Quick Look Inside the Vision Reefers

Don't feel too bad, when I put mine on the track, someone asked me about the operation of the volume control.  So, I opened the hatch, then another, and finally all of them.  No volume control!  WAIT, I see it flopping around inside.  The post it's on is apparently a compression fit, but for some reason, mine isn't clamped, and it's free to rotate on the post.  I was able to flop it around and access it, but clearly that will have to come apart to fix that.

 

The sucker is certainly loud, so there will be no issue hearing it on the layout, that's for sure.  My second set arrived, so with 30 reefers interspersed with the two sound cars and maybe a couple of my custom sound cars, I should have enough sound for my train.

 

Good to know.

Thanks for taking the time to post and with pics!

 

Dave

Is the shell for the sound equipped car different from the others?  I had hoped to swap shells and now I wonder if that will be possible.

 

thanks

 

GRJ I am ready to buy your sound car kit!!!!

I didn't take the shell off the non-sound one, but it looks to be exactly the same mounting.  Since nothing is connected to the shell except the antenna, I think they are identical.  It shouldn't be any issue to swap shells.

 

 

Sinclair and GRJ

Well, reading about your quality control problems makes my coupler problem seem petty!

 

Sinclair, thanks for the suggested coupler fix. I'll try that.  Mine was uncoupling on O-54 curves.

Bob

They are the same cars as previous runs, and the shell mounts to the floor the same as all the others. Then only difference is the sound system and pick ups on the trucks. They even use the same Kadee mounting pad that Mario prints

I also had one of the center steps fall off, but it wasn't broken, so I glued it back on, it should be there for the long haul now.  I'd check the little detail bits, as it appears they may have been in a hurry with the glue.

 

I'm glad my volume control was in place. And yes they are loud, maybe even louder than the VL BBs.  I almost think it has more sound steps/levels then the BB does as it seems as I pushed the volume up button in train mode it ding at least once more then the BB did.  Guess Lionel wanted to make sure you heard it over the other sounds.  I do wish Lionel offered more sound cars, even as single cars.  Pity I came late to this scale in the hobby, as I'd love to have the tank cars and stock car.

On the good news front, my prototype sound board with the RF control is working now, so maybe you can build a few of your own.

 

I've been following your progress and can't wait!

I also had the loose piece of clear plastic in mine - think it will be ok without going in and putting it back in place?

If the board is loose, a zip-tie will solve the problem.

 

There are metal screws under where the PCBA goes, and that plastic piece keeps the bottom of the board from touching those screws and shorting out.  I wouldn't (didn't) chance it personally, but it is up to you.

No loose boards in mine, I fixed the loose volume control, a rubber grommet and a spacing washer tightened it up on the post.  It looks like they glued them to the posts, not a very secure method as there was plenty of slop in the fit.  If you push down on the volume control, I'm guessing more people will see loose volume controls.  In my case, I didn't have to push down, it was already loose.  Easy fix, and so far the only issue.  The consist is really awesome with the two VL-PFE sound cars and my prototype sound car all running together.  It is certainly one noisy consist!

 

Just like a real train GRJ

Maybe a little noisier, at least in "scale" noise.

 

The problem with the design seems to be this: when the wire connector leading to the sound board is plugged into the PCB, it interferes with one of the plastic tabs that holds the PCB in place.  So careless assembly breaks off one of the plastic tabs, leaving the PCB to come loose during shipping.

 

I opened mine up and replaced the insulating sheet.  Even with one of the retaining tabs broken, I think the PCB will stay put during normal use.

 

Those truck screws are indeed kind of a b----.

I found that holding the truck up and getting the screw through with a magnetic screwdriver was best, then I just held it in the hole and lowered it onto the post and secured it.  I hope that it's the last time it has to come apart.

 

Probably a dumb question, but what is the program/run switch for on these cars? Can you turn the sounds off with Legacy?

Sinclair,

 

Great thread, and great info !!!!!!!

 

Thanks for posting,

Alex

What happened to QC with this particular item?

Yes, you can turn the sounds off with Legacy, the MIN/MAX and PGM/RUN switches are on the bottom.  The only thing in the shell is the antenna & volume control, though the volume bracket appears to be glued to a standoff that is removable.

Yes, you assign it an ID with TMCC or Legacy remote and you can control individual groups of sounds:  Banging/creaking, Flange squeal, Flat wheel, and crew talk.  You can also add it to a consist ("Train") and access the controls using the Train Link button in Legacy.  The sounds are quite impressive, the crew talk, not so much.

Bob

One thing I liked is that for those that bought more than one set, you can set them all to the same TMCC ID, and then switch all but one to min, and still get good sounds.  At least that's what the manual says.  I hope this means Lionel is planning on releasing more of these in either different road numbers or road names so that we can have long noisy trains.

I fooled around with that exact scenario with my two, it was pretty neat.

 

I also had the loose piece of clear plastic in mine

Mine too. odd??

I thought half the point of Vision Line was great quality control. This is some pretty shoddy work and QC.

I think you're right about that Will, the QC doesn't look to be the greatest on these.  I've glued several of the steps back on, they press in under the doors, but it looks like they didn't bother to glue them, so they just fall out!  Of course, there's the volume control I had to fix.  My other volume control doesn't flop around, but it's all the way to the edge of the hatch, I can barely get the screwdriver into the slot.

 

On the plus side, they have operated properly and sound great!

 

 

Let's see - on a single car, I had snapped tabs and loose pieces rattling around, steps falling off, loose volume control, and couplers popping open.

 

Nothing I can't fix, so I'm not riled. But definitely the worst QC I've experienced in a Lionel product.

John,

 

Agreed on the QC.  My sound car has something rattling back and forth, I cringed when I heard it...thinking here we go again...back to Lionel.  Fortunately, however, I have not had any operating issues...thus I shall defer to the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  

 

 

 

Michael

 

 

 

Way late jumping on the bandwagon for these, should have preordered but MSRP (at a LHS that had one magically appear on their website) is over $100 less than the current auction going rate.

 

At any rate, I had the exact same problem with the loose piece of plastic and loose board.

 

Thanks to this thread I knew exactly what to do. In put the piece of lexan back into the base of the "board holder" and snapped the board back into place. I bent one of the metal clips outward a bit to make this easier. I also plugged the antenna back in as well.

 

If you have a decent magnetic philips screwdriver this repair is a snap, much easier than say, replacing a smoke unit fan.

 

I removed the truck screws moved the trucks back slightly , then the two recessed screws that hold the body on. Flip the whole thing over while holding the trucks in place, then remove the shell.

 

Bottom line, great info on this thread! Thanks sinclair!

 

Now if Lionel would release more of these in eastern roadnames.