Example 1: Bachmann K3 with Zimo Sound and Stay-Alive - smaller kit, retaining weight

Kit: MX648 hard-wired; PowerCube9; SACC16; 8x Tantalums

K3 with body removed

The 8 pin socket is removed. The front socket posts cut off. The rear support post is cut flush with the worm cover. The worm cover is shortened and the securing screw is also shortened. The front support pillar has a slot cut into it to allow the pickup wires to pass through.

The Stay-Alive SACC16 and capacitors are assembled and attach to the decoder with insulation tape. The original motor wires have been removed replaced with lengthened decoder wires to reach the motor. The speaker is attached to the chassis with double sided sticky tape. The decoder and excess wires are pushed into the front of the boiler and the loco body re-fitted.

Photos and words courtesy of Roger Keen.

Example 2: Bigger kit in the boiler

Kit: MX645R; Lurve7; SuperCap17000uF; Nano firebox LED

This time we decide to go with a bigger speaker, which requires the larger MX645 decoder, and a SuperCap, so excellent stay-alive. To do this, the weight in the boiler has to be removed.

The decoder, speaker and capacitor are all wired up and packaged up in a neat bundle before installing - this fits very nicely into the boiler once the weight is removed. We even retain the 8pin DCC socket, so the decoder simply plugs in.

The back plate is metal, so we have to do a bit of work to insert a nano LED for the firebox glow - drill it out, insulate, and careful glue the LED into place making sure that the wire ends don't short against the metal.

Please note that these guides are provided as useful resources for you, as-is. YouChoos cannot be held responsible for errors in the information, or for any damage caused to your models or equipment if you choose to follow any of the steps detailed here.