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Post by enginseer on Oct 25, 2012 0:28:24 GMT -5
I've recently decided to plant roots down and bought a roof for my future layout and locomotive collection.
My collection began nearly 12 years ago and it consists of ONE locomotive. Now, it hasn't always been this small, a few years ago it was two locomotives and three years before that it was quite nearly three! Life has always seemed to get in the way of my plans as I've shuttled back and forth across the continents.
As you might expect, much has happened in the hobby in the last decade or more, and my OMI AC6000 in CSX although in mint condition, is sadly, way out of date.
I believe the loco still looks the part and despite the advances the major plastic manufacturers have made in their kits, nothing really beats this brass engine in the looks department.
Where it falls short, however, is that the ditch lights don't work and I'd like to add DCC and sound. here is where I could really use the help of the membership. I have no idea where to start since it's brass so any info would be much appreciated.
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Post by antlorch on Oct 25, 2012 8:31:28 GMT -5
Are the dichlights already drilled/made to accept lights? I am not experienced in this field but I am sure we have had someone do this before..
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Post by enginseer on Oct 25, 2012 12:27:50 GMT -5
Unfortunately, no.
The ditchlights aren't drilled out and appear to be solid castings.
It's a '97 release.
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Post by sd45longhoodfoward on Oct 25, 2012 12:57:02 GMT -5
Nice loco and they do make pewter castings pre drilled and I have taken solid castings brass pewter and plastic and drilled them out/and have used LEDs and fiber optics with great results/and you are in the right place to seek knowledge
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Post by Mark R. on Oct 30, 2012 11:24:21 GMT -5
I added ditchlights to a couple CP SD40-2F brass engines that had the solid cast brass ditch lights. Not sure how well yours are mounted, but these had minimal solder holding them on and everyone broke free while attempting to drill them out.
Once off the engine, they were relatively easy to get them cored out. For illumination, I used some pre-wired 0402 surface mount LEDs which I glued in place from the back. I then drilled a small hole in the pilot behind where the ditchlights mounted to route the wires, and then glued the casting back in place. Finish off the front with some DA clear plastic lenses that come with their ditch light castings.
Mark.
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Post by enginseer on Nov 3, 2012 0:19:11 GMT -5
@mark R.
That sounds like a plan mark.
The castings aboard the loco are really thin and prototypical.
How I would go about coring these is a bit beyond me ATM, but I'm working on it.
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Post by Mark R. on Nov 8, 2012 16:36:24 GMT -5
The ones I did were mounted under the anti-climber. If yours are deck mounted, it would probably be a whole lot easier to find some aftermarket items (Railflyer maybe) that are either already cored for lights, or made of either white metal, plastic or resin. Drilling out brass castings kills drill bits in a hurry - especially the tiny ones.
Mark.
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Post by enginseer on Nov 20, 2012 11:31:23 GMT -5
Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice on this engine, but I realize now that as much as I love this locomotive, it doesn't fit along with my theme and I don't have the will to turn this thing into a viable DCC locomotive. I don't have the heart to touch it...
So, with that said, I plan on selling it off on that "evil" website of note and use the funds to buy some plastic locos that I can tear apart and mess with without feeling guilty.
I imagine it'll bring a decent amount even though it needs an upgrade (or two).
Thanks again for the advice.
Gotta look to the future.
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