Next run of Atlas GP38-2 will be sound equipped

[Rossford Yard]

Newb to these sound equipped engines, although my SD40-2 has the "wait for engine to rev up" feature before it moves.

If I was to buy a pair of the GP38-2 (IHB of course) is there a problem matching one sound and one without sound (wouldn't need both, would I?) to run together?

Probably easy, but wondering if it is in the momentum or some other wrinkle?

[djconway]

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Newb to these sound equipped engines, although my SD40-2 has the "wait for engine to rev up" feature before it moves.

If I was to buy a pair of the GP38-2 (IHB of course) is there a problem matching one sound and one without sound (wouldn't need both, would I?) to run together?

Probably easy, but wondering if it is in the momentum or some other wrinkle?

There should be no problems speed matching sound with non-sound units,  worst case would be to run time trials and use the 28 step speed table.

[jdcolombo]

Newb to these sound equipped engines, although my SD40-2 has the "wait for engine to rev up" feature before it moves.

If I was to buy a pair of the GP38-2 (IHB of course) is there a problem matching one sound and one without sound (wouldn't need both, would I?) to run together?

Probably easy, but wondering if it is in the momentum or some other wrinkle?

You can turn the "wait for rev up until move" feature off if you want to do so.  And if you are going to speed match a sound to a non-sound unit, you have to do this, unless your non-sound unit has an ESU LokPilot V.4 decoder, in which case you can activate the "delay" on both units.  I assume the Atlas GP38's will have ESU non-sound decoders, too, just like IM's SD40's, so you can choose whether to have the rev-up delay on or off, as you like.

As for speed matching, it should be dead easy if both units have ESU decoders.   The non-sound LokPilot uses the same software and settings for motor control as the Loksound, so you should be able to just enter the exact same values for CV's 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in both and be pretty darn close.  You could tweak one if necessary from there, but I have about 40 Atlas GP7/9 and RS11 engines with a mix of LokSound and LokPilot decoders, and I literally use exactly the same values for CV's 2-6 in all of them and they speed-match perfectly.  As long as the motors are the same, you should come within 98% of perfect (there may be some variation due to manufacturing tolerances in the motor and driveline, but it won't be much).

John C.

[tehachapifan]

Like John said and per the 2012 LokSound manual, you can disable the rev-up (startup) delay by deleting bit 3 of CV 124. This can be found in section 5.2.7.7 on page 35.

[Atlas Paul]

You can turn the "wait for rev up until move" feature off if you want to do so.  And if you are going to speed match a sound to a non-sound unit, you have to do this, unless your non-sound unit has an ESU LokPilot V.4 decoder, in which case you can activate the "delay" on both units.  I assume the Atlas GP38's will have ESU non-sound decoders, too, just like IM's SD40's, so you can choose whether to have the rev-up delay on or off, as you like.

As for speed matching, it should be dead easy if both units have ESU decoders.   The non-sound LokPilot uses the same software and settings for motor control as the Loksound, so you should be able to just enter the exact same values for CV's 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in both and be pretty darn close.  You could tweak one if necessary from there, but I have about 40 Atlas GP7/9 and RS11 engines with a mix of LokSound and LokPilot decoders, and I literally use exactly the same values for CV's 2-6 in all of them and they speed-match perfectly.  As long as the motors are the same, you should come within 98% of perfect (there may be some variation due to manufacturing tolerances in the motor and driveline, but it won't be much).

John C.

We are not offering DCC only option.  If someone wants DCC without sound, they can install the decoder of their choice.

[Rossford Yard]

Thanks for the help.

Paul, thanks for the IHB units. At one time, you told me you weren't going to do them since some small detail didn't match. I don't care.  Actually had 2 custom painted, but sold those off when I moved. 

Probably will buy one, and maybe match it with an existing IHB GP40-2....I have a fleet of several, LOL.  Probably kept that road name alive at Atlas single handedly.  May have to change one of those to a ESU decoder.

[reinhardtjh]

We are not offering DCC only option.  If someone wants DCC without sound, they can install the decoder of their choice.

If you plan on mixing the ESU sound units with non-sound one and using the Full Throttle™ features extensively you will probably want to use the 54650 LokPilot V4.0 Micro Direct as by the time the GP38-2's (and probably the ALCo C628/630) arrive the firmware should be done that will allow the non-sound LokPilot to emulate the speed behavior of the LokSound decoders with the Full Throttle sound files.  Matt Herman of ESU USA mentioned in the Yahoo group within the last day or so that the next version of the Loksound Programmer software will have the new firmware so that any LokPilot V4.0 (not the Standard or Nano) will be compatible.

[Catt]

The sound units are way above my pay grade.But did anybody notice that these new locos have a Accumate coupler on the front and a Rapido on the rear? I could probably sell off some of my Micro-trains and Intermountain cars and afford a sound unit,but if I have to buy a package of Accumates to upgrade the rear of these units I would surely go bust.

[milw156]

We are not offering DCC only option.  If someone wants DCC without sound, they can install the decoder of their choice.

Will you be offering the sound boards and/or frames separately to retrofit existing models?
Rick

[Rich_S]

A sound equipped N scale GP38-2, WOW. Just not sure why they went with a micro-trains compatible coupler on the front and a Rapido coupler on the rear         

[randgust]

The C628's were already notoriously crappy pullers, I can't imagine trying to drag around 10 cars just to hear it sound as though it were trying to pull 10X that number.

So are/were the original GP38's.   Love the way they ran, but put any load behind them and they just sit there and spin.   My old 1982 Kato GP38 pulls 3X the cars, which is why the Atlas is in the display case and the Kato is still running.   Nothing against sound, but if the penalty is even less tractive effort, count me out.

[peteski]

So are/were the original GP38's.   Love the way they ran, but put any load behind them and they just sit there and spin.   My old 1982 Kato GP38 pulls 3X the cars, which is why the Atlas is in the display case and the Kato is still running.   Nothing against sound, but if the penalty is even less tractive effort, count me out.

Kato oGP38-2 was one of the last locos made with lead (or lead alloy) chassis, and big and heavy flywheels!  It was quite heavy for a narrow hood loco, so it pulls very well.

Newer models use much lighter white metal chassis. I just wish that N scale of Nevada was still around making pewter-cast replacement frames. Pewter is much heavier than white metal.

[Ike the BN Freak]

We are not offering DCC only option.  If someone wants DCC without sound, they can install the decoder of their choice.

Does this mean that the DC units will come with the same mech they have currently? Or is the sound unit not getting a redesigned mech?

[peteski]

Does this mean that the DC units will come with the same mech they have currently? Or is the sound unit not getting a redesigned mech?

I suspect that the DC-only locos will still use a redesigned chassis with a new DC light board in the same shape as a decoder installed.  Maybe the DC light board will even have a 6-pin plug for a decoder.  That would be the ideal solution.

[coosvalley]

I suspect that the DC-only locos will still use a redesigned chassis with a new DC light board in the same shape as a decoder installed.  Maybe the DC light board will even have a 6-pin plug for a decoder.  That would be the ideal solution.

Has Atlas confirmed that the speakers will be in the fuel tanks? As far as I can tell, they've been completely silent on the subject, almost conspicuously so ...Not having anything in the fuel tank for weight will make these already light footed locos even lighter..