Well guys, here is a gut pile from my latest Batt/RC conversions. We have an LGB MTS w/sound fish. And a USA Geep guppy. And a Backman carp. I’ll soon add some more to the pile, including MTH GS-4 trout, a Backman 3 finned sucker, and five or six LGB fish.
Whoa, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who has yanked a bunch of stuff out loco’s to do battery operations.
Anybody got some insight into RC/battery power (using an RCS EVO) for an Aristo RS3. This is my next project for a friend. I’m figuring I’ll be gutting a lot of it as we’re not interested in the smoke unit and sound will probably come later. We’re puzzling over where to put the battery pack so it can be removed for charging (no trailer car).
Dave
John,
Is any of that LEG MTS souns system useable in analog DC? If so, and you would be interested in parting with it, please let me know.
Andre’
Learning from the master–TOC-- I gut my fish completely when converting to Batt/RC.
TOC saves the “firebox flicker” if his customer wants.
I don’t.
I solder new and bigger wires directly to the motors, install the choke (if needed), and re-wire the headlamps.
Funny, I’m always ending up with 2 pairs of wires to start with my project instead of dozens. 
Sure, I could save flicker and smoke, but I don’t care if I use that “kid’s stuff”.
On the RS-3, she’s a little narrow for a standard battery brick, but you can have two 7.2 strips (or bricks) made up of sub C’s, or whatever it takes to make the pack fit in the engine where-ever you like.
I would prolly put a 7.2 at each end and hook them up for 14.4 and go for it. TOC can direct you.
Andre,
I’ll have to wait awhile on the distributing of the guts. Ol’ TOC dibbed them first, but I dunno whether he wants just the Backman or everything.
I have 3 more LGB MTS to gut yet.
j
John,
gutting LGB MTS - “Oh the humanity.” You have no shame. The only good part of the MTS system was that, with few limitations, it could run on analogue (its only saving grace).
The Bachmann 3 trucked shay’s guts was added to the mess.
The only thing kept was the two purple/blue wires to the headlight.
The moters’ were completely re-wired, getting rid of those rotary contacts. New larger wires with the correct color code was soldered directly to the motors.
This is a new shay, and the front rotary contact was already worn completely down. It would have failed soon.
Out came the front smokebox switches, the smoker, the flicker, and the big circuit board under the middle tender.
Those really dumb motor brushes (actually tiny little rollers wheels that will wear out and fail real quick)
were the first things tossed. Even if this wasn’t a batt/rc conversion, I would replace them with actual carbon brushes immediately!
Only 4 wires running to the rear tender where the RC/Batts are.
Runs very nice!!!
I must say I do like those truck assemblies. Very robust and easy to work on.
A Bach Heisler is up next on the gutting table, followed by a new LGB Mogul.
jb
Sheesh JB,
With all the fish guts, how are the seagulls in your neighbourhood? 
I’m feeding the ‘coons with the fish guts.
I think one is already lightin’ up when I turn on my track power!
John Bouck said:Is it tootin', too?
I'm feeding the 'coons with the fish guts. :) :) I think one is already lightin' up when I turn on my track power! :) :)