Rick, That unit looks sharp! FWIW, when I added Loksound to my IMR B-units, the 8 x 12 Sugarcube was more than adequate. Actually, I lowered the volume of both B-units (A-B-B lash up).
Thanks all. Except for the blown LED, and my two day diversion into detail parts (thanks to the LED and having the bare shell just sitting there) this was a very simple LokSound install. All told, the easiest I have attempted yet. And yes, I realize I am also gaining experience. This weekend will be LokPilots into the two B units, speed matching and final configuration customizations (including the correct horns). Will be fun to have the CZ with two sound consists, and swap power during at the Great Train Show in San Jose two weeks from now.
Nice work. I always keep a lookout for sound decoder builds like this. It seems all the recent builds do not require drilling holes into the shell. Is this correct and is the sound good enough? I remember the Mikado builds always drilled holes in top of tender to let sound out, but seems this is not required on diesels. Thanks, Martin
Martin, there really isn't any difference in sound, with or without holes, that I have noticed. Even on steam. I did put hole in a couple of tender loads, then stopped. I suppose if a tender seals up tightly, one would need to put in holes. The way I mount the speaker in a Kato Mikado is to lift off the load from the top of the tender, then cut a hole that is the size of the speaker immediately below. I attach the speaker there, and then put the load back on.
Ditto Rick. When I started out doing sound installs four years ago, I drilled holes in the fan detail in diesels. Then on about my fifth install, I forgot to do it and lo and behold, it sounded just as good (maybe even better - I have a theory about why). So from then on, no holes. I also drilled holes in all my coal loads, but now have stopped doing that, as well. You don't need holes for the same reason that you can't use a shell as a speaker baffle - they just leak too much air. On diesels, I think the sound is better without holes because it has to sort of rattle around inside the shell before exiting, giving a bit more reverb than might otherwise be the case. So forget the holes; be happy John C.