Lifelike SW9 Loksound installation (N scale)

[peteski]

Prices are there in euros.

Duh!  my No-Script addon was blocking the external site which shows the prices.   

So the price (excluding shipping) are in the ballpark of the Bachmann prices.

[Jim Starbuck]

Thanks for the link.
Looks like some potentially useful motors.
Tha 7mm lists for 17.50 euro which converts to $19.90 so comparable to Bachmann’s.
You would still need some kind of mount and the B-Mann part worked well for this build.
I also explored using dual 6mm single shaft gear motors but that got complicated quickly.

[craigolio1]

I would be willing to bet (without any actual knowledge of either motor) that the German ones are better quality but you make a good point about the cradle. Probably better just to get the Bachman.

I was considering adapting your method here for use in the Briggs S13s that I’m building as I would LOVE to have that chortling Alco Sound in my switchers. However I measured the decoder. It’s too wide for the shells and neither can be safely modified.

So I have to shelf the idea for now. Maybe ESU will make a smaller decoder one day. Or since I’m running mine as a pair maybe I can make a dummy sound loco.

Anyway this is an awesome thread and I vote it be made a “Best Of”. It opens doors for so many possibilities with these and other loco with space issues, and I feel like it’s a modification that one could pull off without being a master of the hobby.

Craig

[Jim Starbuck]

Craig,

Would the ESU decoder that Atlas uses in their S2 be a viable option for your S13?
I know it’s not available as a separate part but maybe some creative swapping could yield one.
Buy a sound equipped S2, harvest the decoder and resell the engine as DC.
It’s a lot of mousing around and investment but you would have the only sound equipped S13 around.

[craigolio1]

Jim, I never thought of that. Sound would be right and in therory could fit. That’s a very good idea.

Is the S2 equipped with a unique decoder that’s not available in the aftermarket?

Craig.

[peteski]

Jim, I never thought of that. Sound would be right and in therory could fit. That’s a very good idea.

Is the S2 equipped with a unique decoder that’s not available in the aftermarket?

Craig.

Yes it is.
Here it is (the blue board) next to the regular ESU 73199 decoder.

[philippe.whyte]

I'm following this with great interest since I need to do my two S-13's also and will do whatever I need to do to make them sound equipped.  Peteski, would you be so kind as to provide dimensions for the S-2 decoder that you have there? Unless that's a photo you just found online...?  Looks to be about the same width as the 73199.

[craigolio1]

Phillipe,

With the S13 we have the unfortunate circumstance of the plastic printed chassis and separate weight. The decoder would go where the majority of the weight is which would mean removing most the weight. This would be detrimental to the performance of the loco.

Craig

[Steveruger45]

I'm following this with great interest since I need to do my two S-13's also and will do whatever I need to do to make them sound equipped.  Peteski, would you be so kind as to provide dimensions for the S-2 decoder that you have there? Unless that's a photo you just found online...?  Looks to be about the same width as the 73199.

I don’t have one to measure but from Pete’s photo the S2 decoder looks to be about 10mm shorter that would put it at about 56mm long.   Sure wish ESU would re-visit this decoder for a similar new issue for retail sale.

[tehachapifan]

...Sure wish ESU would re-visit this decoder for a similar new issue for retail sale.

Ditto

[philippe.whyte]

Phillipe,

With the S13 we have the unfortunate circumstance of the plastic printed chassis and separate weight. The decoder would go where the majority of the weight is which would mean removing most the weight. This would be detrimental to the performance of the loco.

Craig

I hear what you are saying Craig.  I'm wondering if it is possible to add enough weight elsewhere on the model (fuel tank, cab, battery boxes, etc.) to make it work without the kit supplied weight.

I don’t have one to measure but from Pete’s photo the S2 decoder looks to be about 10mm shorter that would put it at about 56mm long.   Sure wish ESU would re-visit this decoder for a similar new issue for retail sale.

I would have to agree!

[Steveruger45]

Of course there is the Zimo MX660 sound decoder. But I’d rather ESU made something similar so I could still use my lokprogrammer, tester etc.

[peteski]

I'm following this with great interest since I need to do my two S-13's also and will do whatever I need to do to make them sound equipped.  Peteski, would you be so kind as to provide dimensions for the S-2 decoder that you have there? Unless that's a photo you just found online...?  Looks to be about the same width as the 73199.

It does appear to be the same width as the 731899. It is my photo (taken some time ago) but I didn't measure the S2 decoder (since it is not available in retail).  I'll have to get my S2 apart and measure it.  Will take me few days to get to it (unless someone else beats me to it). 

[craigolio1]

Of course there is the Zimo MX660 sound decoder. But I’d rather ESU made something similar so I could still use my lokprogrammer, tester etc.

I just read up on the Zimo MX660. It looks like a very well thought out decoder.

[philippe.whyte]

I found a post from 2015 on TrainBoard by John Colombo regarding the Altas S-2.  He measured the decoder and it is 8.25 mm wide by approximately 50 mm long.  So that appears to be more or less the same width as the LokSound Select Direct Micro and about 16 mm shorter.  The ESU website lists the Select Direct Micro as 8.2 mm wide x 66 mm long x 4.5 mm thick.