How to open a BB 22200 from LS Models

 

I'm starting a series of videos on how to open engines and I'll make those videos public on YouTube. Hopefully, it will help others:

Digitization of BB 22258RC from LS Models

 

This engine is a BB 22200 with the PACA region livery; you may ask "why the PACA livery while you do the north of France". Here's why:

https://lapassiondutrain.blogspot.com/2020/10/bb-22256-provence-alpes-cote-dazur-sur.html

Here are the references:

• LS Models 10436 - BB 22258 RC
• ESU LokSound V5 Sound TMC - link

Opening the BB 22258RC engine

Opening this model is supposed to be easy: no screws, just move the body away above each bogie. Except for a cable on each that is connecting the body to the chassis:

Luckily, it was pretty easy to detach those, by sliding a flat screwdriver at the top and separate it slowly from the body. It didn't seem to be glued and would come off quite easily.

Once those two cables are separated from the body, I was able to pull/stretch the body from the chassis above each bogie:

You'd think the manufacturer would provide such details, but no. Here's a link to the manual.

Installing the decoder

To install the decoder, I have to remove the dummy decoder on the left and position the speaker in the round spot on the right hand side:

Since the decoder from Train Modelisme came with the speaker soldered to the decoder, I need to unsolder those and solder the round speaker onto the main circuit board as explained in the manual:

Testing the sound decoder

And here's how it looks (sounds) now: 

And when putting everything back together:

Digitization of BB 75022 VFLI from Rails Models Creation

 

Another amazing creation from Rails Models Creation; this time it is the BB 75022 VFLI:

https://lapassiondutrain.blogspot.com/2020/05/quelques-circulations-hazebrouck-du-27.html

The base is an Os.Kar 1538 model:

Even in analog, the engine is running beautifully:

I equipped this model with an ESU LokPilot V5 decoder purchased from Train Modelisme. To open the engine, there is a small screw underneath each bogie, so 4 in total:

And a final test in digital:

AGC X 76500 Nord Pas-de-Calais from Rails Models Creation

 

In a previous post, I included a video from YouTube of an X76500 NPDC leaving the Ascq train station! I'm uber happy to now own that AGC model, with the identical numbers X 76709/76710!

The transformation was done by Rails Models Creation from an LS Models 10078 model with the sound decoder from ESU purchased from Train-Modelisme.

I had to update the names and icons of the functions on the ESU ECoS from this document, and here's the command screen:

And finally, here's how it looks - at the end I'm testing the interior lighting:

Consist of two Piko engines BB 460000 - part 2 (partial success)

 

After the relative failure of my previous attempt described here, I'm now trying with two decoders from the same manufacturer and the same "source". I've purchased a sound decoder and a no-sound decoder from Train-Modelisme:

• Décodeur sonorisé 2 rails pour BB 4600000 SNCF PluX22, sonorisé TMC Bastiani - link
• Décodeur ESU Lokpilot PluX22 pour 60000 Piko - link

Speed matching

I installed both decoders and ran a running test, and - thanks to my awesome test stand - I could see that both engines are running in a very similar fashion; I, therefore, do not feel like further speed matching is necessary.

Command consist

Following the video from the previous post, I'm going with a "command consist". It means that both engines will have different addresses and that none will have a value in CV19. The consist will be created and operated from the ECoS Command Station.

When testing the consist, here's what I get:

The video is not super helpful because we cannot really see the lights and the running is not smooth. This last aspect is quite surprising because when I run those engines through the ESU LokProgrammer, it is very smooth, but not with the ECoS. I will have to investigate further once I can run the engines on the layout - hopefully, nothing is wrong with the ECoS!!

Consist functions

As you can see on the screenshot above, the command consist displays the functions from the first engine; in my case the functions from the sound decoder. Unfortunately, the no-sound decoder has a very different function mapping - see below. Therefore, as it stands F1 starts the sound on the sound decoder and starts the red lights on the no-sound decoder. In short, I cannot independently control the functions from the command consist.

Functions for sound decoder

Functions for no-sound decoder

After a little research, I've found a working solution based on the following video:

The idea is to add a consist function on the sound decoder and use it as an indicator on the no-sound decoder that it should use the "higher" functions such as F22 or so. In details:

• The sound decoder has functions from F0 up to F20 - I did not change any of those
• I've added the F21 function and an icon to the sound decoder; that function is not mapped to anything
• I've added the F22, F23, and F24 functions and icons to the sound decoder; those functions are not mapped to anything
• I've added "not F21" on all existing functions on the no-sound decoder
• I've added the F22, F23, and F24 functions and icons to the no-sound decoder; those functions are mapped to white lights, red lights, and cabin lights "with F21"

I'll summarize with a few screenshots:

Sound decoder	Before consist	With consist
Functions
Mappings

No-sound decoder	Before consist	With consist
Functions
Mappings

And this works just fine as I can control white and red lights on each engine independently. There is still some work to do when reversing the direction: the side of the lights should remain the same and only the color should change.  

On the ECoS Command Station, everything looks neat:

For complete success, I need to get to a smooth running and fix the reversing; next post!