Nick, You're right as it contains the Train Control Box. On some K4's it was mounted under the running board on the engineers side. Contained the radio electronics for being able to communicate to both towers and rear end via telegraph/ telephone wires. And it also controlled the cab visual signals that coincided with the block signals via the rails. The PRR was quite unique to implement all that "back in the day."
Poppet valve were tested briefly on only 1 K4 and the results were amazing!
Andy Edleman former VP Marketing MTH released this video awhile back explaining what all has transpired at MTH during the last year(s).
I expect to see more One-Gauge from the new MTH but it will all be BTO (Build To Order). Trainworld had some new MTH One-Gauge tank cars listed as a BTO offerings a month or so back but they've removed them as they probably sold out already. I inquired with Andy @ Prime Mover about maybe "piggybacking" onto that order with our own special run cars and was told too late as the Trainworld cars are already in production and due to ship in April 2022.
Nick, Scroll clear down at the very bottom of the page where it says themes. Left click on that and the theme panel opens. I'm set on Christmas (Here Comes Santa).
I wish somebody would make a 1:29 NYC Niagara as those were the ultimate 4-8-4 design! And I would say the pinnacle of steam in America as all further advancements stopped. Then again the N&W J's were very impressive along with the SP GS-4.
The Niagara's boiler was capable of generating 8,500 hp of steam...way more than the cylinders could consume.
Well here's a kinda crappy video of mine. I need a smartphone holder so videos aren't shaky.
Oh I forgot to mention that the instruction manual says to refill smoke unit with 1/2 ounce smoke fluid. It'll take that as the reservoir is huge! I use MegaSteam. The coal and pine scent is nice!
Well I've been having problems with the smoke unit on this thing. I'll start explaining here.
Do not exceed 24V DC!!
And here...
And here...
Okay, I get it...Do Not Exceed 24V DC.
What mine does is with 22V DC on rails according to the volt meter via a Bridgeworks MAG25TDR and confirmed with a multimeter is after say a few minutes of use the smoke control board shuts down. To reset kill the track power and re-apply. Then it works fine for a few minutes and shutsdown.
The Marklin BR50 instruction manual states that after 5 minutes their smoke units will shutdown and need a re-boot. Is that relevant?? I don't know except the 2 smoke units look very similar.
Okay if I turn down track power to say 16V DC the smoke unit is happy and will stay on until unit runs dry or I've had enough smoke inhaling indoors and shut it off.
I removed the smoke unit operating board and put under a 12X stereo microscope to read the chip numbers. Ends up the board design utilizes PWM with timer and temperature circuits among many others. I think a glitch in the programming is causing it to prematurely shut down. Mike @ USAT parts said "no parts available" and "no idea as to reflashing the firmware"...typical for that outfit.
Since my trains run in a command control environment with track power anywhere from 22V to 30V keeping power under 16V is unacceptable. So I added a Buck Converter between the smoke board input and power switch. It's set at 16V output and now smoke unit is happy!
I do see the smoke output varying from good full smoke to partial then back to full. I did find the instructions, free software and hardware needed to access the main chip on electronics but I'm not a programmer.
Here's the smoke control board....
The twenty pin board in center is main culprit. If anybody wants to know it's a 063AC voltage regulator.
Here I added a adjustable Buck regulator under the driveshaft.
Good for 24V DC my ass. Then again the manual doesn't specifically state what the smoke system max voltage is rated.
Nick, Could be just copied by the chinese! As far as replacement parts from USAT well think I can come up with them. Smoke heaters just order same size/ ohm in wire wound resistors, put in vice and crush off the porcelain. Thermistors just cross reference at Digi-Key which I already did. Gaskets well you know...homemade! Fan motors I'm sure can cross reference.
.png.a4fb2273837361b3bbaa7a1d8a4c8996.png){kind=logo}
(149xauto-130).gif.067990352f01d5c948df18827a12623f.gif)
.png ":Slightly_Smiling_Face_Emoji(24x24):")
.png ":Angry_Emoji_large(24x24):")
.png ":Smirk_Face_Emoji_large(24x24):")
.jpg.f2ba77eed8be2bda92e49abb6674adba.jpg)
.png ":Thumbs_Up_Hand_Sign_Emoji_large(24x24):")
Lighting up a K4
in Live Steam
Posted
Nick, You're right as it contains the Train Control Box. On some K4's it was mounted under the running board on the engineers side. Contained the radio electronics for being able to communicate to both towers and rear end via telegraph/ telephone wires. And it also controlled the cab visual signals that coincided with the block signals via the rails. The PRR was quite unique to implement all that "back in the day."
Poppet valve were tested briefly on only 1 K4 and the results were amazing!
Starting about here they explain how it works.