Horn for 2343 diesels

[GPJ68]

This isn't quite gonna come out right, but does anyone know of a cheap way or source to add a horn (ala the Williams Tru-Blast II sound) to a set of 2343 diesels? Mine doesn't have the original battery powered horn - I honestly can't remember what that even sounded like. I'd like to have just a horn and perhaps a bell sound to give the engine a little more "life". I can't really see the point in adding a full railsounds kit from DD, since the "growler" gives me all the running sounds I want (and like) - I just want a decent sounding horn to tap. Would like one that just sounds once with each press of the button, not the multi crossing blast that you get with the Williams.

Do the repro horn kits from postwar parts dealers have a decent sound/tone to them? Like I said, I can't recall ever hearing the originals.

GPJ

[wrmcclellan]

GP,

You could try QSI (ref their "hooter" product for diesels).

http://www.qsindustries.com/train%20page.htm

Unfortunatey not much available on their web site anymore.

You could also try Dallee Electronics, but it looks like they don't have just horn/bell sounds anymore.

http://www.dallee.com/locomatic_diesel.htm

Another source might be Williams. Maybe you can buy a True-Blast board from them.

You would have to call them as I did not see anything on their website for the various upgrades they sell.

http://www.williamstrains.com/new/TECHNICAL.htm

Good luck!
Roy

[brianel027]

Here's another thought for consideration... if you want to have sound with every single engine you own or will ever own for one low price and don't mind off-board sound (that is not in the actual engine) then I suggest you check out the MRC Sound Station #312. It's a separate powered unit: plugs into a wall socket and has 2 speakers with a handheld control and 18 sounds including steam whistle, diesel horn, brake sounds, crossing gate, engine bell, diesel motor, and steam chuff sounds, etc.

Granted this isn't Railsounds, but the sounds are pleasing and pretty decent. You can't activate all sounds to run over each other, but some will. For around $45-$55, this is a very decent buy. Most digital sound boards for a single locomotive cost this much. And if you have kids, it is a real child pleaser given they like to push buttons. Just don't get too alarmed if they pu***he whistle sounds for your F-3.

If you just want a horn sound on the cheap side, I've used several Radio Shack 12v buzzers all wired together connected to a button with a DC 12v wall pack. You can run several sets off one wall pack. I've found the buzzers don't all sound identical, so you can mimic big engines and little engines. You can also "adjust" the buzzer with a straight screwdriver to change the sound. The sound also varies with how tightly you screw the units in. I have mine right at the face of the train board so they are easily heard. Bear in mind, this is even further from Railsounds. But I've done comparisons with the basic electronic horns in the more economic Lionel, K-Line and Williams engines (before TruBlast) and all agree mine sounds better.

Really, almost anything will sound better. Those 1950's Lionel locos had a electric bicycle buzzer for a horn. And the "blurp" you get from the basic Lionel , K-Line or Williams electronic horn isn't a whole lot better. Actually it isn't better. I prefer the Radio Shack buzzers to these two sounds. But as they say, beauty is in the eye - or in this case - the ear of the beholder.

[andregg1]

Hi
I use 2 horns in the dummy engine. maybe you can ask for what?
the answer is because each horn honk in a different frecuency so the sound is close to real one.
so the only change is one 3 volt battery insted 1.5.
try......just work.
Andre.

[csxt30]

You may even check into the Lionel Diesel shed they make, at least I think they made it, as I'm sure they made a whistling shed, I just can't remember for sure. You just pu***he button when the train gets near the shed. Thanks, John

[brianel027]

HI John and others... just to let youknow that the electronic circuit board horn unit in the diesel horn shed is the same thing that is in the lower-end Lionel engines. Now Lionel did claim to have a "new" horn in the starter diesels a couple years ago. I guess you have to hear the electronic "blurp" it makes to see if it floats your train.

If it came down to buying the horn shed or the MRC Sound Station, it's not even close... the Sound Station sounds better and is a better sounding value for what you get. And the installation is a cinch.

[csxt30]

Thanks Brian! I knew MRC made a transformer, but never heard of that Sound Station. I think that would be nice for conventional running of trains that don't have any sound systems. I have a K-line Coke train, (old one) & a Lionel Crayola set for the little ones when they come. That would be nice for them ! Thanks, John

[lionelsoni]

I'm afraid I have taken the horns out of all my postwar Lionel diesels. They sound like buzzers and are not very long-lived. They also make it hard to remove the one-screw F3 shells without cracking them.

[GPJ68]

I didn't think about QSI, I'll have to give them a holler to find out a little more about "the hooter" for diesels. The gear that Dallie, DD, etal list is more complex in sounds and higher in price than I really want to spend for a horn.

Thanks also for confirming what I sorta suspected - that the original/repro horns aren't the way to go. I've got one older Williams engine with the most horrific sounding excuse for a horn (pre-TrueBlast II). Jeez that thing is awful! Was going to replace it with a TrueBlast II upgrade, but then it quit reversing as well....

I thought about a stationary setup, but my layout is just big enough that it would seem odd to hear a horn on one end with the train on the other. Would rather keep it in the dummy A unit if possible. I think I will check out that MRC Sound Station though. W/ith all the other accessory sounds, it sounds like that might be a neat addition anyway, and it's within my self-imposed price range.

Thanks everyone, you've given me some more food for thought!

GPJ

[ben10ben]

You can get the Williams True-Blast II horn and speaker from Train America Studios for $35.