Kato “Seven Stars In Kyushu” Set

[Dwight in Toronto]

Turns out that the wired Nano measures 5.3mm high.  So, I fashioned a thicker foam facsimile, which resulted in another “no go” for the Nano.

I’m now leaning towards an ESU 58731, which I’ve used quite a few of; only 3mm thick.  I have an old Digitrax DCC version (E13, I think they’re called), which I can use just to check the “fit”.  Fingers crossed!

[Dwight in Toronto]

My LHS had to replenish their stock of ESU decoders, but finally delivered the 58731 LokSound unit that I’m hoping to use in the Seven Stars loco.  I also ordered five ESU 50704 Interior Lighting LED modules, with the intention of using these for illuminating the coach interiors:




I’ve never used these little lighting kits before, and I was curious to see if/how they might be adapted to take advantage of Kato’s powered trucks/pickups.  I think that the Seven Stars coaches can get by with minimal and selectively placed overhead LED’s.  Even though these ESU kits only have one LED per board, my thought was to simply solder on/daisy chain another LED or two, if/as/where required.  I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

For now, the priority is getting the loco outfitted with DCC.  The following pic shows where I’d like to position the 51738:




Even with this low profile decoder, the shell was still sitting just the tiniest smidgen too high.
I ended up dremeling three small protrusions in the inside top surface of the shell, and managed to secure a proper fit. 

The paper sketches are just my mapping out of how the stock light board could be modified so as to isolate the motor from track power, and enable the 58731 to control the front and rear headlights.  Cutting a few traces, soldering wire leads, and affixing the decoder is the next challenge.

[Dwight in Toronto]

While mulling over the decoder install, I decided to revisit the prospect of putting a speaker within the fuel tank area.

The loco has three 2-axle trucks, with two fuel tank “compartments” on either side of the middle truck assembly.  As with all Kato fabrications, the plastic fuel reservoir piece is a precision snap-latch design that is easily removed.  For whatever reason, the zamac chassis has sizeable cast rectangular box-like protuberances filling a good portion of what might otherwise be two workable speaker cavities.  As shown in the following pic, I chose to remove the smaller of the two obstructions (circled in red):




I carefully ground the zamac piece away using my benchtop belt sander:




Since I had the loco stripped down to the bare frame, I thought I might as well “router” out a small vertical channel to accomodate the speaker wires.  Material to be removed from the left side of the chassis is indicated in red:




Here’s the resultant wire channel:




And here’s how the speaker wires would tuck into place:




I put everything back together (with a light touch of Labelle 106 to the worms and gears), and ran the loco for a bit on my DC test loop.  I guess the next thing is to modify the factory light board for DCC operation.

[peteski]

Looking good Dwight!

[nkalanaga]

"For whatever reason, the zamac chassis has sizeable cast rectangular box-like protuberances filling a good portion of what might otherwise be two workable speaker cavities."

My guess would be that they did that to add more weight.

[peteski]

"For whatever reason, the zamac chassis has sizeable cast rectangular box-like protuberances filling a good portion of what might otherwise be two workable speaker cavities."

My guess would be that they did that to add more weight.

Yes, whenever they can, Kato likes to fill the fuel tank internal space with metal.  Too bad they don't use the same (lead-based?) alloy as they did in the GP38-2 and GP50.  I say "alloy" because is was heavier than typical white metal, but it is also harder than pure lead.

[Dwight in Toronto]

Peter, you commented earlier about that very small capacitor on the factory light board:
The capacitor is to prevent any small flashes from the LEDs from the BEMF generated by the motor when there are short power interruptions (dirty track).   

In modifying this board for DCC, I assume that it would not only be ok to remove that capacitor, but also advisable?  In its current location, it represents a tiny bridge between what I would be using as the red and black track power pads, and I suspect that total isolation would be prescribed for DCC?

****************

I realize that this particular Kato train set is a bit of an outlier here in North America, and is likely to be of just passing interest to TRW readership - it’s good to know that some folks are following and commenting. 

There was a veritable dearth of instructive guidance when I scoured the internet for examples of how others might have already equipped this model with DCC/sound.  So, I’m simply trying to document my efforts in the hopes that it might help someone else tackle this endeavour down the road. 

At this point, there’s still a chance that things don’t work out, but I’m having fun exploring the possibilities.  Fingers crossed!

[peteski]

Yes, Dwight, you need to remove that tiny capacitor.

I also suspect that there are more modelers here than you think who collect N scale models of trains outside of America, and who are following this thread.

[Dwight in Toronto]

Thanks for the speedy reply Pete - I’ll probably modify the factory light board tomorrow.  Removing that little cap should be easy, but there is absolutely no chance of me ever being able to re-solder it back in place … it’s truly the size of a grain of sand!

