Whilst awaiting technical conformation/information from ZIMO to progress my RAPIDO Andrew Barclay DCC project; I chose to tackle another project that has been sitting waiting for some considerable months. I have finally installed a DCC decoder and Stay Alive in a Bachman Wickham Trolley. The motor fills the trailer so no room for anything else making the install necessary in the trolley. The roof is the only logical place, with everything tucked up and out of sight. I remember reading a "how to" sound installation some years ago regarding the Wickham Trolley; but why someone would choose sound over reliable running in such a small vehicle defies logic [to me at least]. I've viewed too many superb layouts at exhibitions with the "Hand of God" making constant appearances - ruins the whole experience. I chose ZIMO's MN170 decoder and their STACO4 Stay Alive unit as it has a charging controller board. The two 150,000uF 10V capacitors are 4mm in diameter which fits into the center of the curved roof [connected such that they face each other]. The MN170 decoder sits to one side and the charging controller board on the other. This transpired to leave enough room to fit a 10,000 ohm 1/4 watt resister along the same side so I installed SMD's front and rear in the vehicles lights [after careful drilling out to accommodate such] Fitting and soldering all in such a confined space is not easy and I believe I have used every expletive known to man multiple times [especially on those SMD's]. The project has been completed with a MODELU Wickham Trolley crew and the Stay Alive will run the vehicle 18" if power is cut; which is more that enough to negotiate even complex point work. I would have included a video of it running; but I don't have access to a 4yr old toddler with soft ware compression knowledge; because I'm still coming to terms with steam driven radio. 🤪🤫

Posted by pandk.schofield at 2026-02-25 03:51:47 UTC