Believe me I can Spell Las Cruces but spell chekc fixed it for me

Really enjoyed reading all of the imaginative and real areas that folks have modeled. 

I have two small layouts:

N scale that is set somewhere in West Virginia. I lived for a short time in Charleston. Has a coal mine and a small city.

My HO Scale layout is set where I went to College in La's Cruses New Mexico.  It is a fictional branch line from La's Cruses to Alamogordo aka New Mexico and West Texas RR.  I have tried to model several buildings in La's Cruses and have found that was a lot of fun.

Very interesting how many people on this thread have modeled West Virginia...

 
Thanks this was exactly the info I needed that yes you can get sound using the EZ command.

Understand it is somewhat simple but given how much I like programing "simple" devices and the low cost E Z command seemed to be the answer for me right now.

I have been primarily using digitrax DH123 decoders in my mostly Athearn conversions to date and have been very happy with them.

The loco I am planning to convert first to sound is an Athearn GP7.  The MRC 1657 looks like it might work.  My thought is to fit with the speaker (possibly modified) in the top of the cab.  I will look around on line to see for conversions of GP7s.

I have a On 30 2 6 0 that will be the steamer I convert.  I have several articles on how to convert that so that will be the next big project after I clear these more expensive sound decoders with management.

Thanks again for the helpful info.

I am considering converting an HO locomotive to DCC with sound, does anyone have experience with using the EZ command DCC system with a sound loco? 

First loco will be diesel maybe second is a steam engine.

Also I am looking for a recommendation for a DCC decoder with sound that will work well with the EZ command system.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Having recently made the switch from DC to DCC, here are some observations:

1. Operationing a DCC layout is a lot easier.  I must admit I went with the EZ Command system. It does have some limitations but it is push a button and turn the throttle. So you have the choice of a simple DCC controller. This could be very easy for youngsters. It has some other limitations but on my small 4 x 7 layout it works great.  I added one remote controller, too.

2. It is a lot easier to wire, other than running heavier gauge dual feeder wires. Which would help a DC layout too. You really don't need any switches to control the tracks.

3. I had several DC locomotives and have converted 6 now. It gets easier each time but they all seem to be challenging trying to squeeze all of the extra wire back in the small HO narrow shells I like. I have purchased 4 Bachmann DCC locomotives and they are not too expensive. By the way there are lots of on line resources to help with conversions.

4.  I did cheat I wired it up so I can switch back and forth between DC and DCC  but am finding I would rather run the DCC locomotives because how easy it is to control them.

All in all I think DCC is the way to go.
Hope this helps

I have had good luck with a product called HobbyCal inkjet water slide decal paper.  You print the graphics on from a normal inkjet printer.  You can use any graphics program like power point to create the decal.  You can scan an image in and then print them out too.

Unlike other decal paper it will print out white areas, you have to create the negative in other words where you don't print it will be white.

You can't use decal solvaset or it will turn the white areas clear.

One other way to prevent decals from letting the paint show through is to paint a light color like white or yellow under the decal.  The darker colors show through more.

I am a recent addition to this discussion board but recieved a lot of help on adding a decoder to my  0 6 0 tank locomotive from folks here so I added that as my avatar.

The shot is on my layout with 0 6 0 tanker in front of the Las Cruces,  New Mexico station I converted from a walthers kit.  The back drop is an image of the very rugged Organ Mountains outside Las Cruces.

Actually there is a new prodcut out called hobbycal inkjet water slide decal paper. If you follow the directions you can get white.  However, you can't use decal solvent that helps the decal snug to the contours.  Also you can't spray it with dullcote but the paper is less shiny and more flat. Both the decal solvent and the dullcote will make the white change to clear.

I use several programs like power point to create the graphic and then print it out. 

One other area to check is to make sure you have the connections to the track correct.

A couple of questions:

Does this occur at the same place on your layout?

Does this happen to be at a turnout?

It might be a short because a similar occurence happened on my layout.

Question, I am the person who has been discussing the 44 tonner Decoder install in the general category.

Thanks for all of the helpful info.  When I got the MR article about the install, all they said was to cut the pick up leads between the wheels and the motor.  It looked like from the picture that it might be difficult to do this?  Was it easy to access once you take the motor apart?  Also how easy was it to solder the connections form the decoder to these leads to the wheel.

I have converted three locos now to DCC and all of them have been a challenge to get back together in the shell.  I think the 44 tonner might be pretty tight and the wires mihgt interfere with the trucks abiltiy to rotate??

Thanks again

This is probably the last post from me on this item, I completed the 0 6 0.  It was pretty difficult to do the soldering for my old eyes.  It works great though.  I think I am going to wait on the 44 tonner though.

I have a DC Bachmann 0 6 0 switcher and DC 44 Tonner.

They are a few years old, do the Bachmann decoders fit nicely in these great running models.

Also how do you remove the body on the 0 6 0?

Thanks

I recently purchased a EZ Command DCC controller and one HO Bachmann DCC locomotive.  I followed the instructions that came with it and I tried to change the address but could not get it to change.  I tried it with another Bachmann DCC locomotive and had the same results.

Any suggestions?