Bachmann Model 50201 SP 4449

[UnumProvident101]

I've been wondering if the railfan 4449 in ho scale has predrilled speaker holes or not because I looked at the bottom of the tender and I didn't see any

[Jerrys HO]

Sorry but I think you answered your own question there.

[richg]

I've been wondering if the railfan 4449 in ho scale has predrilled speaker holes or not because I looked at the bottom of the tender and I didn't see any

Obviously there are no predrilled holes. It should be obvious to you. lol

Rich

[Jerrys HO]

Looking at the diagram it appears to have holes in the tender. I could be wrong especially if you don't see any.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H502X-IS001.PDF


Jerry

[UnumProvident101]

I was not sure if it had any

[MilwaukeeRoadfan261]

If it is the 50201, it should have the holes pre-drilled for a speaker. I just doesn't have the recess for a speaker like the 2-8-4; Standard Line 2-8-0; ALCo 2-6-0, S-4, FA-2/FB-2, RS-3 (the DCC Ready versions); EMD GP7 and F7-a/F7-b (DCC Ready versions). I have the Bachmann 50201 SP 4449 myself and after I installed Soundtraxx it is one of my best performing engines (which is saying something because it was my first engine that I custom fitted with DCC sound every). You can really only see the holes on the underside of the tender if you are looking at the underside at the right angle.

[UnumProvident101]

Are the holes little? and it is the 50201 I have
I plan next time to install an soundtraxx decoder on it,
tsunami heavy steam

[Doneldon]

UP101-

Not to worry. Drilling speaker holes is not difficult in any way. You can choose any size and pattern that works.
The speakers don't care about any of that; sonically the holes are just holes. Just make sure you have a sealed
enclosure behind the speaker.
                                                   -- D

[MilwaukeeRoadfan261]

They are decent size for letting the sound out of the tender and into the air around the room. I personally, from experience, NOT recommend using the high base speakers as they are alittle taller than the space between the tender floor and the underside of the PC board. Stick with the 1" round speaker that Soundtraxx recommends.

[UnumProvident101]

For an couple of months I will not be putting an sound decoder in it
My dad just got my Bachmann Railfan 4449 fixed on Friday

[richg]

Couple different ideas for putting sound in the tender.

I use a thin layer of bath caulk around the rim of the speaker when putting the speaker on the floor

of the tender.http://www.garbo.org/MRR/2-8-0con.html

http://www.soundtraxx.com/documents/appnotes/bachmann280.pdf

I have put the speaker under the coal load on a Bachmann 4-6-0 that did not have a set of holes in the tender. I put the speaker in facing down, just under the coal load, as the sound will come out of the rear of the speaker also. Others have done this. Got the idea from Bruce who use to own a DCC company and now writes DCC articles on another forum. Below is a link to his site with lots of good DCC info and the Tsunami. There are many links. Take your time.

http://www.mrdccu.com/

With a pin vise and very tiny bit, I drilled a bunch of holes in the coal load and then covered the coal load with a thin layer of diluted white glue and coal dust.
This is model railroading. I just go with what works.

Rich

[UnumProvident101]

I was looking for information about an sound decoder for it and my dad has never installed one before

[richg]

I was looking for information about an sound decoder for it and my dad has never installed one before

You should have all the info you need in this thread. Adapt the suggestions to your loco.
Take your time studding everything, together, first. Make notes using something like paper and pencil as to what you should do.
As the old carpenter said, measure twice, cut once.

Rich

[UnumProvident101]

Thanks my dad plans to order an sound decoder for me

[richg]

Please read all.

Below is what SoundTraxx recommends for this loco.

GS4 4-8-4   TSU-1000 Heavy Steam   826103   810054/ 810110. Decoder, speaker, baffle.

Order the eight pin to 9 pin adapter. 810135    9-Pin JST to NMRA 8-Pin Wiring Harness
That way you only have to solder two wires to the speaker. Otherwise you have to solder seven wires to an eight pin plug. Some suggest a hardwire for Bachmann locos but I doubt you will want to do this.

Read all the below link on how to do this. Just in case you did not read one of the links I sent, you will see how easy this part is.

http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm

I have ordered all my parts from the below company many times.

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php

Rich