Have taken the plunge into a dcc sound install; chosen victim is a Kato (1st gen.) HO GP35.
Space is tight, but sugar cube speaker placement options are in the shell firing down thru the truck area or frame mounted firing up into the shell. Frame mount position allows approx. 1/4" clearance between speaker and inside top of shell.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Peter
The way TCS shows one, they put a larger speaker in facing up under the radiator fans - but I don;t think that model has open radiator fans, does it? If not, the sound will have a hard time getting out. If the fans are see through and open from the outside to inside the shell, this would work. They did modify the weight to make it work that way. A sugar cube speaker is much smaller.
--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 installed dual micro speakers with a 0.040" styrene enclosure at the roof, pointing down towards the truck openings. I may have removed some of the roof weight. I have lousy notes and no photos. Bad habits.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
peahrensI installed dual micro speakers with a 0.040" styrene enclosure at the roof, pointing down towards the truck openings.
Thanks guys for your input and time. This model has no fan openings. After taking more accurate measurements looks like speaker to roof clearance is closer to 1/8" or less with rear frame pedestal mount.
Suppose the height of the rear frame pedestal could be reduced for speaker mounting, but appears that anymore than 1/8" would risk fouling truck pick-up wires to decoder. Maybe roof mount would be the best plan.
Paul, How did you secure your speaker enclosure to the inside of the shell?
Thanks again and regards, Peter
HO-VeloPaul, How did you secure your speaker enclosure to the inside of the shell?
Ok, you got me curious enough that I opened it up and took some photos to see what I had done.
You can see that I made a built-in (long but thin) enclosure for the 2 speakers. It is above the motor (which has the decoder atop) and part of the flywheels. It uses the roof as the enclosure top and the top of the shell sides as the enclosure sides. The enclosure bottom (facing down) is the speakers and a filler piece of styrene and the ends are small pieces of styrene. You can get a sense of the size by the end view photo.
The next time I convert 20 or so locos I swear I will take photos and good notes as well!
I removed the weight, apparently, that attached to the roof. The loco weighs 12.8 oz., comparing favorably to my Genesis GP9 at 10.4 oz. So no substantial harm.
IMG_7424 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr
IMG_7425 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr
peahrensconvert 20 or so locos
Thanks much Paul, Mighty fine work and lots of it.
Yeah, wish I'd taken more and better project notes over the years, can save a whole lotta' time and headaches.
Regards, Peter
Ended up doing way too much agonizing over speaker placement and orientation. Though not an audiophile I'm pleasantly surprised by the amount of good sound the dual sugar cubes produce, and at more than adequate volume.