Sonic Models LNER A5 with Zimo sound, upgraded speaker and stay-alive

Kit: MS580; SugarCube8; 2x Mini GoldCaps

Relative newcomer, Sonic Models released a OO version of the LNER A5 Tank, with built-in speaker and Next18 DCC socket, so should be a piece of cake to put sound into... wonder what else can be achieved...

The PCB sits above an iPhone style speaker, which is OK, but the decision is take to change it for a SugarCube speaker instead. There are 2 options for the position of this speaker - either under the drive-shaft or on the cab floor. Both approaches shown here.

Our MS580 decoder simply plugs and then, and we're off.

Alternatively, a slightly taller SugarCube can go on the cab floor...

Sonic don't provide much in the way of break-out pads on their Next18 PCB, so it is handy that a stay-alive can be attached directly to the MS580. In this case we wire a pair of mini GoldCaps (0.3F) in series, which attach to the Tantalums direclty on the MS580. This provides a couple of seconds backup power once fully charged.

Photos kindly provided by Lee Johnson and Terry Gibson

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