Atlas Trainman RS-32

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Atlas RS-32 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit by TCS.

HO-Scale Atlas RS-32 prior to installation.
HO-Scale Atlas RS-32 prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Atlas RS-32 shown with the shell off.
The Atlas RS-32 shown with the shell off.
First remove the front and rear weight screws as highlighted in red above and set these weights aside.
First remove the front and rear weight screws as highlighted in red above and set these weights aside.
Remove the wires from the board. Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unattached from the motor mount.
Remove the wires from the board. Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unattached from the motor mount.
Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary to prepare for installing the WOWKit.
Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary to prepare for installing the WOWKit.
With the original light board removed, attach the AK-MB1.
With the original light board removed, attach the AK-MB1.
Next, solder the motor and track pickup wires to the AK-MB1 and reinstall the front weight.
Next, solder the motor and track pickup wires to the AK-MB1 and reinstall the front weight.
For this installation, with the rear weight removed, we spliced wire leads to the front LED, insulating them with shrink tubing and using a dab of hot glue, mount the original LED light to the light tube. We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances, they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while the non white LED output will be more affected by placement.
For this installation, with the rear weight removed, we spliced wire leads to the front LED, insulating them with shrink tubing and using a dab of hot glue, mount the original LED light to the light tube. We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances, they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while the non white LED output will be more affected by placement.
At this point, solder the lights to the board, according to the included wiring diagram.
At this point, solder the lights to the board, according to the included wiring diagram.
With this complete, insert the 25mm x 14mm speaker in the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing and using hot melt glue, mount it into the top of the shell behind the light tube. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
With this complete, insert the 25mm x 14mm speaker in the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing and using hot melt glue, mount it into the top of the shell behind the light tube. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Your Atlas Trainman RS-32 is now WOWsound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Your Atlas Trainman RS-32 is now WOWsound equipped and ready to roll!

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