my most recent picture, all equipped with bachmann sound

Quote from: Plow Bender on August 07, 2018, 01:09:37 PM

Quote from: thomasgleek444 on August 06, 2018, 08:28:02 PM
I just came here to post that same video XD since I am the one who recorded it lol

Really impressed with your work as well.  I've been wanting to hear the James, Emily, and Toby's sounds ever since I watched Bachmann's video on the DCC sound Thomas equipped engines.  What really impressed me was that Toby was actually given a bell as I was afraid he would have just been given a random whistle.  Considering not many people have done this modification (or at least done it and posted a video), it's nice to see someone has finally made this available to the public so we can see and/or hear the sounds offered.

Out of curiosity, how much did you have on average into installing DCC sound into each model?  I looked into prices on that myself, but I was looking at almost $150-$200 each, and that was just if I were to do it myself without paying my hobby shop to install everything.  I actually found it cheaper just to sell off my existing Thomas and Percy and put that money towards buying the DCC sound models instead.  I'm hoping Bachmann announces the other characters with DCC sound in 2019, but if they don't I'll probably end up installing it myself.

One last thing I'm curious about is if you have any plans on installing lights on your models?  I know the sound module does offer the option to do so and I think it would really make the models stand out that much more.  I know Chaz had this done with his HO models of Thomas, Percy, James, and Toby years back.  I'd probably be tempted to do the same with my Large Scale models when I get around to having DCC sound on them, but I'm not completely sure yet.  Anyways, thanks again for the video and keep up the good work.

-Rusty

I was able to find the decoders all over the place like eBay and random online hobby shops, not really ever more than $100 each (excluding the shipping) you just need to make sure that you have all the right tools to do this.
for the speakers, I just got some off of Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078KXQG17/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and one day I might install lighting, it would just take a lot of drilling into the "lights" that are on each engine now, and then maybe I would also put some lamps in places where they should be

however, right now I'm trying to find the tools, time, and money, to make a custom Edward, Gordon, and Henry. (because their sounds are on the sound module as well)

I just came here to post that same video XD since I am the one who recorded it lol

Quote from: Chaz on June 04, 2018, 08:40:24 PM
Quick question I always had for large scale modelers.  Have any of you guys considered making your own custom engines and rolling stock?  I haven't really seen too many custom projects aside from one or two things from Plow Bender.  I've always imagined in some cases you would have to make the bodies from scratch, like Mavis and using the motor and chassis from Toby but I've never seen it done before.

Right now I'm trying to SLOWLY work on a Gordon model to fit the same size as all the others. I got an engine and I'm going to build a body for it, and the tender from scratch.

Quote from: GregoryB on June 04, 2017, 11:18:11 AM
I have installed the Bachmann Thomas and Friends DCC Sound Module (44958) in Toby, James and Emily. I used the E-Z Command Dynamis IR DCC System (36505) to change their CVs (CV 115) to get the correct sounds on each including the bell on Toby. I also installed lights, front and back on Toby and forward on James, and they work well (F10 on the E-Z Command). Note that you can't program CVs with the E-Z Command Digital Control System (44932) - you need the Dynamis to change CVs. Also note that you need to supply the speakers and LEDs separately. I also changed Toby's direction by changing CV 29 from 6 to 7 because I apparently wired the direction backwards and didn't want to re-open and the polarity switch does not function in DCC. They all work well in analog mode also with all the correct sounds and lights. My only remaining problem is that on Toby both the forward and reverse lights come on together instead of based on travel direction. I'm looking for a CV that can correct this.

i know this post is a bit old, but would you mind making a video of all the sounds, i been wanting to hear what they all sound like

Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on May 04, 2018, 03:44:50 PM

Quote from: thomasgleek444 on May 04, 2018, 09:55:41 AM
and speaking of customs, i know just above i was talking about a custom Henry and Gordon
while right now im trying to see if the base of a aristocraft pacific would be the right size for the drive wheels.
after that i would replace the other trailing wheels with some spare james trailing wheels, and then build a body on top. and scratch build the tender completely

It might not work with it being a slightly different gauge, but I happen to know that Marklin makes a Gauge 1 BR 78, the locomotive that, from what I've heard, is the type of Locomotive used to make Gordon and Henry in the show, specifically, their chassis. Gauge 1 is close to G Scale, but I don't know if it's close enough to be compatible, like HO Scale and OO Scale are.

yes but the marklin one would still be to small, and im not spending $3000 on an engine just to use the base and scrap most the rest, and then have it not measure up to the other bachmann models, i heard from someone on facebook that an aristocraft pacific would be the biggest drive wheels on a train i could find, but i just dont know.

and speaking of customs, i know just above i was talking about a custom Henry and Gordon
while right now im trying to see if the base of a aristocraft pacific would be the right size for the drive wheels.
after that i would replace the other trailing wheels with some spare james trailing wheels, and then build a body on top. and scratch build the tender completely

this is all the best stuff in the world

Quote from: Plow Bender on November 30, 2017, 12:36:22 AM

Quote from: Large Scale Champion on November 24, 2017, 10:21:15 AM
Another thing we're keen to see is other members custom builds in large scale. we have a secret project on at the moment and will debut in pics. Has anyone else done a custom? the best we've seen is the red brake coach.

