Hi folks. I had avoided buying a Kato GS-4 because I just couldn't find a way to justify having one on a layout that is supposed to depict the NKP in 1957, but I guess my wife saw the longing in my eyes whenever I'd see one, and so she got me one for Christmas. And that meant doing a DCC and sound conversion. While Kato makes a DCC decoder for this model, I decided to use my "dual decoder" method with a Lenz silver mini in the boiler for motor and front light control, and a Soundtraxx micro-Tsunami (TSU-750) in the tender for sound. One of the reasons I went this route was so I could replace the horrid yellow LED's that Kato uses for headlights and also fix the awful Mars light implementation. Using the Lenz in the boiler allowed me to wire up both the headlight and Mars light without running additional wires from the tender. I used 3mm "sunny white" LED's from Richmond Controls for this. I also added a white LED in the tender for a backup light, which Kato left out. Here are some photos of the install, first the Lenz in the boiler and then the sound layout: What I did to install the Lenz was to cut off all but about 3/8" of the light board (you can see what's left in the photo) and put a Silver Mini in where the rest of the light board used to be. I used the remainder of the light board for power pickup for the Lenz. I also had to trim the plastic "light pipes" that route light from the LEDs to the Mars light and headlight respectively. You can see how I mounted the LED up against the trimmed pipe for the Mars light; the headlight installation is hidden: for that one I cut the pipe back about 1/2", and put the LED next to it in the frame below the black electrical tape (which shields the light) in the photo. The sound install is pretty self-explanatory: I'm using a 14X25mm oval speaker in an enclosure made out of lead sheet that fits where the tender weight used to go; the TSU-750 is right behind it. The power wires for the TSU are soldered to the stock Kato circuit board below the plastic weight holder, and the two little yellow things behind the speaker are two 16v, 220uf tantalum chip caps that I use as "keeper" caps for the TSU-750. I also added some lead weight to the very rear of the tender. I'm going to upload some video to YouTube later and I'll post a link here when I get that done; the thing sounds pretty darn good. I'm also going to try to do a complete document on how I did this install and will upload a PDF of that when I get it done. John C.
Cannot wait for the video's and documentation! I wonder which speaker you used, it looks huge! Must have a decent sound as well.
I updated my original post with the speaker info: it's a 14x25mm oval (I buy them from Digi-Key Electronics). And here's one last photo, which shows the hole I cut in the tender shell for sound egress (the oil bunker detail part sits on top of this, and I found I didn't have to drill any holes in it for the sound). John C.
Hi Bob. It's GC0251K-ND. I had the size wrong in my original post: it's 14X25mm, not 14X20 (I've fixed the original post). John
Nice, I think putting sound in my GS4 was the first thing I attempted when getting into the hobby, I just used the Tsunami and ran wires across from the tender. It's still my favorite loco on the layout! However since that project I've been trying to stick sound in everything I have. haha!
Great job, John. I was waiting to see if you could use the oval speaker in the lead enclosure and fit it in the space allowed. I've got my decoders and am ready to go but I've got a couple of other projects I've just got to finish. I know I'll have questions. You're pictures are great though and I'm sure will be a big help. ...Tom
Was yours from Kato or a custom installation. This is probably a stupid question, but is the Tsunami capable of dual mode? I've yet to go DCC, but would like to start installing decoders for the transition and I plan on going with sound for the majority of my steam.
Thanks John. When I went to their website and plugged in a 14x20mm speaker, a search proved fruitless.
http://www.tophobbytrains.com/ Installed and fully programed. It was a great attention getter at the recent Anaheim show. Call me chicken if you like but I am happy with my decision to have it installed and pre-programed.
