Drop in module. RCS R/C + batteries and sound for a trail car.

[Tony Walsham]

I have just finished a drop in module for a 7/8"n2 trail car.

The module is made from sheet styrene and holds an RCS OMEGA-3 ESC + RX, 14.4 volts of AA ENELOOP batteries and a MyLocosound with Phoenix oval speaker.

One of my # BIK-TC2 installation kits provides the ON - OFF switch, Charge jack, Fuse and LED power on on indicator.
Wiring is really straightforward as the owner did not need separate headlight wiring to the (very old) LGB Stainz donor loco.

I used a MyLocosound voltage controlled chuffing steam sound with an R/C controlled whistle. The Phoenix oval speaker has lots of volume.

The old Stainz loco is smooth but very noisy. I think it might be an early sidewinder version as I have never seen a motor block like it. There are slots in the motor block top just behind the fire box and I can see a motor through them at the back. Not in the middle where you would normally see a motor.

 

[Zerogee]

Definitely an old "growler" gearbox, circa 1968-69 or so, if the motor is visible behind the rear axle. Personally I wouldn't have used one of these really old units as a gearbox donor for a project, but I guess the owner used what he had available. As long as you've got enough volume on the sound card to drown out the noise of the mechanism, it'll be OK!
Nice and compact unit you've built there.

Jon.

 

[Tony Walsham]

Hello Jon.
I have no idea where the owner got it or why he used the chassis until he came to pick it and the trail car up last weekend. The "growling" horrified him. He had not run it at all. Plus there was no way of ever getting into it to lubricate it. The "new" no roof cab body, was simply added to the motor block. Permanently. Beatifully done job I might add. Altogether a very nice looking model complimented by an equally nice scratchbuilt trail car.
Anyway, it actually ran very smoothly and the sound was sufficiently noisy to cover up most of the "growling".
BTW, he is a live steamer guy and will only probably ever run it now and then.