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.

Trainbuilder N class on the bench.

    I purchased this Trainbuilder N class oil burning steam locomotive, N 431, back in September 2020 and then it was sent to me via DCCSound to have a LokSound V5.0 micro decoder and speaker installed in the tender. It has been stored since that time, but now with a functional work bench setup in the layout shed I have finally been able to get the loco active and do some decoder and running tests on the rolling road.

    I did my usual things like quieten down the sound a little and also dim the lights right down.

    Image of the lights as delivered.

    And then the lights dulled down with setting them via JMRI and the function outputs with a value of 3. And the rear head and marker lights below, got the same treatment.

    N 431 running at speed on the rolling road under test. I had to take the brake rigging off and adjust some of the 'pads' as they could contact the wheels and cause very rapid shorts. I thought I had some images of the brake rigging removed, but I cannot find them now. Here is a still from a video showing the area that was shorting.

    Now this was not happening all the time, just erratic enough to be a nuisance. Anyhow, removing the brake rigging and giving it a slight adjustment before refitting has eliminated this issue now. So, below is a photo and then a video of the motion running on the rolling road now fully spark free!

    Video from my ewechube channel below: