IMHO you took a difficult task and made it happen. Bravo one day I'll get that brave. And yes indeed it looks good
Carl, if you ever need to solder wires to the frames you can done of two things. Drill a small hole in each frame half and put in a screw or pin and then solder the wire to that. OR You can use a product that is called Silver Epoxy. It is expensive but does the job real well and will last you a very longtime if you keep it cool. Just epoxy two tabs with your wires to the frame and your done. SEE here : http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/adhesives/electrically-conductive/silver-conductive-epoxy-8331/ Save you grinding slots in the frame and keeps wires out of your way. woodone
What I have done is to solder the pickup wires to the brass strips on either side of the locomotive. Works for Atlas, Life Like, Kato, and Intermountain diesel engines. It saves me from having to drill holes into the frame chassis.
Well on most units there is no room for wires between the frame and the shell so you have to grind or machine a grove to put the wire in so it does not touch the frame and cause a short at some time.
Carl, this is a good looking locomotive. It is always interesting to see the builds as they happen. Not only that but the trials and tribulations that go with them. It keeps us honest in a way because in N scale we don't have it simply done for us like the other scales LOL I won't name them. I have had a decoder arrive DOA but I though it was something I did but after talking to a few club members they had the same issue. Keep up the good work and love the custom paint job. Keep the pictures and videos coming on the other engines. And because of you I'm thinking of starting a project. Don't know what. Thanks to the brother in arms who helps us all with our questions. Peace be with you, and the group Arthur
gatr, that is what I did to this unit. I soldered the pick up wires to the brass strips and are OK. What I did not do properly was milling too shallow of a groove to hold those wires to the frame. It did work out, however. The next one, which will have the ESU decoder I will do much differently. That is my next project. Thanks for the comments, Carl
