Friends with machines

I am also in the process of adding sound and decoders to a fleet. I am planning one sound unit per consist.

Adding space for a speaker is the biggest issue most of the time. Ive found space in the cab for smaller speakers.

If you have friends with a milling machine they can mill the frames for you. For smaller jobs you can also use a drill press and a clamp.

Its a great time for modelers wanting sound, several companies offering affordable products.

I have several of the Soundtraxx and the Digitrax SDH decoders, it brings the layout to life.

Dummy engines

Why not turn one engine into a dummy carrying a larger speaker and the sound unit? You can always use the motor in another unit that doesn't run well.

Bernd

Sound in Dummy Engines

I have done this with an Athearn F7 A-B set.  With decent results. 

The F7A has a regular Digitrax decoder and the F7B has a Digitrax Soundbug (no motor).

I need quite a few switchers which I run as sets and have considered taking the motor out of one of the units and putting a Soundbug decoder in the dummy unit.  The problem goes back to cost with a Soundbug decoder costing about $45.

I have paired a non sound MP15 with my Atlas QSI MP15 and it is difficult to tell which unit is producing the sound.  I have quite a few Athearn BB SW1200 and SW1500 units that I had planned to turn into yard slugs with a sound bug.  I would not need to mill the frames, but would have to scratch build the slug cabs.

Its hard to argue with RTR

Many of today's RTR models are hard to surpass. They have the important details applied separately, the paint is more crisp and opaque than even a nice custom paint job and decals can achieve and there are often hard to find parts such as the speaker housing weight used in Atlas locos included with those that have sound installed.

So... although I plan on installing sound in my non-sound units, I am always on the hunt for RTR sound equipped units at a good price. In fact, the only reason I will buy non-sound equipped units into the future is because I just can not pass up the deal....

If one believes sound is out of his/her financial reach, just set up an appropriate budget and stick to it. Even, if it involves only one unit per year, it is still possible to have a nice fleet in a short time. Besides, the more common sound becomes, the more options and likely cheaper it all will become. There is really no difference between the sound equipped units and other technology products.

Interesting

that someone with the skill to do his own installations finds the total cost pushing RTR. If you added in the value of the time it took you will find it higher yet.

I do not have the skill so add the cost of the DC loco, decoder with sound, then the installation costs and you are higher than RTR.

On the other hand if the loco is not available with DCC and sound you may have to bite the bullet and shell out the dinero.

A bit off topic, I attended a clinic recently about realistic sound. The presenter suggested the loco be barely heard at six feet. I tried it and do agree, especially if there is more then one. Use JMRI to adjust the sound.

Sound instalation

I like the technical challenge of the sound installation, even if i need to mill the frame. I find these tasks as enjoyable as layout construction. I agree it ends up costing more than RTR, but i like doing it anyway. My latest project was a Deutsche Reichsbahn BR 18.6 steamer 20 years old Lilliput made in Austria that received an ESU loksound 4. It still needs some tweaking and those locos ARE maintenance intensive (every time i run 'em i have to take 'em apart and inspect the worm gear and so on) but my father loved it and it was a moment I'll treasure forever when he blew the whistle for the first time... These loco belonged to my grandfather so there is something emotional about updating those relics.

Only downside is finding suitable speakers... In Brasil...