Loksound 73100 in an N Atlas MP15DC

[Steveruger45]

Nicely done Jim.
I’ve wanted one of these locos for a while but never liked the stock motor, now I’m re-interested.
It does  look like there is space enough for caps by the motor, maybe two 100 uF 20v (the thin ones about 2mm high) each side of the motor being sure they are properly insulated of course.

[peteski]

Another very clever variation of decoder, and a new motor install.  Well done Jim.

[Jim Starbuck]

Nicely done Jim.
I’ve wanted one of these locos for a while but never liked the stock motor, now I’m re-interested.
It does  look like there is space enough for caps by the motor, maybe two 100 uF 20v (the thin ones about 2mm high) each side of the motor being sure they are properly insulated of course.

Thanks guys,

I had the same thought but the caps are just slightly too thick. Would have been cool though.
There’s room in the cab for a 9x16 speaker ( I think @Chris Broughton put one in his conversion) but the 8x12 puts out plenty of volume plus I already had the enclosure so stayed on that route.
Remotoring this mech even if you didn’t want sound or even DCC for that matter is not terribly difficult. Atlas did a very fine job on these models. Too bad the stock motor is rather puny.

[peteski]

Remotoring this mech even if you didn’t want sound or even DCC for that matter is not terribly difficult. Atlas did a very fine job on these models. Too bad the stock motor is rather puny.

So so this even-smaller coreless motor has more torque?  It likely revs higher than the original motor, but that is not something desirable for a switcher.

[Jim Starbuck]

So so this even-smaller coreless motor has more torque?  It likely revs higher than the original motor, but that is not something desirable for a switcher.

I’m not sure what this motor puts out in torque but it plays quite nicely with the ESU decoders. It can be made to turn extremely slow.
I have four switchers with this motor installed and just for giggles I timed the slow speed using one tie spacing on Kato Unitrak for the distance benchmark. The distance measures .202” or less than 1/4”.
Each of the engines will walk away with at least 12 50’ MT cars with Fox Valley wheelsets. (The S2 and MP15 will do more like 18 )
Each one was timed at speed step 1 on a DT400 throttle.

Here’s how they did:

Arnold S2   3.88 seconds
LifeLike SW9/1200.  3.8 seconds
Altas MP15.  4.22 seconds
And the best slowster of all is the HH660 with a bashed Atlas S2 chassis at 6.37 seconds.

I know that’s a very small distance to cover.as a test. I have a formula to figure scale speed but it requires timing the engine over 36””. It’s late and I need to get up early so more testing later.
There are several other factors involved here too but whole point is that the motor seems to deliver a nice amount of torque at very low rpm.

Jim

[peteski]

There are several other factors involved here too but whole point is that the motor seems to deliver a nice amount of torque at very low rpm.

Jim

Interesting. Thanks Jim.

[Jim Starbuck]

A short video

/>
On the slow speed test the engine maintained .44 smph according to the Stony Smith speed calculator.
12:29 to travel 36”