I have a couple 2-6-0s and a have designs on a 4-4-0. Now the 4-4-0 I can get with MRC sound. I hear it is less than to be desired, although I heard one at a show (granted it was a noisy show) and it sounded okay.
But if I wanted to go with a Tsunami, 1) do they have appropriate sounds and 2) will they fit.
The decoders I have in the 2-6-0’s right now are n-scale plug-ins. I can ream out a lot of the the tender because I’ll be converting them to wood burners anyway. I don’t like the idea of pointing the speaker down as I’ve friends who collect stuff on the magnet that way.
And while we’re on the subject, is there a good sound for a Climax A?
Chip, they make a micro-Tsunami now that might fit. Try Tony’s Trains or Soundtraxx web sites as they usually have the dimensions. I think that if you got the small steam decoder it would have what you need.
As for the Climax, I’m not sure they make a special one for it. I have a friend that has one and he used a Tsunami. He turned off the rod clank sound and increased the chuff rate.
The Tsunamis have a lot of sounds and you can turn them off or set the individual volumes to levels that represent what your loco should sound like. the manual can be down-loaded from the Soundtraxx web site and is about 75 pages long.
There are a lot of folks on the forums that recommend that you stay away from MRC decoders.
I use the Micro-Tsunami light steam decoder in the new Roundhouse 2-6-0 and 2-8-0. I am installing one in a 4-4-0 after I remove the MRC decoder. I have installed Micro in a Spectrum 4-4-0.
The Roundhouse engines all have the same boiler and cab.
I recently installed a Micro Light logging decoder and speaker in a completely rebuilt MDC Climax. I had to pretty much max out the chuff rate. I have heard a prototype Climax chuff.
I just ordered three Roundhouse tender frames and trucks from Roundhouse. The tender frames are ready for a one inch speaker facing down. The decoder sits on top of the speaker magnet.
I have three older MDC locos and the tender shells fit the new tender frames. The trucks have four wheel pickups. The 4-4-0, 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 all have the same tender.
I have never had metal pickup on steam locos, diesels yes.
The Roundhouse speaker is a poor speaker. I have put a Tsunami in a 4-4-0 with the stock speaker, my dual speakers sound so much better. The dual speaker sound is worth the extra effort.