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Thoughts on best sound decoder for 7mm 'Thumper'


bagpipes331

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Hi,

I'm about to embark on building a peter Clark Hampshire unit in 7mmm scale. 

I know of the SWD and Howes sound decoders, but are there others to consider ?

Also, because I will be using only one Mashima motor, I can get away with a decoder used for 4mmm scale locos.......but would I still achieve a deep and loud sound?

 

Any thoughts/help appreciated.

 

Rich

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Hi Rich, I have heard both sounds on Youtube (not always the best sound rendition) but thought of the two, I would pick the Howes decoder. It was a 00 gauge decoder installed in to an O gauge 3 car unit and sounded really good(I found part of the build a while back on RM web but forget which thread)

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We were all set to record the one at the Spa Valley Railway last year but the turbo failed the week before our visit - doaaaaah! My understanding is that it is, or very soon will be back in traffic. All being well we'll be recording it in August, along with the 26 that's there just now.

 

Bif

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We were all set to record the one at the Spa Valley Railway last year but the turbo failed the week before our visit - doaaaaah! My understanding is that it is, or very soon will be back in traffic. All being well we'll be recording it in August, along with the 26 that's there just now.

 

Bif

 

Fingers crossed........ :)

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You may want to think carefully about putting an OO decoder on the heavy three car unit.

 

If you want to go down the ESU Loksound route then the V4 Loksound XL would be a better option.

 

I understand the potential problems (I have been using DCC sound for a while now) but I have Mashima motors in tank locos that have pulled heavier loads than three coaches with no problems and these are all powered through Loksound V3.5s . One advantage to using the V4XL would be the built-in keep alive - but they are expensive.

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Here are a couple of videos I did of my 7mm Thumper with a Howes sound chip that was a ESU 4mm 3.5. I have since fitted a 7mm V4 and a Cliff Williams bass speaker and it really sounds the business now.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVqsUYnv2Bk&feature=c4-overview&list=UUXGIxY_z3Y5_oQlvYp7gqaw

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YmQrD5u5RI&list=UUXGIxY_z3Y5_oQlvYp7gqaw&index=4

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sounds great John. Which speaker would be required to produce the best possible sound in a 7mm etched brass model?

How much space do you have?

If limited, then I'd suggest a Zimo LS2040B in 7mm.  If you have acres of space then some of the bigger Visaton speakers are fabulous.

If you are seriously limited, then think about a Zimo SugarLump, or 2... but in 7mm you probably want more than that.

John

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