RC Diesel (2)... checking things out....

 More tinkering with the recently arrived RC diesel...

I removed the receiver and speed controller so I could label up key wires and check connectivity

I managed to check the lights worked properly, with some flying leads on a PP3 battery.

Finally located some information on the sound card, it is an Acme Multi-Cylinder Diesel sound card (out of production since 2019) - it just has a looped sound with volume adjust but no link input from the loco speed. The sound card works OK as per the info I have.

Next I used up some spare plasticard to provide a holder for the sound card and a simple holder for the battery pack.

 

The Tranmitter Controller, Receiver and Speed Controller are all at least 5+ years old and at least one of them is not working plus they are no longer available. I think it would be a good idea to buy new ones, which also gives me access to support if needed - so I need to identify and order replacements.

RC Diesel (1)... delving inside....

First attempt to get it running with new batteries in the Transmitter Controller, no go...

Bought a battery charger and charged the loco batteries ... still didn't work...

So desperate measures, time to peek inside, removed the battery pack (which was wrapped round with gaffer tape !), all the other bits were held together by double sided sticky strips.

Checked the Loco batteries ( 8 x 1.2v), removed them from the pack and put them on a charger - one duff battery - so that explained the non-running ??? Nope - I tried a PP3 without success

So I pulled out my old tester and started checking voltages...

I found two broken power wires between the Receiver and the Controller .. fixed these but still no joy.

Hooked up the PP3 directly to the motor input and it moves - so the motor is OK.  Investigation of the switches and tracing wires

• Front switch1 on/off power to motor; 
• Charger socket
• Front switch2 on/off charge
• Rear switch2 on/off sound card - which makes a diesel sound ! so something worked (it has its own battery)
• Rear switch2  on/off lights - which don't work

I searched online and managed to find manuals for the Transmitter/Receiver,  Controller but not the sound card.

Time to RTFM !

At worst I could have a fault in the transmitter, receiver or control card - hmm one option is to replace with new more up-to date and smaller kit.

How did those get in my 'cart'...

Aaah! the delights of looking through Ebay over Xmas period.  Browsing resulted in some nice presents to myself...

A radio control diesel loco, needs new batteries and a bit of tinkering.....

A wagon and two rather tired signals... 

plus a job lot of bits which includes figures, barrels, a phone box and two post boxes...

plenty to keep me busy😀

Fairlie easy...

The single Fairlie arrives in the 'paint shop'

it came apart nice and easy, just two screws and a nut & bolt.

The window frames on the front of the cab were nearly falling off, so I removed them and re-glued them into position.

There were no window frames on the rear of the cab, so I made up some from strips of plasticard...

There was one other bit missing, a Salter style safety valve...a bit of brass wire, plastic tube and plasticard was used to make one up....

The final paint scheme is a dark grey roof, maroon sides, boiler top and cylinder covers; black for the footplate, smokebox and water tank tops; plus two coats of gloss varnish. Out on the garage layout .....

At work on a passenger service.....

Paint shop progress....

Out of the paint shop... 

The Playmobil Diesel, which thankfully went back together fairly easily (after taking it to bits paint the loco body). Out on the garage layout in its new colour of olive green ....

I did a quick run round to check the sound and lights work properly ....

Next into the paint shop....

The single Fairlie, it looks rather dull in black so it is going to get a new look (also I'll add a missing safety valve as well).

Yellow Diesel off to the paint shop.....

I decided I wanted to paint up my yellow Playmobil diesel loco; so I thought nice and easy job to take the loco body off .... Not so easy as I thought - it took me 20 minutes 😡... I broke some of the tab clips off and finally got it all in bits ....

The chassis replaced and electrics reconnected - it still works  ! 😀. 

now to decided on a colour scheme...... it won't be yellow...

Sunny Sunday (16) ....a selection of 'brown' wagons...

After a spot of leaf wrangling around the garden; time to run a train ... today a selection of brown rolling stock. The tram loco pulls a Plateway Models van, with the new completed bogey open wagon (GRS kit) and the bogey van (also a GRS kit)....