Converting Motorpost to digital

Shortly after receiving the Märklin Motorpost from this previous post I converted it from analog operation to digital. This post will describe the process and what is needed for the conversion.

The parts needed to digitize the Motorpost (Märklin part no. 3389):
- Decoder and motor (Märklin part no. 60760)
- LED prints (Märklin part no. 300730)

Please note that this decoder is by no means the best choice available. I bought this set as it was the easiest way for me to upgrade the locomotive.

The body removed from the chassis, the motor will be replaced as will the analog control unit in the middle.

Removing the old light print from the body. You need to remove the cabin interior to reach it.

The prints side by side, the reason for replacing the prints is a slight difference in the connections on the prints. The old prints will not work with a digital decoder.

New motor installed while the old one is still connected.

Old motor gone, along with the analog control unit. The new decoder is waiting to be connected.

And everything in place and connected, including a huge 1000 µF elco to compensate for any power loss while driving over switches. The new components are kept in place by hot-melt (glue-gun).

With this new engine and decoder the loc runs very well.

H0 Märklin Motorpost

Introducing the NS Motorpost by Märklin. This is the first Dutch loc I got. It’s real world counterpart was run by the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) as a mail distribution train in service of PTT Post. The series was called Plan mP.

Side view of the Motorpost. It is quite lengthy.

Profile view. Heaps of details on the bogies.

Side detail of the Motorpost. Excellent detail on the doorhandles and windows.

Side detail with the pantograph folded. The Motorpost can be powered through the pantographs if you have catenary wires.

Roof detail. De middle of the roof comes off to expose the switch controlling if it gets power from the 3rd rail or through the pantographs.

Head-on view of the Motorpost, front sign illuminated.

Head-on view of the Motorpost, rear sign illuminated.

The Motorposts are not in service anymore, a few have been converted into testing and measuring units.

Gioteck EX-02 bluetooth headset for PS3

I recently bought this, the Gioteck EX-02 bluetooth headset for PS3. Following is a short unpacking set and a rundown of the contents. I also included a micro-review for those interested in this headset.

The box with the Gioteck EX-02 PS3 bluetooth headset.

All the bits still in the box.

All the bits included in the set.

And all the contents are:
- left ear piece
- USB cable
- charging cradle
- EX-02 headset (comes with right ear piece attached)
- user manual

Verdict:
The Gioteck EX-02 is an excellent set, it costs a bit but it is well within a normal price range.
I don’t know if it can connect to other devices but as it’s made specifically for PS3 it is easy to connect to (or pair with) the PS3.

The sound quality of both the mic and speaker is good, no complaints so far!

The faceplate is replaceable if you don’t like the color, but no replacements are included in the set.
The set is very light, you’ll barely notice it’s there. The earpiece can be switched out to accommodate fitment on either your left or right ear, which is very useful.

Bomb update

Recently an additional 9 bombs were found in the ground next to where the first bomb I wrote about earlier was discovered. This is all within a few hundred yards from our house.

Read more about the first bomb.

All bombs are 1000 lb. bombs dumped by a british bomber in distress around the end of the second World War (’44/’45).

If we weren’t away for the weekend (read about it here) we had to evacuate on sunday morning while the military was handling the bombs. The downside to being away was that we didn’t get a chance to take a look at the bombs in real life.

The following movie shows the bombs after being defused by the military. The commentary is in Dutch, it’s about the precautions that were taken (containers, evacuations) and what will happen with the bombs (detonated at sea by the navy).

The first bomb was detonated in a field, buried in the ground. Watch the explosion in the clip below:

Hellendoornse Berg

I’ve been away for the weekend last week, in this post you’ll find an impression of the bungalow I stayed in.

The bungalows in the park are built in 2 styles, we were in one of these “farm” style houses. The park was near a nature reserve called the “Sallandse Heuvelrug“.

The living room was quite comfortable. The house was fitted with a shower upstairs and a bathtub downstairs, 2 toilets and a decent kitchen.

The dining area of the living room, not too shabby for a bungalow.

One half of one of the two bedrooms upstairs. These were decent beds. Notice the electrical heater => no central heating!
There was a third bedroom downstairs too.

We had an enjoyable weekend, even though the weather took a turn for the worst on sunday.