Here's a short iPhone video I shot during an operating session in December, 2019. That's Kirk Jr. dispatching, recorded using the phone's internal microphone. After this I switched to an external Shure MV88 external stereo microphone for better bass and stereo sound.
The Overland Alco C425 in scene 2 has a Loksound V4L decoder, a Tang Band T1-1925S speaker module, and 24 LEDs. The TB modules all have an active 4 Ohm speaker and a passive radiator for more bass. To manage all the lighting circuits, a 10 conductor ribbon cable runs from an next-to-the-decoder circuit board to 2 more circuit boards, one behind the cab, and the other just in front of the radiator air intake grills. That cable has a 10 pin IDC connector in the middle to allow the shell to separate from the chassis, where the decoder is mounted.
At the start of that scene, there is a flash as the C425 slows for a joint. The location is Linnwood a/k/a the rain room, where there is a perpetual thunderstorm and where we spot cars when told to put them where "the sun don't shine."
The P&D ABA F3s also have V4L decoders and 2" high-bass speakers. When running multiple engines in MU, it is important to program the prime mover and dynamic brake playback speeds to be a few % different. That way they sound like 3 individual units instead of one decoder driving 3 speakers. In future F3 builds, I intend to install
larger TB T1-1828SD modules. Firing up through the dynamic brake air intake and exhaust grills, I will need to machine a hole through the brass frame and part of the Pittman motor mount with the bass passive radiator firing down at the track.
Hope you enjoy the show.
