Shell Swap to get a GP-40 Alaska with DCC/sound

[rbryce1]

I have some Bachmann GP-40's in the Alaska line but not with sound.  Since this is 50% Bachmann, I think it's OK to ask ... since Bachmann does not make a GP-40 with sound but does make a GP-40 in the Alaska line without sound, and I have found GP-40's with sound from Broadway Limited, but not in the Alaska line, has anyone tried to put a Bachmann GP-40  shell on a Broadway Limited DCC w/ Sound Chassis?  Hoping since they are both GP-40's and most mfg's are fairly similar, it may be easier to do this than to adapt the Bachmann GP-40 chassis to include sound.

[ACY]

The easiest solution to this problem is either to repaint the Broadway Limited locomotive shell if you are good with paint and decals or to take a Bachmann locomotive with the Alaska shell and hardwire a microtsunami (or other small) sound decoder into the locomotive and select a small speaker and baffle. I have a Broadway Limited SD40 and a Bachmann SD40 and swapping the shells would require a great deal of modification to the interior components and the shells including milling and relocating of components.

Hopefully you are a good painter as that is the easiest solution for most modelers probably since they have a lot of experience painting and decaling models.

[rbryce1]

Discussed this with my local train store (H&R Trains, PInellas Park, FL) and Dave the train expert said the frames are not compatable even with a lot of work as they are different widths.  I bought a very thin speaker and will try to mill out some of the metal frame under the fuel tank to hold the speaker.  The speaker I got is about 1/16" of an inch thick and probably will not require much metal removal.  Dave has a new sound board that will work also.  Hopefully, this will convert the Bachman GP40 to sound.

[bapguy]

Go to the search button and enter sound install bapguy user. Scroll down to adding sound to dcc. I think it's the 12 entry. I posted a photo of my sound install in my GP35. Since the top of the frames are similar this might work for you. I used a 1/2" speaker with an enclose.  Joe