{Hey, what happened to Step 3, Add All-wheel Pickup?  I moved that to a separate blog entry because it is more general and can also be applied to DC locos. Adding all-wheel pickup to brass steam locos}
 

Drivetrain...

I try to avoid driveshafts with dual U-joints, replacing the tubing is usually enough. I try to keep it simple. 

I got an old Bachmann Spectrum K4 recently from an estate sale.  It is a DC version.  I am certain it is not DCC ready.  I want to convert it to DCC sound.  Is there a how to somewhere that I can follow for the conversion?

Paul

I stole the phrase "Make it run Like a Dream" from the trilogy of books, Make it Run Like A Dream by Joe Fugate.  They have been extremely helpful for trackwork and rollingstock.  I ordered the whole set from the MRH store.  I am eagerly awaiting the third book about locomotives. 

Like I mentioned, I try to do the least disassembly – more touching means more chance of breaking or losing parts.

Our subject is a well-used PRR 4-8-2. The nickle plate is worn off the drivers and it has been repaired in several spots, but the wheels turn when you apply power, it has pretty good detail, and I could afford it.

Here is  a perfect example why you should not hard-wire everything.  From the smokebox front to the back of the tender, everything is tied up.  I can't separate the tender and loco to work on them separately.

I really appreciate all the comments and posts by other modelers. I have learned a lot from you.

I have found 50 percent of any craft is knowing how to do it right. The other half is knowing how to fix your mistakes. 

I have converted several old brass steamers to DCC, will convert more, and made a bunch of mistakes.

Through trial and error and many good articles, I found converting brass to DCC is not terribly difficult if I keep these ideas in mind:

A cafeteria tray has been the most useful addition to my workbench.

For me the most difficult part of any project is not losing any tiny screws and keeping track of the tools. The 5 items below have been especially useful for any project. The total cost was less than $15 (2018).  

In order of importance: 

In today's video we check out a members private railroad. He brought the set into the club to run at the winter open house. These cars are pure fantasy and the attention to detail is fantastic.

Hi!

The project loco is an HO scale PRR 4-8-2 Mountain type, it will get wheel wipers on the insulated drivers and insulated tender wheels. Any electrical pickup length is only as long as the shortest unit. The drivers’ contact length was less than 3”, the tender about 4”, so 3” contact length. After adding pickups to both sides of the drivers and tender trucks, the contact length was slightly more than 9”. That has to be more reliable.