Has anyone converted their Aristo Doodlebug to battery? Friend wants his converted, just a simple on/off switch and battery hookup. So how do you take it apart and where to tie in and disconnect the track pickups?
Boy Jerry,
I did it right after they came out. It was fairly easy, but had to build some pegs on back of the roof mechanics, so that part of the roof stayed attached when normally pulling off the roof. Isolating the track pick ups was easy. If I remember on AC’s, you just pull the rings that sit against the end of a axle like a washer. If I remember that is the wire I used to run the power for battery control. Now understand, I’ve never been one to do the selection of battery power or track power. just battery all the way. Also this doesn’t mess with lighting, but I did remove about half the cabin lights and the light in the operator’s cab. You don’t want to ruin his night vision.
I remember you need a long thin shanked Phillips screw driver to get to the screws in the four corners of the roof. I modified a smaller Craftsmen Phiilps by making the shaft longer by cutting away about half of the handle on my band saw. Still use that screwdriver for all kinds of stuff, but I don’t know if its still guarenteed for life.
I also put a small black Phillips screw in the letter board on each side, about midship, to allow to still pick it up by the roof like you would any long passenger car. Otherwise, the roof wanted to pop off when I picked it up.
G’Day Jerry.
This might be useful; http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=14045
Hello Jerry,
Yes, Robert Buck from G-Scale Installations has done a couple and I’m currently working on one.
Rick Isard
Cordless Renovations, LLC
RCS America
Jerry Barnes said:hi jerry maybe this can help you http://www.a123rc.com/category-202-b0-RC+Airplane+Battery.html
Has anyone converted their Aristo Doodlebug to battery? Friend wants his converted, just a simple on/off switch and battery hookup. So how do you take it apart and where to tie in and disconnect the track pickups?
I muddled around and got it done. Isolated the rear pickups, but unscrewing them, left the hook up to the plug in the back. Up front, I slid the doors open and isolated the plug that was the pickups and unplugged it and I had matching plugs, so had one of those soldered to the battery plug. 9.6v runs it around fine and I use the original on/off switch. No R/C on this, just flip the switch and off it goes. Not sure it will navigate my friends curves, it is a pretty long car!
I hate brnging up old threads, but i am looking at doing a battery conversion on my imagianry doodlebug I bought last year,
Jerry did you take any pics while doing this project, the other links in this thread dont work anymore
Mark you can try this. I had picked up a few on ebay with plans to try this. Inexpensive
http://trainelectronics.com/Articles/RadioControl-LED-8Amp/
I would be very careful about how you use LiPo batteries shown in the link provided by A123RC.
The general advice with LiPo’s is they should be removed from a model and charged in a ceramic container.
Here is how I did a Doodlebug battery R/C conversion a few years ago.