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Make ADCCWreckingCraneEd ReutlingLionel has produced a pretty nice model of a wreckingcrane, and it actually operates. The problem for me, though,is that it only operates using their TMCC system and it’s athree-rail-only product. I had to have one, but I am usingDCC in 2-Rail, so it needs a lot of conversion work to suit myneeds. Here’s how I did it.Of course, the first thing to do is to carefully take it apartand see how it works. Inside, among the myriad undefinedTMCC boards, plugs and capacitors, lurked the basic componentsI was looking for. Under all those electronics weremotors (four of them) and a gear train (Photo 1).1problems. The TMCC system originally ran each of thesemotors in an on-off mode, so the more DCC savvy among usmight chose the option of using the light functions of one ortwo decoders to do the same thing here. Instead, I used fourdecoders so that each motor could be ramped up and downin the same manner that a locomotive motor is controlled.After isolating each one, I tested them for simple DC operation.They performed flawlessly, and I found my starting point(Photo 2).2I find it helps to approach one of these conversions bythinking of each motor and gear train as a separate DCCinstallation, exactly as you’d do it for a locomotive. Althoughit may not be the most elegant solution when the wholething is done, it simplifies the process into nice little solvableI then stripped out the TMCC boards and capacitors. Thecaps aren’t needed, using the newer silent running decoders.My modeling partner, Bill Ramey, suggested using a couplestyrene shelves for the decoders. This was a great idea, sothat’s what we did. The shelves were mounted to the floorwith threaded studs secured in place with Loc-tite. Each shelfis spaced out using styrene tube spacers and nuts, in the30 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’07
same manner that circuit boards arestacked (Photo 3). The decoders were3a nice pickup system, using Tomar wiperssoldered onto brass strips, Thesewere installed on the Lionel metal bolstersusing nylon screws and insulatedfrom the truck with styrene sheet (Photo6 ).6910mounted with double-side tape.I also put slide switches in place onthe pickup side of each decoder, sothey could each be isolated for programming.Photos 4 and 5 show the45Photo 7 shows how we installedKadee couplers. The original outriggers7were pulled, and a styrene plate slidin to provide a surface to secure thecoupler. Photo 8 shows the blanked off8and a small machinist’s vise. Just scoreand snap! Photo 11 shows the componentsfor the outriggers. Photos 12 and13 show the installation of the center1112decoders and switches installed. Eachmotor can be wired up to its dedicateddecoder, using the wiring instructionsfrom the decoder manufacturer, at thispoint and the decoder programmedto operate on its own address. You’llnotice I picked off one decoder’s set ofwhite/yellow wires to operate the spotlights.Now that we have the decodershooked up to the motors, it’s time tochange the pickups and wheels from 3-Rail to 2-Rail. I got a set of 36” insulatedNorthwest Short Line wheelsets intendedas drop-in replacements for Athearntrucks. They were a perfect fit in theLionel trucks. Bill Ramey came up withends covering the space for the originaltruck-mounted three-rail couplers. Ashot of Dullcote blends the patch-paintingnicely with the original color.The new outriggers were built upusing Evergreen styrene rectangulartubing, and Plastruct “H” stock. It allslides together nicely, making a manuallyoperated outrigger. Photos 9 and10 show our method for making nicesquared cuts, using an X-acto knife13May/June ’07- O Scale Trains • 31
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