These are the new LL GP 38s, and they are labeled DCC friendly. http://www.nscalesupply.com/Lif/LIF-GP-38.html Does that mean a drop in decoder will be available?
Ryan: Supposedly there is room for a decoder in that loco. Usually Lifelike diesels aren't DCC friendly. I would double check to make sure they are DCC friendly. Stay cool and run steam......
...drop in, or a plug? They're finally getting smart! Maybe one of our fine member/retailers could tell us???
That's the main question. It's anybody's guess. LifeLike isn't known for making loco's DCC friendly. Case in point is the LL 2-8-4 which requires the loco to be completely taken apart to install a decoder which has to be hardwired. Stay cool and run steam...
But you may be missing the point. "Friendly" does mean a light board replacement. However, like the Kato F40PH, no one makes a suitable DCC decoder to fit as a replacement. And major manufacturers, notably Digitrax, is unwilling to make and supply one for reasons of their own. I do suspect they are too busy with HO. But then isn't nearly everybody. It would be great if Walther's finally joined the 21st Century and produced a "decoder friendly" loco. Just don't hold your breath for a decoder. We are still stepchildren to the decoder gods. Doc
They are designed to be like Atlas and Kato ... lightboard dropins. </font>[/QUOTE]What decoder will fit the loco? Stay cool and run steam.....
Or the LL E8 - Man I had to modify the frame so stinkin' much. That was a major task for me, being a newbie to Decoder installation.
Or the LL E8 - Man I had to modify the frame so stinkin' much. That was a major task for me, being a newbie to Decoder installation. </font>[/QUOTE]Sheldon: The only LL loco that is reasonably DCC friendly was the LL 2-8-8-2 which still required hardwire modifications. Stay cool and run steam.....
This is why I sold off all of my lifelike locos. I did not want to hassle with mad ninja decoder instalation skills when there were other options available.
Maybe I just enjoyed the challenge, but I enjoyed hard-wiring my LL GP38s. Too bad the weight was sacraficed - it made the performance horrid!
I'd be inclined to ask the guys at N Scale Supply (in this case) for an opinion. I think most of the sharper N scale retailers tend to be reasonably up-to-date with each major factory they represent. Cam
Not missing the point at all .. check the following link and note the DCC description. web page Powersteamguy: I would expect a Digitrax decoder board for this loco ... so far no word on the specific decoder. [ April 06, 2006, 06:09 AM: Message edited by: GNFA310 ]
It does say PC board. Let's hope it's an available PC board--one that already exists or will exist shortly. When I got my Intermountain F-3s, there was no available decoder--although, luckily, the one for the IM FT-A unit would fit.
I'll wade in here since I am the one that came up with the concept of "DCC Friendly". While I was at Kato I came up with the idea for the drop in DCC replacement board for the headlight/circuit board. The concept was shared with all the DCC manufacturers and DIgitrax was the only company to respond. My concept was used without modification for the Atlas boards. But Kato's factory added to my original design by adding the "ears" to the side of the board which improved motor pickup and designed the frame so the board could be slipped in without separating the frame halves...both excellent enhancements. The first "DCC Friendly" locomotive was the Kato Dash 9. Shortly after the Dash9 came out Atlas released locomotives (I forget which model) with "DCC Friendly" and "DCC Ready" versions. I define "DCC Friendly" as a locomotive that either has a circuit board that can be replaced with a similar board with DCC components on it without any modificaiton of the unit or by removing a dummy plug on the circuit board and plugging in a standard DCC decoder. "DCC Ready" means the locomotive has a DCC decoder already installed and it is ready to run on DCC. Some use "DCC Ready" to mean that it is ready to install a decoder but I think that is confusing so avoid it. "DCC Equpped" is another way of indicating there is a decoder in the locomotive. Charlie Vlk Railroad Model Resources PS- Neither I nor Kato patented the board, offering freely to the Model Railroad Industry to advance the Hobby.
Charlie, Interesting and valuable history, and patent advise. I'm always interested in why people don't patent inventions or intellectual property and then, in the general interest if that is their intent, license them for the nominal fee of $1.00, or even $0.01. Patents are not expensive, and a simple licensing agreement can be done with a one-page form.
I wish Atlas and the rest would duplicate the efforts of Kato in making their frames dcc friendly. While I don't mind taking a screwdriver to the Atlas locos; it shouldn't be necessary and there is always that electrical contact issue to deal with as well. Maybe thats why Atlas has to offer both non dcc and dcc because they cannot or won't change their frame design whereas Kato doesn't even have to deal with the whole decoder issue BUT they make it fairly easy for any modeller to add one should they want to go that route. Brian
Atlas should also make their DCC frames and DCC friendly frames more accurately designed in the motor contact area to readily accept a Digitrax DN 163A0 decoder. 80% of the time and probably more, the copper motor contacts of the loco don't line up with the underside of the decoder. This also happens to a lesser degree with the factory installed Lenz decoder. Stay cool and run steam.....
