Hi,
Does anyone produce ready to run N gauge loco’s with built in DCC and sound.
Are they any good?
I am torn between DCC and sound in HO, which makes for a more fun operating session, or the space saving benefit of N gauge.
Thanks
Paul
The only ones I can think of are from Precision Craft Models and I’m not sure if they are actually shipping yet. Here are a couple of links:
http://www.tonystrains.com/locomotive/pcm.htm
http://www.precisioncraftmodels.com/
Precision Craft seems to be an offshoot of Broadway Limited.
There are probably others, but sound is not my thing yet so I am certainly no expert. These just caught my eye once.
They do exist, though I’m not aware of any American models yet - Fleischmann have a pair of German diesel locos permanantly coupled together - one has a conventional mechanism, the other has the sound unit inside. Pickup is arranged through all wheels and they look pretty good (the real thing is often found running in pairs so the fact that the models are permanantly coupled isn’t a problem). I can see how this could be used on multi-unit consists but fitting all the electronics into one loco would be tricky due to the restricted space.
RTR? Not until PCM releases theirs. But I did see one 2 years ago at the Timonium train show, actually it was the guys from TDP with a demo layout for their speedometer, they had a sound-equipped N-scale PRR E8 and it was FAR better then I would have ever expected from sucha small loco, consideringhow smallt he speaker must be to fit. They had the speaker inthe fuel tank, which was the biggest space available.
–Randy
The RTR model I can think of off hand is the dummy Alco PB from Con-Cor. Retrofitting these installations isn’t too bad assuming you pick the right era to model. Steam locomotives and car body diesels work quite well and I have a bunch of them, but narrow hood diesels are virtually impossible. I just did a Kato SD-90 for my brother, but in order to make the installation work and still have a powered unit, the SD-90 is now front wheel drive only. This works well in consists, but not too great on it’s own… [;)]
PCM has already announced several models including an E unit and a M1a steam locomotive (at least I think it’s an M1), and I’m sure there are more coming. Just remember the N scale locomotives I have, do not sound like the HO scale models, and the HO scale models don’t sound like the O scale models. Sound quality and volume are largely affected by the size of the electronics and speakers, so there are limitations in the smaller scales.
I own a nice 280 Bachman Nscale consol that sounds great (though my neighbors’ opinion may differ here)…that is… the ESU sound decoder (same adress as engine’s decoder) and attached PC speakers sound great 
Exception made of large layouts, where a stationary sound migth be an hindrance, I suggest you consider an under the table sound system (with evenly placed speakers) and enjoy Nscale space gaining benefits while listening to some bone spinning RR sounds
Furthermore, the trend toward two ways communication DCC system may bring soon even more flexiblity in sound management, by letting the sound following your consist, as it leaves one block and enters an other.
Paul:
HO sound has a huge head start on N scale sound and so it comes down to how patient you are and how many options you want. If you are willing to wait 2-5 years, then you ought to see a moderately rich selection of sound decoders / locos appear for N scale.
However, HO sound will also not stand still during this time, and will continue to outpace N scale sound in terms of options and features for the foreseable future.
I also expect wireless battery powered DCC in HO to make a huge entrance into the market within the next 2-5 years. This will finally put an end to most of our layout wiring and power pickup woes. But N scale will lag much farther behind in this arena because cramming a motor, decoder, speakers AND batteries into an N scale loco will just be impractical for at least another 5 years, if not longer.
Joe,
Very good point on battery power vs. track power regarding ease of layout construction and operation
All this electric/esoteric stuff detracts thousands of people from going to RR modelling IMHO (at least it detracts more than it attracts [:D] ) and beside, prevented me from finishing any mentionable piece of layout [xx(]
This is clearly the next ‘frontier’ for our hobby, after the recent command control revolution.
Otherwise, as an Nscaler, I hope (noticed I didn’t say ‘think’ ? ) your predictions on Nscale battery power will be wrong [:p]
Nscale motors are much less demanding in power than larger scales, and batteries (admitedly ‘after market’ made) could be fitted in Nscale engines in lieu of current lest ‘halves’ and while bringing a reasonable stock of power
Pure ‘wishfull thinking’ at the moment I humbly admit [:D]
But the need to develop better/smaller battery systems for hybrid power automobiles may help indirectly further miniaturization of micro markets battery products like hobby batteries
Now, the most important thing : your modelling is great, and I’ve been a died-in-the-wool fan since MR article on the SCN [:I]