Model steam and smoke

[The Johnster]

We are obviously moving towards decent smoke and steam fx for 4mm model steam locos, but we're not quite there yet; to be fair it is a big ask, both of the chemistry that produces the smoke/steam and the electronics that monitor and control it's production.  IMHO the wow factor of having such a thing on a model potentially blinds one to it's faults, though, which are:-

 

. There is still no tolerably realistic on board sound system that provides anything that sounds like the chuff of a real locomotive.  We've got synchronising with the wheels right, which is a massive step forwards, but the silly little speakers that are all that can fit into a 4mm loco are far too small for decent results.  It might be better if the audio was fed back to headphones (and IMHO the same goes for diesel and other DCC sounds).  The sound is anyway well off in the examples I've heard; a panting dog is not the noise required (though it is a bit better than the piece of scraped sandpaper that Triang used to use!)!

 

. The smoke/steam produced is a massive improvement on the old Suethe 'cigarette in an ashtray' blue haze, but is nowhere near thick or opaque enough.  What is needed is a modulated output, lighter at lower work loads and volcanic when the loco is pulling hard (with sound to match!), more or less non-existent when she's coasting or slowing down.  We need black smoke a second or so after the sound of the fireman's shovel to show he's working hard!

 

. I am not sure of the environmental implications of smoke/steam fx in an enclosed layout room.  What do they smell like and how does the cloud of steam dissapate?  Is a layer of dirt left on everything, and, given the implications for weathering, is that necessarily a bad thing?  How might it effect electrical pickup and conductivity?  Most of all, of course, is it safe to inhale or ingest, because it will inevitably be inhaled and ingested.

 

E for effort, but no box of chocolates; I will continue to happily make chuff chuff noises for now, sometimes even in association with operating my layout...

Edited September 25, 2017 by The Johnster

[brianusa]

Years ago, Lionel introduced a sound effect on its cheapest line.  Basically it was small ball bearings rolling around in an enclosed disc in the tender being turned by contact with the middle rail.  It would not satisfy any of the more sophisticated but from the kid point of view, quite successful  I used to have one!

 

Brian.