Looking for suggestions for a sound decoder installation in a Spectrum HO 70 tonner with single motor.
The loco had a Cooper-Bessemer 6 cylinder, 4 cycle diesel. I will be using the LokSound micro with the speaker that comes with it. LokSound does not seem to have a similar USA sound but I have no knowledge of diesel engines. The only thing I have been told is, do not use a Alco sound as many know what Alco’s sound like so they must have a peculiar characteristic sound.
Thanks.
Rich
LokSound Micro…the only choice in this situation.
David B
I said that in my post. I was looking for engine type sound. There are many possibilites.
Never mind, I will figure it out myself.
Rich
An online dealer suggested the LokSound Diesel Baldwin 6-VO; airhorn 72849. It is a 6 cylinder non-turbo diesel with single chime air horn sound.
Rich
Search for Wolfgang’s posts on his ‘critters’. He’s put sound in various small locos that don’t use more typical GE, Alco, or EMD prime movers. Not sure which sounds he used. Loksound has a few diesel motor car sounds that should work. For casual visitors, the Baldwin would work because it’s different enough from anything you’re likely to hear these days, but liek Alco, Baldwin diesels have a distinctive sound that says “Baldwin”.
–Randy
Here are a few photos of the project. Weight, PC board, three motor capacitors, both lights removed. Only lights will be re-used.
Added 0.040" styrene board to support decoder & speaker. Decoder in place on carpet tape.
DCC control and sound is great during preliminary testing.
Working on speaker baffle now. Following a RMC, Nov. 2008 article for this install.
Rich
A little more progress. Again, PC board and weight not used. I will add weight in different spaces before final install of shell. I have some metal for weights that melts at about the temp of boiling water to make my own weights. I use some styrene walls to make small containers for different size weights. Lead shot works also.
Three capacitors removed
Rich
A little more.
Speaker and baffle
Speaker and baffle in shell. The original article has the speaker and baffle on the styrene shelf and pointing up.
Rich
I found the sound from the decoder I mentioned to be quite like some You Tube videos of full size 70 tonners. I have a couple I saved made near a loco. One the engine is idling, the other is a actual Cooper-Bessemer 660 HP diesel starting and idling. That is the main engine that came with some 70 tonners.
The Baldwin VO6 sound in the decoder was also a 660 HP diesel about the sam era.
I am sure nit pickers will say no. Not the same.
Rich
For this install. I did not use the weight and Bachmann decoder. I poured two weights to make up for this.
Pouring weight.
Two weights in shell
Rich
Here are a couple videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVr3dcb0gdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yul-WmA52Gw
Rich
Hi Rich,
What type of “Pouring Weight” did you use? Is this a moldable type as you used the Lego blocks and didn’t melt it?
Please kindly share that with us.
Cheers
Jim
The metal melts at the boiling temp of water. I put the metal in a small sauce pan. I put that pan in a little larger sauce pan that has water in it. When the water boils, the metal melts and I carefully pour it into the plastic forms while watching the scale. I found the scale on ebay for about $20…00, free shipping.
I have seen this metal sold at MRR shops in the past but I bought my stuff from McMaster-Carr some years ago for a different project, an industrial supplier that will ship to individuals.
Rich
Rich
Good videos and a good installation as well.
My only comment is that the loco starts moving before the sound ramps up. Perhaps you could play with the momentum a bit so that the motor is slower to respond and the sound comes on before the loco moves. Just a suggestion.
Dave
That video was made some time ago and I just never made a new video after fine tuning. I only wanted at the time was to show people it can be done.
I used some ideas from a 70 ton sound install in RMC, Nov. 2008, modifying a Rutland 70 ton.
Rich
Rich
I kind of figured that you wouldn’t leave it like that so I withdraw my suggestion.
I am a fan of fitting things into tight spaces and your post has given me some great ideas.
Thanks
Dave