Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Best DCC sound Decoder for a Bachman Doodlebug

19651 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Best DCC sound Decoder for a Bachman Doodlebug
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, July 30, 2012 9:40 AM

I'm looking for the best DCC sound Decoder for a Bachman Doodlebug

to convert my DC version

 

Has anyone here done this conversion ?

Thanks

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, July 30, 2012 2:14 PM

The Best will be what you like best.

Some use a ESU LokSound. Some use a SoundTraxx Tsunami. Both sites have sound samples.

There may be a couple more different brands of decoders with a usable sound decoder.

Some roads used a diesel sound as some of these locos where converted from the Winton Distillate Engine to diesel power.

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, July 30, 2012 2:54 PM

Guess i need to do some research as to weither the C&O used Deisel if so then an RDC Budd car decoder should work

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, August 12, 2012 1:27 PM

After some research i found out that the post office required the C&O to convert their gas doodlebugs to diesel because of the fire hazard

so i chose an N scale sound decoder with the RDC sound file added

for its small size

http://www.digitrax.com/products/sound-decoders/sdn144ps/

 

I'm thinking of mounting a speaker on the outside bottom

but would love to find a how to article to see what others have done

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, August 12, 2012 2:12 PM

Here's a photo of the decoder and you can see the very small speaker less than dime size

so I'm going with a larger rectangle speaker

 

Hoping to mount it underneath the frame and make it look like a storage box

 

 

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, August 20, 2012 7:20 AM

The small speaker was very poor volume so i added a  retangle speaker under the frame

inside an wood box with a black fabric cover to make it look like a tool or storage box

in this photo it's taped in place for temporary testing

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, August 20, 2012 4:17 PM

A couple photos showin the bottom speaker mount

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 2:05 PM

Very nice. Love to see someone post results for the MRR community. I bet some in the Bachmann forums would like to see this. I have seen this question there.

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 3:35 PM

Thanks Rich

I did a google search for this conversion

and found this

 
and of course a link here on this forum
 
I hard wired my decoder to avoid the misswired bachmann socket and give more room for the decoder
 
and used a 14 volt bulb to replace the LED
 
it's  all working very well now but still lacks just a little volume
 
i posted to the  Bachman board but got no help there 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Heres a short Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TLqzaY4ba8&feature=youtu.be

 

sorry for the poor lighting

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Clearlake, California. USA
  • 869 posts
Posted by Lake on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 7:02 PM

Thanks for the video! The lighting gave it a late evening feel.

Ken G Price   My N-Scale Layout

Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR

N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • 12 posts
Posted by srrman on Friday, January 4, 2013 2:03 PM

Im installing a QSI Titan A in a friends doodle bug. Sets on top the motor with some double sided kapton tape.All wireing is done, everything fits well and sounds good.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Friday, January 4, 2013 3:36 PM

srrman

Im installing a QSI Titan A in a friends doodle bug. Sets on top the motor with some double sided kapton tape.All wireing is done, everything fits well and sounds good.

I was going to try one but was put off by all the bad stuff posted on the qsi yahoo group

 

would love to see a video of it to hear the sound

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: ohio
  • 1,371 posts
Posted by rs2mike on Sunday, January 6, 2013 10:43 AM
Sounds plenty loud to me

alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, January 6, 2013 10:55 AM

rs2mike
Sounds plenty loud to me

Yeah on it's own it's ok but compared to all my other sound locos it's pretty quiet

I probably run all my locos too loud i have to remind myself to think small sound wise also

 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!