DCC sound chassis into a DC body shell

Hi All,

Last week I bought a Life-Like N scale Southern Railway E6A/E6B pair (DC powered and dummy) and a Precision Craft Models (Broadway Model Imports with an ESU decoder) Great Northern E7A DCC sound model. Both arrived this week. I've already got a couple of Great Northern E7As, but it's a great looking model. The aim is/was to use the chassis from the Precision model with the body shell from the Life-Like E6A, transplant the Life-Like E6A chassis into the E6B body shell sans weights and do a DCC sound conversion and run the 2 as a permanently coupled pair. Ultimate goal is an EB6A-E6B-E6B-E6A power unit. An ESU LokSound micro- or nano-sound decoder will fit comfortably if the lead weights are removed. Having both decoders from ESU should make matching the power curves relatively easy.

I'm halfway there, the new E6A and E6B models would complete the consist. But that Great Northern E7A is a really well detailed model. Unfortunately it dates to around 1950-1955, which is a bit early (latter half of the 1960's is what I model). Decisions, decsisions. Looks like a few cuppas will be needed. I need to find out when Southern E6As stopped having working dual headlights. Be nice to have a working headlight and gryolight (oscillating warning headlight).

Picture below of the 2 models. The chassis at the back is an E8A Life-Like chassis being DCC'd with an ESU LokSound micro V5. The strip of thin one-sided copper-clad  over the motor and flywheels is for the common lighting wires (front headlight and rear backup light). Should reduce the usual rats tails mess of wiring that happens with working lights. Cuts down on heatshrink as well, which a space hog.

Cheers,

Nigel