Updated Kato NW-2 Sound Install

[rhiadon]

I had been letting the idea of using detail parts to give more space for a decoder bounce around in my head for a while and finally decided to do something about it.

So the idea was to remove the grill from the top of the hood on the NW-2 to do away with the "super thick" plastic of the shell. Then I'd replace that plastic with etched metal louvers with rivet details. I took the time today to remove the molded plastic grill just to try a test fitting and see if my idea is sound.

Here's the results:
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This clears up just enough space for the ESU Loksound decoder to nestle right in there.

Now the next part that I've never done before, detail parts...

[MVW]

Watching with interest ... 

Jim

[jdcolombo]

Ingenious.  Where there's a will . . .

John C.

[cjm413]

Interesting idea - too bad UP didn't rebuild any NW2's into SW10's:



Rock Island had some NW1's that had their hoods raised when they were re-powered with 244's in place of the original Winton prime movers, but I can't find any online pictures.

[Cajonpassfan]

So where is the speaker, and what is it?
Otto

[mu26aeh]

So where is the speaker, and what is it?
Otto

Looks like he installed in in the cab

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37928.msg456859#msg456859

[tehachapifan]

Looks good! That's one snug fit! Looking forward to seeing and hearing the final result.

[rhiadon]

The speaker is indeed a sugar cube installed in the cab. The backup light is installed on a styrene pad on top of that speaker.

That is a video of the thing in action. All I've done since is to purchase a second NW-2 shell and do the cutout. So it'll sound exactly the same as this. Essentially, I'm just improving what I've already done because what I had was oh so close, but not close enough.

That video is the same thing without the shell so you can see where everything is installed. I've since abandoned this install because it was using a Soundtraxx Econami. While a perfectly good decoder, that giant electronic component caused issues so I switched to the ESU Loksound Select.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, that is so hot.

And I just bought a regular decoder for mine yesterday... doh!

[tehachapifan]

Oh man, that is so hot.

And I just bought a regular decoder for mine yesterday... doh!

Yeah, but rhiadon's install appears to be a massive undertaking. I'm probably going to wait for a smaller sound decoder before I ever attempt this one.

[jdcolombo]

Yeah, but rhiadon's install appears to be a massive undertaking. I'm probably going to wait for a smaller sound decoder before I ever attempt this one.

Yeah, I'm not even going to try this, and I own two of these locos.  But I certainly admire and appreciate the trail being blazed . . .

One day we'll look back on these threads and say something like "Remember the old days, when you had to mill frames by hand and engineer your own sound installs? Those guys were crazy!"

John C.

[Ken Ford]

Very impressive - have you considered posting a tutorial (if you haven't already?)

[rhiadon]

I thought I had posted a tutorial, but that may have just been in my mind. I know I took some pictures of the second unit that I started working on, but then Spring happened and I stalled out. Maybe I'll have some time to get working on it again soon.

Honestly, I didn't think any of the individual steps were that difficult. It does require milling of the frame, but that seemed pretty easy to me, and I've done barely any of this stuff before. I think with a rotary tool and a couple cutoff wheels, anyone with a little patience and courage can tackle this.

Keep in mind, it's not completely solved yet though. I still need to find some way to get some detail parts for louvers and rivets yet to replace the grill I remove from the top of the shell. That was the key aspect to making this thing fit.

If those of you interested want to help me out with some brain work to point me to some detail parts, that would be amazingly helpful. I've got our first baby on the way in 2 weeks, so I may not have much time for digging around for parts.

[rhiadon]

FYI, I found out that Archer Details has n scale louvers that might just work perfectly. They are cast resin on film that apply just like decals. Now the issue is finding out what the correct size of louvers I need for the NW-2. Is there a source of measurements like this?