Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Grant box cabs dcc install

1362 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2010
  • 60 posts
Grant box cabs dcc install
Posted by jack308gtsi on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 12:24 PM

I live in norhern suburbs of Ill. I have Grant boxcabs in hon3. I am looking for a installer to do the dcc. I have a powered custom unit by David Hoffman and a attached dummy cab ala Malcom Furlow and John Olsen. I am hopping who ever can do the install they can put pickups also on the dummy cab.

Accu-lites here in Huntley Ill does not do installs anymore. They said a man named Steve Fields in Algonquin Ill does it but they did not have the name of his company or a phone number for him. 

Ant recommendations?

 

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Saturday, September 8, 2018 6:42 AM

Well, you could go to a local club and ask members if they know a resource. Otherwise, you could try yourself. It's not that hard...

Simon

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, September 8, 2018 7:41 AM

Since no one has a local suggestion for you:  Yankee Dabbler, Litchfield Stationa and Tony's Trains do installations. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • From: About 20 minutes from IRM
  • 430 posts
Posted by CGW121 on Saturday, September 8, 2018 8:28 AM

You are fairly close to where I live, Genoa Illinois. There are several members of the club I belong to that are good at that sort of thing. Also if you go to B&G hobbies in Elgin they will sometimes instal for you. You would have to talk to them tho.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, September 10, 2018 11:15 AM

Hi Jack:

I have a suggestion regarding the box cab drive. Don't bother trying to use the Grandt Line drive system if you have the powered model. It is not very robust. Instead I would suggest using a NWSL (North West Short Line) Stanton drive. You will get much better performance.

I'm not sure of the proper wheel diameter for the box cab but you should be able to get close. Here is the NWSL catalogue. Scroll down a few pages to find the Stanton drive specs:

http://nebula.wsimg.com/02d6e40c2d04190212ed400d3ccb2472?AccessKeyId=08BEE66B97B387F20C0D&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

There is actually a lot of space inside the boxcab, enough for sound and lots of extra weight. I modified one a few years ago using a BullAnt drive from Hollywood Foundry in Australia but I'm not sure if Geoff is still building them. He had some serious back problems a year or so ago.

http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/

The Stanton drive is probably preferable because it takes up a lot less room inside the locomotive. I would call or email NWSL to see if they think one could be installed. The length might be an issue.

I'm sorry but I can't add any suggestions re who could do the install.

Here is my unfinished boxcab in action. The gear ratio is too high as you can see. I ordered 60:1. I should have ordered 30:1

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!