Dapol N Gauge 121/122 Bubble Car (Next18 version) with Zimo MS Sound and Stay-Alive

Kit: MS590; SugarCube6; STACO3A stay-alive

Dapol's Bubble Car was upgraded from 6pin to Next18 DCC socket, which makes it a little neater.

The roof unclips, like any of Dapol's LightBar-ready models, so access it simple. An MS590 sound decoder plugs straight in, but we have to do a little work to get a worthwhile speaker (could have got a MicroCube in, but wanted better sound).

Solder pads for speaker wires are provided on the underside of the model's PCB, so we tin these and add on lengths of wire.

We opt for a SugarCube6, seated at the far end from the decoder, so a small cut through the centre wall will allow our speaker wires to sit flush along the floor.

In the roof, we fit the Dapol LightBar, and also position a Zimo STACO3A stay-alive kit (PCB with 2 mini GoldCaps), which will provide a substantial stay-alive. The GoldCaps are connected in series and secured one either side of the LightBar, pretty well hidden from view.

We mill off the final row of seats to make space for the SugarCube6 speaker and feed the speaker wires along the centre of the floor.

There is little room above the decoder for the LightBar to fit, so we also take out the pair of screws that hold the socket PCB, mill the screw mounts down, so the PCB can sit lower in the body. A bit of insulation tape under the board required now, and a small blob of BlackTack to hold it down low.

The stay-alive wires are soldered to the MS590's pads for Common Positive and Ground, and we add some tiny passenger figures to finish things off.

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