Adams 02 Sound

Hi all.

I should know better, fitting a sound chip to a kit built loco is never a good idea. To much metal, lots of possibilities of short circuits, DCC does not like this, DC is a lot more forgiven. Ideally in hindsight, had i have realised i may be converting these to DCC it would have been a good plan to work it in during the build ie; leave plates off of coal bunkers, use insulated wheels on both sides of the chassis, insulate the chassis.

Well, not listening to others advice, we carry on and fit one.

I have used one of Mr Soundguys files and he uses Zimo decoders which i can swear by.

http://www.mrsoundguy.co.uk/

It comes with both whistle types, Mainland or IOW.

With kit built locos we tend to fill every available space with weight hence, taking away space for the decoder and speaker and any "stayalive" you may want to fit.

Fitting the speaker was easy, it fits nicely between the frames.

 Luckily, this is built from a South Eastern Finecast kit so didn't need a lot of added weight, we have room for the chip in one of the side tanks. Thinking perhaps later there is room for a "stayalive" in the opposite tank and perhaps the bunker.

The Two wires in the back of the backhead are for an LED for the firebox flicker.   

It works. 

I had a few problems but think we have sorted these out. One continuing problem tho, should it stall, when restarting there is know "cuff"

With Mrsoundguys decoders we are able to alter the "chuffs to match the speed of the engine, from the factory this is set at 46 on CV 267. The sound chuffed away at a fair rate of knots but the loco is fitted with a 90:1 gearbox and was hardly moving. CV 267 is now set to 175, it seems to look and sound about right. i may have another play with this. Think we are close to our Four chuffs per revolution of wheel. 

Nowhere near as easy as an RTR loco, this took about 4 hours to do, moving wires, rewiring, fitting firebox flicker etc, the results tho are good. Am i going to fit out the other 8 locos i have? not sure yet, they won't all have sound, may take a long hard think about this.