I’ve just purchased a Fox Valley Models, HO Steam 1935 Milwaukee Road “Hiawatha” 6 Car Train - Powered, DCC Ready set. As I will be running this loco in DCC does anyone know of a sound decoder with prototypical 4-4-2 sound files. Or something close?
Thanks
Jim
The Milwaukee Road class A 4-4-2 was a 2 cylinder steam loco, so a Tsunami sound decoder from Soundtraxx or a Loksound decoder from ESU should do the job nicely.
Sir Madog, If I chose a Soundtraxx decoder, would I need “Small Steam” or “Medium Steam”? I have seen recommendations for a 4-4-2 wheel arrangement in both.
Thanks
Jim
Despite being “only” a 4-4-2 loco, the class A was quite a big engine, so I´d go for the “Medium Steam” decoder.
You should also look for a decoder with an air horn for the whistle. That’s what the Milwaukee used on the HI’s. Have you gotten yours yet? I have one on order so maybe I should call Fox Valley.
So does anyone know of a “Medium Steam” sound decoder that has a horn?
By the way, I purchased the Hiawatha set from Hiawatha Hobbies. They said their order had arrived and they would be shipping them on Sep. 29th.
I just purchased the HO Fox Valley Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Set yesterday. It is a beautiful set. The engine ran very well. But I did have trouble with some of the passenger cars on our club layout yesterday. They derailed on some of our curves. I believe the passenger cars may need more weight. Otherwise it is a great train. Has anyone else has similar problems?
Depot Jim
Any of you guys mind posting a pictures of the set. I’ve been looking for this steam engine for quite a while, but for some reason no major manufacturers want to do the Atlantic class.
My Hiawatha arrived today in the mail. Wow, great looking. I plan to install a medium steam Tsunami decoder in it tomorrow. To my knowledge this decoder only offers a wistle and not a air horn. Is it possible to add a recorded air horn to this decoder?
No I don’t believe it is. You’ll need to look at either LOKsound or the Digitrax SOundbug to do that. Both sell writeable sound decoders.
Any of you guys mind posting a pictures of the set. I’ve been looking for this steam engine for quite a while, but for some reason no major manufacturers want to do the Atlantic class.
Guys, here’s an email I just received from Tony’s Train Exchange.
Jim,
Since the loco is not out yet I don't have any info on what will fit.
The QSI Rev-U has the option of having a primary Whistle and a secondary
Horn in the same decoder.
http://www.tonystrains.com/products/qsi_solutions_main.htm
Thanks,
Norm Stenzel
Tony's Train Exchange
QSI Solutions
I tried using a 28 mm speaker on the locomotive and found that it does not fit. Because of the wiring, it is hard to get an accurate measurement with my calipers, but it looks like a 24 mm speaker would fit. I do like the way the weight is used as a baffle.
I wrote emails to Litchfield Station and Fox Valley Models asking for DCC sound decoder recommendations that would allow for a horn rather than a whistle. I will let you folks know what, if any, response I get back.
Well, the FVM set hit my LHS. I wish I had the money for it, it’s a beutiful set. The engine felt nice and heavy, and the cars weren’t bad. A bit heavier than Athearn, but they are longer. So a tad on the light side.
Well a class A locomotive was rated for 9 cars. So if the cars are used only for this train and are kept together as a set the weight should be more than sufficient to back a train into the station. Neither will there be any problem with them “cording” a corner. I doubt I’ll add any weight to mine.
I got mine last night and I agree that the passenger cars seem a bit light. I also noticed that on several cars, one of the wheels was pushed in towards the underbody, so I carefully pried the truck frame open enough to reinsert the wheel back in line. I figure this was due to shock to the boxes during shipment. I opened up the tender to examine the DCC-ready situation. After removing the water cap on the top center of the tender to reveal a hidden screw and get that out, it looks like you remove 6 screws to get the metal tender frame up off the tender base. Try a standard 24mm (I tried an unlabelled one on hand but be sure you measure yours first - don’t trust my eyes here!) speaker to fit up inside a cavity formed in the frame. There appears to be plenty of room for the decoder to rest on top of the existing circuit board. I am still waiting to see if someone releases dedicated decoder/speaker setup for this beautiful engine! Anybody from Tony’s got the line on this yet?
[:$]
There’s a photo of the train in the Sept 2010 Model Railroad News but it’s not posted online that I can find. However it appears our friend Cody has gotten one…[:P]
Photo’s from Factory Direct Trains
http://factorydirecttrains.com/images/products/detail/photo01112edtDY.jpg
Go to their site, there’s quite a few more.
Jim
… just made the link clickable!
Here you go!
