RCS is proud to present a range of installation options for battery R/C of
THOMAS & FRIENDS
Locos.
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Updated Aug 1st 2021
Ever since Bachmann© released the THOMAS & Friends (and the Li'l Big Hauler) locos, RCS has been looking for a way of converting them as economically and as simply as possible to battery R/C and sound. Now we have found such a way. RCS-BATTERY HANDPIECE RCS now has our latest pocket sized RCS # DU-Tx1 handpieces which are easy for small hands to use. Ideal low cost Radio Control has been made possible. Direction and speed control is with a large sized knob which is set up for Centre OFF control. Directional LED lighting is possible, as are sound triggers. You will only need one # DU-Tx1 handpiece as you can bind as many locos to one TX handpiece as you like.
You will only need extra TX handpieces for extra operators. Or perhaps a spare just in case. You can readily swap all locos between any extra handpieces. If you already have DSM2 TX's stick radios or RCS TX-3, TX-5 or TX-7 handpieces.
The # DU-Tx1 was kept simple keep the costs down. It has 1 x sound trigger. The # DU-Tx3 has three sound triggers.
ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLER RCS is now selling a small easy to fit and use MTroniks 12 volt DC ESC. We have chosen this ESC to be the most suitable for use with Thomas & Friends. Thorough testing has proven this ESC to be reliable in the field. LOCO HEAD & TAIL LIGHTS If you want directional constant brightness lights you will be able to use the built in Directional Constant Brightness lighting outputs fitted to the # AB-Rxv2 Auto Bind Rx. LED's supplied separately.
The Thomas & Friends locos are perfectly happy using 9.6 volts - 11.1 volts, which is plenty fast enough for most users. Although it is not too fast for young operators who like driving locos fast, but all too often end up crashing them. The loco bodies are quite large enabling 8 x AA rechargeable hybrid Alakline/NiMh cells to fit in fairly easily. The cost of batteries is always a factor in all battery conversions. To help keep costs down RCS is supplying 4 & 5 cell rechargeable ENELOOP Hybrid NiMh/Alkaline battery packs. 4 in a row side by side flat packs are 4.8 volts each pack are economical and will fit in most of the locos. 2 packs of 4 x AA batteries each are required @ A$ 49 each. They come with standard servo lead connections and the supplied # FUT-SERIES wiring joins 2 x packs for 9.6 volts. They fit most of the locos without modification except Percy and Thomas which do require some internal modification. Thomas & Percy can use two 2 x 2 inline AA twin stick packs with 4 x hybrid AA LSD batteries in each pack. If more speed is needed and you have room for the 5 x cell packs, 2 x 5 cell packs = 12 volts. All batteries are 2,000 mah capacity which will run a loco for at least 2 hours.
INSTALLATION KITS Our fused regular # FUT-SWITCH 3 amp installation kit is used. This is installed on the back of each loco or tender where it is easily accessible along with a battery charge port. Tender - loco connector cables are provided free of charge for EMILY & JAMES. Check out installations ideas at the bottom of this page. Another way to set up Thomas, is to use a trail car with battery pack(s) and R/C. All that is then required is a 2 x wire cable between the trail car and loco. RCS supplies a suitable in line 2 way connector cable so that the trail car can be swapped between locos.
CHARGER We use and recommend the Powertech PLUS charger (MB-3633). These are a mains powered conditioning smart charger. The chargers are supplied with the correct plug for the # U-BIK-3b installation kit jack, which will be mounted on the back of the loco. Re-charge time is about 2 hours from flat. These are a one time purchase and can be used with all your locos. You can use any charger you like that is suitable for NiMh, but the charge plug must be a 2.5 mm x 5 mm DC coax type to be compatible with the supplied hardware. N.B. The MB-3633 are only sold in Australia. Similar chargers are avauilable from regular R/C hobby shops.
SOUND SYSTEMS These are an optional extra. For a single whistle only sound we use and recommend the MRW-LYN sound module. It features a simple plug in installation to which two wires conect to an 8 ohm speaker. For a more elaborate experience we use and recommend the economically priced Australian made MyLocosound steam sound with a voltage controlled chuff. The current model has 5 x sounds apart from the chuff, some of which are programmed for automatic operation. If using MyLocoSound, you can trigger 1 x sound using the Ch # 5 pushbutton on the Tx handpiece. You will require 1 x # MRW-SSSS. OR; More sounds can be tiggered with 1 x # MRW-SSTS for three sound triggers.
