True Blast PLUS Sound

Sound great.  Thanks for sharing.  I haven't been keeping up with recent product releases, but am pleased to see WBB offering sounds other than whistle and bell.  I've got a few engines I might add sounds to while keeping them conventional.  Where did you buy the upgrade kits, and how might I find out what engines they make them for? I did a quick internet search and didn't find much.

You can find them on the Bachmann website. List price is $109.95 each.

Would be nice to find them cheaper, but they got 'em.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com...k7p51ca0rgp5kmqopjr0

Sean

I purchased mine from eBay and Trainworld.

Thanks - a lot more affordable at Trainworld.

http://www.trainworld.com/search/?q=true+blast+plus

Sean

Which sound kit did you order for the loco in your video?

When I went looking there were three choices.

1) GP30 - early EMD prime mover sounds, single note "tugboat" horn. I used this on the F3, F7 and E7.

2) RS-3 - Alco 244 engine sound, Leslie horn. I used this for the FA1.

3)  SD70 - EMD 710 prime mover with Nathan horn. I used this on the SD45.  Not a perfect match for the SD45's prototypical 645 power but the most apt of my three options.

Nice job Ralph, they look and sound great. 

WOW  I am really impressed! They do sound good. Thanks for sharing.

They sound great.  But I've got a Baldwin Shark to which I'd like to add sound.  Would any of the options listed by Ralph be suitable for a Baldwin?

the cheapest place to buy the new WBB sound boards is on this forum. 

look for Lantz Hobby Shop on the forum sponsor index page, under $60 each...

I added a second speaker to two of my FA-1 diesels, put the second speaker in the fuel tank. You get a new speaker with the upgrade sound kit. I spliced the two speaker wires together and have had no problems so far. The motor's are wired in series and with the new ALCO 244 sound board, I have cruise control with rpm level by just moving the throttle up or down. Half of my ABBA is done, working on the other half this weekend. I will have 8 motors and 8 speakers for less then the price of any mth or lionel ABBA set. No smoke or electro couplers, but plenty of pulling power for a nice long freight train that would look fantastic at trainstock 8.....

I have a complete reverse unit, sound board and speaker (plus all connectors) which I just removed from a WBB SD45.

I'm selling it for  $50.00 + shipping - email me on frankwyatt65@gmail.com if interested.

Hi Big Ralph

https://www.youtube.com/channe...k-id46iYIr4B5ruf3bKg

I have been watching your, You Tube Channel for years.  I always enjoy seeing what you are up too. Nice job in showing your viewers, Williams loco's with True Blast.  I have some Williams on my layout but they are pre "True Blast",  I may have to bring some True Blast to my layout in 2016.

Cheers from The Detroit and Mackinac Railway, "A Toy Train Layout"

DL&W Pete posted:

the cheapest place to buy the new WBB sound boards is on this forum. 

look for Lantz Hobby Shop on the forum sponsor index page, under $60 each...

I added a second speaker to two of my FA-1 diesels, put the second speaker in the fuel tank. You get a new speaker with the upgrade sound kit. I spliced the two speaker wires together and have had no problems so far. The motor's are wired in series and with the new ALCO 244 sound board, I have cruise control with rpm level by just moving the throttle up or down. Half of my ABBA is done, working on the other half this weekend. I will have 8 motors and 8 speakers for less then the price of any mth or lionel ABBA set. No smoke or electro couplers, but plenty of pulling power for a nice long freight train that would look fantastic at trainstock 8.....

Rats, I just had a small delivery from Lantz (I got to know them many years ago since I went to college near them but now they're my go-to for online purchases). Now I'll have to sneak another package past my wife.

Any recommendations on which sound board would be best for an NW-2?

Raising4daughters:

Of the available options, the early EMD kit would be best for your NW2.

Balshis:

You asked about Baldwin sounds for your Sharks. None of the present options listed are suitable. Your best bet at this point might be to wait as I'd tend to believe a Baldwin kit would be released at some point given the number of Williams Sharks which are out there.

Bob 

True Blast Plus is the best for accuracy.

While True blast plus sounds OK. For the $$ and options, its pretty expensive. I like the mrc ac sounder. It's cheaper and you get more EMD, ALCo, GE and Fm sound choices on one board along with choice of horn sound styles. You can pick up a board for $30.00-$35.00.add the $13.00 for the remote that will work with other ac sounders too (so you can access options) and if you want, a bigger 4ohm speaker for $2.00 and one is good to go!

CNJ 3676 posted:

Balshis:

You asked about Baldwin sounds for your Sharks. None of the present options listed are suitable. Your best bet at this point might be to wait as I'd tend to believe a Baldwin kit would be released at some point given the number of Williams Sharks which are out there.

Bob 

 

Okay, thanks.  That clears that up.

--John

Gentlemen,

     Had the True Blast II installed in my original Williams UP City of San Fan Years ago, if you have ever been on the Yough River Fly Fishing when the big Diesel Engines come thru pulling their rolling stock, and they set off a horn blast that sounds down thru the entire river, the Williams Tru Blast II is that exact sound.  I love it, fantastic stuff!

