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by Doug Matheson

This article details how to convert an USA Trains F-3B to a power car. A power car is simply a battery car with a receiver added for radio control.

Read the article thoroughly and completely, making a list of the electronic components required. Most of the components are available from All Electronics.

REMOVING THE F-3B SHELL

Undo the two screws at the base of the fuel tank. Lift the fuel tank off and set it aside for now. Put the screws back in the frame so they do not get lost.

There are ten screws holding the shell to the frame. These are hidden in deep burrows in the frame and will require a long Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove them.

• The first four are under the side frames of the front truck.
• Four are in the fuel tank area.
• The last two are under the back of the side frames of the rear truck.

Place a forefinger in the hole in the center of the frame and GENTLY pull down. The frame should bow SLIGHTLY.. Put a finger through the front door and push down on the frame. The front of the shell should pop free. Put a finger through the back door and push down on the frame. The back of the shell should pop free. Lift the shell straight up, but just far enough to lay it beside the frame.

Remove all the electronic components from the frame and shell, except the rear light. Set the shell aside for now. Place the electrical components and wiring in a Ziploc bag, and mark the road name, diesel type and number on the bag. Should you wish to return this unit to track power for re-sale at a later date, you will be able to find the components.

A 1/8 inch thick, styrene floor was added above the weights to carry the battery pack, receiver and any other electrical components. A second sheet of 1/16 inch styrene was glued on top of the floor to pocket the screws under the battery pack.

A huge 24 volt, 4 amp hour, NiMH battery pack will provide the power, and Aristo-Craft's, 10 amp, 27 MHz Train Engineer the radio control.

As the wires on the TE and battery pack are very heavy gauge, a terminal strip was installed between the battery and receiver to connect the different components and distribute power.

Terminal group 2 is the battery leads which are connected to the center tabs of the DPDT switch.

Terminals 1 and 3 are the TE power input leads which are connected to the top terminals of the DPDT switch.

Terminal group 4 is the TE output to the B unit motors, rear light and the MU plug.

A standard, center-off, double pole double throw switch and a charge port are mounted inside the back diaphram.

When the switch is toggled down, the charge port is off line, while the battery and the TE are connected. In the center off position, nothing is toggled and everything is off line. When the switch is toggled up, the TE is off line, while the battery and charge port are connected.