Will WbB Make It Happen?

If it is available it may come at a premium price.

There is supposed to be an announcement in a couple of days to a couple of weeks at York PA meet this spring and then we will see just what WBB is going to do.

Before that announcement everything is just speculation and might never be done, so let's wait for Bachmann!!

One thing that I think might be gone in the Williams line are the unpowered diesel engines or dummies as a lot of people call them.

Lee Fritz

The new sound system, I was told at the Oct TCA meet, will plug in to the Tru Blast connector.  It will not be available for a while as they want to introduce it first in their new product.

Side Rod

I hope they provide a variety of prototype sounds. The old true sounds system was pretty good in its day. 

Dale H

I am certain it will be available to anyone who wants to pay for it.  Time and personal opinion for each of us will tell if it meets our needs and we jump in.  Frankly, Lionel has set a pretty high bear lately with the sound even on its conventional locos (the 0-4-0 Shifter for example, is truly awesome for such a little tyke) - I will have to see/hear what it sounds like, what other changes they make to the details and features of their highest-end locos, and of course, the price.  Personally I think WBB is in a difficult position to grab my business: between where they are now and the prices one can find for Lionel and MTH locos with good sound, there is only a bit of room for them to raise their price enough to cover new, added features like better sound, and still offer a discount versus the other guys to cover any "why you and not them?" questions I might have. 

I will be very interested in just what their best is when it comes out and will likely get one just to see and hear.

When they first announced the product LAST YEAR at spring York they indicated that it would eventually be available for separate sale like the TB2 boards.  Maybe they will have an update on pricing/availabilty this year.

The sounds on the new GP30 are pretty good quality if a little short on volume. Horn, bell, and prime mover are evident. Not sure about other background sounds with the short audition I had. Someone wanting an upgrade from TBll can get the sound board from Lionel used in their Conventional Classic engines. You will only get horn or whistle plus bell but the quality is very good and replacement is very easy.

Pete

I have one of their NEW GP30's. The only comment I have is the SOUND could be louder and The "RAMP UP" on the Prime Mover Sounds could "RAMP UP" at lower voltages. In other words when operating the Engine at True Layout Speeds (where the voltage is relatively low) The RPM's never get above idle. Other than that it is a beautiful Engine for the price!! I ran it the other day on our Club Layout for 4 hours straight and it was hardly warm!!  

FREDSTRAINS

try putting a diode string in series to the motor from the reverse board. You may get it to ramp up then as it is most likely voltage dependent. Diodes shown here

http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/Bl...=488&categoryId=

Dale H

Dale,

What is the purpose of the diode string?  And I assume this is done in conjunction with series wiring of the motors?

Dale H.

Will take a good look at that and try it!!

Thanks,

Fred

The diode string is a voltage dropper which drops voltage about 2-3 additional volts between the E unit and motor. So on the first rung of the throttle say 6 volts the motor will get 3 volts less than it did before. This lag remains as the throttle is increased. This  means at any given speed the headlamp,smoke unit sound unit rev for diesel in this case will have 3 more volts.

It is even possible to stall a loco and leave the lights on.

Dropping voltage with diodes is explained here,it takes advantage of the property of common diodes which drop voltage when current is passed through them by .6 to .7 volts.

www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowT...=413&categoryId=

The string is installed between the Reverse unit and one of the motor leads in series with it. It works with single or dual motored units.

It has an advantage over series wiring of dual motors in that voltage distribution is always even between 2 motors. So using the diode string the motors are left in parallel.

Please click on the previous post link which explains the construction.

Dale H

A little off the subject but I am still waiting to see a dealer advertising the WBB GP30 ACL version as being in stock.  Anybody got one yet?

Ray, I sent you an email about your Walthers trucks, the same place has the WBB ACL GP30 listed.