As an N gauge DCC modeler myself the main problem that I can see is the actual physical size of speakers. I cannot see how a speaker small enough to go into an N gauge model could have the sound out put needed to be heard a couple of feet away. But if/when they do come up with a solution I will be in the market for them even more so if they can get them in steam locos.
sounding out farish and dapol N gauge
Hi there as you all know I am modelling in N gauge british diesel area and everything is relatively rosey at the moment with the amounts of locos and chips available to make them run on dcc but I am finding myself more frustrated with the fact that OO gauge users are getting the use of sound ready locos on the market.
Is there anything I could buy and fit into my locos to give them the same features as my OO gauge friends?
I know that bachmann in the us have been doing stuff for smaller than OO gauge but is there anything on the market that I could fit into my 20,37,43,47,60 or even my 66 in N gauge and is it easy to do.
I know that dapol have done sound instructions for the voyager but that is over several cars and does require a lot of butchery.
Has anyone attempted this in N gauge yet?
If so any info would be of help.
Regards
Kain.
Is there anything I could buy and fit into my locos to give them the same features as my OO gauge friends?
I know that bachmann in the us have been doing stuff for smaller than OO gauge but is there anything on the market that I could fit into my 20,37,43,47,60 or even my 66 in N gauge and is it easy to do.
I know that dapol have done sound instructions for the voyager but that is over several cars and does require a lot of butchery.
Has anyone attempted this in N gauge yet?
If so any info would be of help.
Regards
Kain.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
I have seen a solution but the price is a little on the steep side. Take a look at this.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/produ...iew.asp?ID=8051
here is someone who has fitted into a loco as well
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/produ...iew.asp?ID=8051
here is someone who has fitted into a loco as well
January Railway Modeller has a feature about putting a sound decoder into the tender of a Farish Black 5 steam loco. But I can't see there ever being enough space in any of the diesels, unless you hack away about half the chassis block and rebuild the mechanism to suit, after which it wouldn't be able to haul very much. Another problem is the poor sound quality from small speakers.
A better option may be to output the sound from fixed speakers. I believe the RR&Co software has a module which allows this, directing the sound to the appropriate speaker depending on where the train is on the layout.
A better option may be to output the sound from fixed speakers. I believe the RR&Co software has a module which allows this, directing the sound to the appropriate speaker depending on where the train is on the layout.
QUOTE (harkins77 @ 16 Jan 2008, 19:13) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have seen a solution but the price is a little on the steep side. Take a look at this.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/produ...iew.asp?ID=8051
here is someone who has fitted into a loco as well
"It's sound, Jim, but not as we know it"
I had the opportunity to compare, side by side, an N gauge MRC sound fitted loco with a HO QSI fitted one. There's no contest and IMHO sound in N will never give anything like the same experience. As has already been said, you simply cannot fit a large enough speaker and the sound was horribly tinny.
Andrew
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/produ...iew.asp?ID=8051
here is someone who has fitted into a loco as well
I had the opportunity to compare, side by side, an N gauge MRC sound fitted loco with a HO QSI fitted one. There's no contest and IMHO sound in N will never give anything like the same experience. As has already been said, you simply cannot fit a large enough speaker and the sound was horribly tinny.
Andrew
QUOTE (SPROGman @ 17 Jan 2008, 19:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>"It's sound, Jim, but not as we know it"
I had the opportunity to compare, side by side, an N gauge MRC sound fitted loco with a HO QSI fitted one. There's no contest and IMHO sound in N will never give anything like the same experience. As has already been said, you simply cannot fit a large enough speaker and the sound was horribly tinny.
Andrew
***MRC sound is pretty bad to start with mind you - and QSI is about 10% distortion and way too loud most of the time. For micro work, only the Tsunami Micro (too big for UK N) and Loksound Micro (fits many UK N) are worth using
I've done a couple of dozen UK prototype loco's in N with sound. I've been asked to do many more but frequently say no as its not really practical in many UK loco's.
The space exists on many but it can be a real challenge even then... think milling machine and accuracy of work... milling things to be "a few thou of plastic or metal and a layer of paint" thick!!!
After advising the options and the likely result yet again, yet again it was still requested so currently I'm doing a Minitrix A4 for a client, and can get a reasonable result if I fit a 13x24 oval in the tender with a loksound Micro.
