Question about new C44-9W from Kato

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Im not sure how new or old this model is, but I wondered if Kato would have a matching sound decoder for it like there other locomotives.

Heres a link

http://www.katousa.com/HO/C44-9W/index.html

Colin

2

While you were at their web site did you read the description of the model? It clearly states that there is provision for a speaker in the fuel tank area and that this is a newly redesigned model. It is so new, that it may not be available yet. They don’t say what sound decoder will fit; however, on their sound-equipped Kobo models they use the Digitrax SoundFX decoder, so that is probably what this one would take. Check the Digitrax web site for SoundFX details, including what models it will fit into.

I have two of the older Kato C44-9W models that were DCC ready but not for sound, and there’s no room for a speaker in one of them without milling out the frame.

3

Thanks, I did read the site. I new there was a area for a speaker, I may have stated wrong but I was looking to just know what the decoder was (model and manufactorer). Sorry for any missunder standing. Thank you though.

Colin

4

When I checked the Digitrax Sound FX decoder list I didn’t see one for the C44-9W listed, so it may be too new a model for Digitrax to have the decoder ready. My suggestion would be to just keep a close eye on the Digitrax web site, because they will probably make a drop-in decoder to fit this model.

5

I had both of the sound and non-sound friendly chassis and the sound friendly ones was from the newer run with the cavity under the tank for a speaker. You could modify a non-sound friendly unit by putting the speaker in the cab or in the rear radiator. I was going to try and put a rectangle speaker over the rear truck by milling it down to accept it.

You will have to extend the truck leads or just replace them with longer ones approx. 1 1/2" longer and modify the motor leads also for the older C44-9W locos. The Digitrax SDH104K1A+FN04K1 Combo works as previously stated.

The sound decoder is actually for the AC4400CW which is just the AC version to the C44-9W DC version, but the have the same prime mover which makes the sounds pretty much the same.