Hi Group Members,
I have recently received an 8801 Blue Comet set from the 70's that has the mechanical sound of steam in it. It is very loud and can not be turned down. At least this is what I am guessing. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for getting a better sound in the engine. I am guessing this would be placed in the tender.
Thanks,
Jim
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Hi Jim,
I have one as well and I've tried different things over the last 30+ years. It is not mechanical, but actually an electronic board. If you unplug the tender from the locomotive you'll get no sound.
I tried to add an old Lionel air whistle to the adjacent baggage car, sometime back in the mid-80's. Didn't work so well.
For a time, I used a steam-sounds REA express box car. Not too bad.
Bought a digital dynamics sound unit before they went out of business and had LHS install it...they didn't know how to make it chuff. Had nice whistle and bell, but nothing else.
Now it is at a "real pro's place" for TMCC upgrade and to see what he can do!
Hi Group Members,
I have recently received an 8801 Blue Comet set from the 70's that has the mechanical sound of steam in it. It is very loud and can not be turned down. At least this is what I am guessing. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for getting a better sound in the engine. I am guessing this would be placed in the tender.
Thanks,
Jim
There is even a simpler way to get better sound. Take a PW 2046 W tender, take off the shell and replace it with your Blue Comet shell. You get a PW air whistle and an operating coupler. I have done this for years and my 70s Blue Comet is much more satisfying to run without the electronic static of the Mighty Sound of Steam.
Hold on to the original chassis if you ever want to sell the engine in its original state.
Using a Railsounds 2046W type tender is also a good idea, but it is a more expensive solution.
Ed Boyle
If you use Ed's idea, You will have to cut a square hole in the Comet shell, behind the coal load, like a original 2046 shell. If I remember the is no square hole for the whistle sound to escape on that shell, as MPC plugged it. If you want to deaden the sound a bit, you could always put a piece of cotton in front of the speaker.
I have been using these units for years.
Thanks
Pat
Try Dallee
AC Steam Sound
Unlike other sound systems playing pretend sounds we play the actual raw, pure, appropriate sounds from the real locomotive. Just like it's suppose to be. Operate your railroad locomotive with the correct sounds instead of the make believe sounds. While some Whistle's aren't very pleasing to be heard, they are indeed correct! Whistles are warning devices designed to get your attention, not something that is to be a pleasurable sound. More pleasing multi-chime whistles came into existence during the later years of passenger service. We also have them in the lineup. With our sound systems you can actually produce real Whistle play patterns to signal exactly what the locomotive action is going to be or signal for a grade crossing, station stop, or departing from the station. Play the real WHISTLE the way you want to. The Whistle will play as long as you request it to play, dips & all (whistle dependent). No canned play patterns here! Hear the real BELL operate. Hear the EXHAUST CHUFFS increase to your selected speed automatically or if you choose, correctly synchronized (optional feature). Listen for the BLOWERS, AIR PUMPS, and SAFETY VALVE while your locomotive is at rest under fire. The whistles are as pleasing or obnoxious as the real whistle. Don't forget, they were warning devices. More pleasing sounding whistles came about as passenger service evolved. The STEAM SOUND SYSTEM is available with different whistle types, we also change the other sounds, such as the bell or exhaust chuff, as appropriate for the type of locomotive that would use the selected whistle! Please refer to the following pages and the price schedule for present types available. These sound systems are designed and assembled in the U.S.A. offering long term reliability and support.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following sound units operate with standard Whistle/Bell control's:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hi Guys,
Thanks for your feedback. These are all good ideas. I looked at the Dallee option at York for some of my conventional diesels. It looks a little tricky to install, but the did sound great.
Thank you!
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