For those 3 x sound trigger functions you would need the # EVO-DUPLEX handpiece.
Speaker placement inside these locos is not very easy. In our earlier installations we had a small oval speaker under the coal load of THOMAS which worked OK. However we now mount a 40 mm x 30 mm oval speaker in the backhead of the tank locos. This has proven to be ideal. A printed stick on drill pattern is supplied to enable neat holes to be drilled to let out the sound. The loco body acts as a "boom box" so the sound volume can be quite loud. Sound is vented through the cab which has a removable roof. A larger speaker can be installed in the tenders of James and Emily etc. |
| PARTS USED BY RCS FOR A BASIC THOMAS & FRIENDS INSTALLATION. (1 x Per loco unless stated) Order as a kit below or scroll down to individual items you want & add to cart. Please note. Reduce quantities In cart by placing a - before the amount. Then "update cart". PDF INSTRUCTION PAGES ARE LISTED BELOW. |
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| THOMAS | PERCY | EMILY | JAMES | TOBY | ||
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# DUPLEX |
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| VIPER-10-12 |  |
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| AB-Rx v2-TM |  |
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| BATTERY PACKS | 2 x supplied |
2 x supplied |
2 x supplied |
2 x supplied |
2 x supplied |
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| 2 x FUT-FUT |  |
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| FUT-SWITCH |  |
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| APPROX COST |
A$340 Free postage |
A$340 Free postage |
A$340 |
A$340 |
A$340 Free postage |
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| NEXT LOCO (No TX) |
A$220 |
A$220 |
A$220 |
A$220 |
A$220 Free postage |
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| SEE BELOW FOR UPGRADE TO BASIC KIT TO A DU-Tx3 TX HANDPIECE | ||||||
| OPTIONAL EXTRA ONE TIME BUY ONLY, BUT A CHARGER IS NEEDED FOR THE FIRST LOCO. | ||||||
| MB-3633 CHARGER |
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| OPTIONAL EXTRAS FOR LIGHTS & SOUND ETC. Use any SONY IR remote control for making adjustments. Or purchase a universal IR remote from K Mart |
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| SEE BELOW FOR OPTIONAL EXTRA PLUG IN DIRECTIONAL LED KITS | ||||||
| LYN-SOUND Use speakers below |
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| STEAM MyLocosound |
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| SPEAKER |  |
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| * NEEDED IF FITTING LED's ONLY ** ONLY NEEDED IF FITTING SOUND OR INCANDESCENT LIGHTS | ||||||
| IDEAS FOR COMPONENT LAYOUT | |||
THOMAS |
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| Remove rear 6 x screws only. | Remove part of plastic screw support. | Placement of batteries/ | |
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| Rear holes drill pattern. | Charge jack & ON - OFF switch mounted. | Basic VIPER ESC & RX in coal bunker. |
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PERCY |
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| Battery placement. | Mounting components. | Speaker output. | |
EMILY |
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| Battery Placement + ESC + Sound | Mount BIK | Rear of tender | |
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| Front of tender w/LED indicator | Speaker mount | Inside rear body shell | |
JAMES |
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| Inside rear of tender. | Speaker & support under components. | ||
TOBY |
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| Battery placement + ESC on top | MyLocosound + speaker | BIK Installation | |
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| Remove Toby switch and wiring. | |||
| Model | Price | Image | Description |
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# An RCS Tx REQUIRES AN ALKALINE PP3 9 VOLT TRANSISTOR BATTERY. |
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# DU-TX1 |
A$129 |  |
Use an # DU-Tx1 for a single loco control and 1 x sound trigger on one handpiece. |
| # DU-Tx3 |
A$139 |  |
Use an # DU-Tx3 for a single loco control and 3 x sound triggers on one handpiece. |
| Model | Price | Image | Description |