PCRR/Dave

I'm somewhat new to O gauge. My layout is controlled by DCS and Legacy remotes. I have heard the Willaims/Bachmann GP30 with True Blast Plus at a show layout that was run in conventional mode. Sounded nice, but it didn't sound like the ones in the video posted by Ralph M.

Still trying to figure out how to run conventional with my DCS remote. Does the Williams/Bachmann only run in conventional? Is it possible to upgrade the GP30 to TMCC without changing all the electronics?

I like the look and quality of the GP30, especially lettered in Great Northern and Burlington. Have held off getting one because of the above concerns.

Ray of Sunshine,

    Purchase Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion Vol II Book, if you are having trouble understanding how to operate your DCS in any mode what some ever.  I like to use the TR mode thru the side receiver of the Z 4000 when running Conventional, there is another way also, I will let you discover it in Barry's book.  I also recommend the OGR Video Guide to DCS, although a little dated now it's still a great visual DCS Video guide, especially for the beginner.  Melvin does an exceptional educational job on the video.

PCRR/Dave

Just for clarity - my video and this post is about True Blast "PLUS" not true blast or true blast II. This is a relatively new product.

@blashis - Here are actual Baldwin Shark sounds. A low speed their prime mover sounded like an out of balance washing machine(!).  If it were up to me I'd base my selection on the horn sound you want.

Nice work Ralph. I especially like the B&O FA's. I have a set of AAs and picked up a MTH Premiere B unit with the light gray trucks. Doesn't match but still looks good. Might have to look into one of these systems for it as I really don't like the stock Tru=Blast II at all...

For sharks and early Ge's, its the ALCo sound that's the closest as it gives off that gurgulling sound. 

Ralph,

Great stuff, thanks for posting this, I have been thinking about upgrading to True Blast Plus since you posted this.

Is the install 100% plug and play? I see in the product photo below, a new speaker with wires leading to a modular plug which goes to the new Sound board, I also see the new Sound board with wires to a modular plug which I am guessing goes to the oem mother board. Is that it?

And for a FM Train Master, would you go with the Alco RS3 sounds?

And EMD Genesis, EMD SD70 sounds?

Craig that system is plug and play if you put it in a new williams by bachmann engine with the newer reverse unit just plugs in but if not, You have to hook it up to power red and black wire in engine. 

Why not go for the ERR RailSounds Commander?  $84.95 and they offer great engine sounds as well as the horn and bell.  They also have a battery provision so the sound doesn't cut out on direction changes as an option.

Thanks for everyone's input...I just took the plunge.

I ordered several True Blast Plus upgrades from Trainworld, and took advantage of their weekend sale.

Will let you all know how it works out, the upgrades will be a good wintertime project.

I already have four of the newer WBB units: the PRR 44 tonner, the Anniversary Genesis, the Seaboard Also RS3, and the ACL GP30 which all came with True Blast Plus. So I am familiar with it,  and I am impressed with the sounds.

These new upgrades should improve the rest of my herd. I have used the Williams dummy upgrade kits a half a dozen times in the past to add two motors to my B units, I was always impressed with the well written instructions, simplicity of the install, and plug and play setup. 

PS I see the new GG1s are in the stores with True Blast Plus, hopefully upgrade kits will be released soon for my older GG1s and EP5s.

I just replaced True Blast II boards with True Blast Plus in my fleet. 

I now have 8 used True Blast II boards w/speakers, they feature a horn and bell, a plug and play upgrade, with just one plug.

I will sell them for $40 each plus shipping, either one at a time, or as many as you want, or all of them.

If interested email me at craignor1@me.com

Thanks

Folks, Question: Will the Williams True Blast plus units work/can be installed on older Williams F units? These AAs are from the Golden Memories series of years back.

John yes it will! Just hook the red wire to power and black wire to ground.   

chessie1971 posted:

John yes it will! Just hook the red wire to power and black wire to ground.   

Thanks, Chessie!

Has anybody hacked into this and figured a way to keep the sound going during change of direction?

Has anybody hacked into this and figured a way to keep the sound going during change of direction?

Save yourself the trouble and buy the ERR unit as the Gunrunner posted above... then buy Gunrunner's Your Last Battery board.

The TB-II boards are just a horn and a bell.  I suspect you could figure a way to add a supercap to maintain the sound, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. 

As far as doing that with the True Blast Plus, now you're into the price of the ERR RailSounds Commander that already has battery backup capability, so there seems little point in trying to hack that product.

Is the true blast plus horn locked into the grade crossing sequence like tbii or can you blow the horn a single time now?

thanks

Old thread but revived now. 

I  bought the Tru-Blast Plus to put in my Williams conventional B unit. The volume of the locomotive was extremely loud and the horn weak. It has a volume control but only made both quieter. I took it out and will be offering it up for sale when I get a chance. I was disappointed in it's offering after reading all the positive comments.