FInally, I settled on a battery car I like!

[FJ and G]

While most use a boxcar, I have begun experimenting with a bulkhead flatcar to determine a variety of loads such as lumber, bricks, logs and pipes (the latter 2 items could be fabricated into a false front shell to allow the R/C components to be inside.

Here, you can see that I removed the cardboard shell, of which I plan to make several more and am studying prototype photos I've taken as well as others I've captured off the Internet.

(the ultimate battery car arrangement would be to have electrical contact points in the couplers of all cars with wires in the flooring. This would actually be pretty cool for all modelers to get sounds of air and wheels and squeels to each of the cars, controlled by a microprocessor and sensor, to sense for example, curves to turn on wheel squeels)

My Weaver model bulkhead trackside:





Some of my prototype photos






Bonus Hound photos

(completed the new doggy door. Just have to sand and then paint the mud. BTW, the builders had hidden an outlet under the insulation that was HOT. Good thing I located it before punching thru the wall of the house. I moved it up and out of the way and will wire the outlet soon. Nice to have a spare plug or 2. Wonder how many other hidden things there are in the house?!)

[Anonymous]

Dave the car and the trackwork are wonderful!

[FJ and G]

thanks, Matt, here's more on the conversion of the battery car and some operations

The making of a battery car…

We start with a Weaver scale bulkhead car…seems OK but would be boring to always run behind the locomotive, so…all components are held in place or on top of each other with velcro strips



We do some slicing and dicing, add some HO rails on the sides for supporting stakes…



Then we load with copper pipes; right over the R/C equipment (all below photos taken this weekend).



Notice that it’s raining out, but I had great operating sessions in the rain.



And here’s the combo… (all track in phase 1 is now layed; but there are some ballast washouts with the 10 inches of rain we had)



Note the air hose connection, which really is the R/C wiring from the battery car to locomotive, encased in shrink tube



The following scenes are a 5% spur; operating on wet rails. The train is going in to pick up some heavy diecast tank cars and a gondola loaded with real steel scrap and will back out of the spur.

Incidentally, the locomotive ran over some ballast that washed over the track and actually made it across. Cool stuff!

I ran up and down this spur; did stop and goes etc; testing the train to the limit. This winter, I’ll try some snow plowing but will need to fashion a plow.

Oh, btw, did you notice that I changed out the copper pipes in the bulkhead flatcar for some lumber? See how flexible the bulkhead flatcar battery car is?

Later, I'll fashion other types of loads like bricks, other colorful plastic covering lumber; odd type loads and loads with tarps.

Some operational scenes…










I took this shot just to show how hard it was raining; see the raindrops!



The sun came out, revealing a ballast washout and some weeds growing over the right of way. Will need to send out the tree trimming train equipment



even dead trees are appealing



Here’s a wide-angle view



Make no bones about it. R/C trains are fundelicious

[FJ and G]

new load battery car using PVC to simulate a large aluminum tube



inside



in action



ready for winter with a snowplow that I made from the section of PVC that you just saw on the bulkhead flatcar; the piece of PVC used was the cut out slit. It is angled at 45 degrees and is awaiting to be bolted to a heavily loaded gondola.

Both projects, the plow and the flatcar load, came from about 30 cents worth of PVC.

[brewbob]

Hi Dave,

What a cool layout and great ideas on battery power!  I've got the itch to start a garden layout and want to use battery powered RC rather than electric.  You've now motivated me to pursue it. 

Can you recommend the best source for RC systems and/or plans for modifying engines for this?  I need the KISS principle here, as I'm not an electronics engineer.

I live northeast of Syracuse, NY, and the snow plow would be great for winter boredom.  That's a great idea using the PVC pipe.

BTW, keep your copper pipe car locked up!  Thieves are stealing window air conditioners now due to the value of copper.  Your pipe car is a valuable commodity!

Regards,
Bob

[FJ and G]

Bob,

I'm thrilled this post helped at least one person get interested. My folks live in Gloversville (nursing home). Are you in that area, I could stop by someday.

Here's a complete description on how to do it and parts etc:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3181048701/m/6931099873

Keep in mind that I'm modeling in O gauge and the R/C I use is good for about 12 volts. I'm not sure if G gauge might need greater power; if so, there are workarounds. If you decide to go R/C for G that is dedicated to trains, keep in mind that it  will cost you more (but you'll also get more feeatures).

If you decide on O gauge, I'd recommend using larger rails than I did, which are code 148. That way, the wheels would have a bit more clearance from ballast. Code 205 or 215 would work. Actually, you could go with that for G as well.

Good luck.

[brewbob]

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the info.  I didn't realize it was O gauge.  As I've got G scale engines, etc., going to O gauge will probably result in divorce court for me.  LOL

Sending separate PM regarding Gloversville, etc.

Best Regards,

Bob