Something a little bit different from wiring DCC control boards this long weekend here in Perth. Recently obtained two of the latest range of Bachmann 4mm scale LMS brake vans in grey with duckets and brown without duckets. Have decided to fit working lamps and interior lights plus transponding decoders from Digitrax that will broadcast the DCC address of the transponding decoder via Loconet.

Have started by removing wheels, couplings and coupling pockets plus the plastic brake gear from the underside of the model.

The wheels need be separated from the axle at one end, cleaned up and made to work as live pickup axles.

Once cleaned up to remove the blackening I use a conductive paint to make an electrical connection between the wheel and the axle bypassing the insulated bush between the axle and wheel.

While the paint dries I chose some LEDs and corresponding resistors to come up with a light intestity that would look good for the interior lights. I settled on DCC Concepts prototype white LEDs with 20k ohm resistor and soldered it to a PCB strip.

Preparing the van for external lamps, I used a sharp blade to scrape off the moulded lamp irons.

Then the lamps were glued using CA and a kicker to the rear and each side of the verandah. The lamps are also by DCC Concepts and are red for the rear lamp and red and white for the side lamps. Next will be wiring the resistors up and connecting a stay alive and decoder into the van itself.