MAP66

Continuing on from yesterdays instalment, for the two capacitors, I found that I could install them in series using a 90 degree configuration. Where one capacitor sat inside the boiler and the other sat inside the dome on top of the boiler. The positive and negative wires were then soldered to the twisted pair of blue/grey wires from the decoder/stay alive pcb. I found that there was clear passage through the chassis frame and then above the motor for the wiring route. With that problem sorted, I went about the task of routing and soldering up the 4 most important wires which are red for right hand track feed, black for left hand track feed, orange for right hand motor and then grey for left hand motor terminals. To make this possible, first the body and chassis needed to be partially separated to allow adequate access for the soldering iron. I managed to complete that wiring stage and then refitted the body to chassis to see if it still fitted together. When I did this, I found that the rear driving axle no longer moved freely up and down within the horn blocks. Probably caused by the wiring attached at the motor terminals but unable to confirm as viewing is pretty much impossible. I did some gentle forcing up and down of the rear drivers which eventually gave back enough movement and now it was testing time. The loco was placed on the test track and the NCE Powecab was connected for program track. I went through the programming sequence and immediately could tell that I was in business as the decoder could be read from and written to via the handset. The loco address is now appropriately 4851 and 4851 now has sound, with the added bonus that the wheels seems to go around without issue. So, finally this old Airfix loco body of probably about 40+ years vintage combined with a High Level chassis and motor are now under DCC power. This was a good place to stop as now the small matter of connecting up the directional lighting and firebox glow was next on the list to tackle. I hope you forgive me, as I was so engrossed in wiring and soldering doing the above, that I forgot to stop and take a few progress shots. It was just wiring really, so a bit boring to look at anyway. Normal picture service should resume shortly!

After staring at the sound decoder for far too long, contemplating on how it would all fit in, I eventually arrived at the decision to make a start. The realisation that there were really only two possible outcomes, one of which was to own a really expensive static model, prompted me to work towards the other more attractive outcome of owning a very fine and unique class 48XX before Dapols version is made available in or around Q4 2025. So, I started by snipping off the six pin plug from the wire harness and threading the wires through the slot at the bottom of the bunker. This allowed the sound decoder to be inserted upright and pushed right to the bottom of the bunker cavity. Once in, there would be just enough gap above the decoder to fit a false floor for a coal load. I next inserted the speaker which came pre-wired to the decoder. The speaker was also fitted upright at the opposite end of the bunker. The available space in the bunker was being eaten up rapidly and there was barely enough room left to squeeze in the micro stay alive pcb and the room required for the actual wiring. I had to admit that there was now no room left in the bunker for the two capacitors which formed part of the stay alive circuit! Where to house the capacitors was a new problem to solve and the other problem was to see where all this wiring was going to be routed after it passed out from beneath the floor of the bunker. To say I was daunted by the task ahead was an understatement and part of my brain wanted to put the whole thing in the back of a drawer and leave for another day. However, my determination side took over and I persevered. To what end, I hear you all ask? To be continued… Standing room only! It's a tight squeeze in there. Just enough clearance above to fit a false coal load. A view of all the wiring as it emerges from beneath the bunker floor. Where to run it all? Hopefully, you can see and read the wiring legend from the accompanying sound decoder instructions. Eventually, I was able to bring chassis and body together with all wiring free and not trapped or pinched by the edges of the metal chassis. Just need to work out where those two capacitors are going to sit?

Well spotted Sir. I've also heard stories relating to the linkage pin being disconnected so that the Fireman could control the regulator from the cab of the loco. Imagine how difficult it would be for the driver in the auto coach to use the regulator from the cab of the lead coach with the loco in the middle of a 4 coach auto train. There must have been an incredible amount of slack, so I guess it was unsurprising that this practice occurred. as I have the linkage connected, I wonder if I can fit an Inspector in the cab along with the Fireman? 😄

A few pics of my scratch built cab interior for the Airfix class 14XX which I have now converted to a P4 gauged 48XX number 4851. It’s nearing completion now and I just need to solve the puzzle of fitting in the sound decoder, speaker and stay alive! Yes I know, you won’t see much with the roof on, but I enjoyed the challenge and it’s done wonders for improving my scratch building skills. That limp excuse for a pep pipe has since been replaced with a more realistic version. Firebox glow has also been installed. I also ended up having a crack at modelling the bunker wall.

Hi Keith, Wishing you the very best of luck for your move tomorrow. Hope it all runs as smooth as clockwork.

