From searching and reading various posts here, it seems that getting a function and sound decoder and speaker into a EMD GP is a very tight fit, needing some surgery on frame and/or body. I'm wondering if anyone has recently come out with a plug-in that fits without installation headaches. Are any on the horizon?
I've got a P2K GP 9 that I'm hoping to do myself (first attempt), so I'm wondering what I'm getting into.
Mike
Fitting the speaker aways seems to be an issue. I try to put it in the cab, even if it means removing the cab interior. You really can't see inside when it is running anyway. The Tsunami made by Soundtrax has some dual function decoders that may replace the light-board. Check their web site.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
mreagant From searching and reading various posts here, it seems that getting a function and sound decoder and speaker into a EMD GP is a very tight fit, needing some surgery on frame and/or body. I'm wondering if anyone has recently come out with a plug-in that fits without installation headaches. Are any on the horizon? I've got a P2K GP 9 that I'm hoping to do myself (first attempt), so I'm wondering what I'm getting into. Mike
A Digitrax DH165L0 with a Soundbug will drop in. The problem will be finding space for a speaker. I've done 6 SD60s by cutting away a little of the weight.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
I still keep meaning to call Trainworld and grab an any road GP-7/9 with sound already in it and just swap my shell. QSI sound and the newer drive that shouldn;t have the cracked gear problem. Plus some cost recovery when I put the random road name shell on the non-sound chassis and sell it off.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker I still keep meaning to call Trainworld and grab an any road GP-7/9 with sound already in it and just swap my shell. QSI sound and the newer drive that shouldn;t have the cracked gear problem. Plus some cost recovery when I put the random road name shell on the non-sound chassis and sell it off. --Randy
Well, Randy, you've just nailed the issue I'm trying to solve. I bought a P2K GP 9 at the SAMRA show yesterday for $25 with a Western Pacific body on a non-sound chassis. Seller told me he had switched shells with a SP (Cotton Belt?) in order to accomplish exactly what you are talking about. I needed the GP 9 body to re-paint to T&P and the price for the package seemed pretty good. I put it on the DC side of the layout today and it is smooth as silk. Now we'll see if I can resolve the decoder question for less than the cost of buying an already equipped P2K and switching shells again. Since the re-paint was going to happen anyway,, it may be worth it to just do a custom decoder install and not worry about the price differential.
Sure do like the WP green/orange paint but I can't figure out how to make up a story about why one would be in Ft. Worth in order to keep it on the system. Even if I did, I'd have to find another GP 9 to re-paint.
Ah! The complexities of the hobby!