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installing a sound system or decoder in a blue box athearn loco?

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  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Toronto Ont. Canada
  • 840 posts
installing a sound system or decoder in a blue box athearn loco?
Posted by rambo1 on Sunday, January 19, 2014 9:20 AM

I don't know alot about electronics would it be hard to install sound in a basic athearn loco say a P42 running on dc? I know there might be some triming to fit speakers can it be done? rambo1...

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Sunday, January 19, 2014 10:14 AM
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, January 19, 2014 10:18 AM

First of all, does the locomotive run well on DC?  If not, converting to DCC will likely result in an engine that runs even worse.  But, if it's a good runner, then DCC is a good option.

How quiet is the engine?  One problem, particularly with older BB engines, is that their internal motor and gear noises compete with a DCC sound system and make it less attractive.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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