Project: Proto 1000 RDC Budd Car

Model	Life-Like Proto 100 RDC Budd Car
Product #	...

Objectives (wish list):

• Convert to DCC


• Detail Interior




• Add lighting (Output 3)


• Add passengers


• Add shades. Use to disguise motor mount


• Cab interiors




• Operating marker lights (Output 4)


• Misc. detailing.

Notes:

• Converting the original headlights with white LEDs produces a lot more ambient light than the former. Black heat shrink tubing reduces this light, however further work to the shell is required to get acceptable results.




• Shade boxes made from styrene need to be installed around the light channels.


• Shell interior needs to be painted black to help reduce light shining through.




• The area to work with the marker lights is very limited. The best option here will be to use fibre optic run back to a small PCB with heatshrink tubing enclosed LEDs mounted on it. Marker lights can be controlled by Output 4 and set to directional behaviour through CVs.


• Outputs 3 and 4 on the decoders do NOT pertain to functions 3 and 4 as one might expect. Output 3 = Function 0, and Output 4 = Function 1.

Completed:

• DCC decoder has been installed.


• Basic decoder programming.


• White LED's installed for the headlights.


• The rear light has been shrouded in heatshrink tubing.


• Light boxes have been constructed awaiting painting and installation.


• The interior lighting strip has been constructed and installed. Further refinement is required here though.


• Added Kadee #58 couplers front and rear.


• Initial test runs

To Do:

• Increase the value of the resistor on the lighting PCB. The interior lights should be more of a glow than harsh lighting.


• Encase the fron headlight in heatshrink.
  
• Marker lamps. These may remain a pipe dream. There are other more pressing projects that need attention as well.


• Add people/passengers and a crew member or two.


• Window shades.


• Light proofing.


• Cab details.


• Weathering


• DCC Speed Tables and final advanced decoder programming


• Complete the documentation of the project, scale and upload photos and convert to PDF.

Current Mood: accomplished

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A lesson for all ...
Don't always trust something new.

I purchased four NCE N14IP DCC decoders about a year ago on Ebay. They arrived loose in a zip lock bag, pre-wired, with another smaller bag containing four 8 pin plugs. They were a little larger than the NCE Z14SR's I'd been using to re-power our N scale fleet so I decided to hold on to them for use at a later date.



Current Mood: accomplished

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