zr2498

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Any chance of a sound demo on U Tube?

Received 56070 today via Ultimate MR. Very well packaged, fast delivery time, and just on test (running in), before adding the HAAs. I have to say this model has superb quality and detail. It's clear that Cavalex have really gone to town on the research and design to give us a model setting very high standards. The sound project is excellent, and this time I did not need to look for the brake function as the response enables sufficient control without it. The new ESU speaker really suits this sound project with a wide ranging frequency response. I might have to get another, even though it is stretching my modelling era.

Sorry if this sounds obvious but those plugs will only fit one way round. I am sure you have it correct but just in case?

A chance for a little Class 56 indulgence. I requested permission from Lineside Video Productions, to put a link to their U-tube video of this programme. For those that have not ordered yet, perhaps this, along with the pictures and sounds of the model, will wet the appetite.

Here is a tech drawing of the 56. The centre of the front wheel axle looks to be slightly behind the door hinge but in front of the hand rail. The steps are certainly set back from the door. I have tried to compare with the model - the best I can. Lots of assumptions (re drawing reproduction and angles of photo taken) but if there is a difference it is very small.

Thanks for this info. Another idea for future upgrades.

Not my era, BUT, having seen, and especially heard the beast I could not resist. So I've ordered a BR blue from Ultimate. I guess this will better serve the HOP ABs (which were not quick to get TOPS coding) I already have, and now also about to add some early HCA's from ACC and some HAAs from KMS Railtech. Well done Cavalex! Dave

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Now to the locomotive. On body removal, the DCC ready socket can be seen attached to a small weighted sub-assembly. After my experience of difficulty getting the A3 back together, I decided to make a little more room for the stay alive. The motor capacitor and blanking plug were removed. DCC socket disconnected. There is one screw, and an alignment pin holding the weight. The top part of the weight was removed to give more headroom for the stay alive kit. Refitted. Stay alive capacitor and interface chip attached using black tack. To the decoder. For the ESU V5 stay alive, a 3 wire Zen stay alive was used. First soldering the 3 wires to the decoder. Preparation for the firebox flicker. The blue (common +ve) and green (AUX1) wires were cut off at the 8 pin plug for direct connection. Note that the full length of harness wire is needed to reach to the firebox LED. The LED assembly is prepared, with the 1K ohm resistor in the +ve leg. The wires were connected for the firebox flicker LED, and the brown speaker wires attached to the 2 pin micro connector. The LED was fixed (using black tack), into the 3mm hole which had been drilled through the firebox, any exposed connections insulated, and the remaining wires secured. Reassembled, and all tested OK. Firebox flicker. Not forgetting the CV changes to commission the stay alive. A tremendous sound from Locoman. I would not say that there was much difference in sound between this EM2 speaker and the Rail Exclusive 'Chunky Boom Box'. That is, for these sound files.

Last of my A4s for sound installation. This model has the 'old' style tender coupling, and the DCC socket in the locomotive. It will also include a stay alive and firebox flicker. This version of the model provides a better opportunity for an even bigger, EM2 speaker. The only new wiring to the tender is for the speaker. This is the kit used: First to the tender. The weight and coal load are removed. The coal pan will be cut out. On this occasion, I will explain the method I have arrived at which seems to be optimal (to me anyway). First, I use a razor saw running down the seams between the base and the sides of the chute. The small saw attachment is shaped at the end so it behaves like an Olfa cutter. So strokes will slowly remove material. When there is a 'break through' the rest of the seam can be cut using the saw action. Turn over and continue the saw cuts into the horizontal section. A cross cut is made using a scalpel. First at the top. And then at the base, so the first piece can be removed. There is now easy access to clip out the side walls of the chute as required. Finally a clean up of edges with a scalpel and abrasive stick. The lugs for the weight are cut down, and a couple of styrene strips added to barrier off the route to the tender pick ups. This will prevent glue running through! Lead shot is added and fixed with Cyano (hot). Four pads are added to ensure no contact between tender wheels and the speaker. An EM2 speaker is used. First the mounting lugs are removed. A 2mm hole is drilled into the tender chassis to accept the 2 pin micro connector wires. The speaker is fixed with black tack. Speaker wires connected, and insulated with heat shrink. A 10g weight fixed into the tender body. Tender body fitted using the original clip and screw fixing. The original coal load has been fitted, but this might be replaced by a false floor and real coal. Next to the locomotive.

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Hi. Perhaps I can help. If all you have done is incorrect weathering, then perhaps it could easily be removed. I can recommend the stuff as shown below. I also note that Tim Shackleton refers to it in Jan 24 Hornby magazine article 'Cleaning up / dirtying down. Hope you have success.

