Stan Ames brought his new CLIMAX to our meeting today.
This unit had the DDC and Sound unit from the factory.
I used a Zimo unit to run it.
Axel Tilman from "Train-li-usa "brought the "ZIMO "
Slow speed was awsome , forward and backwords no diff!
Light on or off, bell, whistles a short whistle or long!
Sound was good.
Nice unit!
I’m hoping that Bachmann sells just the trucks so I can get my older unit running again ( cover doesn’t fit tight any more so piston slips or will not turn)
Sorry no pics!
Sean
Sean-
Is the “older” version clearly identified? What should be looked for to know the “new” version is being bought?
Thanks.
Wendell
Metal Gearing!!!
You know I didn’t check if the cover was any diff__HHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
Look for the extensions on the coal bunker to accommodate the electronics that plug into the socket–or the coal will have been replaced with an oil bunker depending on the version/user’s preference. Also, the coupler pockets are different. Larger, and swappable for truck or body-mounted couplers.
Later,
K
While surfing another forum site, I came upon a video of the new Climax posted by a B’mann ‘ambassador’. I know that I am not going deaf, but with volume turned full on, I could hardly hear the loco chuff. I know that the Tsunami is low on output (less than 1 watt), but placing an indoor ‘h.o.’ decoder in an outdoor largescale loco is not an efficient method of gaining optimum sound level outdoors. Locomotive looks great, but level of sound output was deplorable. This is not a criticism of the poster or B’mann, but when are Soundtraxx going to understand that ‘h.o.’ sound decoders do not work outdoors? Also, Soundtraxx are building to B’mann specifications and while the Climax will supposedly take 24 volts (3-truck Shay only 21 volts), optimum voltage is apparently 18 volts. I believed that most DCC circuits operated on voltages greater than 18 volts!
I have an original series 2 Climax and am not convinced that another will be purchased. Biggest problem with me is the exclusivity of the decoder to Bachmann. If the decoder was available aftermarket from Soundtraxx then I may consider a new Climax. Long term reliability on an expensive locomotive is paramount to me and should failure occur in the electronics, then I need to be assured that I do not have to ship the loco Stateside for repairs.
Tim, you can’t rely on YouTube for any indication as to how things sound in real life. I assume I was watching the same video as you were. The chuff sounded low, but it could very easily have been the camera or editing that made it so. Most shots looked very compressed, so the camera was probably 15’ or so away from the loco. A built in mic on a camera isn’t going to pick up squat at that distance. Or, it could have been something as simple as the volume on the sound system being turned down. Too many variables in play to comment without seeing/hearing one in the flesh. (I’ve seen, I’ve not heard.) My old Sierra systems kick out a healthy bit of volume at 14 volts input, so I have to give them the benefit of the doubt that the system in this loco is capable of more than what’s reflected in that video. I’ve not seen the specs, but I’d be surprised if they just dropped an HO decoder in this loco without any additional amplification for outdoors.
If you’re concerned about the factory electronics, buy the non-DCC-equipped version and plug a QSI board in it. It would end up being about the same price, and the QSI’s a known, proven commodity.
Later,
K
Kevin,
I took camera outdoor location in consideration, but considering the other B’mann videos that the poster has done, I would have thought that the loco would have been presented in a most advantageous way. Initially, I considered that both locomotives featured did not even have sound fitted and only when they loomed directly in front of the camera was chuff evident. The sound on the Facebook page presented by Jack Lynch was louder and more crisp, but then it was indoors and the camera was directly in front of the loco.
As regards your old Sierra, I am of the opinion that the Sierra and the Tsunami have very little in common other than the same manufacturer.Tim - we need a link to the Bachmann ‘ambassador’ vid you mentioned. Being one of those people who spent many years surrounded by loud bangs [eh?] I have only about 25% of my hearing remaining, as a result the few locos I have with sound have to be at the upper levels of audibilitynesshoodship.
