Since a very long time this very nice small Japanese steam engine model is in my stock and never it was in use.
This should be changed because our small club will be a participant of an large model rr exhibition in next year. And there I would like to run a short Sacramento Daylight train with this loco.
This model is a very good runner however a few small repairs and additions and digitalizing is base for use on exhibition.





The first what I had to do, was to substitute the old, hardened and broken rubber tube as a connection of engine and worm-gear.



I replaced this by a Nylon universal joint that I had divided, shortened and new connected by a screw shaft and I'm absolutely secure that this solution will outlive the model. Now the axle including the gear is free moveable down and up, better then ever before. I think that rubber tube connections as drive shafts were never the best solution!



Next step was to prepare the loco for better current pickup because I planned to use maybe all wheels for electric pickup. First I added a small part of lead into the frame of trailing truck and I screwed on a fine flat spring contact for better current pickup of noninsulated wheel side. Because the truck is fixed with a screw including a coil spring so the power will transferred to frame.



On underside of the truck I mounted a second, insulated pickup contact that I made from a Kadee center spring and that take the current from inside of insulated wheel rim. I can say to you that you will not see one part of this additionally pickup contacts if you are looking from side on model.



Here this is the loco view on the underside and there are two additional contacts on flanges of drivers which are also insulated mounted onto frame and there is also more contact prepared for the wire to decoder of the side of insulated wheels.

So I have received three additional wheels from the loco additionally to the four tender wheels which take current about insulated wheels. There are also three wheels or more or less also five wheels if you include the front truck on frame side pickup. I have had not really good successes with other models where I used first the tender only for pickup and then I modified and included loco wheels also for better pickup.

Next, I must prepare the tender for decoder mounting inside of tender. This was a difficult work because tender was a closed tube and I had to cut a large hole through bottom and inside soldered weight sheet.



However it was successfully done and the best - the opening is completely covered by the frame which must be screwed under the cutout. Look next pictures.



Tender wheels received contacts on insulated side for power pickup.



Last I added rods from the levers of brake cylinder to trucks and I have given the tender a three-point suspensions - two lateral points at front truck (a simple soldered wire) and a rose third point at center of rear truck.



Here additionally a picture of the simple mounted brake cylinder without the rods. This was the original solution 40 years ago. Today I cannot accept this, on top of that with this free sight under the cylindrical body of the tender.
For all, who can't wait for next steps of progress you can follow the actual work in description of my website - http://us-modelsof1900.de/?p=8654

Now a few additional details were to mount.
The prototypes were quite flatly looking engines without many of tubes on the outside of boiler - and thus the models were also built. But some parts are lacking after today's opinions of model building. Remember, model is nearly forty years old. But I was not lucky with all these missing parts.



Additions at front:
A completed uncoupling lever, tubes for electric power of classification lights and front lamp and a working front coupler.



A detail view shows how I fastened the coupler into the original coupler guide.



Rear side of loco - and not a tender bridge? (Apron?)

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No, not longer without this part!



Here the details with a long thin tube and a mount plate for avoiding damages of paint by soldering.





Two pictures how the wheels follow very uneven rails. I think that this is not a big problem for full equalized trucks however it's a very good solution for the engine drivers, which are well equalized by soft coil springs.

I love such very well running models!

Very nicely done congratulations!!

Some days ago I received permission for showing these both pictures on my website.



Thank you very much to Stan Kistler for given permission and thanks also to John Nestegard, member of MRH forum, who has sent me these fine pictures!
In left picture is shown "my engine" - Espee #3000 class A-6 with a Vanderbilt tender and in Daylight colors - and right a second class A-6 #3002 with a rectangular tender.
For seeing pictures in a larger view, click on pictures and open my website. Scroll a bit down to prototype photos. Click anew on pictures to open a full size view.

At last - digitalisation is done and my A-6 is ready!



Front lamp and classification lamps are lightened, tender also. And front and rear lamp have got also a dimmed light for switching in change with full light.



Also engineer and fireman must not stand in darkness. And now? Where are the scales and needles of armatures?
Two views into inside of boiler.





Wires and resistors and connectors for cables to tender. And left I mounted the speaker into the boiler with smokebox as a closed box behind of it. So I received a large sound box with a very full sound. I'm very satisfied with result!
In lower picture you can see additional lead weights, one that is fixed into boiler already by double-side adhesive tape and so the weight of loco increased from 10 oz. to 11 1/2 oz. I think that should be a need for pulling five 85' passenger cars by 4 driven wheels only.



Last picture shows connections from engine to tender and one of two cable beams with 5 wires each.
Because there was not enough free space in boiler I must install the decoder (a TCS WOW-Sound with keep-alive) in tender - and thereby I must use 10 wires for all functions. But it works! By twisting five wires each I have got two very flexible connections.
Next will be some paint repairs by a friend and so I hope for first use in end of November on a test installation of our large modular layout that should exhibited in February of next year, I hope. And then I hope that I can make a few video shots maybe with my new Daylight train already. And then I will show a few impressions from running engine and train, I think.

The A-6 is ready so I can present a short video clip ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEHe9rn3t94

... before the model goes to a friend for some paint repairs.
A later step must be to add a cam and wiper for correct chuff synchronization and with this I hope for a really good sound.

All I can say is
After crashing,,, I mean "running" trains on JGLfans layout and seeing that amazing work of art that you have done I must find a dual mode decoded to put into my Backtrack Mike. That is some fine craftsmanship, I have never seen loco wiring done as neatly and as well thought out as you have done on the A-6. Congrats to you on that one sir.

Thanks, e-paw!