Recommendations for First HO Steam Engine with Sound

[Russ]

I agree, great thread. Looking for help on future purchases.

My question would be of all out there who has the best detail and authenticity.

Thanks,

Russ

 

[dlobmwm3]

You didn't mention the price range or if that matters. If you want a medium priced loco, then the combo Jim mentioned is ideal. For more money, then the I go along with Alan and the BLI Paragons or Precision Craft Models. Regardless, I would stick with Tsunami, QSI, or Loksound sound decoders. (BTW Alan: My PCM's use Loksound decoders and I would rate them near the Tsunami and better than QSI.)

I guess my price range would be around 350 - 400. I am leaning toward a MTH loco due to the smoke .....WOW!

 

[Selector]

The smoke will quickly become an annoyance....I think....judging by what so many formerly enthusiastic members of forums here and there have reported. It will fill a room in just a few minutes with a haze, and that haze will condense on everything....tracks, around the stack, on your side rods and valve gear, on the tracks, on the trees, on the streets and little people, on the side rods and valve gear, on the tracks, and on the walls and light fixtures, on any painted backdrop, on your side rods and valves and on the tracks................oh yes, and on your engine and on the tracks. Did I forget anything?

I will admit to finding it an attracitve feature in view of its synch to the chuffs....very cool, but.....you have been cautioned.

A much more detailed engine will be the Proto 2000 Heritage engines. Head and shoulders above the MTH engines, and also more accurate in terms of all the dimensions of everything. In other words, it is more a model than any MTH HO product out there. My opinion, natch.

 

[lmackattack]

brass hands down has the detail but thats why they cost so much. for plastic its hard to say who has the best as some models have alot of details and others dont. Example is the blueline heavy mike..it has alot of molded on piping where some of there other Blueline steam models have seaprate pipes that were added on. I always add stuff to my models and weather them so I just look for the best deal around. I think the best advice is to go to a model railroad club,show or hobby shop to see what they look like in person. The last 2 engines I bought were only after I saw a fellow club member running them on the club layout. but thats just me. also check out some of the message fourms for each MFG

http://precision.zgraph.com/
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php

 

[dlobmwm3]

The smoke will quickly become an annoyance....I think....judging by what so many formerly enthusiastic members of forums here and there have reported. It will fill a room in just a few minutes with a haze, and that haze will condense on everything....tracks, around the stack, on your side rods and valve gear, on the tracks, on the trees, on the streets and little people, on the side rods and valve gear, on the tracks, and on the walls and light fixtures, on any painted backdrop, on your side rods and valves and on the tracks................oh yes, and on your engine and on the tracks. Did I forget anything?

I will admit to finding it an attracitve feature in view of its synch to the chuffs....very cool, but.....you have been cautioned.

A much more detailed engine will be the Proto 2000 Heritage engines. Head and shoulders above the MTH engines, and also more accurate in terms of all the dimensions of everything. In other words, it is more a model than any MTH HO product out there. My opinion, natch.

I did not think about that!!! I'm so glad you mentioned this. Thanks. I've got 2nd thoughts now.

 

[RexHea]

Rex, an even better deal then. One of the guys down here has the Bachmann Consolidation with a Tsunami and it sounds amazing. The decoder also seems to give much better motor control than the Bachmann standard DCC decoder. The Bachmann sound equipped Consolidation has a Soundtrax decoder and doesn't sound bad but you'll pay $170 for it compared to $155 for the non-sound Consolidation and a much better sound decoder, in addition to having a basic decoder left over to boot.

Jim, I'm surprised you didn't notice my Bachman 2-8-0 with my home installed Tsunami when you were here for the Op session(Grandeman was operating it.). Actually, I know you were busy trying to figure out my rat's nest . Yes, it is a great sound coming from the little guy. A big plus was the 2-8-0 had a slight jerk to it when I first bought it. With the Tsunami, I was able to tune it out and make it run smooth as silk and with a hardy voice .

 

[RexHea]

I agree, great thread. Looking for help on future purchases.

My question would be of all out there who has the best detail and authenticity.

