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My first QSI Revolution - Alco 539T in a P2K S1

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My first QSI Revolution - Alco 539T in a P2K S1
Posted by jon grant on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:32 AM

I have been trying out my first couple of QSI Revolution sound decoders.

Bruce at Litchfield programmed them both as Alco 539 6-cylinder turbo engines with Wabco single-chime horns, so I have been having fun shoe-horning them into a couple of Proto 2000 S1s.


Unusually, this time the problem wasn't finding space for the speaker, but trying to fit the capacitor into the loco. I'll show how I fitted the decoder, speaker and capacitor later, once I take some photos.

For now, here is a video clip of the CNW Alco S1 in action

Alco S1


Compare it with the sound of the MRC S2/S4 soundchip

NKP Alco S2


Jon

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Posted by jon grant on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:33 AM

The decoder could only be fitted into the loco after the weight above the motor had been removed and all the electrics had been stripped down for hard wiring


The decoder has some stiff wire to the capacitor and speaker as delivered although it was easy to replace with spare offcuts from other decoders.

I made a saddle out of plastic strip over the worm gear in the front truck to seat the capacitor. The LED wires were also bent around the capacitor.



The speaker was mounted in the cab after the internal details were removed. All the holes in the cab were plugged so that the unterior of the cab became the speaker baffle - important for a half-decent sound


Finally the crew were cut down and glued to the top of the speaker which was painted black to hide it from view in the cab.


All in all, this was a quite complicated decoder fit, but well worth it.


Jon

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Posted by Fergmiester on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 7:07 AM

Excellent Jon

I've been very curious about the QSI Revolution  and seeing how it compared to other decoders. This is definately a good comparison. Great scenery as well!!!

 

Fergie 

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Posted by rs2mike on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 7:29 AM
I liked the qsi better than the mrc.  The mrc sounded very tinny as the qsi was very clear.  Thanks for the compare, how much was the qsi?

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

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Posted by NS2591 on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:56 AM
the QSI sounds way nicer than the MRC. I have an MRC sound decoder and I can't stand it.
Jay Norfolk Southern Forever!!
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:47 PM

The QSI sounds a whole lot better...Whistling [:-^]

Neat photos too!Thumbs Up [tup]

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Posted by loathar on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:52 PM
The QSI sounds better, but I'd be happy with an MRC that sounded like that too. (I like the break squeel and the random sounds they make)My 2 cents [2c]
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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 5:16 PM

Jon,

As usual, it's always a joy to see your work and your layout.  I say it so often anymore that I must sometimes sound like

a broken record...tick...

a broken record...tick...

a broken record...tick...

a broken record...Smile [:)]

Tom

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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 5:29 PM

Jon,

BTW: Did you read or hear that Atlas will be releasing an ALCO HH600/HH660 (Dec 2008) in the Master Line?  That would make for another nice addition to your switcher fleet.  And the extra room under the hood will also be nice for adding a speaker/sound decoder.  (A bit easier than an S1, that's for sure.)

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by jon grant on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 2:44 AM

I hadn't realised that the S1's were non turbo engines until it was pointed out to me.

Thankfully this is something that could be easily fixed by turning down the volume of the turbosound to zero.

Here is a new video clip with what is hopefully a more accurate engine sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylk4oag6Pe8

Jon

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