I got my second Forney with sound today.  The first one was outside frame #12, this one is inside frame #11.  At eye level, these two locos look very different from each other.  However, my railroad is only 12" from the floor.  From above, these locos are quite similar.

I know it was sort of common to paint cab roofs boxcar red (or something like it.)  Was there another colour commonly used for steam engine cab roofs?

Thanks.

I only tried it wiith Tsunami -- it worked very easily.  I would guess that Precision Craft only intended the device to work with their system and hasn't tried it with any other.  However, the instructions indicate that this system will allow access to any DCC CV values.

I don't have anything other than full-fledged Tsunami and Bachmann's Tsunami equipped locos to try -- it works on both.  I originally bought it to use with the Precision Craft Goose.  It is cheap enough to take a chance in my opinion.

Soundtraxx did an excellent job of providing the Shay, Climax and 2-8-0 with sound already installed.  It's a shame they discontinued them; hopefully Bachmann will re-release these item with sound on board?

I hope Bachmann doesn't use this forum for market research.  With a Shay and Climax already available, a Heisler would be pretty boring.  We need something completely different.  How about a 2-4-4-2 w/tender with sound?

It appears that Soundtraxx is no longer selling Tsunami eqipped Climaxes and Shays.  Are there any plans for Bachmann to rerun Shays and Climaxes with Sound, or will sound only be offerred in "new" locomotives?
Thanks.

I think people don't believe me when I say that the Precision Craft DCMaster will program Bachmann and other CV's.  It cost less than $50.00 and is very user friendly.

As I mentioned in a previous thread, the Precision Craft Models DCMaster control box will program CV's.  (I've used it to program Tsunami decoders.)It works very simply, and only costs less than $50.

It works.  Precision Craft's DCMaster will change CV values on the Tsunami decoders.  This morning I successfully increased the exhaust rate on the Forney, selected a new whistle and reduced the exhaust volume on the Shay, reduced the whistle volume on the 2-8-0.  I am a happy camper.

This is a great device for us DCers.  No need to buy a DCC system to make adjustments to DCC sound equipped engines.

A couple things:  You must do the programming on a seperate track - or all your DCC engines will be affected. (The instructions point this out.)
I also noticed that different power packs produce variations in the sounds.  I programmed my engines using a Bachmann Spectrum power pack that came in an On30 set -- the chuff rate is much faster with this power pack compared to the MRC Controlmaster 20 I normally use.

I am a loyal Bachmann fan, in both Large Scale and On30.  However, I am getting discouraged with the "Procedures" required to repair new products.
There's the Railtruck procedure, the 2-8-0 procedure, the 3 Truck Shay procedure, the Fn3 Boxcar procedure, the sound Forney without enough chuffs per revolution ....

Seems like we have become Bachmann's final assembly station and or quality control department.

My expertise is in structure building.  I am not a master mechanic.  Although these "procedures" may seem straightforward and simple to some of you, many (like the large scale 3 truck shay procedure) seem out of my comfort zone.

Would it be unreasonable to:
- have Bachmann perform the procedures on all remaining in-stock items,
-have Bachmann authorize and fund LHS to perform the procedures,
-offer a rebate to customers willing and capable of performing these  procedures themselves.

I think it has become too easy for Bachmann to pass the problems on to us.  Until it becomes too expensive and/or too much of a hassle for Bachmann to continue having these problems, we will continue to have these problems.

I purchased a Precision Craft Models "DC Master Analog Control Module" to use with their On30 Galloping Goose.  I'm still in the "reading the instructions" phase.  On page 10 it states "The DCMaster can program any DCC CV using the DCC service mode direct programmimg."

I haven't tried it yet.  Does this mean I can use this controller to change CV values on Bachmann Tsunami equipped engines?  Has anyone tried using the DCMaster to change CVs?

This controller was only $50 Cdn; it would be teriffic if it does what I hope it does.