I was reminded how expensive this hobby can be if you want DCC and all the bells and whistles that go with it. I purchased the sound decoder, speaker and stay alive for the 48XX and all in it came in at £150 ouch!!! No wonder I was putting it off. Anyways, I now have all the components necessary on the work bench and its time to play around to see how it might or might not all fit in. The sound decoder is a Zimo MS500 which is the smallest in the range and I chose a minnow speaker. It was basically a case of choosing components with the smallest physical dimensions to allow me options for locating them. At first glance it looks possible that everything could be crammed into the bunker! This would be a bonus as I had originally planned for the speaker to be located in the luggage compartment of the autocoach. At one point I was hoping to use the inside of the boiler to house the stay alive circuitry but the inside diameter is just not wide enough, even though it is 30mm long. Its not all bad though as this void is ideal for adding weight for the loco. I should add that if I had thought of it at the time, I might have been able to better adapt the underside of the boiler to accept the stay alive when it was separate to the main body shell. The two capacitors and miniature PCB which form the stay alive are the biggest of the items to squeeze into the bunker so I am going to see how I can wire this in series while taking up the least amount space as possible, then go on from there. A few pics of the task ahead… That's what £150 gets you. Downward shot of the space I have to work with within the bunker. The plan is for the capacitors to be located sideways, on the right, one on top of the other. On top of them the speaker and the sound decoder on the left with the wires all passing through the narrow slot at the bottom of the bunker. Almost forgot, I finally finished the cab interior. New additions are the instrument dials, more plumbing of copper pipes, coal shovel and pep pipe hanging out of the cab side.

Thanks for sharing, those are some good tips.

Thanks for the reply on the lighting. I guess that's why all your shots look so natural, because it is. I might try taking Tyteford Halte out in the daylight for a few shots, it is small enough to do so. I also just use my my camera phone but I think I need an upgrade. I tend to get far too involved in the interior detailing side, when I should be concentrating on what actually can be seen and I am now embarking on my loco and rolling stock weathering journey. I have some way to go before I reach the standards you and some others are able to achieve.

Steve, Just catching up for the second time around, seems even better than I remembered from the first round. I love the grotty scenery just as much as the superb weathering effects you manage to achieve on your diesels and rolling stock. Can I ask about the lighting, as it comes across as very natural, adding to the atmosphere of the whole scene.

Chris, is there no end to your 3D printing talents and good to see you active again on the thread. The only reason I haven't ordered from you as yet is because I have been wasting my money on sound decoders 🤪

Another quick burst at the workbench this afternoon involved drilling 6 holes in the upper boiler case to receive 6 washout plugs (3 each side). I think that they are in the right position as I’m relying on reference photos. The other job I tackled was to re-fit the handle on the front lamp. I was able to file a flat on the side of the cylindrical top part and drill a hole through it. So far so good, then it went wrong! I broke the top off when trying to refit the handle. So a new top was made from some plastic rod to resemble the ModelU lamp and some 0.2mm wire was used to make another handle. There is a slight ridge on the ModelU lamp top which I replicated with that good ole glue n glaze, yet another use. The modified DCC Concepts working lamp with handle in correct orientation now resembles the ModelU one.

Back at the workbench again today and I managed to fit back the safety bonnet, tank fillers and vents. I also attempted to add a bit of water staining on top of the side tanks by the fillers. I then added a Model U spare lamp and from reference images, I found that most were mounted on the lamp iron with the front of the lamp facing inwards towards the boiler. That suited me as fitting the lens is a bit challenging, so fitting the lamp inwards negates the need for fitting the lens which is out of view. It will soon be time to finally order the sound decoder speaker and stay alive for the 48XX, meaning body shell and chassis will at long last become one and so a couple more things needed sorting before this could happen. First, I needed to just check that the flame flicker still worked and secondly the front headcode lamp needed to be fitted in front of the chimney. This lamp is a working one by DCC Concepts and to fit it, I drilled a 0.5mm hole through the top of the smokebox and passed the lamp wires through it. The lamp was then held in place with a blob of superglue and the wires pass through the inside of the boiler. Flame flicker still working, check! The sort of effect I was after for future cameo shots. The model U lamp looks pretty good facing inwards as per images I've seen. Testing the DCC Concepts lamp in series with a 30K resistor to show a very dim glow. One thing about these lamps are that the handle is not orientated correctly. You can see that I have removed the handle and I will attempt to drill through the top of the lamp housing to refit the handle in the correct orientation for GWR.

All the cab detailing has now been glued in place and no sooner had this been completed than... Billy and his 4 mates moved in and have made themselves at home in the cab, can you spot them? I'm also experimenting with the glazing, haven't quite cracked it yet (no pun intended).

Nice steady progress Rob, keep up the good work. Running the layout with some shunting movements should give you a good idea of where best to site the electro magnets for the uncouplers.

I have added a few more detailing bits, including the decals. For the decals I used the two-stage micro set and micro sol products. A few more coats of micro sol is still required on the buffer beams to eliminate the silvering effect. Then I couldn’t resist plonking the loco onto my old cattle dock diorama to see how it was looking. I took a few shots below… The cattle dock still looks OK, it suffered some damage, with the house move, which I have since repaired. I wonder what farmer Giles and the Stationmaster are nattering about? View from the other side. Shep seems far more interested in something he's spotted on the opposite bank. The drivers joined in. Apparently, they're all still engaged in that conversation about whether farmer Giles will get his prize bullocks to the County show in time. There's been an awkward moment, driver Jones who is a little hard of hearing on one side (hence the cocking of his head) suggested fetching a wheel barrow for assisting farmer Giles carrying his pair of prize bullocks! Oh dear, that's embarrassing, get back in the cab Jones.