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| BASIC ESC. REQUIRES 1 x DSM2 RX SUCH AS # Rx107. SEE BELOW. |
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| COBRA-160 |
$59 (L) |  |
6 volts to 24 volts. 1.5 amps - 14 amp peak. 30 Watts continuous. Settable Inertia. 45 mm x 22 mm x 15 mm. JST cables. PDF instructions |
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AUTO BIND DSM2 Rx |
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| AB-Rxv2 |
$29 (L) |  |
Long Range Xenon Rx's with a single 10 cm Diversity antenna. Ideal for battery R/C Top Mount pins. Clear heatshrink covered. PDF Instruction Manual |
| AUTOMATIC LIGHTING CONTROLS. DUAL CONSTANT BRIGHTNESS FORWARD & REVERSE LIGHTING. Powered by # AB-RXv2. LED's only. |
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| LED-3mm-WW |
$10 (L) |
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30 cm servo lead with 1600mcd 3 mm Warm White LED. Front or Rear LED headlight. Requires heat protection if used with Live Steam. |
| LED-5mm-WW |
$10 (L) |
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30 cm servo lead with 1600mcd 5 mm Warm White LED. Front or Rear LED headlight. Requires heat protection if used with Live Steam. |
| Model | Price | Image | Description |
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| BATTERY INSTALLATION KITS with JST connectors. |
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| U-BIK-3B |
A$29 (L) |  |
3 amp Universal Battery Installation Kit. ToggleSwitch & 2.5 MM plug in charge lead. Terminals on the reverse side. PDF Instructions |
| Model | Price | Image | Description |
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AA SIZE LSD HYBRID BATTERY PACKS. |
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| 4-LSD-AAB |
$49 (L) |  |
Brick Pack of 4 x fully charged AA ENELOOP 2,000 mah LSD hybrid batteries. FUTABA Plug & Cable |
| 4-LSD-AAF |
$49 (L) | |
ENELOOP 2,000 mah LSD hybrid batteries. FUTABA Plug.ly charged AA ENELOOP 2,000 mah LSD hybrid batteries. FUTABA Plug & Cable |
| 4-LSD-AAT |
$49 (L) | |
Twin Stick Pack of 4 x fulFlat pack of 4 x fully charged AA = 4 volts. 2 x packs = 9.6 volts. |
| 5-LSD-AAF |
$59 (L) |  |
Flat Pack of 5 x fully charged AA = 6 volts. 2 x packs = 12 volts. ENELOOP 2,000 mah LSD hybrid batteries. FUTABA Plug. |
| 2 x FUT-JST |
$10 (L) |
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Converts Furaba wiring to JST wiring. RTR Plug in Futaba cable puts welded R/C battery packs in series, to increase volts. Mates to RCS # U-BIK-3b kit and ESC. |
| SUITABLE PLUG IN SMART CHARGER | |||
| # MB-3633 |
$109 | |
Mains powered quality JayCar Multi chemistry conditioning charger. Up to 15 NiCd or NiMh cells. Up to 6 Li-Ion or LiPo cells. Intro instructions For full details go to https://www.techbrands.com/store/product/mb3633.aspx |
| 9.6v-Chg |
$29 |  |
9.6 volt NiMh charger for 8 NiMh cells. |
| Model | Price | Image | Description |
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| MRW-LYN Whistle only sound card. Click  for sound sample. |
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| LYN-SOUND |
A$49 (L) | |
Real recording of the Lynton & Barnstaple "LYN" loco. Suits most small steam locos. |
| MyLocosound SOUND SYSTEM | |||
| STEAM |
$89 (L) | |
Great sounding, synthesised low cost voltage controlled steam chuff sound with whistle, bell & 3 x other sounds. |
| 40 x 30 |
$23 | |
40 mm x 30 mm Phoenix speaker mounts in cabin backhead of tank locos. Good volume from such a small speaker. Supplied with a stick on drill pattern. |
| C0600A |
$5 | |
40 mm x 40 mm Altronics speaker Specifically for EMILY. Good volume from such a small speaker. |
| C0604 |
$5 | |
2" speaker mounts in tender for James and Emily. Great sound. |
| SOLID STATE CONTACTS FOR TRIGGERING SOUND SYTEMS THAT CAN USE TRANSISTORS. CAN ALSO BE USED FOR MANUALLY CONTROLLING DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING. |
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| MRW-SSSS |
$19 (L) |  |
Solid State Single Switch. # MRW-SSSS has 1 x 3amp trigger control functions for any channel used. Ideal for use with Channel # 5. 21 mm x 13m x 10 mm PDF Instructions |
| MRW-SSTS |
$49 (L) |  |
Solid Solid State Triple Switch. # MRW-SSTS has 3 x 3amp trigger control functions using 3 x separate channels. Designed to be used with # EVO-BASIC+ Tx. PDF Instructions 21 mm x 39 mm x 10 mm. PDF Instructions |