I posted this little Minitrix dock tank when I got it a few months back, and had the daft idea to DCC-convert it. I doubt I'm the first to do so, but I haven't seen anyone post pictures elsewhere, so here's my latest attempt at preservation. It's also my first DCC conversion, but I wasn't too worried about making a mess of it since I paid 25 quid for the loco - and that included a trio of wagons too! 

I swapped the motor out for a coreless one too. Rather than Tramfabriek I went for the Micromotor BR89/T3 kit, as it includes a rather smart resin housing that I figured I could plonk the chip on.



The decoder used is a Zimo MX615, which must be one of the smallest ones on the market (8mm x 6mm). Don't look too closely at the soldering...!



Once it was tested and confirmed to show life, it was tucked down on the front where the bulge is (oh, matron). Then it was wrapped in leccy tape and the body test-fitted over the top. It's a snug fit, but being so small it fits nicely into the space where the capacitor and suppression coil were on the original motor.



Once I figure out what to do with the videos I took, I will post them here too - but it does work! The wheels took a bit of cleaning to get a good contact, but after running in a bit it runs like a charm. It can do slow running and it even goes pretty well over points. It's rather noisy (especially in reverse), but that will hopefully be improved with a drop of oil.

Was it worth it? Well, as mentioned I paid £25 for the loco and three wagons second hand... The decoder and motor combined were nearly double that   Then again, I'm not in this hobby to be making sensible financial decisions! And for my first conversion I'm quietly rather chuffed with it.

It has given me the confidence I need to convert my Britannia, which I really don't want to mess up as it's in much nicer nick!

Used to have the cassette tape of this. This part of the tape got stretched out.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfZPp3IF7os

Being teacher's pet, I spotted Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. Anyone else John @Train Waiting ? Not what I would normally listen to but not bad...

Tim

Very interesting John but I very much struggle to come to terms with country music I'm afraid.

The late Waylon Jennings with some absolutely fabulous support:


Does it get better?

With all good wishes

John

Quote from: crewearpley40 on Yesterday at 05:30:29 PMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cq6d421ezjdo


True legend

Just wasn't born but heard about his legendary 6 x 6s in an over

Been in the Cricketers in Swansea more than once but nowdays it's gone too and is just a rental housing block.

As well as being one of the greatest cricketers, he was someone who was respected for who he was. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him. A truly great man.

Chris

A true great.

I have his autograph on a bat somewhere, I won it in a prize draw for Essex cricketer Gordon Barker.

Martyn

Oh,man. Sorry to hear.

As the husband of a Barbadian and WI fan this one hits home.

I was lucky enough to have met him as a youngster and have never forgotten him.

RIP Gary,

Tim