Anyone converted one to DCC? Years ago there was an MR article on how someone installed PFM sound in one making the capacitor needed the air tank. I can not visualize how it would be possible and sound would be out of the question with DCC.
I did a search on YouTube for "HO Dockside with sound" and found 3 videos. So I think the answer to your question is "Yes."
Ed
PFM sound was a completely different animal. Back in the 1980's a friend had this system and as I recall the sound was transmitted via the rails to a speaker in the loco.
Google pfm sound for lots of links. I just did.Edit.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/215317.aspx
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I converted my 70-yr old Varney Dockside to DCC with a very small TCS decoder (with Keep-Alive) in the cab but didn't attempt sound. I don't believe I could find room for a speaker, even if I wanted sound, but I didn't want it badly enough to try.
Dante
Supposidly you can shove a Digitrax DZ-126 with Power eXtender in the smoke box, or a TCS with keep alive. Then take a cheap MRC SOUND ONLY chip and glue that to roof of cab and show in a small sugar cube speaker.Together they will be about $110. I used to do it with soundtraxx tsunami-minis 750ma glued to the cab roof on 0-6-0Ts. But it's very sensitive to voltage drops. I had to install 660uF of capacitence in there and things got "tight"
You'll have a lot of wires shoved in the boiler. 2 track 2 headlight 2 motor at the very least. Trying to operate on the shell while being hardwired to the frame is difficult. Add too much wire, and the wire interferes with the internals. My advice is take a 4 wire pair like minitronix offers and make an easy disconnect harness. Soundtraxx also sells a wiring disconnect harness.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
You COULD leave the working headlights out. If you don't use it at night, the headlights would have likely been switched off.