Detailing and Installing a decoder in the Life Like GP20
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ต.ค. 2024
- Locomotive Shop #1
For the first installment of the locomotive shop we will be working with the Life Like GP20. We will be installing a TCS (CN-GP) decoder. Adding details and weathering.
Note After shooting & editing, I discovered that Conrail never installed cab signals on the GP20's. I made the determination to keep the video as is and admit to my mistake rather than scrap the entire video, and loose the footage. This is a valuable lesson to be learned, do through research about the details, and never make assumptions, because these small detail part can not be undone with destroying the shell. I apologize for the mistake and will ensure that this does not happen again. Thanks for your understanding!
I just bought a Life Like GP20 undecorated and I was impressed at how nice these run!!!!
Yes. They do run surprisingly well. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I have one of these old Geeps that could use a decoder. I've done 60 some decoder installations, and those TCS CN-GPs have always given me fits. They always end of working, but it always seems to take a lot of extra effort. I blame me, not TCS!
Thanks for the input, and thanks for watching!
THANK YOU...for sharing. Like the Locomotive Shop Series.
ELSDP-45 awesome glad you like it!!
On these split board decoder, they will fit very loosely in the chassis slots. It is a universal fit and is snug in Atlas and Kato units, but on the looser fit Lifelike, you add solder to the large contact pads on the decoder board to make up the difference. Instructions cover this online for reference on this installation. They also address the lighting and direction issues with I believe CV29?
End rails would be a fairly easy build with brass wire if you don't have replacements but then you'll want to add grab irons, cut levers, etc. It won't stop and you will be super detailing the engine.
Curious how it has held up over the years.
Not well! This unit fell from the helix and was destroyed;( and before the fall it was running really bad, sticking and it needed to run at 80% on the throttle and to make 35mph. The other GP20 stopped running all together, right now I'm think about making it into an unpowered dummy. I'm also thinking about doing an update video. Bottom line, life like was just really dated technology. Back in the late 70's and early 80's they were good because there was not much else in n scale. However through the year they never invested in updating their designs. Looking back this project was doomed from the beginning
As always Joseph you bring a fresh look to the hobby, great Job.
South Brooklyn RR thanks Bill glad you enjoyed!
Great video, thanks for sharing! I like the decoder tutorial, most helpful I guess if I ever buy a Walthers geep.
I would wear soft gloves to apply pastels, just to make sure I don't put fingerprints on them, and then dullcote them just to make sure they don't wear off.
But that's just me, again, great vid, really liked it! Thanks!
Vianney from France
Vi Rogue thanks glad you liked it!
Thanks Joe , I like the look of her.
Mike
Mike Fifer thanks bud! Thanks for taking the time to watch!
Joe-Great video demo on decoder install! I do like the way the trucks turned out. "Conrust" was similar to PC dust, which was slightly rusty, kinda sandy, kinda black, kinda inky-lol...As far as cab signals go, it's your railroad and you decided they needed that-Maybe they should have!!
Ralph Greenwood as always thanks my friend!
Joe. Great video. I learned a lot. When I get ready to upgrade a loco of my own this video will surely be the reference. Thanks for taking all the time to share you expertise with us . Mike
Mlke Simmons thanks glad you liked it!
Really helpful video, considering most of my locos were purchased years before the plug and play decoders. I smiled in agreement as you talked about "Conrail Rust", a very familiar weathered trait on a lot of CR engines. I enjoy the channel.
1990s Railfan thanks for watch and glad you enjoyed!
Once again Joe great video. looking forward to your August decoder installation. I have been waiting for someone to do a video on the Tsumami sound decoder for N scale.
LS3Jack yes looking forward to doing it myself. A little nervous but I think we'll get it done!
hi Joe... Life Like still needs to upgrade but i have 2 of the gp60's that run great.. decoder install was a simple drop in... this was an awesome vid from start to finish... the unit looks & runs great.. hope you figure out the issue with the lights... who manufactures the pastels??? thank for sharing.. vinny
bnsf6951 thanks vinny. I can't remember because the labels fell off. But I do remember that it was a couple from Texas. They were at a Greenberg show selling their products.
hi Joe... i have added a link for Eric Halls BBCv2... if you have a minute would go to this FB page & vote for my entry... i would appreciate it... you may have to join the group to vote... thank you sooo much vinny....i am BNSF6951 in the voting poll...facebook.com/groups/IMRROcomBBCv2/
Yet another great video Joe. Especially like the decoder install in the GP 20 which was if nothing timely and informative as I have 6 of these Life Like models and intend to fit decoders to them. I had intended to use Digitrax DZ123(?) type decoders but I may investigate the TCS Decoder as well. You have given me the extra confidence to attempt this job.if I my make a suggestion regarding when you are working on the loco. I found often the area you worked on was either obscured by your hand or off screen. possibly a over head camera angle would be better?Please don't take this as a criticism as the video was done well as we have come to expect from you.Also enjoyed the weathering with the pastel colours.Once again thank you Joe.Neil W.
