Model Railroading > Kato HO NW2

I have a 20+ year old Kato HO NW2, and this thing has a huge 2 piece weight inside it, which clamshells around the motor and drive shafts. Did Kato ever revise this design to be more DCC friendly?

I installed sound in one of these and it was extremely difficult. Is there another motor chasis that runs smoothly that this NW-2 body will fit on?
Thanks, Jim

No, you will have to modify the chassis. I've done a couple. Get out the hacksaw and/or dremel and go to town.

CM1 Wrote:
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> No, you will have to modify the chassis. I've done
> a couple. Get out the hacksaw and/or dremel and go
> to town.

You're going to have to make room anyway, so hack away.

I haven't put a decoder in one of these yet, but I've investigated doing so.

Here's one way: http://mrdccu.com/installation-hints/ho-diesel-sound/38-kato-ho-nw2.html

and another:  https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1358

The TCS link is for a non-sound decoder, but I suspect a Tsunami 1100 would fit.  In both cases, I'd investigate using a "sugar cube" speaker in the cab ceiling rather than mill out the fuel tank area.  The cab has interior detail and a floor, so I'd open up the side cab windows to let the sound out.

Good luck! Please let us know how it turns out.

Wayne C
Morgan Hill, CA

PS:  To answer your question, AFAIK, Kato has never revised the chassis for the HO NW2.

Some who have access and machining knowledge or know someone, have had the frame milled. I seem to recall someone who would take a frame in trade for one that has been milled out for a fee.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/20 13:45 by wabash2800.

It's a few clicks deep, but if you click the first link I provided (mrdccu), there is a link to his article in Model Railroad Hobbiest.  In that article, there is a link to someone who does/has done the milling.  I got the impression that he's a commercial enterprise.  You might want to find that person and see if they're still doing milling work.  No tradein AFAIK; you'd need to send your chassis and wait for it's return.

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some who have access and machining knowledge or
> know someone, have had the frame milled. I seem to
> recall someone who would take a frame in trade for
> one that has been milled out for a fee.
>
> Victor A. Baird
> http://www.erstwhilepublications.com