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This guide shows an example of installing DCC sound into a Graham Farish N gauge Class 46 Peak diesel using a Zimo MX648 and
modified SugarCube speaker.
After disassembly, grind the basic chunks from the chassis required to fit the MX648 decoder and SugarCube speaker. Note that this
is just the first round of cuts to get somewhere close to the space required...
A number of iterations of partial reassembly and grinding a bit more are required in order to get this one just right - the margins
for success and failure on the Peak are very fine, so we don't want to take away more than necessary, but at the same time we need to
ensure enough is taken to achieve a flush finish at the end...
Here we are with a little more taken away for the decoder. In fact we will have to remove the protective sleeve from the decoder and replace
the chunky decoder wires with finer wires to make it a little easier...
Just about there now at the decoder end...
Repeat a similar process at the speaker end too. Bend the speaker connectors outwards so the speaker can sit flush on the ground-out area. The baffle is
almost entirely reduced to nothing, and with the top of the baffle completely open we can shape what remains of the walls of the baffle to match that of the curved supports on the
chassis next to it. Looks ridiculous, but you'd be surprised how small an enclosure is required to get good sound. Once happy, use a thin electrical tape and a very thin
double-sided tape to protect and secure the decoder and the speaker...
Finally wire it all up, shortening and tidying the wiring as appropriate. There is actually quite a bit of space for lose wiring in the centre anyway. We simply use
some electrical tape glued carefully to the top of the speaker baffle to make it air-tight, and encourage the seal further with some blue-tac. Test that it sounds good
with no crackles...
Add drivers, wait for their glue to dry and test fit the body!
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