Digital Sound

The world of digital operation holds huge potential for realistic model railway operation. In this section we will show you how to install sound decoders into locomotives big and small across 'OO', 'O' and 'N' gauge as well as revealing more about the abilities of this control system in future features author by Mike Wild and Paul Chetter.

Digital Sound modelling guides

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Bachmann 'J72' 0-6-0T sound installation

Bachmann’s recently released, newly designed ‘J72’ 0-6-0T model reveals its advanced internal features to PAUL CHETTER as he installs sound and stay alive capacitors.

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Narrow gauge sound

PAUL CHETTER explains how he fitted sound to ‘OO9’ narrow gauge model locomotives from Bachmann and Heljan revealing how a model’s basic design can greatly influence the ease with which this can be achieved.

Oxford Rail N7 Feature Premium

Oxford ‘N7’ sound

The chunky lines of the Great Eastern ‘N7’ 0-6-2Ts are hard to resist. MIKE WILD completes his GER collection by installing sound in Oxford Rail’s new BR black model of Stratford allocated 69612.

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Sound for the 48DS

The brand-new Ruston 48DS might be tiny, but it can still be equipped with digital sound by choosing the right components. PAUL CHETTER describes how the much admired and tiny 48DS can be transformed for digital operation.

Flying Scotsman sound installation guide Feature Premium

FLYING SCOTSMAN DIGITAL SOUND WITH ZIMO

The National Collection’s famous Gresley ‘A3’ became a must-have addition to the roster for our modern era layout, West Coast Cement. MIKE WILD explains how he installed a Zimo sound decoder, stay alive, speaker and firebox flicker into the popular Hornby ‘Pacific’.

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Making Class 37s’GROWL’

The English Electric Type 3 is one of the most popular diesel locomotives and it has been the subject of many models over the years. MIKE WILD tackles the Bachmann and ViTrains ‘OO’ models in this double sound installation.

Upscaling to ‘O’ gauge

Changing from ‘OO’ to ‘O’ gauge is much simpler than it used to be with an increasing range of motive power and greater consideration to digital control and sound. MIKE WILD opens up the Heljan Class 05 for ‘O’ gauge and shows how it can be enhanced with sound quickly and simply.

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Southern push-pull

You can recreate the famous Southern Region push-pull trains for the Bournemouth-Weymouth section of the LSWR main line from London with a simple sound project using a new LokSound sound file pairing from Legomanbiffo and DC Kits. MIKE WILD installs the decoders into a Heljan Class 33/1 and a Kernow 4-TC unit.