Actually my nephew, but he has the EZ Command DCC system. I was hoping for a plug and play system since I thought that HO scale would be alot more advanced in electronics Technology than G Gauge.

I am a mechanic by trade so soldering and installing a wire harness is no big deal, I was worried about the horros of chopping the wiring up completely to do a install which is what you have to do in G Scale sometimes along with adding and wiring diodes or resistors.

Quote from: Doneldon on January 01, 2013, 03:52:53 AM
emd-

I'm guessing that you mean that your grandson has an EZ Command DCC system but I hope he has the Dynamis. The latter system is significantly more powerful and offers full DCC programming capability as well as access to more sound and light features.

Your loco isn't plug-n-play. I have to say that I love Milw261's statement that your loco will be plug-n-play if you install the plug-n-play. That's kind of like saying an apple and an orange are just alike except the orange. (Milw261 -- no offense but I did enjoy the way you cast a positive light on this.)

Don't be discourages about having to install the wiring harness. It's not a big deal.

                                                                                                                               -- D

Thanx for the DCC link and help. I'm not DCC savy at all and I can learn the basics and even apply them to G Gauge.

I thought HO scale would be more advanced in DCC and Plug N Play technology. G Gauge is a mess and will always be a mess since nothing is standardized. Aristocraft currently is the only G Scale manufacturer who sells locomotives with true plug and play operations but you have to buy a proprietary control system much like MTH Gauge 1 which isn't true DCC but DCS instead. USA Trains G scale teamed up with AireWire and they offer "Repolacement Boards" with plugs for remote throtte control, sound and battery power. But again all plugs are proprietary to certain name brand systems. I will be happy the day comes when G finally has standardized plugs.

Quote from: Kevin Strong on December 30, 2012, 01:51:47 PM

I think that's shifted dramatically in the past 15 years. 1:20.3 has a very strong following for narrow gauge enthusiasts, as does 1:29 for the standard gauge guys. LGB is but a shadow of its former self in terms of market influence, and we're seeing other signs of change. Bachmann, for its part, is very good about stating the scale of their Spectrum line. Accucraft has different "brands" for its 1:20.3, 1:29, and 1:32 product lines. And others (Aristo, USA, Hartland) are now very good about stating the scale in their advertisements.) So there's definitely manufacturer-driven compartmentalization going on today that wasn't there last go-round. Maybe it is time to revive an old idea whose time may have finally come...

Later,

K

1:20.3 definately has a strong following for narrow gauge. For "Mainline Opreations" 1:32 scale is more correct for running on Gauge #1 track to simulate standard gauge. However, I am a 1:29 scale person myself so it seems like there is always a battle between 1:29 scale vs 1:32 scale running mainline standard gauge. There is definately alot more choices in 1:29 scale for running standard gauge. Yes both USA Trains and Aristocraft now stamp the scale ratio on their boxes. USA Trains has done this since 2007. Aristocraft has done this in the last couple of years. Some people consider 1:29 scale to be in a league of it's own in G Gauge.

For me stamping the scale ratio on G Gauge trains would be no different than die-cast model manufacturers which stamp scale ratios on their model vehicles. It keeps it more simple than LS or G or G29. I like 1:29 Scale stamped on the box better.

Just my own 2 cents and opinion

Hi to All,

I am a G Scale person myself but my nephew likes HO Scale. He recieved a Bachmann DCC-Equipped GS4 4-8-4 & Tender with Operating Headlight last year for Christmas and then got the Bachmann DCC Command System. All is working well but now wants to add sound.

Is there a "Plug and Play" sound system available for this particular locomotive? Since he has the Bachmann DCC Command System and the loco is already DCC equuipped I wondered if Bachmann offers a sound decoder that will simply plug into the system without any major wiring.

Please remember, this is for my nephew who is only 13 so the more simple we can keep the sound options the better off we are plus I need the sound decoder to work with the Bachmann DCC command system.

Thanx in Advance