My old Climax has a Phoenix system in it, and sounds good to me. So does my Heisler, and I know the local Heisler over in Oregon very well. None of my three Shays are impressive, as no system I’ve ever heard quite has the ‘Shay shuffle’ off right.
I have Dallee basic switcher sound in my 1/3 scale Ffestiniog MoW loco, bought a while back from Rod Johnson up in Corbeil ONT, and although I can hardly hear it, I’m told that it’s good.
I guess that in the end it’s what YOU hear - I’ve fooled myself that I can hear the ‘clunk’ in the Heisler transmission, f’rinstance.
Best
tac
Kevin - you should also tell him to look for the horrendous sticker price.
Over here they are selling for just under $1200.
Best
tac
Quote:According to published specs on both systems, they have in common a 1-watt amplifier. (Note - the Tsunami specs from Soundtraxx's web site may not be the ones for this specific board, but they appear to cover all of the Bachmann/Soundtraxx locos.) Of the two, I've only heard my Sierra systems, which are plenty loud for outdoors. At the same time, I've also heard the same criticisms from others about Tsunamis in general... that they're not loud enough for outdoors. The wild card there is, how loud is "loud?" If you're like me, quieter is better. I like to sit next to the track and hear the train approach and fade away in the distance (which in reality is a mere 30'.) I find loud sound systems "shrink" a railroad as you're always hearing the train no matter if you can see it or not. I've got Phoenix and QSI systems as well, and also run them at a mere fraction of their volume capabilities.
... As regards your old Sierra, I am of the opinion that the Sierra and the Tsunami have very little in common other than the same manufacturer.
I’m sure if you were to take videos of my locos, you’d come to the same conclusion–that they’re hard to hear on camera. It’s not that the sound systems are underpowered, just that I’ve got them set rather quiet. I’m not going to speculate on the “motives” of anyone else when they produce and post videos. I can say that if I were to produce a video designed to showcase the features of a sound system, long shots of the locomotive simply moving through the frame would not be how I’d do it.
I’ll reserve judgment on the quality of this board until such time as it’s been in the field and proven itself one way or the other. One video clip isn’t enough evidence of anything.
Later,
K
Well I have a botcmann Shay inside and it is hard to hear it at a distance.
On the other hand I have an LGB that has an adjustable volume control knob and it works really well inside and out.
Can’t hear the shay outside.
I don’t know about DCC but I can tell if a sound card makes enough sound.
I can’t make up my mind on what I want to do on this I’m going to check it out at the LS show in York.
So if our sellen sound stuff @ York you’ll probably see me @ the show.
I would like to get sound in my Climax as to what kind I don’t know yet.
David
Kevin,
I have yet to hear a complaint of the old, now deceased, Sierra sound boards. They were the backbone of the aftermarket sound market for decent sound reproduction, price and quality.
Terry,
your ears are not deceiving you as there definately is a ‘clunk’ in the Heisler’s drive and it is not even fitted with sound from the factory. I have three Heislers and each one has their own loping ‘clunk’ to some degree. This is the link to the ambassador’s posting,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHMNtL4DNE
this is the link to Jack’s posting on Climax sound, (note that sound, as recorded on a phone camera, is not that loud as well)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bachmann-Trains/182658255760?sk=app_2392950137
Thirty-five years of exposure to jet engine noise has left me with perfect hearing in one ear and 3% loss in the other, so my hearing is not in question. I use a simple video camera and generic sound and find that sound level, some distance away, is still acceptably audible on video. This is my reason to doubt the outdoor sound level of the new card. Even when the loco was on top of the camera, the sound level was low. I hardly believe the poster would have turned the sound level down on a ‘promotional’ video. Sound is one of the reasons these locomotives are so expensive.
Ah, Tim - I meant that the sound system had a ‘clunk’ of great realisticalityhood. I tell ya that the real thing sounds like a shot big-end on an old Harley.
As for the movie - well, I had to turn up the sound to maximum to get the real impression, even allowing for the fact that it was not only outdoors, but several thousand miles away, too
Best
tac