Why did Mike Polsgrove opt not to use a TCS CN-GP to convert his older Kato SD45? It's a much easier installation, and can be done in about a half an hour with minimal frame milling. Seems like Mike took the long way around the mountain.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Perhaps to show another way that it can be done? Also, more manufacturers make decoders besides TCS that will work. I've installed a whole bunch of them throughout the years by cutting the frame.
Thankfully, I no longer install decoders for anyone. Some customers started having unreal expectations concerning lighting, programming, etc. Wasn't worth the headache. I did it for a few LHS's for at least 10 years and did install over 2000 decoders. The layout I'm currently building is DC only...I sold all of my DCC stuff.
But he used a TCS decoder... just the wrong one!
It's only the wrong one if it doesn't work!
If it required cutting of the frame, it's the 'wrong' one - it makes the job out to be more complicated than it is. Especially in N scale where it's often tough enough ot get decoders installed.
Sure you can put anything into anything, with varying amounts of work. But if the idea is to show someone how to do this stuff and not turn them off for life because it's just way too complex, then best practices would dictate using a simple board replacement decoder whenever possible. I don't do this myself, in HO - I use TCS T1 decoders in almost everything but in HO the difference is between soldering some wires together or paying more for a board decoder that drops in and you just reconnect the wires that used to go to the DC light board. It's not an issue of milling the frame and stuff.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy's got it nailed on the head. Between Mike's overkill decoder installation, and Jim Kelly declaring that he's got regauging wheels down to "30 minutes per unit" I'm thinking, why should I bother with N scale!
All that was missing was review of a 1970's era Mehano locomotive with one truck drive, no window glazing, and open pilots with rapido couplers to really scare off the uninformed masses!
With all that said, I have to say that the staff is making an effort to reach out to the N scale crowd. The layout feature is great, and any time I see David Popp's work in the contents, I pick up a copy. So please bear with my picky nits... Overall, job well done.