irishthump

37 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

The bulk of the 201s were withdrawn in 1984/5/6, so presumably shortly after that.

Thanks for that JHB!

Guys,

Anybody have a timeline for when the 121's were fitted with the EMD 645 engines taken from the withdrawn class 201's?

Trying to decide which engine would be most appropriate for my Supertrain 121's!

6 hours ago, NIR said:

That's one good-looking locomotive.

The full width cab body really does look the part!

Reminds me of another one of my favourite European locomotives, the mighty M62.

Terrible news. Didn't know him personally but I know his face from the exhibitions. RIP.

Couple of interesting videos of the Serbian Class 666 trundling about it's business. The loco is an EMD JT22CW, mechanically identical to the 071.

22 hours ago, WRENNEIRE said:

From the horses mouth:

As you know I will have dedicated chips for my forthcoming Class 121 loco. Details as follows. Note that catalogue numbers for the sound chips are different to those already advised.

MM0006 Class 121 DCC    SRP €36.95

MM0567 Class 121 DCC sound chip  SRP €125.00   EMD 8-567CR NT

MM0645 Class 121 DCC sound chip  SRP €125.00   EMD 8-645E NT 

The software for these chips is designed, in conjunction with the PCB, specifically for the Class 121 loco. This software will not be available on any website. It has not been tested on my Class 141/181 locos and there is no claim on my part that it will operate in the required manner. Users do so at their own risk. A full list of functions will be available on my website in due course.  The usual CVs will be variable as necessary.

WARNING  People who use 3^rd party chips do so at their risk. There is no warranty on any damage that may arise.

There are 2 removable parts on the top of the loco. The smaller one allows for access to 6 switches to operate the lights as appropriate in DC mode. For DCC they should all be in the on position. The larger aperture allows for the fitting of DCC chips.  As a result of the foregoing, there is absolutely no need to open up the loco. Doing so risks damage, which may be expensive to repair.    

Note that the IP of these chips is the sole property of Murphy Models. The information supplied can be used by authorised dealers in the normal course of trade.

All chips will be available first half of June.  Modellers who heard early sound samples were very impressed.  

Stay safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know you might not have the answers to these questions but I'll ask anyway!

1) Are the decoders definitely being produced by ESU?

2) Any idea who is producing the actual soundfile for the sound decoders?

3) Did PM actual obtain new sound recordings of the engine types in question?

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Interesting, NIR.

The late Tony O'Shaughnessy had an interest that few knew of in Scandanavian railways and he sent me some vid clips some years ago of Norwegian GMs. They sounded EXACTLY like a 141 to me, but didn't look remotely like a typical EMD product. Any idea what they were? I've long since deleted the clips.

Yeah these locos use the same EMD 567 engine as the 141/121's. Except it's the larger 16 cylinder version as opposed to the 8 cylinder one in the 141/121's. But the sound is almost indistinguishable!

Thanks for the replies,  lads.

Not in a rush for the order, I was just worried in case Des had shut down for the duration of the lockdown!

Lads,

Do you know if Des at SSM is taking orders at the moment? I emailed him the other day but no reply as of yet...

2 hours ago, Noel said:

Oh that looks very nice Graham. Any photo of the pickups? Looks the part and very CIE. It well exceeds the 2ft rule.

The pickups are a simple set up. Phosphor bronze strips glued to a styrene block fixed  under the chassis.

Scratch built (ish) CIE break van....

A combination of a Dapol kit, some styrene,  And an old Hornby break van.

I also added leds for the long side lights and added a keep alive circuit to prevent flickering. Power is provided by bronze strip pickups on all 4 wheels.

The old Hornby chassis makes it sit a tad high but I can live with that. Overall it’s not particularly accurate but it’ll certainly pass the 3 foot rule!

Just need some decals are weathering to help disguise the flaws....

14 minutes ago, murrayec said:

This stuff I had in stock which I bought as a job lot of various thickness off RPM who were selling off O'Sullivans Art Supply stock when they closed down a few years back, but I have used polyfoam board from Build4less, which one has to buy in a pack of several 1200x600 sheets at about €80.00 for 50mm, they do different thickness also. When compared to what O'Sullivans used to charge for one sheet of 'Art Foam' it is really good value and a lifetime supply!

https://www.build4less.ie/catalogsearch/result/index/?ajaxcatalog=true&&q=Roof+insulation+board

Eoin

Thanks Eoin.

Yeah I normally use the yellow insulation board but it can't be cut with a hot wire cutter and the surface can be quiet pitted.

@Eoin

Where do you source the blue insulation foam? I've been looking for it for ages and couldn't find it!

