Briggs Models MLW RS-3 Build Thread

[BCR 570]

Painting & Finishing

The three RS-3s are out of the paint shop.  As per the reference photographs posted earlier in this thread, I opted to model PGE 567 still in the PGE map herald scheme, and BCR 570 and 574 in the dogwood logogram scheme.  Prior to painting, Jeff printed and installed the replacement rear side handrails, replaced the bells with corrected prints, and installed the end handrails and the MU hoses I fashioned from Precision Scale Co. brass parts.

After painting, the engines were decaled with logograms and stripes from the Microscale decal set, and end numbers, cab numbers and number boards rendered by fellow RW member and BCR modeller Philippe Whyte.  There was considerable variety in the typeface for these numbers and the custom decals have added an additional level of fidelity to the prototype.

After decaling, Jeff applied weathering based on the reference photographs.  Here are some photographs courtesy of Jeff, which were taken prior to final touch-ups including painting the MU hoses black:








I was unable to photograph these myself as I received them at the Victoria Train Show and then handed them off to Dave MacKinnon for the digital work.  I will take some portraits when they come home.

A huge thank you to Jeff for the great paint, decal and weathering work, and to Philippe for the custom decals.


Tim

[BCR 570]

DCC Sound Installation

As mentioned, the engines are now with Dave Mackinnon www.detailsnscale.com for installation of decoder, speaker, capacitance and lighting.  Following John Colombo's lead, I have standardized on the ESU Micro Select decoder which offers excellent sound quality and superior motor control.  I purchased three decoders pre-loaded with sound file #73801 for the ALCO 244 prime mover.  They will be programmed for the K3H horn.  The decoders look like this:




I use the 8x12 speakers and I followed John's tutorial in building the styrene enclosures.  These three were built with lower ends and sides specifically for the RS-3 installations:




My first locomotives to be converted to DCC received 220u capacitors and experience indicated that additional capacitance would result in an even higher level of performance.  For later conversions we have installed two 220u capacitors for a total of 440u, and that has been successful enough that I am now cycling the older conversions  through a refit for second capacitor.  With this much capacitance, it is often necessary to disconnect it while programming the decoder.  Here is a pair of the 220u capacitors:




These installations will follow John Colombo's tutorial for his own RS-3 installation, which can be seen here:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31953.0

Dave will also install the LEDs and lenses for the main headlights and auxiliary lights.  All being well I should see the engines back home sometime this summer.


Tim

[mandealco]

Very nice work on the RS-3s Tim. Well done.
Steve

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Those look awesome!

[craigolio1]

Excellent progress Tim. I really like the colours Jeff uses.

Have you or anyone come up with a way to conveniently disconnect the caps for programming purposes, without disassembling the loco and messing with wiring and tape and such?

Perhaps run the cap wire down under the fuel tank and allow it to be disconnected there some how by just removing the fuel tank?

Craig.

[philippe.whyte]

Very handsome models Tim!  Jeff has done an excellent job with the painting and weathering.

Have you or anyone come up with a way to conveniently disconnect the caps for programming purposes, without disassembling the loco and messing with wiring and tape and such?

I don't yet have a lot of experience but it may not be necessary to disconnect the capacitor.  The capacitors we are fitting on n scale locos are relatively small and might not interfere with programming.  I have had success making simple CV changes on my C-420 that has the same 2 x 220 microfarad still connected to the decoder.  Your mileage may vary.

[peteski]

Very handsome models Tim!  Jeff has done an excellent job with the painting and weathering.

I don't yet have a lot of experience but it may not be necessary to disconnect the capacitor.  The capacitors we are fitting on n scale locos are relatively small and might not interfere with programming.  I have had success making simple CV changes on my C-420 that has the same 2 x 220 microfarad still connected to the decoder.  Your mileage may vary.

You can also add a choke (coil) in series with the caps.  I described this on one of my DCC section threads.   I'll try to post a link to it later.

Looks like Craig started a separate thread on this (in the appropriate forum). 
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=47097

[narrowminded]

Painting & Finishing

The three RS-3s are out of the paint shop.

Tim

The efforts were huge as were the results.  Excellent!!!

[BCR 570]

Thank you all.  Interesting discussion on the caps.  I read somewhere about someone concocting a little switch for such purpose but can't remember where.  It hasn't been necessary to reprogram a locomotive yet, and the caps do not seem to impede POM in any way; I reset CV54 to 0 today for BEMF on several units without any issues.

Tim

[peteski]

Thank you all.  Interesting discussion on the caps.  I read somewhere about someone concocting a little switch for such purpose but can't remember where.  It hasn't been necessary to reprogram a locomotive yet, and the caps do not seem to impede POM in any way; I reset CV54 to 0 today for BEMF on several units without any issues.

Tim

Tim, the caps will never affect POM - only programming on programming track.

[BCR 570]

Tim, the caps will never affect POM

Correct; the caps are primarily of concern when loading sound files onto the decoder, which is done with the Lok Programmer. 

Tim

[peteski]

Correct; the caps are primarily of concern when loading sound files onto the decoder, which is done with the Lok Programmer. 

Tim

Or like I said, any CV programming on programming track (on any DCC system, not specifically ESU LokProgrammer).

[BCR 570]

Work is now underway on the DCC installation for the three RS-3s; 570 is the first to receive its decoder, speaker, capacitors and lighting.  The first step in the process is to disassemble the locomotive and mill the frame to accommodate the decoder, speaker and capacitors.  Dave sent me these photographs of the frame halves for 570 after milling was complete:

Front Left View




Rear Right View




The frame halves have been milled according to the tutorial posted by John Colombo, with one exception:  At the front end there is an extra step down to accommodate the two capacitors which will be double-stacked.  The extra step means that the top of the capacitors will be level with the top of the speaker enclosure right behind them.  The decoder will sit at the rear.  No sanding of the inside of the shells will be necessary.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Programming and installation of the DCC components in the first of three RS-3s is nearing completion, and Dave sent along this video of the first test run for BCR 570.  The sound file is #73801 for the ALCO 244 prime mover and the horn is a K3:

Dave was able to fit two 220u capacitors under the hood so these will have the same total capacitance of 440u as my other locomotives.  Work is now underway on the second unit, PGE 567.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Dave Mackinnon has completed the decoder / lighting / sound installations on my three MLW RS-3 locomotives.  These were challenging installations due to the relatively small space available for installation of components.  Dave largely followed the tutorial provided by John Colombo, with a further modification at the front end to accommodate two capacitors.  The installation comprises an ESU LokSound V4 Micro Select decoder programmed for the ALCO 244 prime mover and K3 air horn, an 8x12 speaker in a custom styrene enclosure which I built according to John's specifications with a slightly lower height for the RS-3 installation, and the two capacitors which are 220u 16v for a total of 440u capacitance.

There are two other modifications to John's original RS-3 installation.  For some time, Dave has been wanting to attempt working inspection lights below the frame on one of my installations.  It is somewhat amusing that it turned out to be the smallest units in my fleet, but he has succeeded.  The LEDs for the inspection lights are run down small tubes attached to the side of the frame inside the cab area.  The other modification is the LED for the cab light which stands up above the chassis in order to clear the shell extending through the cab.

Here are two photographs of one of the finished digital installations which Dave took upon completion:






As you can see in the photographs, the capacitors and speaker are installed up front, and the decoder and resistors  are at the rear.


The finished locomotives arrived home today, and will be posed for photographs shortly.


Tim