Adding a smoke generator........Hard or Easy?

[Anonymous]

I just bought my daughter her first train for X-mas. but I wanted to add a smoke generator before I give it to her. How hard is it? I read the instructions at www.lgboa.com and it sounds fairly easy. Should I take it to a shop and have them do it or do it myself. Any advice whould help.....Thanks

[bman36]

Dodgerfan,
What exactly did you purchase? I'm guessing LGB from the reference to the website. How handy are you with small tools? If you are comfortable with taking a loco apart then you can do it at home. Our largest train store here does not do it's own installs as far as I know. So who does it go to? A hobbyist of course. Tell us what you have. Someone here will have done it already or will direct you. The 25th is coming quick so don't delay! Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

First off, are you SURE the locomotive you bought doesnt have one already? Almost everything from LGB regular line has a factory installed smoke gen in it .[?]

Second, if your sure it doesnt, make sure the loco you bought can have a smoke generator installed in it, not all of them can. I beleive that their TOYTRAIN line doesn't support a smoke generator on any of those engines. Its one of those cost/value tradeoffs. I could be wrong though.

Like the B-man above I'm assuming you've bought an LGB locomotive, a starter type set without the gen and you want to install an LGB smoke gen in it.

If so then it should be easy to install. All that should be needed is to follow the instructions that come with the generator, or use the web info , whichever is more complete. LGB is pretty thorough with there instructions with thier products. Be MOST carefull with unplugging or reworking any electrical wiring. Thats where most disasters occur.

If its NOT an LGB loco and you want to install an LGB smoke gen in it, I WOULD NOT do it myself unless you have experience with model train electronics. Contact your LHS (local hobby shop) or local Garden Railroad Club and ask their advice. There may be better choices for smoke generator for your specific engine and maybe they can hook you up with someone experienced that can do a professional job installing it you.

Good luck! and Goooo ANGELS!... I mean DODGERS![;)]