I’m a bit all-over-the-map with this project.  Today I revisited a big unknown for me, which is “what the heck does the DF 200-7000 locomotive sound like anyway?”.   I tried to find video clips of the train in action, with, say, bell sounding and horn blaring.  No such luck, but I DID find a link to a Kato sound card for the Seven Stars loco specifically, which certainly gave me something to compare to from amongst ESU’s multitude of sound projects.  On the off chance that I’m not the only one who has a ‘need to know’ in this regard, herewith is a link to Kato’s soundtrack for this train:

https://www.katomodels.net/product/sound/22_271_2.mp3


I then spent the rest of the afternoon listening to dozens of ESU sound projects to try to find something “close enough”.  In an earlier post, Wutter had suggested S0330, which was indeed a good contender.  As were many other European sound files.  But I discovered something that I had, until this moment today, never realized before … none of ESU’s European diesel sound files have a bell!  They all have high pitch and low pitch horns, but no bells.  Is this indeed prototypical?  If so, I had no idea.

And regardless as to whether it’s proto or not, I really wanted to at least have the option of sounding a bell on the Seven Stars.  So, I downloaded the only European sound file that I found that happened to include a bell.  S0140 is from a Deutsch Bundesbahn BR216/V160, which had a 16 cylinder MB16V652TB prime mover.  With 1900 hp, these locos were reportedly used for both freight and passenger service. 

I soldered the various colour-coded wires to the 58731 decoder, hooked it up to my LokTester, and successfully loaded the S0140 sound file.  Tomorrow I’ll re-map some of the functions and settings so that the decoder will be prepped and ready for affixing to the Kato factory lightboard.

[peteski]

  But I discovered something that I had, until this moment today, never realized before … none of ESU’s European diesel sound files have a bell!  They all have high pitch and low pitch horns, but no bells.  Is this indeed prototypical?  If so, I had no idea.

That is true. Growing up in Poland next to busy mainline I don't recall hearing any bells on steam, diesel or electric locos.  Steam locos had whistles and other locos had horns.

[nscaler711]

I think a bell is mostly a North American thing... almost exclusively so.
as far as a bell, I dont think any JR or JNR trains had bells either. However in the case of Japanese trains you could use an air whistle that can be commonly found on a lot of trains, along with a "Horn." Some limited express trains have a jingle for crossing approaches and when arriving/leaving at destinations.
 
Narita Express:

As far as the 7 Stars in Kyushu....
@2:30 here is the horn from the DF200 from the 7 Stars kinda reminds me of a 80's and early 90's car horn 
also that turbo whine... 
@5:57 is the DE10 you should also find. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11331984   also around that timestamp is the DE10 tooting its air whistle.

Another one because why not. lots of engine sounds here:

/>

[Dwight in Toronto]

So, no bells on European or Japanese trains … you really can learn something new every day!

nscaler711 - great vids, man.  Beats me why my google attempts couldn’t have come up with some of those.  Thank you so much.  It’s kinda funny how those cartoonish, child-like little tunes are such a big part of daily Asian life.  Our clothes washer & dryer sing similar “victory ditties” every time they finish a laundry load.

For the time being, I think I’ll stick with the S0140 sound project that I loaded into the decoder yesterday … it sounds reasonable enough, and I can always change it if/when something better comes along.

[Dwight in Toronto]

Spent some time focusing on getting a 11x15mm speaker installed.

It was darn near a perfect fit, but I had to dremel away a few fuel tank obstructions to get the speaker to properly recess.  I also had to create a ledge or backstop of sorts in order to not let the speaker fall too far into the cavity (ie - preserve as much free volume under the speaker diaphragm as possible):




Having soldered the speaker wires in place, I gently squeezed it into the enclosure, slipped in a thin strip of black styrene to close up one narrow lengthwise gap, introduced a drop or two of  liquid cement all around the periphery, and let the capillary action do its work.  I do believe that the end result is quite a nice speaker enclosure, if I do say so myself!  I put some Kapton tape on the chassis, just to be safe:




And here’s what it looks like, all put back together:




I just HAD to hear how it sounded, so I temporarily jumpered the speaker wires to the 58731 decoder on my LokTester.  Here’s a short video, confirming proper functioning of prime mover, fwd & reverse headlights, high pitch horn, bell, and low pitch horn:

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I am encouraged!

[MK]

Damn!  Now I have to find me a set when I'm in Japan in June!!!!

[Dwight in Toronto]

MK … the Seven Stars set would make a wonderful souvenir.

I’m so envious.  I had a business trip to Osaka many moons ago, and took advantage of some free time to explore a good chunk of that city.  I think that may have been the most intriguing and fascinating trip I ever had. I’d love to return, and use rail travel to see and experience so much more.  Maybe someday.