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g-pa1 · ‎05-25-2006

I just received a shrink wrapped brochure from Precision Craft. There steamers look to be (especially in HO and their brass stuff) extremely well detailed. On their website they state that the N scale steamers where to come out in the later part of 05. Does anyone know what the hold up is and when they will actually be available? My understanding is that we will be able to order them with sound and DCC decoder already installed or is it just the sound decoder already installed? Gene

g-pa1 · ‎05-25-2006

That should have read were" to come out - on the other hand maybe my proof reader made a freudian slip! Gene

ginzokid · ‎05-25-2006

All I know is what I read in the ads Gene. And if there is sound, there should also be DCC control. It's all part of the same system usually. What does their web site say? B-) & :x

g-pa1 · ‎05-25-2006

Pete, Here is a link to the N Scale steamer It states Locsound DC/DCC. It really does not state that the Locsound decoder is also a DCC decoder. I've emailed the company but have yet to get a reply. http://precisioncraftmodels.com/PRR-M1a-b-4-8-2,-N-c3087.html Gene

ginzokid · ‎05-26-2006

Gene, Locsound is DCC. Trust me on this. It also runs on DC with a special add-on to a standard power pack to utilize some of the sounds. DCC is the better way to go though as you get the full range of sound and motive control. The DC/DCC notation simply means the loco will run either way. Hope that clears it up for you. B-) & :x

ginzokid · ‎05-26-2006

PS: Think about this. DC motors do not have decoders to control them. If a loco has a decoder it is for DCC control. It would make no sense to have the loco motivate on DC and the sound on DCC, both at the same time. Too confusing that way. One decoder does it all. Does that help? CF

g-pa1 · ‎05-26-2006

Pete, Thanks for clearing up another mystery for me. I do know that ther are decoders just for sound that people with DCC layouts can add to their locos and I did see tht add on for sound from DC loco's in the Precision Craft ads so I was thinking that the Locsound decoder was only for sound and another decoder would be needed for DCC. It looks as though the N Scale steamer from PC would be the way to go to get into DCC. I would also have to get a Loco with DCC for the Super Chief. (Kato has a DCC ready F7 that goes with the Super Chief set) and then put the two passenger trains on the long main. Do you think that a NCE powercab would be able to control two loco's with sound? or would a higher output be necessary? Gene

ginzokid · ‎05-26-2006

Gene, Per the attached link, the NCE Powercab can operate up to 4 N scale locos. It doesn't matter if they have sound or not. The beauty of this starter system is that it can be updated easily to the Pro that I have which will operate at least 99 locos at once, but your fingers would be really busy trying to keep up with that many. :^O Check it out. http://www.ncedcc.com/ncetest/nce2.htm B-) & :x

ginzokid · ‎05-27-2006

Gene, I just read a review of a Precision Craft loco on O Scale magazine. The point being that the reviewer used the PC "DC Master" add-on to control the horn, lights and motor sounds with a DC power pack to great satisfaction. In other words, you can buy the DCC equipped loco and run it with DC and still control some of the sound with the "DC Master" add-on. Retail is $40. So if you don't want to jump right in with DCC, you can still enjoy some of the sound features in DC. B-) & :x

g-pa1 · ‎05-27-2006

That's a great possibility and then when I decide to go for DCC it will also be available. Gene

flaretired · ‎05-27-2006

I cannot find any prices on these new loco's. Since my LHS is now out of business the closest one to me is in Orlando assuming they carry them. My LHS is still listed at the Precision web site even though they have been out of business for months. Chuck 🙂

ginzokid · ‎05-27-2006

Here's one link: http://www.internettrains.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc? Here's another: http://www.4nscale.com/products.asp?m=82&t=196 These are only the steam locos, but from there you can search the store for the diesels. B-) & :x