A Command Controlled K-Line Plymouth Switcher With Sound

Nice!  Could the bell cable be the antenna?

@MartyE posted:

Nice!  Could the bell cable be the antenna?

I thought of that Marty, but it's so short that I was afraid I'd have issues with the TMCC signal.  The handrails are four or five times as much antenna, a much better bet.

I also thought the bell cord was the antenna. Pretty cool project! I bet it's a blast to zip around the layout.

Awesome GRJ

I've been contemplating doing that with my Plymouth.

What sound card did you use?

Nothing available really sounds like a Caterpillar engine to me ( which is one reason I haven't decided to do the project yet)

@BillYo414 posted:

I also thought the bell cord was the antenna. Pretty cool project! I bet it's a blast to zip around the layout.

It's good for a couple of boxcars, that's about it's limit going up the grades.  On the level track, it will haul half a dozen modern boxcars with low rolling resistance.

@John1361 posted:

Awesome GRJ

I've been contemplating doing that with my Plymouth.

What sound card did you use?

Nothing available really sounds like a Caterpillar engine to me ( which is one reason I haven't decided to do the project yet)

I used the Gasoline powered doodlebug ERR board, it's the closest thing to a small engine like this would have.  There are very limited options available.  I decided that sound that wasn't totally prototypical was way better than no sound.  I didn't want to do this without sound, that just adds a whole dimension!

I used the same sounds in my K-Line Speeder command upgrade.

very cool John. Gives me more projects to add to the list......Love to see a picture of the innards.

The grab bars on these are metal, had you considered just attaching a wire to them? Not sure if they would take solder though.

Oh... and where's the swinging bell...

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

very cool John. Gives me more projects to add to the list......Love to see a picture of the innards.

Well, I thought of the innards after I put it together.  After that exercise, I didn't feel like taking it apart again!

I will say the layout is pretty simple.  The MC2 is under the hood mounted to the top with foam tape.  I used the MC2 with the two incandescent light outputs so I could use all the existing lights.  I added a connector in addition to the MC2 connectors so that I could separate the hood from the rest of the body for maintenance.

The RSC is in the cab, it neatly fits behind the plastic cab shield if you take the plastic carrier off the board.  I managed to cram a small speaker in behind it and use the rear window opening as the grille opening.  The running lights were wired in series and directly to track power.

@RSJB18 posted:

The grab bars on these are metal, had you considered just attaching a wire to them? Not sure if they would take solder though.

The problem is the hangers are also metal, so they shorted them to the diecast chassis.  I needed some insulation in order for the handrails to work.

@RSJB18 posted:

Oh... and where's the swinging bell...

I got your swingin' bell!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, I thought of the innards after I put it together.  After that exercise, I didn't feel like taking it apart again!

I will say the layout is pretty simple.  The MC2 is under the hood mounted to the top with foam tape.  I used the MC2 with the two incandescent light outputs so I could use all the existing lights.  I added a connector in addition to the MC2 connectors so that I could separate the hood from the rest of the body for maintenance.

The RSC is in the cab, it neatly fits behind the plastic cab shield if you take the plastic carrier off the board.  I managed to cram a small speaker in behind it and use the rear window opening as the grille opening.  The running lights were wired in series and directly to track power.

The problem is the hangers are also metal, so they shorted them to the diecast chassis.  I needed some insulation in order for the handrails to work.

I got your swingin' bell!

Thanks John.....

thought you'd appreciate the bell comment (made with tongue firmly planted in cheek)

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks John.....

thought you'd appreciate the bell comment (made with tongue firmly planted in cheek)

I was pretty sure you weren't serious.

Amazing work as always, John!

You set the bar very high and make it fun to try to reach it!

I just love seeing how you can surgically insert the electronics in these small units!

Thanks for sharing!

Stan

Very, very nice.

Small units deserve to be able to do what the bigger ones can do.

Mike

Thanks, guys.  I do love the small motorized units, and having sound gives them a whole new dimension.

Nice work John.  It really does sound good too.

Hi nice job John and love the sound effects and lighting really cool!

Alan

Very nice John.  So Pat's smoke unit wasn't needed? 

Nice, now to two-rail one of those critters.

@coach joe posted:

Very nice John.  So Pat's smoke unit wasn't needed?

Nope, I was going to have to sacrifice the smoke unit anyway.  I'm thinking of trying to stuff a MiniCommander2 in one of my other ones and keeping the smoke unit, that would be cool.  However, I think the MC2 is just a bit too tall for the cab, which might doom that option to failure.

Great project John. Glad you were able to get it done and share it with us! The sound is great and you can really see the improved motion right away! Nice! Terry

Outstanding!!!!