The trick will be to seal the enclosure for the speaker properly as this is critical in ANY install, despite what the punters who just "stick em in" say... and then I'll have to tweak the equalisation of the sound files to try to compensate for the speaker size...
a real pain in the B - and several hours of work.
Bass of any kind - or anything much above 300Hz is lost with all but the best speakers and the small size of N really doen't help this much.
So... personally - if you have a US articulated or a big US diesel, then it can be made to sound really nice - but all but the largest UK steam loco's are always a bit of a compromise. UK diesels are not big on space, and metal needs removing to fit sound decoders and speakers.
The BIG downside of this is removal of weight - already N has insufficient mass for good pickup - taking out more is risking good running on all but perfectly clean track...
My recommendation - either change up in scale or forget sound in UK N loc'os. Get a computer speaker system and mount it in & under the layout, play a diesel soundtrack.... quarter the cost, ten times the fidelity....
Richard
DCCconcepts
I had the opportunity to compare, side by side, an N gauge MRC sound fitted loco with a HO QSI fitted one. There's no contest and IMHO sound in N will never give anything like the same experience. As has already been said, you simply cannot fit a large enough speaker and the sound was horribly tinny.
Andrew
***MRC sound is pretty bad to start with mind you - and QSI is about 10% distortion and way too loud most of the time. For micro work, only the Tsunami Micro (too big for UK N) and Loksound Micro (fits many UK N) are worth using
I've done a couple of dozen UK prototype loco's in N with sound. I've been asked to do many more but frequently say no as its not really practical in many UK loco's.
The space exists on many but it can be a real challenge even then... think milling machine and accuracy of work... milling things to be "a few thou of plastic or metal and a layer of paint" thick!!!
After advising the options and the likely result yet again, yet again it was still requested so currently I'm doing a Minitrix A4 for a client, and can get a reasonable result if I fit a 13x24 oval in the tender with a loksound Micro.
The trick will be to seal the enclosure for the speaker properly as this is critical in ANY install, despite what the punters who just "stick em in" say... and then I'll have to tweak the equalisation of the sound files to try to compensate for the speaker size...
a real pain in the B - and several hours of work.
Bass of any kind - or anything much above 300Hz is lost with all but the best speakers and the small size of N really doen't help this much.
So... personally - if you have a US articulated or a big US diesel, then it can be made to sound really nice - but all but the largest UK steam loco's are always a bit of a compromise. UK diesels are not big on space, and metal needs removing to fit sound decoders and speakers.
The BIG downside of this is removal of weight - already N has insufficient mass for good pickup - taking out more is risking good running on all but perfectly clean track...
My recommendation - either change up in scale or forget sound in UK N loc'os. Get a computer speaker system and mount it in & under the layout, play a diesel soundtrack.... quarter the cost, ten times the fidelity....
Richard
DCCconcepts
I e-mailed bachmann to ask when there would be a possible idea of getting sound into bachmann/farish diesel locos and when they would be producing like they have been for OO gauge users a ready to run dcc fitted and sound loco like the class 20.
This was a reply I have just recieved.
Many thanks for your email.
The move to DCC is constrained by problems fitting DCC decoder sockets into the inherited Graham Farish range. Although we have re-engineered the chassis over the last few years, the vast majoirity of this work was completed before DCC became a major requirement. There is also little space within the existing bodyshells. All new products can of course have DCC designed into them and these are now appearing on the market.
To produce the sound you require, the problem is further compounded by the need to fit a speaker into the already tight space. No doubt as technology improves and speakers get smaller then opportunities will arise in future.
I trust that this information will be of interest.
Dennis Lovett
Public Relations Manager
Bachmann Europe Plc
Oh well I guess that has come from the horses mouth and I'll have to wait a little longer.
(You lucky Japanese and americans.)
This was a reply I have just recieved.
Many thanks for your email.
The move to DCC is constrained by problems fitting DCC decoder sockets into the inherited Graham Farish range. Although we have re-engineered the chassis over the last few years, the vast majoirity of this work was completed before DCC became a major requirement. There is also little space within the existing bodyshells. All new products can of course have DCC designed into them and these are now appearing on the market.
To produce the sound you require, the problem is further compounded by the need to fit a speaker into the already tight space. No doubt as technology improves and speakers get smaller then opportunities will arise in future.
I trust that this information will be of interest.
Dennis Lovett
Public Relations Manager
Bachmann Europe Plc
Oh well I guess that has come from the horses mouth and I'll have to wait a little longer.
(You lucky Japanese and americans.)
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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