River Raisin USRA GT 0-6-0 part 2

I have completed my customization of the RR model.  Here is the final result and a quick explanation of the modifications I did.

One of the difference from the RR model and specifically to road number 7529.  Engine 7529 had no safety panels behind the foot board.  I wasn't planning on taking them out because I thought they were cast in. After a close examination, I noticed they were add-on and decided to unsolder them.  Since I was going to repaint the pilot, I then decided to add the missing poling pockets and improved the look of the coupler pocket using styrene tubing and pieces.

Another small detail that was missing is the electrical box on the front cab wall.  I used one of my own castings and fix it with ACC. 

Now back to my original plans:

Wipers for Electrical pick-up and the Cam on the Locomotive:

 I replaced the 3 small bearing cover plates on the left (insulated side) with a long piece of 1/32”  double sided PC board.  On the side up (bearing side), I solder a 0.018” thick piece to match the cover plate.  On the down side (towards the tracks), I have first drilled the holes for the mounting screws and made insulation cuts in the copper to insulate the mounting screws.  Then I made the wipers from 0.005”phosphor bronze flat sheet and solder in place.  I have solder and run a small piece of wire to connect all three wipers up to the decoder on top of the motor.

For the cam wiper, I used the brake rigs details as holder.  Again, using the 1/32” double sided PC board, I solder on side on the brake rig, behind the cam and solder a piece of phosphor bronze on the other side.

Decoder installation:

At first, I was going to install the Tsunami decoder (TSU-1000) in the tender.  After test fitting, I realized that I could fit it on top of the motor in the boiler.  Installing the decoder inside the locomotive is my favorite option for many reasons, for one, less wires between the locomotive and the tender, especially if you use the mechanical cam trigger and able to fit the speaker inside the boiler, since I also build or modify all my locomotives for all wheel pick up, it allows the engine to run by itself without the tender attached.  Not that I run my locomotives without a tender but it makes it easier during programming or test run.  Another advantage as well is to have as much as possible the wiring on the frame/mechanism and have connectors for the lights and speaker when taking off the boiler.

Boiler Modification:

I made 2 minor modifications on the boiler assembly.  The first one was to allow a close coupling of the tender and make an opening below the cab floor to run the wire harness.  To do this, I have unsolder the bumper casting.  This is not a detail than can be seen and additionally, it was oversize, probably to fill the larger than scale opening between the tender and locomotive. Then using a cut off tool and some filling, I made an opening between the 2 screw holes, large enough so that a bundle of several wires can go through.   

The second one was to open up for about 3/8” longer the wide opening of the boiler.  This was require to be capable of fitting the boiler on top of the frame with the Tsunami decoder wrapped on top of the motor.  Again, this is not a visible modification, the larger opening remains behind boiler mounted details.

Speaker installation:

The speaker with enclosure is mounted loose  inside the smoke box section of the boiler, replacing the weight.  Before doing this, I tested the pulling power of the locomotive without the weight. It could still pull a 12-car string of full length AM Pullman cars.  That’s good enough for me…..  The speaker must be installed after the boiler is assembled over the chassis, through the smoke box front.  

Here is the smoke box front where I replaced the number board with the correct CN style.

Tender modification:

First I needed the cut open the section under the tender floor, just above the frame.  This easily done with a cut off tool once the frame is removed.  This opening is aligned with the one I made on the locomotive.  I cut it wide open to allow the wire harness to move freely sideways.

Then I have added the wipers on the insulated wheels.  That was not an easy job because the retaining chain details had to be detached and it was not easy to put them back in place.   I have installed the wiper by using my own etch wiper holders and phosphor bronze wire.  I used the existing mounting screw mount of the truck assembly but replaced with a nylon screw for insulation.  I forgot to take a picture of that before putting back the truck in place and will not take them out again because of the tedious chain installation.

I have oversee one thing though, I did not revert the insulated side on the tender.  This means that the tender and boiler are not the same polarity.  This is not an issue so to speak but with a close coupling, there is always a risk of having the locomotive and tender touching in sharp curves and it might create a short.   It is not a problem on my home layout but it could on someone else or sharp sidings the workshop modules.  If I see that it become a problem, I will make the change but it means disconnecting the chains again L

 Below are additional photos of the finished model.