Dccing the Class 170

[Rabspat]

Has anyone DCC'ed the class 170 ? I am getting the Cross Country in the new year and thought about trying my hand at hardwiring the dcc decoder. I've found a few help guides on line but is it as hard as it looks? Also is the Express Models lighting set worth the £45 price tag? What do you get for your money? Bachmann really need to update the Class 170 to DCC ready.

[georgehgv]

I have the cross country also, at present still boxed so will be keen to hear your experience so I can fit dcc next year when time allows.

[martin_l_jones]

Be careful, have thought about it myself but read about problems with the lights overheating and swelling the body around the lenses.

Suggest you add a DCC light set as well.

This stalled me from doing it for a while.

There is a DCC lighting kit from Express Models at £24.

[K9-70]

From Bromsgrove website, link to a a guide on how to DCC a Class 170 Dmu.

http://s374444733.websitehome.co.uk/class-170/index.htm

[D306Whistler]

Hi there,

I have this model myself. You will need three decoders (one for the motor unit and two for control of the lights at the end driving units) and lots of patience. I would recommend swapping out the bulbs for LED's at the same time as it improves the lighting as well. Also LED's do not get hot like bulbs do so there should not be any danger of melting the plastic. Hopefully Bachmann will overhaul this old model with new gubbins like live couplers for one decoder operation and some interior as well as cab lights would not go amiss either .

[Rabspat]

Well i am going all out on this, i am getting the Express Models set plus a couple of decoders to be safe. http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eexpressmodels%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2findex%2ehtml&WD=170%20class&PN=DCC_WHITE_COACH_INTERIOR_LIGHTING_%2ehtml%23aDCL_2fB30W#aDCL_2fB30W The 3 car set is a bit expensive at £45 but if done right should be worth it. So by march i reckon i be ready to get to work on DCCing her.

[martin_l_jones]

Well i am going all out on this, i am getting the Express Models set plus a couple of decoders to be safe. http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eexpressmodels%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2findex%2ehtml&WD=170%20class&PN=DCC_WHITE_COACH_INTERIOR_LIGHTING_%2ehtml%23aDCL_2fB30W#aDCL_2fB30W The 3 car set is a bit expensive at £45 but if done right should be worth it. So by march i reckon i be ready to get to work on DCCing her.

Do you mean this ??

http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/acatalog ... OSTAR.html

It's easy enough to do the middle car, agree, three decoders, buy the cheapest for the trailors and a good one for the powered car.

I have fitted some DC upgraded Express Model lights to a DC model, fiddly but worth it, but not done the DCC bit yet..