26 minutes ago, Drew said:

I didn't see a response to Leslie's question on the actual driving motors.  I did see HEP responses.  Maybe I gave up scrolling too soon. 

Also, apart from Marks Models, can I ask for a list of who else on this island will be selling the 121s please?  I don't trust Paddy's site being up to date.     Based upon a few comments which I fully agree with, I'll be cancelling my order for 3 from Hattons. 

 

 

The Brush traction motors were proven to be reliable so they were left on the A and C classes. The prime movers were replaced and some electrical equipment was updated such as the generators which I think received new windings.

10 minutes ago, Georgeconna said:

I must admit the baby GM sound is absoluty fab stuff, Just love it!! Creaking layout too!

 

Ive just started programming my own locos with the various ESU files that are now available. There's a great variety, I hope to post a video or two soon but be warned my layout is nowhere near as pretty as NIRCLASS80's!!!

1 hour ago, Noel said:

Hi Graham, I just got delivery of an LokProgrmmer on your recommendation but it will probably be the winter months before I get around to playing with it proper and the steep learning curve to do anything useful with it. WheelTappers can do remote decoder re-blows for customers who have one. Going to experiment and try things like doppler effect, distance loco sounds, etc. More rail gadgets to play with. Choo-Choo. Got a great price from ModelBahnShop-Lippe in germany, postage was only €3.90 so its good bye from me to the UK online rip off merchants and their extortionate prices of all things DCC.

Most projects have upwards of 20 functions but I tend to use only 8 most of the time.

• Prime mover - engine noise
• Horn short + long distant
• Lights
• Braking noise
• Flange squeal
• Guards whistle
• Rail clank
• Buffer clash

Rarely use all the other obscure stuff like shovelling coal, or compressor fans, etc. I don't think I could go back to driving a model loco without sound. Planning to experiment with static layout noises using an old tablet hooked up to a PC speaker (eg ambient noises, station bustle, traffic, birds, station announcements) and just play them in a loop (eg from edited mp3 files).

Noel

I guarantee you wont look back after getting the Lokprogrammer!

I fully agree about the prices from UK suppliers. Even the blank decoders have a crazy mark up compared to buying from Modelbahnne Lippe and the like.

BTW building your own sound templates is something that has a learning curve but simply loading downloadable files and tweaking the sounds can be learned in an afternoon, it really is that simple.

32 minutes ago, Dhu Varren said:

If you are into working with the Lokprogrammer, it is quite a simple matter to add Drive Hold, Coast and Brake functions to The ESU sound files for the 071 and 201. It is simply a matter of finding an FT fitted American loco with similar running characteristics to the 071 or 201, opening the program, opening sound slot 1, and deleting the contents completely. Any other unwanted sounds can also be deleted. Then open the 071 or 201 sound file alongside the now empty American loco program, and copy and paste the entire 071 or 201 sound slot 1 from the 071 or 201 program into the empty program, and Robert is your uncle. Then copy other sounds like horns etc and insert them where they need to go. All my 071/111s and 201s are running with downloaded ESU programs, but with Full Throttle features. It is worth trying, as you can always reprogram the decoder with the original ESU program if you are not happy with the results, or you screw up the transfer. 

That's exactly what I do with my own locos. I just use the 071 or 201 file as a template and drop in the different engine sound, simple.

ESU recently added the 8cyl versions of the EMD 567 and 645 engines to their library. Both perfect for 141/181/121's. They even have different versions so you can vary them across your locos.

On ‎4‎/‎8‎/‎2020 at 2:15 PM, WRENNEIRE said:

Just recalled a conversation with PM about the forthcoming 121 sound chips
They will be made exclusively for him, 2 chips being produced for the different motors.
Around 24 functions if I remember correctly
Sound files will not be available on the ESU website, they are PM's property
I am sure he told me loads more and if I remember it I will update here
Stay safe people!
 

The only thing I'd be worried about is who PM gets to create the soundfile. A lot of Loksound files created for European locos don't take advantage of the new features on the decoders. Functions like the Drive Hold and Coast features are not used at all in the files produced for the likes of Roco and Piko. Only the US manufacturers make use of them, understandable as they were developed because Soundtraxx were way ahead of them in that regard.

To be honest I'll hold off buying the decoders until we get a demo of them.....

