Heljan 1361 help

[Neil]

I've been tasked with fitting a decoder into a friends Heljan 1361 tank engine. I'd like to swot up on what's involved before I'm presented with the model. What chip will it need, where does it go on the loco and how do the relevant parts come apart?

 

Many thanks.

[Trains4U]

I've been tasked with fitting a decoder into a friends Heljan 1361 tank engine. I'd like to swot up on what's involved before I'm presented with the model. What chip will it need, where does it go on the loco and how do the relevant parts come apart?

 

Many thanks.

 

Hi Neil,

 

Its pretty straightforward

 

you need a direct fit 6-pin decoder

 

There are 4 screws to remove the cab, which lifts off, exposing a vertically mounted 6-pin socket.

there is a recess built into the coal bunker for the chip once fitted.

 

Nice and easy.

 

I've just sound fitted one, with the chip inside the bunker and speaker and crew in the cab.

Edited April 17, 2018 by Trains4U

[Neil]

Brilliant Gareth, thank you; that sounds well with my capabilities.

[Neil]

Just a quick follow up to say that the decoder installation went smoothly thanks to Gareth's advice. Without it I may have struggled to work out that just the cab needed to be removed. Once again my thanks for the advice.

[Martin S-C]

What about sound? I'd like to put sound into mine - I have a decoder with sounds installed.. just wondering what space there is around. Maybe inside the cab for the speaker?

[Neil]

Afraid I can't help with that apart from the thought that filling the cab with sound equipment may detract from the appearance of what is a lovely little model. The six pin chip sits very snugly into a pocket in the bunker, holes would have to be made to get equipment into the cab, the cab floor is solid and would need to be cut away too.

 

A further update on the model, on extended test the loco at slow speed would stop intermittently then start up of its own accord. Traced back to a fault with the decoder it's waiting for a replacement to be delivered.

[Trains4U]

Sorry for being a bit late back to this one

I’ve sound fitted a few of these

It needs a bit of surgery, and bravery!

 

Basically, I use an ESU 6-pin micro with a sugar cube speaker. You can fit the full double baffle as supplies in the ESU speaker kit.

 

Off with the cab as per my first set of instructions

Then carefully prise off the cab baseplate, trying not to damage it.

 

I then file off the firebox detail to provide a flat surface for the speaker and cut a notch in the rear bulkhead for the wires.

 

The decoder and wiring loom can be stuck up in the coal bunker, feed the speaker wires through the notch, and glue the speaker to the cab front, correctly oriented, so that the wires are towards the cab floor, I then give it a test at this stage.

I then refit the cab floor, with a spot of glue if necessary ensuring the 6-pin plug is fed through the hole.

 

Plug in the decoder, refit the cab and test again.

 

I also fit a crew, to disguise the speaker, though they do need some drastic amputations to fit!

Edited July 9, 2018 by Trains4U

[Martin S-C]

Interesting and probably the sort of fitting you need to do. I just had a sound decoder fitted into one of these by Jeremy at Digitrains and he placed the sugar cube on the cab floor. This preserves the backhead detail and meant not cutting and hacking much at all, just some channels for the wiring. I just need to chop my crew off at the hips to fit them in. Sounds are from Jamie at the Princess Risborough railway and sound lovely. The short wheelbase means this loco benefits from a stay alive and he can just squeeze one of those onto the cab floor as well.

Edited July 12, 2018 by Martin S-C

[298]

I've just found this thread after a recent eBay purchase arrived- 1363 has always been a favourite and I didn't have much luck with a secondhand K's loco described as a GWR dock tank from an advert in the RM classifieds in the 1980's.

 

Anyway, I've quickly dismantled the loco and although a six pin Zen decoder fits very well, there isn't an easy space to fit the keep alive. Without resorting to completely rewiring it and fitting the decoder in the saddle tank, I've roughly milled the top of the weight to provide clearance for the KA and now it slots into place.

 

The next step is to fit the flickering firebox light.

[298]

LED now fitted, I added some channel and have since cut the floor away to give space for the wiring, etc.