Heljan O Gauge Class 45 Peak (XL version)

Kit: MS990L; Visaton KW50P; YLR453520; RAUSI1 smoke generator

Heljan's 2024/25 release of the Peak Class 45 is a fabulous model... lots of scope, so let's pack lots in...

First thing is to build a platform at one end for our YLR453520 box spaeker.

Next we fit an MS990L sound decoder into the model's XL socket. There is a little modification required to get this in, as the pins on the decoder don't exactly match the socket in the model... we remove the entire header socket from one edge, which is for servos (the model doesn't have any servos, so nothing lost), and we need to bend back a couple of the pins on the decoder, as the decoder has more pins that the socket in the model - this prevents those superflous pins for making unwanted contact to anything. It is 'almost' plug-and-play, but not quite!

A little bit more effort is required to fit the Visaton KW50P 50mm hi-fit speaker with a custom enclosure - we found a piece of cardboard tubing about the right size and modified it to fit against the back of the other cab wall.

In place between the securing screw pillars, we use BlackTack to make the seal good.

Next bit of engineering is to fit the big Zimo RAUSI1 smoke generator. The model has mount points for an ESU unit, but this is easier to wire up and configuration is all done on the MS990 decoder (no configuration of the RAUSI1 is needed).

We'll fit a short length of flexible hose to the chimney, so drill out the right shape internally for this to glue into.

After grinding the original screw mounts (for the ESU unit) away, we add a flat platform for the RAUSI1 to sit on. It won't actually be fixed to this platform, as we're going to fix the unit into the roof instead, but the platform gives some support to stop the unit from dropping.

The hose is glued into place, and the RAUSI1 positioned in the roof/body above the space created below.

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