A bad idea HO project or Too much time on my hands

RGW1 Jun 5, 2020

  1. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    I only run DC at the time and it will be a few years until I switch over to DCC or maybe battery RC control
    ( I had RC cars for some years ) I sometimes would some sound for my steam , but not all the time.
    I know I could get Dual-mode decoders but do not want the hassle right now with the wiring and the money. So I got some used sound cars off Ebay for a good price. The ones that us 9 volts and an axle switch.
    *Tyco baby ruth no battery little ball ina drum terrible sound . Got it free in a box.
    *MP / IHC gondola with crate load slightly better , but still lame.
    *MTL box car better yet ,can live with it . *CMI #2001 good for nonDCC uses track voltage for chuff rate , but with a a heavy train goes out of sync with speed.

    Now my project. I have a Mantua kitbash 2-6-6-2 simple both cylinders sets HP,so I need two exhauste cuffs per wheel rotation and not always in sync. I took a MTL sound box car and added a second axle switch truck to it so now I have two independent exhauste notes. Still working on it , however, my expectations are low so maybe I will not be disappointed. If anybody is interested I can post a video , maybe it will not be too high on the lame meter.
     
    RailMix likes this.
  2. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Worth a try. I have given some thought to a viable way to develop analog sound, but haven't come up with anything at this point.
     
  3. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    Did a test run this morning. I am not happy with the Miniature train limited ( MTL ) car sound . Tried my CMI #2001 car and am surprised that the sound is better. It has a more relisted sound and using track voltage to start and control cuff rate works well and seems to mimic simple articulate sound well.
    Will post a video of test runs latter.
     
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  4. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    here is a video of 2 sound cars. I have an idea using a Bluetooth speaker to try later on.
     
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  5. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Makes me want sound...
     
  6. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Doesn't sound bad at all, especially for a low priced solution. Maybe a pickup shoe would solve the problem of interruption at turnout frogs, etc.
     
  7. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    I wish all wheel pick up truck were more commonin HO. I plan on testing the board wired to the track wire and sending the signal to a small Bluetooth speaker in a car.
     
  8. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    I noticed you said when the Sound Car hit a frog it restarts. You can get keep Alives to plug into a Soundcar decoder. All of mine have them.
     
  9. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    this is a analog car, so no decoder. It uses the track voltage to match the chuff rate. It has a knob to adjust the starting chuff ,so a stay alive so not work.

    I am going to try mounting the soundboard externally and connect to track power feed then send the sound to a small bluetooth speaker in a box car.
     
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