Doodlebug sound decoder

[rogertra]

Any suggestions for a preferably plug and play sound decoder for the
Bachmann doodlebug?

I only have one eye and my close up vision sucks so fine soldering for
connections is out of the picture, so to speak.  So plug and play is preferred. 

One that approximates a doodlebug prime mover.  After that just need bell and horns
and headlight.  Really I just need bell and horns and headlight, I can turn
the prime mover down so it's barely audible.

Cheers

Roger T.

[J3a-614]

The closest thing I can think of that would sound like a doodlebug would be an Alco unit, preferably something like an RS-1 with a six-cylinder 539 in it.

Here are a couple of doodlebug videos that might give a clue.  The subject is East Broad Top's M-1, a Brill car that still has its original engine, which was supposedly originally designed as a lightweight power plant for a Zeppelin!

Other than being narrow gauge, this car is a classic Brill doodlebug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbEn7CTiT0g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysJFV5gOzus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DeqigmbJWw

[rogertra]

Thanks for the tips.

I model the late 1950s and other groups have reminded me that by then practically all surviving class one doodlebugs would have been re-engined with a diesel prime mover.

Along with your Alco suggestion, small switcher and even RDC sound decoders have been suggested.

Cheers

Roger T.

[J3a-614]

Thank you for the commentary, Roger.

Among other things, it got be curious to see if any other doodlebugs were available to check for sound.

As it turns out, some EMC-St. Louis doodlebugs were exported to Australia, and they look VERY much like their North American cousins.  And, as in North America, they were re-engined with Diesel power in the 1950s.  Some used GM 6-71 engines, which were very common in buses and sound a lot like a GM 6-110, which is what was used in Budd cars.

So the Budd car sound may not be far off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNcJfWNpKm0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hYnpWmD30

The doodlebug suffered a road failure on another trip and had to be towed back.  The sound of the rescue locomotive, and its trucks, look quite familiar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB4gdBJgzAw

Santa Fe had some fairly large doodlebugs that were virtually locomotives, but had been build with large gasoline engines.  Here's one in preservation, and it definitely has a newer EMD prime mover, likely a switcher engine, as suggested by others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNAZ4CoVIVw

A number of Sperry rail detector cars are former doodlebugs.  Don't know what type of engine is int this one, but it looks like a former EMC-St. Louis car:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJlABDZstds

Hope this adds to options.

[rogertra]

J3a-614

Thanks for the links and info, most helpful   

Cheers

Roger T.

[MCENTRAL]

Check out the new soundtraxx sound car decoder.I think it may have the sounds your looking for plus a few extras for a pretty good price .I am not sure if it is plug and play sorry.The sounds they said fit a cab car .They have a bell horn , generator,brake sounds,and many others.
Pat

[rogertra]

Check out the new soundtraxx sound car decoder.I think it may have the sounds your looking for plus a few extras for a pretty good price .I am not sure if it is plug and play sorry.The sounds they said fit a cab car .They have a bell horn , generator,brake sounds,and many others.
Pat

Thanks Pat.

Roger T.