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Adding speaker to HO Model 40 Critter Journals/Blogs
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Active Member 31 posts wbmfishman Active Member 31 posts
wbmfishman

I recent purchased an Athearn HO EDM Model 40 critter.  A little gem. Only 11 i believe were built in the early 40's.  Installed an ESU Ver 5 Micro DCC decoder.  I first tried to add sound inside the cab. There was plenty of room for a sugar cube type speaker.  However it was very muted because the cab is sealed and there really are no openings in the frame or grills for sound to emit.. So it was back to the bench and ponder a solution.  I have an assortment of sugar cubes so I started looking for one to fit a space on the bottom of the gear box cover.  There was about 5 mm of depth. The sugar cube was 3.5mm  I believe.  Some creative wiring and boom. I now have sound that I am very happy with coming from under the locomotive.  This is a great little runner with a KA 4 added.

peaker_1.jpg 

peaker_2.jpg 

peaker_3.jpg 

Moderator note: made photos in-line. Click on photos for larger versions.
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 9,162 posts
jeffshultz

You're definitely more adventursome than me...

I only had room for a KAM-1 TCS non-sound decoder combined with a Keep Alive in the cab of my Model 40.

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Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix        My blog index
Superintendent, 2nd Division PNR, NMRA
Northwest Oregon/Southwest Washington
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Hobo Al Regular poster 282 posts
Hobo Al

Some learning moments for me

Thank you for posting this. I'm a fan of small diesel switchers, and, for some reason, was not aware of the EMD Model 40.

I also learned from you about the ESU Micro Decoders, which I'm thinking of putting into my Bachmann HO scale GE 44-tonner.

Finally, I remembered that ESU is located in Ulm, Germany, which is where I happened to be born!

A trifecta for me! Thanks again.
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railandsail Prolific poster 9,864 posts
railandsail

Trackmobile

I suppose this might also be used for the Broadway ltd trackmobile?

 

 

Brian

1) First Ideas: Help Designing Dbl-Deck Plan in Dedicated Shed

2) Next Idea: Another Interesting Trackplan to Consider

3) Final Plan: Trans-Continental Connector
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wbmfishman Active Member 31 posts
wbmfishman

Track mobile

Yes that is a project i am working on.  Have a ka-4 and sugar cube in the cab and the ESU V5 in the body.  Working on the LED head and tail lights and have installed a beacon so far. It can be done but you need a great deal of patience to accomplish.

 

Wayne
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wbmfishman Active Member 31 posts
wbmfishman

M- 40

I stripped everything out of the cab.  The existing motor and track leads are long enough to solder directly to the v5 ESU micro pads.  The 1k 1/4 watt resistors fit nicely under the hoods if you sneak them off to the top side. This little critter runs great.  Going to bring it to my club The Providence Northern Model Railroad, it will probably take an hour to make it around the layout.  Good break in opportunity.  It was originally a round house design before Athearn bought them out.

 

Wayne
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railandsail Prolific poster 9,864 posts
railandsail

Track mobile Thu, 2021-06-03

Quote:

Track mobile

Thu, 2021-06-03 09:57 — wbmfishman

Yes that is a project i am working on.  Have a ka-4 and sugar cube in the cab and the ESU V5 in the body.  Working on the LED head and tail lights and have installed a beacon so far. It can be done but you need a great deal of patience to accomplish.

Is that the trackmobile you are speaking of?

I have ended up finding 2 of them at a decent price. I don't need (or want) sound in them, but I would like the flashing ditch lights, and beacon lights like I saw on one on this forum I posted about. Also needs to be DCC and have keep-alive to get over my Peco insulog turnouts.

Would like to see details of your trackmobile install?

Brian

1) First Ideas: Help Designing Dbl-Deck Plan in Dedicated Shed

2) Next Idea: Another Interesting Trackplan to Consider

3) Final Plan: Trans-Continental Connector
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wbmfishman Active Member 31 posts
wbmfishman

Track Mobile In Progress

e%201(1).jpg e%202(1).jpg e%203(1).jpg e%204(1).jpg 

Lok sound ver. 4, sugar cube, KA4, Beacon on roof. Workng on the LED,s.   Soory if pictures are up side down this blog editor is not user friendly today. 
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railandsail Prolific poster 9,864 posts
railandsail

corrected image orientation, I was getting dizzy ...ha...ha

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Brian

1) First Ideas: Help Designing Dbl-Deck Plan in Dedicated Shed

2) Next Idea: Another Interesting Trackplan to Consider

3) Final Plan: Trans-Continental Connector
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kansaspacific1 Frequent poster 797 posts
kansaspacific1

Reversed

image(2).png 

Chuck

Read my blog
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wbmfishman Active Member 31 posts
wbmfishman

Track Mobile In Progress

Thanks for correcting the photos. Just couldn't figure it out when posting.

 

Wayne
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