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[captain bligh]

Evening all
I'm very slowly looking into maybe a small model railway layout and over the past 12/18 months looking and learning about it seems model railway stuff is streets ahead of us boaters in every way and I'd think a lot of other RC hobbies especially the sound units in them there absolutely amazing. Why is this because there is more of a market for it so there is more investment or what ? I live and work in a big fishing harbour where you can get ( I would think with the right equipment) brilliant sounds of big fishing boat engines, lifeboat engines you name it. I'm actually shocked how good the railways are.

[NickelBelter]

What makes you say that we're 'behind' the choo-choo boys?  For one, even the best DCC sound loco doesn't sound very good due to the small tinny speakers they have to use.  For another, we have a lot fewer sounds than all the whistles, bells, spitter valves, air compressors, rod clanks and such that are 'needed' for a loco. 

There's nothing stopping you from using truck sound modules for models of small boats as many of them are powered by truck engines.  I have a Detroit Diesel power-pack sound in one of my tugboats.  Really big vessels don't produce the kind of engine sound you get from a small boat. 

[Andyn]

Unfortunately it is a fact the model boating is at least a decade behind the rest of the modelling hobby, especially when you look at scale or sail models. Most scale modellers I know are only just now getting their first 2.4ghz computer radios, most are still afraid of choosing a brushless motor and the myth that Li-Po batteries are the devil still runs strong. Model helicopters are probably the furthest advanced as it’s a hobby where you need extremely deep pockets to take part, and models rarely last more than a few seasons. I’d say this is jointly followed by cars and planes as the RC foamy market is booming and cars predominantly appeal to the younger generation who like things to be bright and flashy.


As someone who used to work in the industry, I’d agree that the lack of readily available sound units designed for the job is because of lack of demand and unwillingness to spend the cash on such products

[dougal99]

All sound units become boring and annoying after a very short time in my humble opinion. 
Andyn newer is not always better.

[Andyn]

Andyn newer is not always better.

In 99% of cases when comparing technology from a decade ago to now that’s untrue, and reluctance to change with the times is one of the biggest things killing off the hobby…

[Damien Mac]

I have an ESS Dual that is in a small fishing boat. I had ESS (sense) send me the correct sound files for my boat, also have one in a Torpedo boat my son uses.. sound quite nice

[Circlip]

Strange how when we build our toy boats we try to scale down nature but in trying to emulate a sound we scale UP nature? I'm sure the crews of full sized boats would have severely damaged eardrums if the converse were applied. How does it sound twenty feet away from the bank?


 Regards  Ian.

[Andyn]

Strange how when we build our toy boats we try to scale down nature but in trying to emulate a sound we scale UP nature? I'm sure the crews of full sized boats would have severely damaged eardrums if the converse were applied. How does it sound twenty feet away from the bank?


 Regards  Ian.

An interesting point. I’ve heard many sound systems that are still absolutely riotous from 50ft away, when in reality at the distance you’d be relatively viewing a full size ship from you’d barely hear it

[Geoff]

I think that this is because we are working with a different medium, water and air/wind which you can't scale down. So our models tend to sail too fast because if they sailed at the scaled down speed they would seem ridiculously slow and just not look right. We are also sailing in wind conditions that the real ships would heave too in so we have to have far greater stability than the real thing.


So, when we add sound we want to hear it from 50 feet away which means the sound is far too loud for scale. At the real life distance the real ship would in all probability be silent. Much also depends on the frequency of the sound wave, high or low pitch as they carry differently through water and air. Water conducts sound very well whereas air does not, so to be truly scale for say a diesel ship we would want to hear a low rumble from a distance but higher noises and frequencies close to, which just isn't practicable in a model so we have the mismatch in noise.


Personally I'm trying to find a big gun sound module that can be triggered by a single on/off movement from a servo such that you get a boom and a rumble for about 3 seconds then it re-sets until the next time. Some of the blue tooth speakers are very compact and produce good sounds which are ideal but trying to synchronise the sound with a function is difficult. Most sound module are on or off so do not lend themselves to my needs.


The question of sound seems so simple but in reality its a very complex subject.


Cheers


Geoff

[tonyH]

I've tried the cheap Christmas/Birthday etc. card units that use a micro switch and a cam on a micro servo. I added a small amp unit and that works as a repeatable, single shot unit. As far as I remember the recording can last up to 15 secs so plenty of reverb time BUT the sound can be somewhat distorted.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295790924687?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=CjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fvs-YKcb2daxTmDOYzkPgPn59paajn1Gu92QkjJ4Cf-xvBQAkVkmKBoCy5oQAvD_BwE

[ronnie42]

The U.K. is still in the Stone Age compared to the Europe .  In Europe it’s all about added remote control features to add realism, here it’s if the prop turns all is well. It’s a case of ordering from Europe or further afield for kits that are designed to function like the real boat without major alterations.
One of the few places here that has modern electronics for models is Mr rc world . The German ship, truck and tank control boards turn toys into a miniature version of the real one.
 We still are offered kits with lots of white metals and  fittings, no wonder lots only sail in flat calm conditions. Just have a look at the rc  air , truck  , crawler and car market . That’s probably where  the model world is attracting younger ones.

[captain bligh]

What makes you say that we're 'behind' the choo-choo boys?  For one, even the best DCC sound loco doesn't sound very good due to the small tinny speakers they have to use.  For another, we have a lot fewer sounds than all the whistles, bells, spitter valves, air compressors, rod clanks and such that are 'needed' for a loco. 

There's nothing stopping you from using truck sound modules for models of small boats as many of them are powered by truck engines.  I have a Detroit Diesel power-pack sound in one of my tugboats.  Really big vessels don't produce the kind of engine sound you get from a small boat.

I can't comment on loco sound units in Canada but the vast majority here in the UK sound absolutely fantastic with the right speaker in them. But i think in general boats are way behind. 

[captain bligh]

Unfortunately it is a fact the model boating is at least a decade behind the rest of the modelling hobby, especially when you look at scale or sail models. Most scale modellers I know are only just now getting their first 2.4ghz computer radios, most are still afraid of choosing a brushless motor and the myth that Li-Po batteries are the devil still runs strong. Model helicopters are probably the furthest advanced as it’s a hobby where you need extremely deep pockets to take part, and models rarely last more than a few seasons. I’d say this is jointly followed by cars and planes as the RC foamy market is booming and cars predominantly appeal to the younger generation who like things to be bright and flashy.


As someone who used to work in the industry, I’d agree that the lack of readily available sound units designed for the job is because of lack of demand and unwillingness to spend the cash on such products

I couldn't agree more 1:14 trucks are really up and coming now in the last few years wow the stuff you can get for them is top notch. I know people who have been to Germany and told me they are really big into their modelling over there we can only dream for such shops in the UK