Well, I have 2 projects I did that were from a couple years ago.  The first one is Emily's snowplow which I built back in 2015.  The plow I made for her was built from tin and I used aluminum and styrene for the mounting bracket.  I then painted the front of the plow silver and the sides dark green.  Mounting the plow is simple as it just goes right down over Emily's buffers.  Unlike the Thomas model, I'm able to run Emily's plow on her without having to remove the knuckle coupler on the pony truck.

I modeled Emily's plow after the one she had in Season 8, and I know some will argue that its inaccurate that I'm using a model series plow on a CGI series Emily, but I could honestly care less.  Realistically plows tend to get shined up after excessive use, so having Emily's plow fully painted green doesn't make any sense.  One thing I would like to also add is that although I have tried it and the plow does indeed plow snow, I don't recommend it.  While the plow and it's mounting bracket could more than likely take the abuse, I fear Emily's plastic buffers wouldn't.

The next project I attempted was a custom Season 1 truck made back in 2016.  I started with the open wagon that you would get if you bought the large scale Thomas' Christmas Delivery set.  Now before you ask why I chose to use this wagon over one of the others, it's because of the price.  An online retailer I buy from frequently had the wagon (separate from the set) for only $24 which was cheaper than going out and buying one of the other wagons for about $50-$60+.  I also ended up with the 2 presents in the truck, but threw those in with the Christmas decorations.

It was pretty simple to just sand down the old decals on the wagon, repaint it flat black, add some weathering, and then the custom face.  Overall I thought the model turned out pretty good, and a friend of mine actually thought I used the Tenmile Gauge 1 kit to build it.  The photo shows the truck with a chain link coupler, but I actually run knuckle couplers on my railroad.  The photo was taken prior to me adding knuckle couplers to the model.

Lastly is a current work in progress I started back in October of this year.  I'm currently making a large scale model of Victoria from The Railway Series.  Obviously I've used a Bachmann Annie/Clarabel for the basis, but Victoria isn't a LB&SCR Stroudley coach so quite a few alterations have to be made.  I've seen many of the HO Boys just simply repaint an Annie/Clarabel coach, but that's not going to cut it for this project.  I'm mainly trying to base my build off the Clive Spong illustrations, but have referred to Victoria's actual basis (Furness Railway Passenger Coach) for details as well.  Regardless what I do, this model could very well be a hybrid.

As she sits now, Victoria is mainly in primer gray until I finish adding details to the model and find the proper color blue to paint her.  The coach's frame also needs a few alterations as well, but I'm yet to start on that.  Incase anyone is curious, I don't have plans to build Helena, mainly just because of the fact (considering the fait Victoria suffered) it seems likely she's probably been scrapped.  I've still got quite a bit of work to do, but Victoria is perhaps a build I should revisit on here once she's finished.

Questions and comments welcome.

-Rusty

I was wondering if anyone knew of the best turn radius for Emily? I have LGB brass track and her engine grinds on the curves and her tender either grinds of squeals, and her coaches do both I have R1 rated LGB radius turns. 

(this all is if they are large scale which im not sure, if they are ho then completely disregard this)
Though if you are feeling savvy and want to install it all yourself, I would suggest finding the Bachmann decoders for cheap ($100 is possible from some places) but you would need to solder some wires (and possibly a speaker if you wanted the sounds, i have a speaker that i used if you don't already have one) and if you do, it can get messy, so be careful.
However, really the only reason to get the bachmann decoder is for the sound, so if you dont need the sound you can always just try to find it cheaper, or see if someone can install something cheaper in it for you like what the other person had mentioned up above

Quote from: JLK2707 on March 03, 2018, 05:20:01 PM
Thomasgleek444, If you were to build Henry in large scale, would you want him with his old shape or his new shape?

That all depends if I can happen to find an already built loco that looks enough like Henry (or Gordon) I might just mod the already existing engine.
however, I think I would like to have the old shaped Henry if I can, it looks like it would be easier to make from scratch (since there would be a dome missing compared to the new one, and the new firebox would be a nightmare), and I like the look a bit better.

I was thinking that the sound decoder has the sounds for other engines that don't exist in large scale, i was thinking one day i could just mod James to look like Edward, and then just have to build Henry and Gordan from scratch (even though Henry and Gordon would never be released due to the size they would be)
I still am hoping they at least make Edward, but for now I have Thomas and Percy with DCC and I am working on getting the other three and then expanding my rolling stock

Everyone is gonna hate me for this because everyone says large scale is dying.
but I at least want Edward, since he is not that far of a remodel from James
and the red passenger cars that would go with James (since they are JUST a repaint of Annie/Clarabel)
really, any engine past that (since its not ever possible for Henry and Gordon), isn't really worth having anyway, there is bill and ben which would be easy to make, and other small engines like that, like Oliver, Duck, Mavis, lady(even though you never see her in the show anymore), ect
but i still have hope, if not then its time to make a custom Thomas large scale engines

 so i breaking down and getting dcc, and as you know im well into thomas stuff and want the decoder bachmann uses, since thats really the only one that has the right sounds, now, it took me a while but i finally found the manual for the decoder online, and it asks that i use a 8ohm rated for 3 watts
i was wondering if these 8ohm 5watt speakers from amazon would be okay?
https://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-Speaker-Loudspeaker-Arduino-EK1688_/dp/B014GM8BP8

since the announcements this year were so useless and depressing, I'm so close to getting another set of Annie and Clarabel and shaving off the noses and spray painting them red just for James