Thanks,

Russ

Russ, I have a couple of Precision Craft Models (PCM), Y6bs, that have excellent detail, as do all their locos. Now these guys were very expensive MSRP at $699 each, but I bought mine on sale for < half that. Try to hit one of the sales that so many companies are having now. You will save a bundle.

 

[RexHea]

I did not think about that!!! I'm so glad you mentioned this. Thanks. I've got 2nd thoughts now.

Selector hit it in the nose: Don't go smoke, as tempting as it may be. I have never read anything good about it. FYI: Many manufactured locos have or had the capability for smoke:BLI, PCM, Lionel. The popularity is so low that most have stopped including this function.

 

[UP2CSX]

Rex, I never did notice that it was a 2-8-0 but I sure heard it. When a decoder makes enough noise that you can hear it in a room the size of yours, it's a pretty dran good decoder/speaker combination.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Spectrum has a contract with Soundtraxx for sound decoders. Its the mini-Tsunami that is being included with newer Bachmann engines. It doesn't have near the available sounds of a full size Tsunami, but it does have the "needed" ones.

 

[Espeefan]

Spectrum has a contract with Soundtraxx for sound decoders. Its the mini-Tsunami that is being included with newer Bachmann engines. It doesn't have near the available sounds of a full size Tsunami, but it does have the "needed" ones.

Ah, yes, called the "Psuedo-nami" in some circles. Same basic good sounds, less features. Adequate for the RTR stuff, but if you like to geek out on the decoder the TSI 1000's are the best.

 

[RexHea]

Spectrum has a contract with Soundtraxx for sound decoders. Its the mini-Tsunami that is being included with newer Bachmann engines. It doesn't have near the available sounds of a full size Tsunami, but it does have the "needed" ones.

Yeah, I've heard that it didn't have much in the way of sounds or programming capabilities. BUT: is it the Micro TSU-750 or a custom built decoder for Bachman? The Micro, 3/4 amp, TSU-750 (dime size) has most everything that the TSU-1000 has.

 

[mrBuddy]

I have Bachmann J-Class Spectrum engine with the "Tsunami" chip. It seems that 95% of the functionality is implemented in the Bachmann OEM version. The one thing that stands out to me as missing is Master Volume control. I just don't understand the logic behind this! You can still control individual effect levels, but not master. This means that I had to calculate and individually set relative levels just so that I can turn down the volume. Highly inconvenient and pointless limitation.

 

[Espeefan]

Yeah, I've heard that it didn't have much in the way of sounds or programming capabilities. BUT: is it the Micro TSU-750 or a custom built decoder for Bachman? The Micro, 3/4 amp, TSU-750 (dime size) has most everything that the TSU-1000 has.

Nope! The 750 is a full function decoder just like the 1000, only smaller. I've installed several for my friends with narrow gaute layouts. Nice but you have to be careful with mounting techniques...they have issues with heat! either add a supplemental heat sink to the flat side of the decoder, or (for brass models)use bathtub caulk and stick it to the metal chassis or tender shell.

 

[Espeefan]

I have Bachmann J-Class Spectrum engine with the "Tsunami" chip. It seems that 95% of the functionality is implemented in the Bachmann OEM version. The one thing that stands out to me as missing is Master Volume control. I just don't understand the logic behind this! You can still control individual effect levels, but not master. This means that I had to calculate and individually set relative levels just so that I can turn down the volume. Highly inconvenient and pointless limitation.

Not pointless, cheaper to manufacture and done per the buyers specifications no doubt! I bet there's no cam capability either.

 

[RexHea]

Nope! The 750 is a full function decoder just like the 1000, only smaller. I've installed several for my friends with narrow gaute layouts. Nice but you have to be careful with mounting techniques...they have issues with heat! either add a supplemental heat sink to the flat side of the decoder, or (for brass models)use bathtub caulk and stick it to the metal chassis or tender shell.

Thanks Alan. I didn't think that it was. The only thing I read it didn't have of the 1000, had to do with lighting. Didn't bother to read all of it. I wish they hadn't come out with it...I have several gooood places for a few.