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Which Sound Decoder For a P2k E-8

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, November 9, 2009 7:46 AM

hdtvnut

Going back to your original idea of placing a Proto shell on the BLI:

I had a BLI E8 and wanted to put a Proto E8 shell on it rather than repaint.  I realize your situation is a little different.  I ran into the door problem, but found it easy enough to remove the door hinges and just glue the doors in place.  Then I looked at how to retain the shell on the BLI base.

The BLI E8 shell is held on by four flat catches that are glued into shallow channels inside.  Fortunately, the Proto shell was slightly wider internally, and I was able to remove the catches and glue them inside the Proto.   It is retained properly, and there is no bulge.

I also needed to change the chime soundfile from a Wabco E2 to a Nathan P3.  Having a QSI programmer, this also was easy.  Now looking for the right set of horns.

Hal

I found another shell on ebay so i'll try removing the door hinges

did you just use a razor knife ?

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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Posted by hobo9941 on Thursday, November 5, 2009 11:58 PM

Hold on a second here.  The last time I checked, MRC and LokSound decoders also have seperate notches with the proper transition sounds.

I have several MRC decoders, with the multiple engine sounds, SD60, SD70, Alco, and EMD 567. When I programmed them for EMD 567, there was no transition sounds, and it was a lousy sounding EMD 567, compared to the Soundtraxx.

You are right though, that the E units had two 567s. But an E unit, or two GP-9s sounded pretty much the same.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 550 posts
Posted by hdtvnut on Thursday, November 5, 2009 3:09 PM

Going back to your original idea of placing a Proto shell on the BLI:

I had a BLI E8 and wanted to put a Proto E8 shell on it rather than repaint.  I realize your situation is a little different.  I ran into the door problem, but found it easy enough to remove the door hinges and just glue the doors in place.  Then I looked at how to retain the shell on the BLI base.

The BLI E8 shell is held on by four flat catches that are glued into shallow channels inside.  Fortunately, the Proto shell was slightly wider internally, and I was able to remove the catches and glue them inside the Proto.   It is retained properly, and there is no bulge.

I also needed to change the chime soundfile from a Wabco E2 to a Nathan P3.  Having a QSI programmer, this also was easy.  Now looking for the right set of horns.

Hal

  • Member since
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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Monday, November 2, 2009 11:06 AM

davidmbedard

I would go for a LokSound decoder for an E unit because it is the only one that actually sounds like a dual-EMD567.

David B

Ya I thought of that after I posted it, the Soundtraxx one is only for one motor so is more correct for a GP or SD or F than an E-unit. That being said, I'm not sure everyone would be able to tell the difference, especially if you ran an A and B unit together (or an A-A) unit and had sound in both. If you shop around you could probably find two Soundtraxx LCs for the cost of one LokSound or Tsunami.

Stix
  • Member since
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  • From: Charlotte, NC
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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Monday, November 2, 2009 7:59 AM

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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  • From: Texas
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Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, November 2, 2009 7:54 AM

Phoebe Vet

I'd love to take credit for that install, but I didn't do it.  It was done by Alex at DCC Train.

And you are right, he does great work.

Do you have a link to his site ?

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Monday, November 2, 2009 7:33 AM

I'd love to take credit for that install, but I didn't do it.  It was done by Alex at DCC Train.

And you are right, he does great work.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
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Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, November 1, 2009 9:46 AM

Phoebe Vet

Decoder was $109

Sounds great

Nice clean looking install !

Thanks for the photo !

I'm still trying to figure out why mine has almost all Red wires

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Saturday, October 31, 2009 6:34 PM

Decoder was $109

Sounds great

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Posted by hobo9941 on Saturday, October 31, 2009 4:05 PM

I've put Soundtraxx LC decoders in several P2K E units. The Soundtraxx decoders only have the bell, horn, and diesel sounds. But if you don't need the other sounds, coupler clank, brake squeal, etc, Soundtraxx has far and away the best EMD transition sounds. Other decoders just take an idleing EMD 567, and pitch it up as the throttle increases, with no transition. On a couple of my units, I put a second speaker in parallel, in the B unit, connecting the units with a Miniatronics mini connector. The Soundtraxx doesn't seem to have any problems running two speakers.
  • Member since
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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, October 30, 2009 8:19 PM

Most any 1st generation EMD sound decoder will work. I put a Soundtraxx LC ("low cost" decoder) and a 1" speaker in mine...well in my case I put it in an E7B. I put the speaker and enclosure in the space where the cab would go. But there should be plenty of room in the A unit too. Last I checked the LC's run around $50 or so.

Stix
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Friday, October 30, 2009 6:19 PM

Phoebe Vet

I just put an ESU LokSound 3.5 EMD 567 2 in a P2K E8.

Pictures ?

Price ?

Sound Quality ?

Speaker location ?

Don't be shy !

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Friday, October 30, 2009 6:14 PM

I just put an ESU LokSound 3.5 EMD 567 2 in a P2K E8.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Which Sound Decoder For a P2k E-8
Posted by C&O Fan on Friday, October 30, 2009 4:30 PM

I have a BLI E-7 with factory sound and I thought a P2K E-8 Shell would be an easy swap

Banged Head

Nope the E-8 shell has operating side doors that have a frame work and spring on the inside

and since the E-7's frame isn't cut out for the doors it makes the shell bulge out 

also the E-8 frame has 2 extensions at the bottom front that allow the cow catcher to attach

because it is seperate

The E-7 cow catcher and body are all one piece

 

soooooooooooooooooooooooo since i only paid $40 for the E-8

I thought it might be easier to convert it to DCC and sound

rather than hack up the shell

Ideas ?

 

 

 

The P2k Looks like an early version because ther is no 8 pin plug

might be enough room at the back on top for a speaker

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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