Hey all, over the last week or two I've been working on my first install of a decoder in a non-DCC ready locomotive - a Rivarossi Big Boy, one of the 90s versions with can motor and RP-25 flanges. I've had this model since I was 13, and it has always been one of my favorites considering that a VHS copy of Last of the Giants has pretty much shaped my love of 1930s - 1950s Union Pacifc steam. It was a smooth runner on DC even with its lack of electrical pickup.
After much debate over sound decoders, speaker setups, figuring out how to crack the infamous Rivarossi centipede tender, the project has finally come to a head. Here is a very short demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okxwnT8LYEU
I went with a TCS Wowsound with Keep-Alive after looking at different videos to see who did the Hancock 3-chime whistle justice. I also installed TCS' hi-bass speaker in the tender - this thing roars and really gives that deep tone of the Big Boy whistle I remember hearing in Last of the Giants. I also added a 2x3 pin connector between the engine and tender, and replaced the burned out bulb in the front with a golden white LED, as well as adding a backup light to the rear of the tender. The flicker in the video is from the frame rate, it doesn't flicker in person.
The speed control has also impressed me. At speed step 1 it crawled smoothly and without hesitation. Right now I have only two pieces of flex-track to test things on so I don't have the length of run to really enjoy it for the moment, but I'm incredibly happy with it. I like running it with a high momentum and listening to the rod clank as it coasts, and the squeal of hundreds of tons of steel rolling to a stop when using the braking function.
I just had to share my own experience having never done an install before, nor having experience with TCS before this project. The install went much easier than I anticipated and I would say that anyone looking to upgrade an older locomotive (at least steam, can't say much for diesel) its scary at first, but definitely doable once you study the wiring and make a plan. I actually purchased a 60 watt variable heat soldering iron and helping hand device too, which were invaluable.
I like the speaker so much that if I don't fully change out the Paragon3 in the BLI 9000 to TCS (I need to figure out if I can calibrate it to 6-chuffs to try to fake a 3-cylinder even if it isn't perfect), it may at least get a new speaker. My BLI Blueline light mike and Bachmann 2-8-0 are also on the bench to get TCS installed too.
It feels good to accomplish something I never thought I would!
M
The Backshops - A blog dedicated to modeling projects
Congratulations.
My own experience, swapping a Wow sound decoder for a Bachmann DCC in a 4-4-0 did not go so well. The headlight disappeared. I went back and checked what I did and how I did it 3 times and do not know what went wrong.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Congratulations. My own experience, swapping a Wow sound decoder for a Bachmann DCC in a 4-4-0 did not go so well. The headlight disappeared. I went back and checked what I did and how I did it 3 times and do not know what went wrong.
I actually had the same problem during the install. I ended up swapping the wire the resistor was attached to for the front headlight, although I do not remember if I swapped from white wire to the common blue, or from blue to white.
Other than that, it was quite a learning experience.
Very nice, and commendable as well.
If I could make a suggestion, and it may come early and is something you're already aware of, but your drivers are nicely out of synch between the two engines, a feature I prefer myself. The TCS must have a dual chuff file that would set this into a higher realm of realism than the current four chuffs you have.
Some years ago I did the HO Bachmann 4-4-0 with a Soundtraxx Micro. The install was ok. The PC board was labeled. I know the loco had an LED but I left the PC board in. I saw a lot of info at the Bachmann forums.
I believe I did one by hard wire. Quite a while ago.
The 4-6-0 I removed the PC board and hardwired. The loco had an LED. All I had to do was install a 1k resistor.
44 ton and 70 ton got LokSound micros.
All were quite easy.
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.
selector Very nice, and commendable as well. If I could make a suggestion, and it may come early and is something you're already aware of, but your drivers are nicely out of synch between the two engines, a feature I prefer myself. The TCS must have a dual chuff file that would set this into a higher realm of realism than the current four chuffs you have.
Thank you! And you are correct in the chuff timing being off. I think that video was made more or less right after I buttoned everything up, but after general sounds (bell, whistle, air pump, etc) were made. I have yet to go in and play with any back end settings except for light effects.
TCS does have chuff timing calibration but I haven't had time to play with it just yet. I'm hoping to this weekend, both to get the sync right and to play with it and see if it can give me a 6 chuff per revolution as well for a future install on the 4-12-2. The video tutorial TCS has on it makes it seem fairly simple.