Auscision's 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.

CLP and CLF class units arrive at Glenorchy to Murtoa.

Auscision Models deliver their CLP and CLF variants.

Well after 1293 days from placing my order for two CLP and two CLF class models they arrived via Australia Post on February 4, 2025. That is three years, six months and two weeks [13 days]. The order form stated the following year, 2022, from when the order was placed on July 22, 2021. There was a tooling model photo on the order form. This is nowhere near the longest pre-order by a model company.

Looking at the model, I am unsure exactly what is going on here with the piping on the left-hand side of the cab, see the red circle below.

Prototype images so it slightly different.

I guess I can glue these up, or something similar, but it does droop and sit outside the line of the locomotive.

The below image shows CLP 17 with the pipe sitting 'out'.

The CLF models have the same issue.

Anyhow, I made a video of some changes I did to the ESU LokSound V5.0 DCC sound decoder that is fitted to these models. The models I pre-ordered were CLP-1-S, CLP-2-S, CLF-1-S and CLF-2-S.

The video is on you tube and can be found at this link:

Auscision CLF class model ESU decoder light and sound mods.

I might do a separate post with some screen shots of the JMRI pages showing the settings. Let me think about it.

Time to pull the finger out!

With twelve brand new Auscision C class units arriving during the week, and a further two still in transit I really need to get a wriggle on and get this train room up and barking.

The C class has been coming since 2018, I ordered my first batch of eight units back in January 2018. Then ordered a further four in January 2021. And the final unit in July 2022.

I have also ordered the unannounced C 510 in VR livery, model number C-24, following them being put up on the website.

All are DCC with sound. The preordered units were $395 each and the unannounced unit was $465.

These fourteen units will supplement the two Broad Gauge Models all brass C class units, one in V/Line and one in VR liveries. These brass build units date from 1988 and were sold for $595 each back in those days.

So, I have started prepping the inside of the shed for the lining to be done. Sealing the slab to the air cell to reduce the ingress of dust, water and crawlies. And taping the air cell joins. Once this is done then the internal lining and insulation can be undertaken.

Auscision G and BL class models arrive.

The Auscision HO scale G and BL class models were arrived here in Port Hedland on the 16th of March.

The three models I ordered back on the 17th of September 2020 were all sound equipped, being G 512, G 513 and G 514. I also purchased two BL class models, again both are sound equipped being BL 28 and BL 31 which were ordered on the 19th of August 2020.

I should have them on the test track being assigned their DCC addresses during the next week, fingers crossed.

I also have to upload some older blog posts which will also, hopefully, happen during this week.