Hey guys, I looked at a few videos to double chek whether or not my locomotive has problems, because the sounds don't seem quite right to me( or maybe its just me!)
2 questions:
1. When the bell stops, it stops for like 1 second, then rings 2 more times at the same volume, and stops. I thought bells were supposed to gradully get softer after the bell(f1) is stopped.
2. When the loco goes to higher speeds, the chuff goes out of sync, and it suddenly goes to 2 chuffs per rev. It sounds really weird to me, and will definitely take some getting used to.
Heres a video...
So is this just me, or are the sounds a little weird?
Oh ya, and the engine came missing the smoke fluid bottle, and when I tried to turn on smoke(using some smoke fluid from an older engine, without putting smoke fluid into the funnel, a few plumes of smoke shot out of the funnel... this was bought from Trainworld, but it feels like it was used before...because isn't it supposed to come with smoke in a bottle, and not already in the engine?
Thanks,
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Geezus! Lets call him Quick Feet. You must be young and nimble to follow that train like that. LOL
The chuff cuts out because your slowing down and coasting, so this is normal
But I agree the bell is weird. Try this
Bell interval CV 180 = 1
BLI clamins they don't include smoke fluid anymore because of regulation.
But they do add a small amount of fluid from the factory, as to not burn up the smoke unit when the customer turns it on.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Hi, Charles
I should have my L1 by Monday and I'll see if the Paragon3 sounds are acting the way yours is. I probably have 30 or so BLI steam locomotives, both QSI and Paragon 2 (the L1 will be my first P3) and I'd have to rate Broadway's sound recordings at maybe a C+ or B- at best. The chuff "timing" sounds like an engine ready for the shop.
They may be replicating the mechanical type of bell ringer that actually swings the bell (an external piston) as opposed to the post-war era "automatic" bell ringer which, as you say, fades out. TCS WOWsound has some of the best bells I've heard (of course, they have sleigh bells and church bells included, too!)
I can believe the absence of the smoke fluid. Shipping restrictions are very strict about flammable liquids, even one ounce, so BLI probably took the easy way out.
Yes, they used to include it and a nifty little funnel, too. All my smoking BLI engines came with enough fluid in the stack to smoke for about a half hour running time, then I turn it off and keep it off.
Keep the sound volume low, almost all manufacturers ship their engines with the volumes set way too high.
Have Fun, Ed
The bell sounds like it is trying to do a manual bell, not an air operated bell, so when the 'fireman' stops yanking on the cord is rings a couple of more times on momentum - the last one sounds quieter.
As for chuffs, when you get going thaat fast, especially from a dead stop, the chuffs tend to merge. What does it do at slower speeds, does it have 4 chuffs per revolution?
You may want to do a full reset on the decoder, in case someone messed with the chuff CV or the bell. If it does a proper 4 chuffs at a speed where you can actually see the wheels rotate though, it's probably fine.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Trainman440smoke shot out of the funnel...
Just a minor point here, if I may. The R.M.S. Titanic has funnels. A PRR L1 has a smoke stack, or stack for short
Just helping you get into the "lingo".
There was another thread here recently about smoke fluid... it now comes in "flavors" even coal scented!
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=smoke+fluid&Submit=
Ed
I agree with Motley's response.
The chuff cut out is normal............and annoying. Same on Paragon 2 steamers. They tell me that is prototypical.
The bell sounds a little weird. Play with the CV to get it right.
BLI does not include any smoke fluid but does add a little at the factory. When I asked BLI what type of smoke fluid to use, their answer was "any type".
Rich
Alton Junction
ndbprrPrr people are reporting numerous decoder problems including dropping all changes made to the decoder. Most are not pleased with thr BLI decoders
By funnel they were speaking of a tool to put smoke fluid in The smoke stack.....!
Hi guys,
Michael, the Taran was running pretty fast, yes I know, this was so that I could get to the point, of the 2 chuffs per rev faster.
And setting cv 180 to 1 makes it glitch the bell sound, then make that same sound at the end.
Ed - Congrats on the purchase! Tell me whether or not my train sounds like yours after you get yours.
Randy - I understand that but the fact thatthe bell stops when you hit f1, then suddenly starts up again at the same volume level is what questions me...
And yea, I did start the loco quite rough but that was to get to the point faster, and cut the video time short.
I already reseted the engine twice after it didn't respond to the controller.
It has 4 chuffs per rev till speed step 64( in 128 speed steps) then there is 3 chuffs per rev till spd stp 76, and after that, its 2 uneven chuffs per rev. Judging how slow it was at speed step 60, I think I'll run it at around spd stp 65 as a norm frieght speed.
To all-Yea, so I guess the unven chuffs per rev is prototypical, but you'll have to agree it does sound weird.
And sorry for the misleading "funnel" I meant "smoke stack" but the term "smoke stack" didnt come up in my head when I was writing the OP so I used another word.
Thanks for replying. Guess I'll just have to get used to the newer sounds.
There's one glaring truth in sound decoders and that is: No ONE manufacturer has the "perfect" sound decoder.
Everything is a compromise AND everyone has their own views on what constitutes "good" sound—often based on personal memories or interpretations of what they percieve as being realistic.
In defense of the manufacturers, it can be difficult, to impossible, to find usable recordings to use for source material. Some invest great effort into finding and reproducing accurate sounds while others synthesize what they feel is "good enough"
There are hundreds of discussions about which one has the best this-or-that and there are definitely excellent choices out there, and of course, ESU allows you to customize your OWN recordings into the sound file.
I only bought the L1 in order to try out the Rolling Thunder sub woofer setup. I knew that the Paragon3 and other earlier BLI attempts at sound were mediocre at best.
The technology is constantly improving and there are some great sound decoders out there but for the most part, they will require some tweaking to get them to sound "right" to YOUR ear.
Enjoy, Ed
Ed: Yes, I understand
One more question: Can I use Jts Mega steam smoke in BLI engines?
Thanks
Trainman440 Ed: Yes, I understand One more question: Can I use Jts Mega steam smoke in BLI engines? Thanks Charles
Yes sir. I use that in all my smoke units.
Thanks!
Classic Trains in their recent weekly newsletter posted an except from movies of NYC locos running along the Hudson River line (relates to the article in the Winter issue). I think that's free for anyone to watch, not just subscribers. Anyway, there are shots of Hudsons and Niagaras running passenger trains at speed and the way the chuff comes out at speeds like that it doesn;t sound far off from what this L1 is doing.
I think the problem is that BLI uses a reed switch to time the chuffs with the drivers (actually it's on the flywheel so it's the motor speed), and a mechanical reed switch just can;t operate fast enough at high RPM. Off a driver, or somewhere down the gear reduction, it would have been fine, but at full motor RPM, forget it. A hall sensor would have been better, but MTH uses Hall sensors and BLI would probably have faced a lawsuit.
I have had 5 BLI steam locomotives with paragon 2 and I thought the sound were not that good IMO. I sold them all and went with MTH engines who i think has the best sound and control bar none.
I use dcs to run them and I love it, much easier to use then DCC And more intuitive IMO. But I also use DCC to run other makers steam engines but they are getting fewer and fewer. Pretty soon my layout will be all MTH.