LifeLike 0-8-0 with QSI

[hdtvnut]

[:)] Just received the Erie version of the LifeLike 0-8-0. This loco
is one of the best detailed and smoothest running locos I have
obtained, and now with DCC/sound that I also like. IMHO this
is a very nice loco, as is my LL Clinchfield!

These two put shame to BLI; of about ten of those steam models I
have, some are rough-running or noisy, and others arrived damaged
(LifeLike's packaging is better) or proved unreliable. The worst
is my MT-73, which is noisy, balky and has poor driver
alignment and suspension.

The 0-8-0 has a programming quirk that could drive you bananas for
awhile. If you program a long ID that is a three-digit cab number,
(for example "127") the loco will not respond when you call 127 on
your cab control. At first I thought the programming wasn't working,
but it turns out that you have to enter the number with a leading
zero, in this case "0127". This has not been the case with any other
QSI-equipped loco I purchased.

I was further mislead because the manual said the complete cab
number would be annunciated after the CV18/CV56 steps, but this
isn't true.

BLI's plastic is nice; wish I could stuff LifeLike mechanisms into
them.

Hal

[maandg]

Hal, your comments are absolutely correct.

I received two 0-8-0's with QSI sound on Monday and they are fabulous!!!!! I have 5 of the first run 0-8-0's (no sound) which I installed Soundtraxx decoders in myself. They can't even begin to hold a candle to the new factory installed sound model. My other gripe with the earlier 0-8-0's were their lack of tender pick-up. I was quite frankly shocked that a model of this caliber (better than my NWSL BRASS 0-8-0!!) did not have tender pick up!! The new ones do and they perform better than any other steam I own. Also the synchonization of the chuff is PERFECT!!!! If I didn't know better, I would swear it had a cam installed. I got mine from First Hobby (.com) for $229.00 each!!! What a deal!

I also agree with your experiences with BLI steam engines. I have 2 Mikados and 2 N&W 2-6-6-4s and they are fair to miserable runners - even after extensive lubrication as recommended by the manufacturer. My 2-6-6-4's are junk. Incredible sound, but worthless otherwise. The Mikados are fair runners, but I find the sound to be most unimpressive. The speakers rattle even with the sound turned WAY down. On the other hand, I have 11 BLI diesels and they all run, sound and look incredible!! Why can't they duplicate this level of performance with the steam??

If anyone is considering a Proto 2000 0-8-0 with sound, I HIGHLY recommend them!! I plan on purchasing 2 more just becasue they are so impressive ... and COOL!!!!

[grayfox1119]

I saw the new LL 0-8-0 at a local MRR open house on Sunday, it was the hit of the show. Apparently it was the only one that had sound installed of all the trains they had running. People were amased at the sound, they would follow it around the tracks taking videos. Many positive comments could be heard. I think they have a winner !!
How many guys are getting one from Santa this year??? Maybe if you leave him cheeeeeese !! LOL

[hdtvnut]

Since my original post, I was advised by jens (yahoo/QSI) why the 0-8-0 in my case requires the
leading zero. Seems with an NCE system and maybe some others, three-digit addresses from 100
to 127 are reserved, and cannot be used directly without the zero; nothing to do with the decoder.

LifeLike tech knows this and said it is in the NCE manual, but didn't put it in their own docs.

Hal

[Anonymous]

Not to upset anyone with a slight change of topic but.............does anyone know if the 0-6-0 coming out with the QSI sound? I have one of these engines and it's the finest running engine I've ever owned.

Roger

[tpatrick]

Hal, I have a LL Erie 0-8-0 and an NCE system, too. You can use the engine number (124 in my case) if you program and activate it as a short address and leave the long address blank. I just put a Soundtraxx LC decoder in mine, but you might persuade me to buy a new one with QSI. I also have my eye on LL's Erie E-9 with QSI. There is always something!

[Anonymous]

Sounds great this is the number one engine to buy at the big show in Milwaukee this coming weekend. Does the sound work ok on just plain DC power?

[rrinker]

The 0127 thing is an NCE quirk, not the QSI decoder. 01-127 can be either long or short addresses in NCE. Most other systems establish a cutoff at either 99 (Lenz) or 127 (Digitrax) and make higher numbers 'long' and lower numbers 'short'. So if you program the decoder as 127 in the long address CV's and set CV29 appropriately, you need to use 0127 on the cab controlt o call it up. If you program 127 into the short address CV and leave CV29 alone, you would call up 127 on the handheld.
The NMRA standard on this is notoriously vague, I fail to understand why they didn't establish a true standard for this and avoid the confusion. Oh, but then the Lenz system of stopping at 99 would be non-complaint, and of course we can't have the Lenz system be non-compliant.... Cynical? Yes, but read between the lines of who's involved with what in DCC standards.

--Randy

[hdtvnut]

Thanks for additional info; I'll try the short address approach.

swdave: yes, as all QSI decoders, will run on DC.

regards

Hal

[Anonymous]

Thanks Hal, I know the the BLI's do. But I almost made the mistake of buying one of the Mikes from Trix ,they where on ebay lately for about $250. and just by luck i found out the sound only works on DCC!