Sperry Rail Car

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


Installation

HO Scale Walther Sperry Rail car shown prior to installation. To start off this install, we must first remove the front cattle catcher bottom screws and the catcher. With the catcher removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame.
HO Scale Walther Sperry Rail car shown prior to installation. To start off this install, we must first remove the front cattle catcher bottom screws and the catcher. With the catcher removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame.
The Walther Sperry Rail car shown with the shell off. Gently squeeze along each side of the roof lid and lift the roof from the shell.
The Walther Sperry Rail car shown with the shell off. Gently squeeze along each side of the roof lid and lift the roof from the shell.
With the chassis, shell and roof lid all separate, there are a couple minor modifications needed to fit the components as discretely as possible.
With the chassis, shell and roof lid all separate, there are a couple minor modifications needed to fit the components as discretely as possible.
Unsolder the track pick up connection from each of the motor leads. These and the motor leads will be directly connected to the decoder harness. Lengthen these leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Unsolder the track pick up connection from each of the motor leads. These and the motor leads will be directly connected to the decoder harness. Lengthen these leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
The motor shown with the connections soldered correctly and the leads prepared for the harness. You can see the frame trimmed as directed below on the near side of the frame in this photo.
The motor shown with the connections soldered correctly and the leads prepared for the harness. You can see the frame trimmed as directed below on the near side of the frame in this photo.
Trim the rear of the shell top as shown highlighted above right in red to allow room for the speaker/ housing. Also, trim the interior metal partition highlighted above left by approximately 3/16" to allow space for the WOW101 decoder.
Trim the rear of the shell top as shown highlighted above right in red to allow room for the speaker/ housing. Also, trim the interior metal partition highlighted above left by approximately 3/16" to allow space for the WOW101 decoder.
Above indicating the amount to trim the top, rear portion of the shell.
Above indicating the amount to trim the top, rear portion of the shell.
The top, rear shell shown trimmed to fit.
The top, rear shell shown trimmed to fit.
Using double sided foam tape, secure the WOW101 decoder to the top of the shell as shown. It is offset from center to fit into the space created with the frame trim. The front LED has a 1/4w 1K ohm resistor wired in line to connect to the decoder harness.
Using double sided foam tape, secure the WOW101 decoder to the top of the shell as shown. It is offset from center to fit into the space created with the frame trim. The front LED has a 1/4w 1K ohm resistor wired in line to connect to the decoder harness.
With the 25mm X 14mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNI-SH4-C enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the shell as shown. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality. Likewise, with the tape, mount the KA3 Keep Alive® as shown and connect the leads according to the included wiring diagram.
With the 25mm X 14mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNI-SH4-C enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the shell as shown. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality. Likewise, with the tape, mount the KA3 Keep Alive® as shown and connect the leads according to the included wiring diagram.
Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the catcher assembly. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage  or foul the installation. Your Walthers Sperry Rail car is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll! Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord, which is a wax impregnated string  used for wire bundling and making harnesses. There are many choices of lacing cord available from Digikey www.digikey.com.  We use part number 802534B BK032-ND
Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the catcher assembly. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage  or foul the installation. Your Walthers Sperry Rail car is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll! Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord, which is a wax impregnated string  used for wire bundling and making harnesses. There are many choices of lacing cord available from Digikey www.digikey.com.  We use part number 802534B BK032-ND

Important Soldering Tip

Please do not use any flux either liquid or paste on the mother board. Over time, the acidic properties of liquid or paste flux will begin eating away at the fiberglass PCB and will damage it. Use only Rosin-core solder or no-clean flux approved for electronics use.

TCS recommends the use of Kester "44" Sn63 Pb37, .015" diameter Rosin-core solder. Kester part number 24-6337-0007.

You can order this solder from the following retailers:
Digikey - PN:KE1110-ND
Techni-Tool - PN:488SO6775

Other solder tips

When stripping wire, only strip a tiny little bit of the insulation. Strip no more than a 1/32 of an inch. When the wire gets tinned with solder, the insulation will shrink back more. Try to not expose any more wire than half the length of the solder pad at most. In no case should solder or exposed wire wire ever be outside the boundary of the the solder pad you are attaching a wire to.
Click here for important information on properly Stripping and Tinning wire