Niel,
I installed several of the DZ123 decoders - hardwired. I chose these for my the older lifelike alco PAs because they had a front light bulb...NO rear light. However with the gp20 etc models - Installing new lights , then fitting them in , adds another level of frustration. For the alcos I had to remove some of the metal fromr the rear weight to fit the decoder. The decoder Joe uses are slimmer and include the leds ! Certainly the way to go for these later model diesels. The work is tedious to get the wires etc to fit in the frame, but by no means difficult. Good luck !!
TheNWPerry thanks for the suggestion. Next segment I will do more over head shot for sure! With the Like Like products I found that drop in decoders have issues because the brass tabs on the motor always slide when you put the shell on causing loss of contact. Then the locomotive will not run and you have to disassemble it to fix it. Royal pain in the as*!
Another great video Joe, thanks for sharing you're N scale layout user friendly Loco Workshop
Rod Purtell glad you enjoyed thanks for watching!
Some spots when you where soldering we could not see. Thanks for the information on how to wire dcc.
BN1941 yes sorry about that I will try to make that adjustment for the future!
Nice work, Joe. You don't need glasses yet? 😉
Bertus Duiverman haha. Thanks for watching!
Joe, another outstanding video. Your segments are always informative and enjoyable in their format and content. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to produce the videos. As always I'm looking forward to the next installment!
dexterdog62 and as always thanks for watching glad you are getting something out of them, it makes it worthwhile for me to hear that!
Another great video Joe! I assume, since we really couldn't see it, you tinned the wires with solder then just did a quick heat of them onto the solder pads on the decoders, right? Great to see the start to finish on a decoder install and weathering on a locomotive, very few of these type of videos out there, especially N scale. Can't wait to see how you attack the sound decoder installs. - Phil
Conrail1996 thanks Phil!
Joe, Great intro video for DCC installs and weathering. The channel is really the best series out there. As always looking forward to the next update !! Keep up the good work !.
ixopop thanks you so much, that's great to hear! Thanks for your continued support!
Thank you. I enjoyed this video. If you want to email me. I have a rear hand rails set for that GP20 engine. You can have them. I used the shell for another project. They may even be the right color. Thanks again. You do good work.
Vincent Sanders thanks for watching. I will contact you privately!
Here is my email. Vman7757@comcast.net
Joe, I really liked this video..this was very helpful to my situation. I am still a DC guy on the fence with DCC. I know that I will make that move in the future..so, seeing you make this conversion was great. I have Life Like locos myself.. What I've been trying to decide If I would be better to replicate what you've done here..or buy new ready to go locos..and switch my bodies on to them. Very few of my locos have flywheels..so, even converted they will only run so good.. great video.. Tom
Overland Transportation System well I your older locomotive don't have the fly wheel I would consider it. Or you could replace the motors with say a kato! I think the flywheels really help. Also Walthers owns Life Like now is manufacturing n scale locomotive using their designs, so you might want to investigate that. My walthers GP38 is very similar inside. Once you make the switch to DCC you will not regret it!! It adds to operations for sure! The cost factor and converting your locomotives always is the biggest thing that makes everyone debate it. I think it's worth it!
That was great!!....
Giulius71 thanks glad you enjoyed!
Joe,
A sharpie marker would have been a simpler way to hide those shiny screws. I use it frequently.
Bill
William Arseneau thanks for the tip ( I will try it next time) thanks for watching.
I have a few SP & SPSF GP20's that need Decoders installed :) hint
IMRROcom interesting contact me and we could discuss.
Great info vid Joe im sick with the flu and your vid made my day,,,, keep em coming,,,check out my ethanol plant when you can,,,Gary
gary wise hope you feel better thanks for watching!
Great video Joe, I never had any luck with Life-Like, had a GP60 but never run right. Hope you get your lights working. Bob, Longshadowsmodeltrees.com
Widi1956 thanks for watching.