14 hours ago, Noel said:

I converted most of my GMs to LokSound, but I have a soft spot for the Zimo 'Real Drive' mode. It has genuine coasting. If I get a 141 up to scale 70mph with a 4 coach train but zero the throttle she will coast 3 or 4 laps of the layout (ie 200ft) and need the application of brakes to stop her (ie just like the prototype). The Zimo is my favourite to drive but the LokSound projects sound better. Both can simulate trashing starting off with a heavy train, but the Zimo project sounds a bit tinny compared to the proper guttural EMD. The Zimo was actually recorded off a live Irish 141 but it wasn't a great sample to record and doesn't sound the best. The LokSound is using stock US EMD 567 and EMD 645 engine prime mover recordings which sound more like Irish GMs. The latest LokSound projects I have from WheelTappers have some customised features I like:

• Cascading coupling snatch at start (ie simulating a trains of loose coupled wagons taking up the slack as 3 link couplings become in tension)
• Cascading buffer clash when stopping (ie simulating an unbaked train of loose coupled 2 axle wagons buffering up one wagon at a time in compression)
• Rail joint clank - speed dependant
• Flange screech/squeal
• Long distant horn (ie sounds like a GM 1/2 mile away)
• Short horn used in shunting
• Coupling and uncoupling sequences armed automatic for stop

The coasting on the LokSound V5 chips is much improved over the V4 and actually requires braking to stop the train at the right spot. LokSound v Zimo in terms of hardware is like splitting hairs, but the projects available on LokSound seem to have better recordings for the baby GMs inc 121. I've had the daft walkway foot steps sequence removed when direction is changed. This was a total nuisance when shunting rapidly needing to change direction. 

I haven't tried the V5 yet but I had heard that they addressed the problem with acc/dec on their decoders which was long overdue. They also introduced a feature where you can simulate a heavy train or running light engine. This can be assigned to a function key of your choice.

To be honest a lot of those bespoke sounds are very gimmicky and are only of use in some specific circumstances. Its not hard to create them yourself with the Lokprogrammer but I haven't had the time to jump down that rabbit hole! All credit to the likes of wheeltappers but they're not exactly reinventing the wheel with their sound projects as the vast majority of the sound files needed are free to download.

12 hours ago, NIRCLASS80 said:

I must admit I set up the sound decoder functions to suit my own preference as I found that there was a lot of sound options not used. So mine are simply as follows.

F0 - Marker lights and light master switch

F1 - Engine start up / shutdown 

F2 - Horn

F3 - Drive Hold

F4 - Main headlight (F0 must be on as well)

F5 - Coupling sound effect

F6 - Rear Lights (F0 must be on as well)

F7- Coasting

F8 - Cablights

F9 - Guards Whistle

F10 - Rail squeal

I can’t be bothered with anything else. 

Yeah I do the same. This is the reason I think the Lokprogrammer is just essential, it allows you to map the functions to your own specs without having to rely on another supplier to do it for you.

53 minutes ago, NIRCLASS80 said:

The 201’s are fitted with a Loksound Select.  These decoders came in Canadian models that I purchased over the years and I just swapped them between the locos. They have all the functionality of any Loksound for lights etc but you can’t edit the sound files so no horn sound!

 

Yeah but I think the Loksounds drive better than any other brand of decoder. The throttle to motor sound response is terrific and the drive hold and coast features are so much fun.

Great videos! What decoders are you using in the 201's?

Mark,

The decoder in the link will work for any of the currently available Murphy locos. It also comes prewired with a speaker so it will be perfect for the 141/181's. You can remover the speaker cradle in the 141 and fix the sugar cube speaker in it's place, those speakers sound a little batter than the regular 20X10mm speaker that the cradle is made for. Or alternatively  disconnect the speaker wires from the decoder and solder them to the speaker terminals on the PCP.

If you're using that decoder in the 071 or 201 simply remove the speaker from the decoder.

30 minutes ago, Noel said:

Nice job. Are they no 5's?

They're the whisker equivalent of the no. 5

158 I think. I'd have used 146's but there was no room to get the draft box to sit against the buffer beam as the pipework was in the way.

@mmie353

Ah ok, I didn't realise you were based in the states. From what I gather the Loksound Select is the standard decoder that the US market seems to have settled on, so the 21 pin decoder is very hard to source on your side of the pond! Also, I believe that as soon as the V5 was released retailers pretty much pulled stock of the V4's so they're near impossible to get anywhere. For the 141/181 you could use the 8 pin decoder if available and get an adaptor plate as you don't need as many lighting functions.

There's an excellent ESU discussion group - https://groups.io/g/Loksound  Matt Herman who runs the US side of ESU retail checks in there regularly and you can put questions directly to him. The group is also great for general advice on programming and installation.

This is where I buy my decoders - https://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/Digital+_sp_+Digital+boxes/Digital/gb/liste.html?spur=H0&hersteller=ESU&grup=Decoder+with+sound

They deliver stateside if you're interested. Or maybe get them delivered to relative in Ireland if you get the chance to visit home, delev

I asked Fran myself about the possibility of the soundfile being available separately, but it was early days so he couldn't tell me. Like yourself, I'd be happy to pay for the file.