converting an aristo-craft loco to r/c

[Sylvian Tennant]

Has anyone ever converted an aristo-craft 0-4-0 switcher loco (or an aristo-craft loco in general) from rail pick up to to remote control. if so, how did you go about it?

[tom_tom_go]

I do not see why this cannot be done. Do you have the loco yet? Might be worth taking it apart and seeing what is inside and how much space you have.

Cannot recommend Deltang R/C enough for your project. Rik is ridiculously helpful:

www.rctrains.co.uk

[Sylvian Tennant]

Yeah... in fact it was the first one i bought when I got into garden railways I was just not huge on the remote control powering the track instead the loco directly.

I've just bought another which I think has just arrived. I saw an article years ago but it has since vanished into the mists of the internet.

I have seen a lot of rik's work and very impressed in fact - I am taking some pointers from his signal project (though that's a different story)

[ge_rik]

Thanks for the plaudits guys. I've not converted one of these myself but I'm sure it has been done by someone. As Tom says, you really need to take it apart to see how much space you have inside. The greatest problem will be finding sufficient room for the batteries - if you do go down the Deltang route then the electronics take up very little room.

This chap seems to have done a few Aristo locos - though none as small as a switcher - http://ovgrs.org/the-trains/battery-pow ... and-sound/

Quite happy to work theoretically through various options as a fellow modeller if you want to PM me.

Rik

[bazzer42]

I've batteryfied an lgb schoema albeit with a 7/8th bonnet but that runs ok on six AA batteries. I followed the Peckforton (GE Rik) wiring guide and quite easy to do. I think GE Riks pre-wired loom is a bargain and will treat myself to one when I get round to Deltanging the Ruston and not spending money on family cars
You might be able to make more room in the critter (?) By using the cab space and have a legless driver..

[Sylvian Tennant]

Oh thank you Rik

(well thank you everyone) in regulars to the space - I'm planning building an entirely new body in the shape of a Saddle Tank to reflect the Bagnalls Victor/Vulcan. The other one may be based on a USATC S100 so would keep it's boiler at the very least. (which is where small spaces are a distinctive possibility) However body locos have tanks and bunkers which could hide batteries and the likes.

I will take you up on that offer Rik if that's okay. I won't lie - your blog is defiantly the go to place (interestingly enough do you still deal with T & M models?). Currently I've spent probably more than I should have been allowed on garden railway equipment this semester and I'd need to take a look at the mechanism as suggested.

Originally I was going to consider cannibalising a cheap RC car but I'd rather have speed control.