The FTs will take longer to remove the couplers to get the shell off than it will take to plug in the decoder. Couldn't be easier. Good place to start. The Kato drive F's will be a bit tougher because as far as I can tell, the stock light bulb is just connected across the track pickup wires. Replacing the board with a Atlas/Kato type board repalcement decoder will give you a pair of terminals at each end in the center which you can connect the bulb to so that it can be controlled.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi!
Finally ordered decoders for some of my Stewart F & FT consists. Got the NCE DASR for 8 Stewart F units (with Kato drives), and NCE D13SRPs for 8 Stewart FT units. This will power up 4 ABBA consists, and I am really looking forward to testing them out. I ordered from Tony's Train Exchange, and have used them before. Their prices overall are about as low as you could expect, and their service/shipping are outstanding.
While I have 6 BLI Paragon locos with decoders/sound, these will be my first to install myself. From what I can tell, it should be fairly easy - but of course we will see.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central