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Charlie Thanks for this video. I had seen / heard this one before, but still haven't got around to the reblows. On your site there are now a number of sound files for refurbished 37s. I assume that the video is for this one:

A second K1. As with the second B1, this loco had already been weathered, and real coal added. So, I wanted to install sound without the need to cut the coal chute away. A smaller, but still very effective speaker was selected for this. This is the kit used: Inside the tender. Weight and capacitor removed. Shorter wires soldered to the socket. Parts clipped out of the tender body and chassis. Speaker, stay alive, weights and decoder fitted. Complete. A straight vacuum pipe this time!

Very different sounds, and have to agree the Jamie Goodman sounds the best. Is that down to the new ESU speaker or the sound files (or both). I assume that the sugar cube was removed for that. How about the Biffo sound?

Or back to TMC!

Now to the locomotive. As previously mentioned, a low profile LED is needed owing to the small clearance between the motor and back plate. A Kytes Lights suppled nano smed LED was used. The LED fixing was set up using some insulating tape as shown. A 3mm diameter hole was drilled through the firebox, and the LED fixed to the rear of the back plate. The LED wires are routed forwards to available space on the loco chassis. The 2 pin micro connector was routed as shown, with the wires taken underneath the brass retaining plate. Wires and resistor connected. Insulated with heat shrink and the excess wire stuffed into the smokebox. Loco and tender connections made. Tested OK. Firebox flicker. As the glow is set back into the firebox, it seems far more realistic. Stay alive parameters set as per usual. Great sound as usual from Locoman, and plenty of depth and power with that large Rail Exclusive speaker.

Now for the tender installation. Opening up, the space is filled up with the weight, standard speaker fitting and the 8 pin socket. First step is to remove the weight, the capacitor (not needed, especially with DCC) and the DCC socket. I decided to hardwire for this install, as that would eliminate the space taken up by the 8 pin plug and socket The tender body has had the coal pan removed, and also the lug which would have connected to the weight for body fixing. Before cutting out the coal pan, I marked where the coal load came up to. This would prevent cutting too high, as the load has a low profile and I wanted to keep as is. A couple of styrene pieces were added to the tender chassis. This would provide a boundary for the lead shot, keeping glue away from the wheel pick-up routing. As can be seen, a good deal of parts of the tender chassis have been clipped off to increase the headroom. Lead shot added, and fixed with cyano. Also, a couple of weights added to the side of the speaker. Now to the decoder. A 3 wire DCC Concepts Zen large stay alive was used. First the wiring to the decoder. Then the hardwiring connections. Motor (orange and grey), track (red and black) , speaker (brown), 2 pin micro plug/ wires for fire box flicker (blue common +ve and green AUX1). The firebox flicker wires were routed through a 2mm diameter hole in the chassis. The speaker was fixed in place with black tack. Insulation added, and assembly of parts. Fixed with black tack. Note the postion of the stay alive decoder interface chip. The angle and position forwards makes sure that it clears the lowered profile of the tender body at the rear. Tender body fitted. The front end screw as original fitting, and as the lug had been removed, a thin strip of black tack secures the body at the rear. Coal load fitted. Next will be the firebox flicker.

A couple of Black 5s were described in: This time the sound, stay alive and firebox flicker will be fitted to a more recent model, which has the DCC socket in the tender. This is not the retooled version we are waiting for (at 2023). The irony is that if a large speaker is to be fitted, the older version was easier! However, it is still possible to fit the same speaker by cutting out the coal pan to maximise the space available. As mentioned in the previous installation, the room between the motor and cab back plate is so small that the 3mm diameter LED protrudes too far through the firebox. This time a Nano SMED LED was used which overcomes this problem. This is the kit used: Next time the tender installation will be described.

Fran Great to see these are not far away. I have a couple on order. Point of interest: I assume the speaker configuration will be the same, or similar to the class 37s. Have there been any changes to the the PC board / sound files to overcome the cutting out issues that have occurred with the 37s. That is, not having to turn the volume settings down.

Another apology! 35 layouts was stated in the email from key Publishing yesterday, but as you say 12 are listed with info', and 15 in another statement. Certainly, if not 35 then the information is misleading.

I assume it is the picture advertising Key Model World Live. My apologies, but perhaps I should have shown the rest of the information. So, there may well be something for everyone? It might be the case that the 'big' layout of Pete Waterman's will draw a bigger footfall, especially amongst the younger generation which cannot be a bad thing. Hopefully the 'bright lights' will spark the initial enthusiasm which could develop into more meaningful / traditional railway modelling with maturity. If tech (including DCC and sound), keeps the hobby going then I'm all for it. I went to see Heaton Lodge at Harrogate last year = fantastic. Also there was Grantham = equally fantastic, totally different, and certainly also a large layout. That was mixed with a model engineering exhibition. Flexibility and variety of formats seems to be a good idea.

For example this one at the NEC in April