Hornby Clan Class

Kit: MX645R; dual SugarCube35X15X12-2W; MX681 function decoder

Hornby's Clan Class model provides an 8pin DCC socket in the tender, so there is good potential for an MX645R sound decoder and a decent speaker. Here we use a dual SugarCube (35 x 15 x 12mm). The plastic slope under the coal load must be cut away to make space for this, but it quite simple to do, and we rebuilt a new coal load on top afterwards, which looks a lot better than the original plastic load anyway!

If all we want is sound, then that's the job done! However, we decide to add working lamps and firebox LED to the loco too. Rather than trailing wires beteween loco and tender, we opt to put a small function decoder (MX681, or MX671) specifically for this lighting.

The trick here is simply to break open the pickup wires in the loco and spur off to the function decoder.

The lamps are bi-colour DCC Concepts ones, so white and yellow wires from the decoder are used, as well as the common positive (BLUE) wire from the decoder, with suitable protective resistors. The green or brown wire from the decoder goes to the firebox LED.

Photos and approach courtesy of Rod Weekes

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