10-09-2013, 02:46 PM
A photo of the open engine. The frame is one block of metal and the hood and cab are two plastic parts that clip right on the base. A very simple and straight forward design making maintenance very easy.
The 8-pin DCC decoder plugs in easy with standard wire length but I cut the wires to custom length to ensure a better fit of the hood.
![[Image: file_zpsfba7f7c2.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-3/file_zpsfba7f7c2.jpg)
Four intentional nasty photos made while break in to show the details. Make your own judgement if that is good enough for you (the hood is only put on the frame but not snapped in). The model is unmodified just out of the box. The couplers are Walthers but they are metal like Kadee. The LEDs are warm white (not the ugly yellow or blue ones).
![[Image: file_zps0c46ae1f.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-3/file_zps0c46ae1f.jpg)
![[Image: file_zpsc6e4a95d.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-3/file_zpsc6e4a95d.jpg)
![[Image: file_zps9b94e5ed.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-3/file_zps9b94e5ed.jpg)
![[Image: file_zps93d7b68c.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-3/file_zps93d7b68c.jpg)
It is a great model in the moderate price segment. I like to see Bachmann (S2) and now Walthers (SW1) offering nice switchers at competitive prices.
Modifications
1. Replace the two large resistors with wires and remove a capacitor (gray block) right under the decoder. They are the RFC suppression components. That may make the model illegal in some states (hey we are the outlaws :o ) but you gain some space and a better motor control of the DCC decoder.
2. Put a small strip of a plastic sponge on top of the decoder area. It will help to reduce the vibrations of the hood and reduce the noise even further.
The 8-pin DCC decoder plugs in easy with standard wire length but I cut the wires to custom length to ensure a better fit of the hood.
Four intentional nasty photos made while break in to show the details. Make your own judgement if that is good enough for you (the hood is only put on the frame but not snapped in). The model is unmodified just out of the box. The couplers are Walthers but they are metal like Kadee. The LEDs are warm white (not the ugly yellow or blue ones).
It is a great model in the moderate price segment. I like to see Bachmann (S2) and now Walthers (SW1) offering nice switchers at competitive prices.
Modifications
1. Replace the two large resistors with wires and remove a capacitor (gray block) right under the decoder. They are the RFC suppression components. That may make the model illegal in some states (hey we are the outlaws :o ) but you gain some space and a better motor control of the DCC decoder.
2. Put a small strip of a plastic sponge on top of the decoder area. It will help to reduce the vibrations of the hood and reduce the noise even further.
Reinhard