Athearn Blue Box Dash 9 DCC Upgrade - Full Walk Through

[@alberthofer679]

Hi Dave, put a little bit of dish soap or oil on the mounts when removing and installing the motor mounts. That seams to work. Hope this helps .

[@davecrosson5018]

NIce, you got the lights and details on too!

[@ScottRails]

Yes, it just looked a bit dead without the lights etc.

[@johnbanicki7232]

Very good job adding the DCC. I have a bunch of these to do. Thanks for sharing.

[@BriansModelTrains]

Great job as usual. I have been able to 3d print (FDM) Athearn motor mounts successfully.

[@MrCrankyChris]

Hi Dave, a good instructional video, it will give me the confidence to fit DCC in some Athearn and Walthers locosI have, I just need to source the appropriate decoders here in the UK, shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll be interested in the led fitting as well so I hope you’ll do a video of that as well, no pressure!

[@ScottRails]

I'll do an led install video on the next one. The short wires on this decoder made it a bit fiddly and difficult to film.

[@MadsArk]

Thanks, just what I've been searching for. Im about to put a sound decoder into my BCOL #4641. And while at it, she'll probably get a differet cab too, as she should resemble a C44-9WL, as I've only recently learned. Thanks, Dave!

[@w.rustylane5650]

Nice live stream last night. Probably need to use a little lube on those motor mounts to ease in motor removal. I only have one Atlas engine that is DCC ready & I'll never use the DCC function since I do DC only. Cheers from eastern TN

[@timothyrose4052]

"That's what she said"....there's a phrase you don't often hear in a model train video. LOL 😄

[@MissouriRailroadProductions]

The tutorial on what colors of wire goes where was very helpful

[@majmikecalnan]

Good, clear tutorial. Acid flux should never be used with electronics. Use rosin core solder instead. 👍

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

JerseyBill is impressed with the ease at which you did the conversion. The Suttell hints like the temperature of the soldering iron when connecting to the steel parts and the brush plate swap were ideal. Great video as usual. JP where are you?

[@WWIIREBEL]

Great install!. Still Subscribed and will keep eyes open for the YT shenanigans going on.

[@ScottRails]

Thanks, and Happy Birthday!!!

[@WWIIREBEL]

@@ScottRails LOL!! Ty !!

[@arlingtontrains7]

When in a lashup, no need for second unit to have its headlight on, great video

[@YourLocalRailfan]

BCOL 4642 actually has the four windshields I know because I’ve seen the prototype

[@ScottRails]

Yes, but that was a different loco. I think this one is a fantasy paint scheme.

[@Corky3D]

Yup the real BCOL 4642 is classified as a Dash 9-44CWL. It has the Canadian comfort cabs, compared to standard GE North American Safety Cab. Although back when Athearn produced these in the early 2000's they didn't make new molds for the Canadian cabs. Later years they did offer the Dash 9's with the Canadian comfort cab in the Genesis line, although that was retired.

[@terrytraina6080]

Gotta love the BC rail loco's !! Great video Dr. Dave !!

[@raybertelsen6090]

Nice tutorial Dave

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

WELL DONE DAVE

[@caboosech]

Great video Dave

[@BriansModelTrains]

🎂Happy Bithday!

[@Parktonman]

Good video Dave. I am sure great help for beginners. You can cut those body clips off. The couplers will hold the shell on. I think the tape holds the fuel tank sides on. Glue a much better idea. Check out Dean Park Model Railroad, another Scottish Model Railroader. Keep up the good work!

[@LyntreeTown20132]

Brilliant Install Tutorial - Thank You

[@philhamsher3977]

Did you speed match them? If so, how did you do it? Great video as usual..

[@ScottRails]

Not speed matched, just manually controlled. They are both the same model of Athearn, so the gearing is very similar.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Great video, I have some locos to install dcc onto. Is sound a second chip? And is there room for both or do they make combo dcc/sound chips? Thanks again for sharing!

[@ScottRails]

Sound would be a different decoder, and more than twice the price. If I'm going to add sound, it will need to be a good quality, which is four times the price, hahaha.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

@@ScottRails Appreciate the prompt response. To ensure I'm mentally grasping this if want sound, it would be a separate chip that is both dcc and sound together so one more expensive chip, or is it a separate chip entirely so need one of each (ie dcc chip, sound chip). Thanks again, new territory for me but after watching your well put together video, think I can give it a go!

[@ScottRails]

@@MRR_Shadowolf Completely separate chip. I have a couple of budget sound locos and I would recommend spending a bit more money to get a better quality sound decoder. Also, from my own experience, I get annoyed with the sound after 5 minutes of constant running. It's great for horns, bells, brake noises etc, but if you are running trains in loops, it might be a waste of money for that droning sound.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

@@ScottRails many thanks!

[@peterwebster3076]

Jobs a good un dave

[@caboosech]

Oh god you broke it lol

[@caboosech]

That's what she said lol 😅😂