Auscision first run V/Line N class decoder install.

    It has been a bit of time between posts, account problems and some health recovery has seen several work fronts come to a stand, which are only now starting to get back into seeing some action.

    The V/Line N class HO scale model was released by Auscision back in late 2010 with a pre-delivery price of $275 and an after delivery price of $295. A re-run is due very soon which also now includes built in sound, with the pre-order for DC still at $295 and DCC sound at $425 and includes a couple of extra liveries.

    Back in 2010 the models were only 'DCC Ready' with a motherboard and an 8 pin socket for a decoder to be installed, but the markers were operated with the headlights.

    

    I chose to install an ESU LokSound V5 58420 decoder in both my conversions along with the DCCSound sound project file and some DCCSound speakers. I also installed a homemade keep alive which slides in between the radiator grills inside the hood body. Hard wiring was chosen to allow the separation of the marker lights from the headlights.

    DCCSound have an easy to follow guide on the install process which can be found on their webpage at: https://www.dccsound.com/post/n-class-by-auscision

    First up, which such an old, never opened model, the poor quality plastic wrap had deteriorated quite badly and was also stuck to the plastic body of the models in several spots.

The poor quality plastic film which the model comes wrapped in, it has been cocooned in this for nearly 15 years.

    Here the warp has stuck to the hood around the exhaust outlet and needs a bit of effort to release it.

    

On one model it also stuck to both sides of the fuel tank, I am still mucking around trying to remove it.

    With the body removed and the cabs now free, the motherboard is removed, I also removed both crew from each cab, and the wiring replaced on the bogie pickups and decoder wired direct to the motor.

    Also the keep alive series connected super caps were slid into the hood with the radiator grill panels providing some support.

    The green and red wires, in the red rectangle, were for the headlight switch and will be used to switch the keep alive on and off to allow programming via a programming track. The DCCSound speaker is also installed at the No.1 end.

    Bogie stripped down to allow the replacement of the track pickup wires to run back to the decoder.

    Above image shows No. 1 end cab refitted and lighting now wired across the top of the speaker  which is wired 'in phase' with the decoder sitting on top of the motor plate. The green and red headlight switch wires are used to switch the keep alive which is soldered onto the uncovered pads on the top left of the decoder. The No. 2 end was completed in a similar fashion.

    My two first run N class units are now equipped to operate with the newer additions to the N class roster when the re-run models arrive, some time in October 2025.

Trainorama SAR 930 class gets a sound decoder.

    A second run Trainorama 930 class unit, 930, in South Australian Railways maroon and silver with the reflective side panels. These second run models were delivered in September 2021 for $250 per locomotive and were provided with a DCC ready 21 pin motherboard.

    With the body removed, we remove the original speakers, dummy plug and of course the crew, but only from one end as 930 is a single ended unit.

The void at the rear of the loco where the No.2 driving position would be is a good size for a homemade stay alive with six super caps.

    With the original speakers removed, a DCCSound speaker with dual drivers is installed at the No.1 end behind the driving cab and wired to the motherboard speaker pads.

    Underneath there is a three pole switch, one of the poles is modified to allow the switching of the keep alive and an extra wire is fed down through the chassis to connect the U+ from the decoder for the stay alive. This allows for the isolation of the stay alive to allow programming of the deocder.

Speakers installed, decoder fitted and stay alive in the rear held in place with a blob of hot glue.

    On the programming track being configured and then tested.