DP1 Deltic prototype

[7013]

It is about time the manufacturers started a bit of forward thinking regarding speaker placement. In fairness to Bachmann the speaker you supplied fitted perfectly into the slot in the top of the Deltic which did make sealing it quite a straightforward task, but it should not be a huge change in design philosophy to ensure fitting a speaker is easier.

 

Agreed. I was very pleased with Dapol Dave's influence leading to their use of the bass reflex speaker as a standard (where it will fit of course). Hornby did well with their 67, leaving a space of the correct size in the correct place for best results (ie the underframe). Let's hope that trend continues. Bachmann make things very difficult for retro-fitting sound and they pay no heed to good audio design with their own sound-fitted locos. Their internal design often makes it difficult to improve the situation yourself. Heljan make things very difficult for the 7mm modeller (most notably by having mounting pillars passing through the large voids where speakers could go) and their 4mm models generally make no provision for sound whatsoever. I still maintain that the company which takes this issue seriously and designs sound in from the outset will secure a market advantage.

 

Bif

I agree entirely, I was looking at some Roco and Fleischmann locos in a store near where I live, Some of the smallest tank engines I have seen (think pug but smaller) have the most amazing sound because the companies did just what you advocate i.e. taking sound into account during the design phase. These little tank engines although a bit more expensive have the most incredible steam sound.

[pauliebanger]

I agree entirely, I was looking at some Roco and Fleischmann locos in a store near where I live, Some of the smallest tank engines I have seen (think pug but smaller) have the most amazing sound because the companies did just what you advocate i.e. taking sound into account during the design phase. These little tank engines although a bit more expensive have the most incredible steam sound.

 

You know they use ZIMO sound decoders, don't you?

 

Paul

[7013]

I did know that Paul and I know they are expensive, but one accepts that paying more gives you more in some many departments in the case of decoders. I also know the locos were fitted with tiny cube speakers about the size of a sugar lump (or smaller) which give superb sound quality.

I gave my Deltic an extended run with a rake of the cheap part work MK1s in tow. The sound from Deltic was superb at all speeds, I would have recorded it on film but for the noise in the club as new work stations were being installed! As for the coaches they certainly make for a heavy rake, probably 6 maybe 7 Bachmanns as opposed to the 5 I was running. They could definitely do with some bearings to reduce relative drag. But hey the Deltic made light work of them.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

... I still maintain that the company which takes this issue seriously and designs sound in from the outset will secure a market advantage.

 

 If it can be done at virtually no incremental cost or performance loss (due to  weight reduction) to those of us who are not interested in sound this might be true.

 

I should have thought the way to proceed is for specialist sound suppliers to produce a complete replacement chassis block which with the largest possible infinite baffle void(s) provided within it. No good for those of us who want weight for traction before all other considerations, but it would surely help with the sound.

[7013]

Bit of a drastic and expensive solution 34. We have been down this road with DCC ready and fitted, however the simple solution for the manufacturer is to be able to accommodate all preferences as cheaply as possible, making a space in the chassis as Bachmann have done on Deltic satisfies all modellers, sound fitters have a space to pop a speaker, and if you do not use sound you can fill the space with extra ballast. With steam locos it is easier now that decoders can be fitted in the tender of that type of loco. In the case of tank engines again it is easy for a speaker space to be filled with ballast

[tender]

Just an update, I've now sealed the speaker with blue tac and removed some of the plastic moulding from around the fans as suggested by 7013. The sound is much improved and well worth the effort. Performing the auto tune facility of the loksound also improves the slow running further.

Ray.