PAUL CHETTER describes how to add an invisible sound installation to Hornby’s diminutive Sentinel 4wDM industrial locomotive.
HORNBY'S SENTINEL has had an impact amongst British outline modellers far in excess of its physical size. It was the first really serious attempt by a major manufacturer to produce a scale model of a prototype designed specifically for industrial use in 'OO' gauge.
For such uses the priorities were to be able to negotiate tight curves, run on uneven track, be turned on wagon turntables and traverse temporarily laid track common in open cast coal and ironstone workings. These design parameters resulted in short wheelbase, compact locomotives with gearing to provide good low speed tractive effort. Maximum speeds of 15-20mph were typical.
The wagons in the photograph give a good indication of the size of the prototype and this model. It is against these dimensional challenges I set out to add DCC sound to bring ESSO liveried Sentinel 4wDM Cattewater to life.
