I have a Bachmann On30 2-8-0 with the pre-installed Soundtraxx sound system, which is a sort of OEM Tsunami, and which worked fine until I started getting fancy.  I removed the stock speaker, and installed a 1.06" hi-bass speaker, and gradually the loco started acting like something was shorting out.  So I'm hoping someone will know something about these systems, enough to answer these questions:

- Did switching out the stock speaker to the hi-bass cause problems?

- The sound PCB was originally screwed to the 2 raised metal posts on the tender frame.  I had to detach it from the posts to fit the bigger speaker.  Did that mess something up?

I'm going to try reinstalling everything the way it originally was, or as close as I can get it, to see if that helps.  But any suggestions would be appreciated.

Manager

Hi guys, I'm wanting to replace the incandescent bulb on the old DC powered 2-6-0 with an LED headlight, the sort that comes with current Bachmann kits.  The LED would be wired in parallel with the motor, so it's getting track voltage, which I'm pretty sure is too much.  Would I need to bridge the wires to the headlight with a resistor?  Can someone suggest the size of resistor to use?

Any help would be appreciated.  As you can tell, I know just enough to be dangerous.

Manager

Hi guys, I finally uploaded the video from the Hoosier On30 Mini-Meet in April.  Much thanks to Al Askerburg for organizing this meet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbtIkmMz2qI

Gary Gresham

I had been thinking, we need more On30 videos on Youtube.  So I shot some video the other morning, using a small test module in my backyard. 

The movie is supposed to be a typical busy morning at a small station on the C.P.R.R.  The town name is a real place close to where I live.

I think it turned out OK, but I do want to re-shoot this someday, when the sunlight is less direct, and when the temps aren't so high.  And, I need to add some weight to the module so that it doesn't shift as the train moves across the module.  I didn't notice the movement at the time, since I was trying to stop the train before it ran out of track.  Not all of the trains have sound, so I tried to find music that sounded like it was being played during a silent movie.  Maybe the next version will have real steam engine audio - that would really bring this to life.

See what you think...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx7BlnzS_2Y

Manager

Excellent.  Can't wait for the photos.  Merry Christmas to all.  The hard part is going to be picking which 4-6-0 to order.  I don't think the wife will think that "one of each" is an option.

Thanks Bachmann.  Home run.

M

Hi all, I shot some video last weekend at the World's Greatest Hobby train show in Louisville.  The Radcliff club had their On30 layout, and there was the Bachmann display layout, which I had never seen in person.  It was a pretty good show, and attendance seemed good.  They had a modular N layout that was massive, and some other layouts around, but I only had so much memory on my digital camera to use.

Next time I need to bring the real camera and the tripod...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC992lRlTC8

Gary