Garden Railway Forum

I have two Roundhouse locos with cab roof mounted battery holders, an early Russell with the battery holder fixed directly to the roof and where the cells can easily fall out, and a Silver Lady with an improved arrangement:-

I enquired with Roundhouse as to the availability of the improved arrangement and learned that a brass etch is available for either AAA or AA cells. I ordered an AA one which soon arrived. The etch is flat with fold lines and was easy to fold to shape using a vice. The second photo shows the folded etch and Russell's roof:-
On removing the battery holder the bolt nearer the hinge is easy to remove, the other is partly under the sliding cab roof hatch. The folded etch bolts easily to the hole nearer the hinge, a new hole is required which turns out to be right under the side frame piece for the sliding roof. The simplest solution appears to be to Araldite that side.

The brass etch is currently drying from paint.

To be continued...

Phil

I would replace the holder with a made-up pack..
Perhaps have a word tomorrow, at the Llangollen show?

Phil.P

Little quality-of-life mods are my favourite kind of mod.

The best laid plans ...

Having got the brass etch painted to my satisfaction I bolted it to the roof with the one bolt I intended to use and placed it onto the cab. Ooops. The gas valve is in the way. I note looking back at the Silver Lady photo it is in a different position!

Plan B. Having bought some fresh Powerbond 806 at Llangollen at the weekend I decided to glue it both sides so that I could move it towards the hinged side.

Result:-
I had to bend the earthing tag up under the roof to allow the battery clip to attach to the battery pack allowing the pack to slide further into the holder

Phil