Sound in an Atlas MP15DC?

[cbroughton67]

Has anyone attempted a sound install in an Atlas N-scale MP15DC? "Top Hobby Trains" is advertising such an install, and by the price, they're quite proud of it.


http://www.tophobbytrains.com/thtatlasmp15soundpackagenscale-purchaselocoseparately.aspx


The ESU Loksound Select Micro is too wide to fit the hood of the MP15. Can it be made to fit? I've heard of a sound decoder made by Piko - is this a viable option? How are sound files loaded into a Piko decoder?


Chris

[reinhardtjh]

Based on this part of their ad:

Mill and modify the frame to accept a LokSound cube speaker and LokSound Micro ver 4 decoder
Modify the shell to accept the decoder

I would bet that they do some thinning of the shell walls to make the V4 fit.  I haven't pulled one of my MP15's or V4's to check though.

[jdcolombo]

Chris, if you want sound, you might want to investigate the Zimo MX660 decoder, which I put in a Kato NW as a test project:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45292.0

Unfortunately, Zimo doesn't have a sound file for a 12-cyl 645E, but they do have one for a 16-cyl 645E.  And as my link will reveal, there are a couple of other nagging issues with Zimo's sound files that you'd have to live with.

I suspect, though, that John R. is correct: they almost certainly thinned the shell.  I've done this using a Dremel with a 1/4" sanding drum, but it is nerve-wracking.  The last one I did I used the Dremel drum in my Proxxon milling machine, which gives me much better control over what I'm sanding.

Actually, the $225 install cost is what I would expect for something like this.  The parts alone would cost at least $80 even at dealer wholesale, which means they are charging $145 for labor.  An install like this probably would take around 3 hours, so that's roughly $50/hr.  $50/hr for skilled labor isn't crazy, as anyone who has hired a plumber can attest!

John C.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Can the sides of the wired Loksound select be filed down at all? I have done this with a few tight installs of standard DCC decoders.

[Steveruger45]

I’ve done it once on a 73800 loksound select micro but be very careful.  It is not a laminated board like the 73100/73199.  Don’t do it on those.
After removing the plastic wrap I took off approx 0.05mm (0.002”) off each side by very gently rubbing the edges on a fine nail file board until I ran out of courage.  You have to remove the purple wire.   Re-wrap with kapton tape. It’s not for the faint hearted and best avoided if at all possible. You will ruin the warranty.

[Steveruger45]

Has anyone attempted a sound install in an Atlas N-scale MP15DC? "Top Hobby Trains" is advertising such an install, and by the price, they're quite proud of it.


http://www.tophobbytrains.com/thtatlasmp15soundpackagenscale-purchaselocoseparately.aspx


The ESU Loksound Select Micro is too wide to fit the hood of the MP15. Can it be made to fit? I've heard of a sound decoder made by Piko - is this a viable option? How are sound files loaded into a Piko decoder?


Chris

Chris, I was wondering if this would be doable for a while.  I don’t have one of these locos but have studied spookshows pictures but I dont know the critical dimensions. If you have one maybe post a picture with the dimensions.
I’m thinking the cab would be the only place to put a speaker and probably be a sideways mounted 8x12 assuming enough space, so I would measure there first.

[peteski]

I’ve done it once on a 73800 loksound select micro but be very careful.  It is not a laminated board like the 73100/73199.  Don’t do it on those.

All ESU decoders use multi-layer (laminated) PC boards. It is just some have internal traces closer to the edges than others.   In some decoders you can get away with filing the edges a bit, while in others you will mess up the decoder.  You can sometimes tell where the internal traces are by shining a bright light throught the board..

[Steveruger45]

All ESU decoders use multi-layer (laminated) PC boards. It is just some have internal traces closer to the edges than others.   In some decoders you can get away with filing the edges a bit, while in others you will mess up the decoder.  You can sometimes tell where the internal traces are by shining a bright light throught th board..

Yes, I see how my words could be interpreted in a way I didn’t mean.  Yes, all are laminated but you have some wiggle room on the 73800 select micro that you don’t on the others I mentioned.
Thanks for the clarification Pete. 

[peteski]

Thanks for the clarification Pete.

 

[cbroughton67]

Chris, if you want sound, you might want to investigate the Zimo MX660 decoder, which I put in a Kato NW as a test project:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45292.0

Unfortunately, Zimo doesn't have a sound file for a 12-cyl 645E, but they do have one for a 16-cyl 645E.  And as my link will reveal, there are a couple of other nagging issues with Zimo's sound files that you'd have to live with.

John C.

That NW2 is a great build, John! I'll have to make some measurements and see if it would work in the MP15.

I've heard of a Piko sound decoder mentioned (46193 I think?), but all the information I've found is in German - more than my two years of high school German forever ago can interpret. Looks pretty small, but that's all I know about it.