GE 44-ton with sound! Did those Broadway Limited run as well and are also so strong? Happy tooot Wolfgang
Wolfgang, I couldn't tell you how strong they are. I run about 6-7 cars in a train. My layout is industrial switching. The Broadways are very, very smooth runners. They have diecast frames and sound so great. I'm not much for all the modification work. I like to detail, but not to keen on the work you do. I don't have the tools anyway. BTW, I like looking at your photos of the Westport Terminal. John
John, like I wrote, I own the engines. It's for me much cheaper to install an sound decoder than to buy a new engine. And it's fun. If I buy new engines I go with sound - if possible. But still you will get older engines without sound, e.g. at ebay. Wolfgang
More work report: You see the assembled body with the speaker box and decoder. You can (hardly) recognize the two brown wires from the speaker to the other side of the body. Here are two brown wires and the black one hidden in a channel.
Test running and hearing! It works! Now comes the shell and the light. The white LEDs need a little bit more yellow. Wolfgang
With the technic part finished I came to painting. This was an black/green BN engine. At first I rubbed away the white stripes and lettering. Then the engine (I reworked a GP 35 too) got at first white coat, a primer. You see, there're still details. When the white color was dry I painted nose and rear part yellow. The engines should get a white stripe like Rock Island. So I masked there the white color as well as the yellow parts and airbrushed the body red. At last - a light weathering for engines in duty. And the first FBL engine went into service: Wolfgang
Nice work on the KATO NW2,I have three of them all S.P. an all have the real numbers on them,they work great and are smooth!now I have somthing to think about HUMMMMMMMM by the way how does it sound?? JIM
you can hear the sound at ESU. I've installed LokSound micro. And we have (a few friends as group) the programmer. So one of us can change the sound. Look at my site and you will find WebVideos, especially at the FREMO sites. Wolfgang
