[jta552]

I would like to add a smoke unit to a caboose as a fun project. Does anyone know of an appropriate smoke unit to do this and also where to buy it ? Yes I know I can buy a smoking caboose but that is not as much fun as building one. I have a couple of lighted cabooses so they already have the power pickups and it should be relatively easy to add a smoke unit and a smokestack.

 

[Norton]

You could use most any smoke unit used in locomotives. MTH or TMCC lionel smoke units would be easiest to drive.
I would suggest using a die cast caboose as its easy to warp the sides of a plastic caboose with the heat. BTDT?

Pete

 

[Millstonemike]

...
I would suggest using a die cast caboose as its easy to warp the sides of a plastic caboose with the heat. BTDT?

Pete

Good point. Perhaps you can manage the heat? Insulate the smoke unit itself and create optimum air flow through a stack out the top. You would have to the insulate the stack as well. Perhaps These cearmic tubes pieced together - perhaps with a metal (copper?) tube in the middle. Ceramic is an excellent insulator. And it can be painted.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

My choice would be a small fan driven smoke unit. I've done a couple with the MTH HO smoke unit. The fan driven units won't get as hot and melt the side of your caboose, an important feature.

 

[Lehigh74]

You'll also need a buck converter to bring track power down to something that won't fry the smoke unit.

 

[Millstonemike]

You'll also need a buck converter to bring track power down to something that won't fry the smoke unit.

What's the power draw? Amps, Volts?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

The HO smoke unit needs about 5V at 1/3 of an amp, and the tiny motor needs around 2.5-3.0 volts. I just use some diodes to drop the power from the heater supply for the motor.