Project Pendolino, Part II: Some More Testing

In the previous instalment of this series, it was all about getting the model moving. It didn't pan out perfectly, but it was a start - and a good opportunity to get a look at the model's internals. Now I need to figure out a way forward from there. The next step will be to replace the decoder.

The interior of the model is actually quite nicely constructed. It's easy to disassemble and neatly organised. The current decoder is hardwired into the model, by way of a small piece of PCB that acts as a connector between the motor and chassis, which are using Fleischmann's FMZ wire colour scheme, and the TWIN decoder which has DCC wire colours. A plastic cover hides the wires between the rows of seats. When I replace the decoder, I will need to rewire parts of the model as well. I may even try to use consistent wire colours as much as feasible.

The model's interior, with a plastic cover between the seats...
... which hides the wires nicely
The decoder sits in a cutout between the seats

While my original thought had been to wire in an 8-pin socket and use a corresponding decoder, I have since moved away from that idea. This has several reasons. One is that I have a fairly strong dislike against 8-pin decoders; their wiring harnesses tend to require shortening, and they often have additional dangling wires which are difficult to tame without either additional soldering or other stunts. The other is that I can't find an 8-pin socket or breakout board that will reasonably fit into the model without being overly noticeable from the outside.

The old decoder sits on a cutout between the seats, which is approximately the same size as the chip - 26x11mm. Something I can fit there quite nicely is a Next18 connector - several options with very nice fits are available. The advantage of using Next18 is that decoders tend to be smaller than 21MTC or PluX versions - they are normally intended for TT and N scale models. This comes with a drawback: those scales tend to have a lower power draw than H0. So many of the available decoders - and most of the ones I would consider - are limited to 0.7A for the motor. That is a bit less than the Fleischmann decoder, which is specced for 0.8A motor current. Decoders with a lower spec are therefore risky. I can get decoders with a higher motor current limit - but I have to import them from Europe. So that part will take a while.

And before I took the plunge on that, I wanted to get at least an idea if a new decoder could improve the model's driving characteristics, or if I would have to think along different lines. I still have some LaisDCC decoders sitting around - they're TCS knock-offs, and don't have particularly good motor control. In previous usage scenariosm they also had some funky issues around lighting. I have no intention of ever again using them operationally, but I figured one of them would be good enough for testing. So with some careful soldering, I removed the old Fleischmann decoder and wired it in. 

This is what a decommissioned Fleischmann TWIN decoder looks like

The subsequent driving test gave a better result than expected. The model drives quite smoothly at higher speeds, accelerates and decelerates nicely. There are some issues at low speeds, they could be related either to power pickup or the choke coil, but I also don't expect the Lais to have particularly fine motor control on ye olde Fleischmann pancake motor - a German make is more likely to handle these motors well, and I might even be able to find recommendations for the best settings.

But now I have more certainty about the next step, and can go about procuring the required materials. This will take time, so just watch this space. In the meantime, here is a short clip of the Pendolino tilting through a curve.

You should also read:

Project Pendolino, Part I: Let's get it moving, shall we?

This Fleischmann BR 610 really is a lovely model. It looks gorgeous, is nicely detailed, the print quality is near flawless, and the idea of an actual tilting mechanic is great, even if it is not exactly prototypical. But, alas, looks aren't everything, especially when it comes to a second hand acquisition.

Project Pendolino: Beginnings

Say wat you want about my impulse control - or lack thereof: some opportunities are just too good to walk past. Certain models fall under that category, especially when the price is attractive.

Some things are worth collecting

It has been five years since, in a quest to assemble a specific train, I acquired a model of an East German dining car in the then typical red Mitropa livery. At the time, I didn't really know what I had bought - only that the model had been produced in the GDR. But I was surprised at the condition of the model and the still working interior lighting. Subsequently I learned a bit more about the providence of it.