Fitting Sound to a Hornby K1 & B1

[zr2498]

This project includes the fitting of sound to a Hornby K1, including a large Rail Exclusive speaker, and the stay alive as suppled with the Zimo decoder.

The sound files were chosen after listening to the installation as done by Digitrains as below:

 

 

This is the kit I used:

 

On opening the tender, it was clear that most parts would need to be removed before a decent size speaker could be installed. The 8 pin socket was disconnected, and the weight removed.

 

 

The coal space was cut out, and one of the tender fixing lugs removed from both the tender chassis and body. One fixing point, together with the clip at the front of the tender was tested as OK to hold the body tight. The weight fixing lugs, and the speaker surround were also clipped out.

 

 

 

A little weight was re-introduced with lead shot fixed with Cyano.

 

 

A large 'Boom box' speaker added using black tack.

 

 

The decoder chip and stay alive capacitor were fixed to the sides of the speaker with black tack.

 

 

And the decoder plug connected.

 

 

Tender body replaced.

 

 

The front part of the coal load was clipped off, and then the load replaced above the coal space.

 

 

I was quite surprised just how much sound eminated from this relatively small locomotive, so had to turn the volume down!

 

Final task was to adjust the chuff rate. CV267 changed from 70 to 120.

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by zr2498

[zr2498]

The second sound installation for this thread is a B1. The tender being virtually identical means that most of the installation is a repeat, however this time, forebox flicker and a larger stay alive was also fitted.

 

Here is the kit used:

 

 

 

The loco came DCC fitted, which was removed.

 

 

Again, the coal space and a parts from the tender chassis were removed, same as for the K1 above.

 

 

 

Now to prepare the loco for the firebox flicker. A 2 pin micro connector was used. The available routing for the wires was limited, so initially a 2mm diameter hole was drilled at a corner as shown below.

 

 

To ensure that the wires would not contact the rear drivers, they were glued with 'hot' Cyano into the the recess as shown.

 

 

The LED and 1K ohm resistor were prepared. Blue wire to the +ve leg, and black to the -ve. Black would connect through to the Green AUX1 of the 8 pin socket and the Blue to the Common +ve.

 

 

Heat shrink covering the soldered joints, and black tacked into a 3mm hole drilled through from the firebox.

 

 

Loco chassis refitted.

 

 

Back to the tender. Lead shot added, and set with Cyano. A 2mm hole was drilled in the chassis to route the firebox flicker wiring.

 

 

Black and Blue wires from the female 2 pin connector were soldered to the 8 pin socket.

Blue to Common +ve Pin 7, and Black to the Green position Pin 3 which is AUX 1.

 

 

Speaker added using black tack, plus a 5 gm weight.

 

 

Lais stay alive connections.

 

 

Decoder added using black tack.

 

 

Stay alive fitted to the tender body and another 5 gm weight added.

 

 

Tender body refitted. The vertical leg on the coal load was trimmed off and refitted.

 

 

Connections to loco.

 

 

Completed and tested. Excellent sound files with active braking, and big sound.

 

 

Chuff rate was adjusted. CV 267 from 80 to 135 (4 per rev)

 

Firebox glow. This needed some CVs to be changed so that firebox glow operated with F6 (coal shovelling).

CV 40 from 4 to 0

CV 430 from 17 to 6

CV 432 from 2 to 1

CV 434 from 2 to 1

The flicker effect - CV 127 from 0 to 8

 

[zr2498]

A second B1 sound installation. 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:

 

 

The tender chassis parts cut away as before. This time, only the one fixing lug removed from the tender body roof.

 

 

Lead shot and speaker added.

 

 

Connections to provided stay alive and speaker.

 

 

8 pin plug connected, and fixed adjacent to speaker end with insulation tape and black tack.

The decoder and stay alive were fixed to the tender body, and a 5 gm weight also added.

 

 

Completed, with chuff rate changed as before.

 

 

[rorz101uk]

I think the B1 needs to go back to the fitters, look what’s happen the Vacuum pipe along the boiler 👍🏻

[zr2498]

On 13/12/2023 at 17:54, rorz101uk said:

I think the B1 needs to go back to the fitters, look what’s happen the Vacuum pipe along the boiler 👍🏻

Or back to TMC!

[zr2498]

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!