Now, you clever experts, here is a tough one: I've got a live steam, all metal locomotive for the garden (G-gauge, 45mm between the rails) and it is controlled by a transmitter for aeroplane models: I've got a Skysport 6a FM FP-T6VA (Serial No 50307398, 40MHz) and matching
receiver. Here is my question:

When my engine is under steam, the three servos work perfectly. As soon as the engine starts moving, there are places on the track circuit where the servos tend to get very "nervous" indeed and this makes the locomotive run forward/reverse, fast/slow or merely lets it do some sputtering that causes the safety valve to go off. A derailed train is often the result also.

The problem must be the antenna. Is there any way to increase the quality of the received signal or to enhance the receivers ability to give a more stable current to the servos? The problem is obvious: A locomotive of a train doesn't really have an antenna and the engine was delivered with a four inch long "spade" sticking out of the "coal" in the tender. Is there any way to connect a short (2 inch, or so) antenna to the system, an antenna that can be concealed easily, for instance under the heap of coal?


Thanks!

Getgoing