Tower Brass Pug Sound Install

Discussion in 'DCC Sound' started by Kimbo, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    The Zimo decoder arrived in the post yesterday so I thought today I would share the "straight forward " install with you.:confused:On stripping down the brass Pug, it became apparent that there's not much room at all, in fact non inside the boiler to house the decoder.:evil:
    [​IMG]

    smoke box end has a small amount of space but no decoder or speaker will fit in there
    [​IMG]

    These are my chosen item. I can highly recommend the super capacitors and speakers from YouChoos, most of my stock has them fitted and the improved running is well worth the extra cost[​IMG]

    So the only place available for the decoder is inside the cab on the rear wall. The wires are split into the required looms. Blue and grey for the super capacitor, Speaker wires, motor and track pickup wires in the heat shrink to the right and for the time being the lighting function wires will be cut short and sleeved in heat shrink as I'm not sure I will be fitting lights to this model....but you never know ...
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    side shot showing the heat shrink across the cab door[​IMG]

    First drilling / cutting job was to drill a small hole for the capacitor wires to go into the coal bunker, plus adding a sleeve
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    Wires now in the bunker
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    capacitor just about fits in height, I will be able to drop it down a couple of mill once the two tags are bent over
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    The only option I could see for the speaker was this area between the axles, as there is a nice flat surface to mount the speaker on to and it finishes flush with the under side so should not cause any running problems
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    Speaker installed
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    Next cut a slot out of the brass inner frame to allow the main wiring loom access to the boiler
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    Capacitor soldered up and then I bent the two tags flat before insulating the whole lot and dropping it into the bunker

    [​IMG]

    Blue wire (+) will not be soldered until the decoder has been tested, programmed. If you solder it up at this point you will have trouble programming the decoder so I normally put a small plug on the wire so that the capacitor can be disconnected when ever I need to adjust cv's, but as there's not alot of room on this install it will be soldered at the end
    [​IMG]

    By making a slot and not a hole to pass the wire through, it gives you bit more wire length to work on the model. First attempt at reassembling the model proved that I needed to extend the motor wires by 25-30mm. The two purple wires are the speaker cables which again where lengthened. [​IMG]

    model re assembled, showing the decoder and the two sleeved wiring looms

    [​IMG]

    Out with the black paint. The coal bunkers will have a card top with coal added so that will hide the capacitor
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    With the roof on and viewed from normal distance I don't think its to obvious. Once the model is weathered and a crew added I think I can hide the wiring looms as well.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Apart from adjusting a few cv's she ran beautifully first go. The capacitor gives approx 3 seconds of power with the sound on, when removed from the track work.
    I will get a video up in the next week or so.
    http://www.click
     
  2. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice Kim
    Every one think bigger loco lots of space often not as bigger motor more visible detail etc.

    For the coal bunker cover try a foam insert with the coal on top easly removable and quick to make also breathable being foam.

    Link to one I prepared earlier.
    http://p1mrc.com/p1mrc/view_topic.php?id=1031&forum_id=14
     
  3. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice "how to" Kim, like Chris said, bigger loco doesn,t always mean more room, I have had the same problem with my Andrew Barclay and I have built that with the intention of DCC sound fitting, I am glad I read your post regarding wiring the stay alive before soldering mine up, I didn,t know about the cv adjustment probs with the capacitor fitted so cheers for that mate, the Tower Pug is a great looking loco, looking forward to the video :thumbup:.

    Cheers, Pete.
     
  4. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks Chris, will give it a go on the one side, might be a bit to thick on top of the capacitor.
    http://www.click
     
  5. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Well done Chris, looks quite a job!! I will not moan again about mounting stuff on an OO loco!!:)
    CheersRon
     
  6. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    A bit late for you, but conniseur models (Jim McGowan ) does a brass kit of a wagon based tender, often used on Scottish pugs Toto has one, I will post a link when I return home, down south on a training course.

    Paul
     
  7. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks Pete, looking forward to hearing and seeing your Barclay running as well....
    Paul...yes that was plan B to use a wagon like the one Toto has. I've done a few oo gauge models that way for people that wanted the larger capacitors installed with sound and many moons ago I did n gauge installs with all the equipment in a coach permanently coupled to the loco.
    Kim
     
  8. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    The Loco Depot wagon kit is in the rolling stock section under kits. It is like most of my kits yet unbuilt but if you want any info, photos etc, you only need to ask ...... :tophat:

    It is a nice little kit.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  9. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Kimbo,

    That`s a good solution to improving the running characteristics of your loco.

    Not much room to play with though.?????

    http://www.click:tophat:Gormo
     
  10. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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  11. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Great video and little engine Kimbo,

    When are you going to fit the smoke unit....or where would be a better question.??:avatar::avatar:

    http://www.click:tophat:Gormo
     
  12. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    nice one :thumbup:
     
  13. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    That was bob on Kim :thumbup:, you just need to give her some more throttle, the drivers were paid on productivity, they drove the poor little beggers hard :giggle:.
    Pete..
     
  14. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Terrific little loco and the sound is great. The sound fitting looked very tight but just shows what can be done. :thumbs:

    A great how too and nice video. Thanks for sharing.:thumbs:
     
  15. RALPH

    RALPH Full Member

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    A very, very nice Pug-er :avatar:.Well worth all the time and effort mate:tophat:
     
  16. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks for the comments and feedback chaps :thumbs:
    Crew, weathering and detailing next.
     
  17. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Sounds good Kim
    :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
     
  18. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Well a year has passed !!! where does the time go? Finally last week I've started to complete some of the rolling stock. The Pug had been weathered a few months back, then dry brushed with a few powders and finally a crew and some extra detailing added.


    Tools and oil cans from Ixion spares.

    Kim
     
    Rob Pulham and jakesdad13 like this.
  19. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Looks great Kim, well done, I love these little engines!

    Pete.
     

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