KCT Alco HH900 #50 Project

Thanks Jim! Ordered the non-DCC/Sound "Silver" version of the Tennessee Central HH tonight!

 

Hi Jim!

I received the undecorated "Gold" version Thursday. Looks fantastic, runs fantastic... so far not very impressed with the factory QSI sound. It sounded WAY louder in this video than it does in person. (Skip to the 5:00 mark to hear the running sounds.):

[video=youtube;OnNJN3TXOO8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnNJN3TXOO8[/video]

Compared to the LokSound sound decoders Atlas used in their S-2's, (I have a couple examples), the QSI sounds very "anemic" and subdued. That's why I've decided to NOT wait for the "Gold" Tennessee Central version to arrive. Decided I wanted a HH that has more "punch" than this, so ordered a "Silver" version of the TN Central HH and I'll decide for myself what decoder to put in it. Could be that some of the volume levels can be turned up in the QSI at the cv level, and if that's the case, than the actual quality of the sounds aren't bad... just the volume is at least 30%-40% less than the factory settings in the LokSound equipped Atlas S-2's.

 

Yes, I was aware that the HH660 and the HH9000 have different aspirations, the HH660 being naturally aspirated, the HH9000 being turbocharged.

FWIW:

Having dinked with my little undec HH660 some more, I think my original impression was a bit too negative. Even if I can't up the volume of the prime mover, it's going to be fine. One serendipitous advantage to ordering the Tennessee Central HH without sound is that I can install a 539T sound decoder in it to reflect that fact that KCT 50 was an HH900 that contained a 900 HP turbocharged prime mover, thus giving two similar engines with two different sounds, the KC&G having the non-turbo and the KCT having the turbo whine. Cool.

 

Jim:

Do the side sill hand railings/stanchions fit properly with the stanchions being 90 degrees to the walkway the entire length of the handrail?

With mine, it appears the long side sill hand rails have the infamous "shrinkage" problem. The long rails have shrunk, so the stanchions are being pulled off square incrementally from each end toward the center stanchion. No "easy" fix.

IF Atlas is aware of this then perhaps there are replacement handrails made of more stable plastic/delrin.

However, I think in my case I'm just going to cut the stanchions free, drill them out, and make my own railings out of .019", or so, brass rod.

Nothing's ever easy, is it?

 

Received my Tennessee Central HH660 yesterday. It's indeed a lil' doozie. Beautiful paint job! Likely going to send it to Whizkid for a Tsunami 539T installation along with one of my RS-3's for a Tsunami 244 decoder.

AND... I think I've figured out a way to piece together FOUR KCT decal diamond herald/stripe sets! More on that later.