Hello all, I dont want to beat a dead horse with this post, however I am still a little mixed up.  For example on the Atlas forum I have found a couple pics of the innards of the S-4.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68434&whichpage=3



The first two pic's obviously have a DCC decoder and yes, I see the speaker in the front, thus DCC sound, right OR, is it the DCC ready version (DC) and the owner installed his own sound equipment?

However on my second find, the board is rather different (no wiring-harness-type decoder, and I can't figure if that black box in the front is the speaker)  The fellow who posted them described that this also was the DCC sound version.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68768&whichpage=1






Can someone please help me understand.  From what I have read the sound and running characteristics are very good so I'd like to pick one up.  Also will the sound run in DC?, that is all I run.  Thanks, Nathan.

No, I am not trying to put you on, sorry if I gave you that impression.  Also, a marx generator most definitely has nothing to do with model railroading just crazy electrical projects.  I didn't understand your explination of the following quote "It is possible to put the wall plug for the auto transformer into the outlet the wrong way and the common terminal becomes the hot terminal. Some pople like to snip of the third prong, the ground prong."  my auto transformer has 5 screw type terminals.

Thanks for your help, sorry if you got a bad impression, Nathan.

Richg,  I didn't think the autotransformer would need primary and secondary winding's, all its doing is adjusting the given wall 120v from 0-120+/-.  I thought unlike hobby transformers it uses the windings themselfs as the regulator, not dropping the voltage down to a max of around 18v, then from there letting a potentiometer and transistors do all the work.  I do have some electrical education (highest grade in my class of seniors, I was a freshmen) but we never worked with high voltage devices such as this, that is why I asked.  I had that class last year, but surprisingly model railroading got me into it , now I want to build a Marx generator   Thanks for the info, Nathan.

Hello everyone,  I don't know if this is the right place to post this but...  I know that motors have their limits, but I am not sure of how much current you can pump through the motors we use in HO scale.  Would the more current mean better control?  (keep it in perspective, i'm not trying to run lightning bolts through a GP40   )  Reason I am asking,  My power packs are around 2 amps,  but I have an auto-transformer that regulates AC 0-130v at 20amps!  If I put a bridge rectifier on it, it probably would burn out every DC thing in sight    (It can fry .22 gauge wire in about 2 seconds) 

Nathan

Ok thanks   How would that work with DC?  I should have been more specific in my first post.  Also thanks for the quick response , Nathan.

Hello all, I am a bit confused with the term "constant lighting".  Does it mean that the headlights stay lit via capacitors if the loco goes over a short?  -Or-  Does it mean that that light is brought to its max brightness, even though the track voltage may not be that high?, don't think that would work.  Found an old MRR magazine (Dec 1992, pg.124) with an article on how to make a constant lighting unit, and couldn't understand why you would need it.  Thanks, Nathan.

Smoking is not good for your health sorry for that.  I am not so good with smoke units (don't have any).  A friend of mine has one, but his started smoking after it was on full throttle for about 5 minute's.  Did you say it worked at full throttle?   If so, my guess is the smoke unit works at a higher voltage.  If your good with electronics put a resistor to one terminal of the motor.  This will slow the motor thus your loco isn't flying down the rails but you get enough smoke.  If you are not familiar with electronics you might be better off not messing with its innards.  Better with a smokeless engine than no engine at all.   If I am wrong, anyone please correct me!, I hate to give out bad info.  Hope this helps, Nathan.

I think you would be ok, however the trains might look a little small in a 1/64 scale world.  I took some photo's, gp-7 for reference.  First two are with Ertl 1/64 tractors, next two are with HO scale Athearn Deere's and Norscot Cats, and the last is comparing the Ertl 1/64 8n to the Athearn HO scale Deere's.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KGZXJZeq8zw/TvqTpfp2K8I/AAAAAAAAAFI/f1X9pOYqUxY/s640/HO%252520scale%252520vs%2525201-64%252520001.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PvS3X7PXaeU/TvqTsU5_P5I/AAAAAAAAAFM/8plz0mwqE7M/s640/HO%252520scale%252520vs%2525201-64%252520002.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l0uAvSV65yw/TvqTwoAZeeI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/F5TeqgG1e4o/s640/HO%252520scale%252520vs%2525201-64%252520003.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T2mj01uCbNU/TvqTzAxE22I/AAAAAAAAAFU/PD-Qm7qQeUM/s640/HO%252520scale%252520vs%2525201-64%252520004.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G4sW-ThdLko/TvqT1qXrYII/AAAAAAAAAFY/awmojYJKvSg/s640/HO%252520scale%252520vs%2525201-64%252520005.JPG    
Hope this helps, Nathan.

If this helps   http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,18717.0.html

Ok sweet As I said, I have two loco's with sound, a Blueline and an Athearn Gen with a tsunami.  The tsunami runs with the characteristics Jonathan stated, but with the Blueline I have to use my DC analog master thingy to activate the horn and such.  Now I am convinced on getting the sound.  Thank you for your quick responses.

Ok thanks.  So I am guessing the sound is limited to engine revs and random stuff like the air compressor, not user commands like horn and bell.

Hello all, I don't know if this has already been asked but are the Sound value S-4's able to be powered by DC (Dual Mode) or are they exclusively DCC.  I am not that familiar with the differences between DCC sound and DC sound decoders.  I have a blue line with sound and also a Loco with a tsunami, and the sound runs fine on my DC layout.   I really like the s4 style and I like sound however I don't want to get the sound if its not going to work on my layout.  Thanks Nathan.

Hello Bachmann, I was wondering when the pictures of the Wisconsin Central and New England Central GP38-2 are coming out.

Remembering a forum I read about the hustlers.  Some guys would have races with them, and this one girl (if my mind serves me right) put little tubes on the motor shaft to make it go faster.  Those were rubber band drives and the rubber band ran off of the motor shaft vertically down to the axle.  So I guess now I do know of a speed faster than light

I have my dads old Mantua catalog. I think it is before 1978, it is blue striped with white lettering in a red box.  I cant find a copyright date on it .  I wanted to post a picture, but photobucket is giving me the runaround.  Yes the "big six" is in there,  Mantua was all kits and Tyco were buildups.  For the "Kit" of the big six, it cost $13.95.  The reason it is so heavy, IT IS ALL DIE-CAST! (Zamac)  Boiler, cab, steam chest, frame, tender, all die cast.  Well that's what it looks like in the picture in the catalog.  Mantua also made a "Little six" which is a 0-6-0T.