Hornby Rivarossi Big Boy

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 I purcheased a Rivarossi Big Boy from Micromark a few years back, can anyone tell me if this loco is DCC compatable or not? If so how in the heck do you get the tender shell off?  I've studied this thing under a magnifiing glass and it doesn't seem like it wants to come apart even after removing the trucks etc.

 

Thanks

[simon1966]

Yes it can, I did it to an older pre Hornby version.  From what I understand they did not change the model very much.

The Tender shell is an absolute bear!  Fist of all, it is a hollow tube.  It only opens from the ends.  You have to remove some of the grab rails and then gently try and pry one of the ends off the tender.  They are glued in, just to make it hard.  I was able to get mine apart without doing any significant damage to it.  I installed a Heavy steam Tsunami and put the speaker facing up under the coal load.

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 Good to know, I actually got an email from Hornby just a few minutes ago telling me that the NMRA plug is located under the boiler. Which is all well and good but how much room is there in there for a sound decoder bet no where near enough so this looks like it's going to be a fun one.

He attached the service document in a PDF file so if anyone wants it just email me or send a pm and I'll get it off to you.

[simon1966]

There is no way a monster size decoder like a Tsunami is going to fit inside the boiler, let alone a speaker.  The NMRA plug must be one of the new things about the model, because there sure was not one in mine.

[Graffen]

I would recommend to make room for the decoder in the boiler. it will pull like crazy even if you would take some of the weight off. As for the placement of the speaker, I think I would place it in the cab roof pointing down or possibly in the tender coupled via some two pin connector.

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

I'm gonna talk to the DCC guru today at my LHS and ask about putting an N scale decoder in there being as it may be a tight fit. We'll just have to crack her open and see. The idea of a speaker in the tender linked by a pair of wires with a two pin plug is a probably the best idea. My Big Boy well at least this one if a Hornby purchased in 2005 you know the Italian versions built in China where else would it come from. I have a bunch of the old AHM junk that has been relegated to dust collection duties. I have come to the conclusion after spending a pile of money and trying everything out there they have too many shortcomings to be worth anything more. Maybe dead solders in the engine facility are a more dignified existence.