Hi Guys. I recently came across an old copy of 'Practical Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders' by Peter Thorne, published by Kalmbach Books 1974/75. Page 23 illustrates an on-board circuit for a Steam & Exhaust sound generator. I attempted to build the circuit with my limited knowledge, but despite several attempts, could not make it work. It is very vague in the application of an amplifier for the circuit in not listing any connection numbers. I have tried 8 pin amplifiers & 5 pin amplifiers without success. Is anyone familiar with this book/circuit ?? Has anyone ever built this & made it to work ?? Is an updated circuit available ?? Your help is much appreciated. I model in G & a few locos are lacking in sound.
Regards Ted
The section on sound is mainly an exercise in theoretical approaches, for example the movable drawbar is actually John Armstrong's idea that he wrote about in an MR article. Some of Thorne's circuits are also somewhat iffy, particularly the SSF lighting generators - there was an analysis article in MR not long after the book originally came out. A lot of those early sound circuits relied on leakage through one of the transistors to generate the hiss - modern substitutes might be 'too good' and not generate the desired effect.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
While not an Electronics Whiz, I built the small supersonic-frequency (SSF) generator that Thorne called the Headlight brightness booster. That worked just fine and was only "retired" when moving to DCC from DC operation.
I remember that around 1970-80 some of us used an 8 pin DIP white noise generator. It was turned off & on by a cam or conductive tape segments on a driver. As I remember, it drove a small speaker directly. It didn't sound bad for it's day. I had some of the ICs and have been looking all over the house for them but can't find them. I had thoughts of trying them again. Anyone have a memory of these 8 pin ICs?
Chuck
Grand River & Monongah Railroad and subsidiary Monongah Railway
I still have enough of those electronic Steam Sound kits to "sound up" two locos somewhere in my electroncs parts box. I think they were marketed by an outfit called "Microtronics" and had such things as "Single Air Pump," "Double Air Pump," "Blow down," etc. They did sound pretty good for their day.
Bil
BiL Marsland (P5se Camelback) Lehigh Susquehanna & Western Northeastern Pennsylvania Coal Hauler All Camelback Steam Roster!! "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" -- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Chpt. 10
Many thanks for the help. I'll have to keep searching, unless Bill wants to part with one of the kits. A circuit diagram would probably do the job