Thanks I'll have to check into that, I have a way of isolating the motors which is a little different then the tape method. I have about a quart container of this stuff made for dipping tool handles in to give them a no slip coating. You see them dipping pliers and screw drivers etc. Well I painted a motor casing with it one afternoon and after letting it dry all of 10 minutes I checked it with an ohm meter and perfectly isolated. I don't know if it's worth the extra trouble or not but it doesn't cost me anything and I do it first before I do the wiring etc. so by the time I'm done with that it's ready to go back in. I am just concerned with fitting the speaker in more then the decoder I guess. I know I mentioned this in a similar thread but what about using a Soundbug and putting it under the dynamic brake hatch or cover or what ever you call it?
The only issue I had with a similar install is that the Revolution-U decoder is just a touch too wide to fit in the hood, it took a bit of cramming to make it fit cleanly. The new RTR models have proper scale width hoods - the old Blue Box ones that came out prior to the new gold-sided motor had hoods about 6 scale inches too wide to fit the old motor, those have plenty of decoder space. I don't thinkt hey changed that until they came out with the RTR models using the new upgraded shells. A better choice on the RTR models is the Rev-A board replacement, but to use that in an old Blue Box you'd have to find a way to mount it. The Rev-U would make more sense for Blue Box - after properly isolating the motor, of course.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I recently put QSI Quantum Revolution sound decoders into two of the newer Athearn GP-35 RTR models. This decoder would probably be your best option because it comes in a wide variety of prime mover choices.
I'm sitting here looking at 7 Athearn Blue box locomotives that need to be upgraded to DCC, which is no big deal for just a plain old motor decoder, so I am wondering what about putting sound in them. I know there is nothing set in stone that says if you have some of most of your enignes sound equipped that all have to follow suit but it's nice to have the option to turn the sound off if one wishes to rather then not have it at all.
So does anyone have any suggestions or experience in putting a sound decoder in these. Most are SD40-2's,and SD60, a couple of Dash 8 Spectrum's and a couple of GP38's jsut to give you the rundown.
I model transition era so of course I know these locomotives don't qualify to fit that time period but hey ask me if I care. If I want to crank up the old time machine and railroad into the future what the big deal. I also have an Atlas U34CH Blue Bird for my NJ Transit train that I some day want to put dcc & sound into as well.
So if anyone has any suggestions I appreciate the info.
Thanks