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Power Cars - USA Trains F3-B

by Doug Matheson

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UPDATED: MARCH 2010

This article originally detailed how to convert an USA Trains F-3B to a power car using a huge, 4 amp hour, battery pack and an Aristo-Craft, 27 MHz radio control receiver.

The wiring was rather complicated, and because of its gauge rather difficult to work with. The heavy battery pack never charged properly and because of its weight split the pinion gear axles sleeves in the motor blocks.

The B unit was later repaired and large, heavy battery pack replaced with two, Aristo-Craft, lithium-ion battery packs. This is the same method used to build Evans power cars shown in the following picture.

For information on the that method, click on the Evans Power Boxcar link.

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The following information remains as a guide to help prepare the locomotive for the power conversion.

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 or mixed up with others.

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 label it with F3-B, the road name and road number. If required, this will enable the unit to be returned to its original condition for re-sale at a later date.

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

Unlike the Evans power car, the B units motors were connected to the output terminals of the receiver along with the MU plug to power the A unit. The four-pole double-throw switch was mounted inside the diaphragm of the back door.

When the switch is toggled down, the charge plugs are off line while the battery and the receiver are connected.

When the switch is toggled up, the receiver is off line, and the battery packs are independently connected to their charging plugs.

In the center off position, everything is off line.