Gary,

Thank you for that info.  I am converting the "new" Mantua Logger to On30 and thought the Bachmann Mogul tender looks perfect behind it.  Alas I have no extras.

Peter

I need two of these.  Anyone have a clue where to purchase?  Anyone have any they want to sell/donate/swap/whatever???

Mr. B.  I called your parts-none there now, told to call back.

Peter

I recently did the same install.  Instead of putting that cover with the holes in it back on, I glued a piece of nylon window screen across the opening on the inside (to keep stuff from getting stuck on the speaker) and then mounted the speaker to the tender using that glue/putty stuff for an airtight and flexible seal.  I moved the circuit board, plugged the Tsunami in and everything worked fine.  Sounds wonderful to me although I have nothing to compare it to as it's my first one.

Peter 

Looking forward to your how to.  Which Sounder decoder did you use for it? Also, what motor sounds does it make??  Curious.

Tim,

My honest answer??  I really thought it was 2!!  After I read your reply I went to Google/U tube and found a couple of videos the clearly show it's 4!!  As I need to tweak the rate to get 4, it will be much simpler in the 1 decoder 2-8-0 vs the 2 decoder in the 2-6-0!!  Without a drive wheel cam on the 2-8-0 it has to be a bit of an approximation.  I've found if you get it right at speeds slow enough to see the 2...er...4 chuffs/revolution you really can't tell at the higher speeds.

Peter

Well, not exactly!!  There is no sync issue between throttle, engine speed and chuff as the same decoder controls both speed and chuff, but you must sync the chuff rate to the locomotive's drive wheel rotation, i.e. 2 chuffs/revolution.  This is a snap compared to trying to sync the acceleration in one decoder to the chuff rate acceleration in the other or vise versa!!  I hope to try again tonight and will report on progress.

Peter

Thanks for the info, Tim, I appreciate it.

Peter

Thank you both.  Next question.  What's in the rest of the line:
Mogul, Shay, Climax, Porter and Davenport??

All,
I bought a 2-6-0 on EBay that had a Digitrax 123 motor decoder put in the locomotive for DCC.  Runs great.  Decided to install a Soundtraxx DSX in tender.  At the same time I got a Tsunami for my 2-8-0 which is DCC.  Had to move the board but was able to cram a 1.57" (40 mm) high bass speaker from QSI in there.  I swear the thing sounds real!!!  When I'm working on stuff, I turn it on just to listen to the air pumps pounding and Fireman Fred doing his things!

Back to the 2-6-0.  Managed to squeeze the same speaker in and got it up and running. Making the tender electrical pickup on all 4 tender wheels was a pain, but will be worth it as none of the loco wheels provide current to the tender.  Not finished with sealing the tender shell for the enclosure so will have to comment on sound quality later.  Addressed each decoder differently and run it as an "old" consist.  You have to have the tender as the lead unit or you get no chuff as it is controlled by the throttle.  Next problem is syncing the chuff to the speed of the motor decoder.  Not as easy as it seems.  Need to make up a speed table for the chuff rate that matches the the motor decoder's.  Switching back and forth from one decoder to the other then testing, is getting tedious.  If I did it again, which I will as I have 2 more moguls, I will go 1 Tsunami in tender-thank you very much!!! In the time I've spent monkeying with sync issues, I could have done the full install of the Tsunami.

Peter

Have yet to take one apart so can anyone tell me if the bulb is an LED or incandescent??

Thanks,

Peter

QSI is coming out with a new line that are supposed to sound better than the Tsunami AND can be downloaded to through a computer.  Not sure if they will offer a mini.  Their standard appears to be the same size as the normal Tsunami.  Check out the QSI into at    www.tonystrains.com.

Peter

Finders...

Actually it's a good idea.  If you already have a good, working motor decoder installed and have the room, it makes sense to just add the sound and save the $$ and time to re-do the whole thing.  In my case with the motor decoder already installed in the boiler, adding sound in the tender is a no brainer.  No dismantling the locomotive, no wires between it and the tender and less $$. 

I agree it would make no sense to use it in a conversion from DC to DCC.

Peter

The 2-8-0 begs for a Tsunami motor/sound decoder and decent speaker.  All the wiring is done so one needs only to "plug it in". 

I have a Mogul that was converted to DCC with a mico decoder in the boiler.  THIS would be a good candidate for a stand alone sound bug to avoid all that wiring between the locomotive and tender.

P

Max

It's a sound only decoder, having no motor functions.  You can add it either as a standalone in the tender, or hook it to a decoder that accepts it.  So far only 1 model of dixitrax decoder does this. Check their website for details. (found this out AFTER I posted)!

With only 2 functions, I think it's time to upgrade with a good motor/sound decoder and speaker. 

Peter

Mr. B.

I waded through the archives but came up blank.  What make is the decoder in a non-sound 2-8-0?  Can it be used with a Digitrax "Soundbug"?

Thank you,

Peter