The LGB MTS Digital starter kit, includes a small steam engine, and a small diesel.

I figured, what's the point in having an engine, if it doesn't make any sound.

So, on the advice of Al at AC Trains, I picked up a couple of Phoenix Sound systems for them.

Phoenix was picked, because of the detail level, and the fact that you can fully customize the setup from a PC after the fact.

Al didn't believe that the install was possible, given the small size of the engine chassis... but I like a challenge.

Both were successful, and here's the harder of the two, the diesel. (sorry about the large pics, I want you to be able to see the details)

Notes:

• power taken from the LGB board. (blow up image on the lower left) there are solder pads, unused on the main board in the engine, that are direct pickup from the track. perfect for this install. LGB has some pins on the board labelled "sound", but without knowing what sort of custom LGB pinout that might be, best to use main power.
• the speaker is hard to see, but it's in there on an angle, to make it fit, and has been boxed in, to enclose it's backside. (cardboard and hotmelt glue) This enclosing of the speaker, is ALWAYS important, to make any size speaker sound anyway decent
• the board is hot melt glued to the inside of the engine area roof.
• battery next to it

• sound level, and communications cable, pass through into the driver's cab area. (ignore the extra hole on the left, my first spot didn't work out)

• a better view of the speaker and card, installed.
• everything just clears the mainboard, on re-assembly.
• the only caveat, is that LGB had a tiny little extra circuit board in there, screwed to the lead weight, just to join two exterior lighting wires together... it was a waste of space, and was in the way... so I just joined the wires with two solder splices, as seen here in the mid-lower-left.

• from the cab side, this is what the communications cable connection, and the volume switch look like. (not bad at all)
• you can move the lever up or down with a small finger through the window, and can pass the comms cable in, through the window on the opposite side.

I did have to shave the lead weight, just a bit near the front of the engine, during assembly, to allow the wires from the speaker to clear... but that's about it.

All in all, a tight fit, but it works, and sounds great for such a little engine.

When done, I downloaded my choice of sound into it, configured it, and off she went down the track, humming her little diesel tune.

The sound, given that the speaker is not exposed, is surprisingly good.

Any questions? Feel free to email me. andrew [at] bienhaus [dot] org.

Last Updated: 2006-02-12 02:48:19 PM -0500