Toylander with engine sound generator

[Steve T2 A1FRD]

As I'm getting a little more advanced with the build, I've started buying a few bits that I hope will finish it off.

I wanted to add a bit of a smile on the sound front, so have got a radio controlled model engine sound generator.  Have a look at the clip, but it is very flexible and can be programmed for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cylinder enigine sounds and has 10 preset engine 'voices' and 10 that can be programmed by the user (these range from some that sound like petrol, some that sound like a tug boat and some that sound just like and old 2.25 diesel Landy lump complete with a bit of tappet knock on tickover and run-on when turned off!).

Have a look and hope you like it (but please excuse that bad focus - beer had been consumed at this stage)

http://youtu.be/q5FERD5vAqY

Steve

[Steve T2 A1FRD]

Another clip showing the unit itself, with a slightly different 'voice'.  The pot that is turned by hand in the video will be substituted for something that is fixed to the throttle pedal on the Toylander to give a fully proportional sound whilst driving.

http://youtu.be/GFgQTs2F6N8

Steve

[jr]

Steve,

That sounds really good - I guess you could 'tune' futher changes to the standard noises by putting the speaker in a tin box for example.
Any chance of running a video with the V8 sound? 
Let us know how you get on with linking to the pedal - I can see there being a lot of interest in these units.
Are they expensive?

John   

[Steve T2 A1FRD]

Hi John,

Cost-wise they range from low £20s (for the dedicated petrol or diesel units) up to about £50 for the programmable unit.  The only other thing that you would need would be the servo tester to actuate it, which was just a few quid - obviously there is small a modification as well, to remove the potentiometer and replace it with something of the same value 10K-0-10K that could be fitted into the throttle pedal box of the Toylander (my next job).

Unfortunately, I'd have loved to play the V8, but it only goes up to six cylinders and the petrol sound more like refined diesels.  The diesel sound however are excellent.  You can also change the tickover speed and top end speed to try and match the real thing as much as possible.

Hope this helps and here's a link to the site that I purchased from :

http://www.technobotsonline.com/light-and-sound-effects/model-engine-sound-effects.html

[Mashman]

Is this the same kind of thing ?.
http://shop.huntersystems.co.uk/small-diesel-engine-interactive-sound-simulator---type-2tm-380-p.asp

Regards.
Stu.

[Steve T2 A1FRD]

Yes, very much so.  The Hunter systems was the one that I was going to use (see the 'arrived today' thread), but I spoke to a few people within the rc boat community and Alan's was recommended, but they both should do the same job.

Steve

[toys4me]

I fitted a sounder to my toylander 1 when I built it in 2006. suposedly a V8 but not so happy with it. May change it for the one you have.  I fitted the speaker in the end of a piece of 4" plastic pipe, about 6" long under the front wheel arch. Gives a deeper, richer sound than a open speaker. Hope this helps, happy motoring, Keith

[Mashman]

This may sound a silly question BUT ....
Are they easy to fit ?
I was looking at the one from Hunter Systems. I ask because my electrical knowledge is zero. 

Regards.
Stu.

[toys4me]

Very easy to fit. Wires should be colour coded and diagrams should be clear because there is very little to them. I forgot to mention  in my last post the one I have gives engine starting when switched on, then ticks over till accelerator pressed. That bit does create a lot of interest!

[paulr]

   We fitted a Hunters sound unit (hope I remembered correctly) with a diesel engine sound to out Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, there were only 4 wires and it was easy to fit.  The hardest part was working out where to mount it for best effect.  Needed to experiment with baffles to take the edge off the volume a bit well we were testing in a shed and it was loud but outside in the open we took the baffles off.  It now has an empty pop bottle round the speaker which makes it vibrate slightly. Just the effect we needed.  It also changes speed when throttle/accelerator pressed. Hope this helps.

PaulR and MrsR

[Mashman]

My Toylander is 24V so I emailed Hunter Systems to ask about a 24V version of there Sound Simulator. Just had an email back from Graham at Hunter Systems and he tells me they will build me a 24V version and will ship it out on Wednesday 18th Jan. What a result.

Regards to all.
Stu.

[Robert]

Hi there,

Such a sound system is just what I'm looking for! 
But I don't want to mount a second pot and need a system that can be wired to the existing (standard) pot in my Toylander.
Has anyone found such a sounder?

regards,
Robert

[Mashman]

Hi Robert.

The one I have here built by Graham at Hunter Systems dosn't mention anything about the throttle pot or having to change it. It says in the instructions that the wires connect direct to the (24v) drive motor.
Speaker must be rated at least 10 watts with a power rating of 8ohms.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards.
Stu.

[Robert]

Hi Stu,

thanks for your reply.
I will contact Hunter Systems te hear if they can supply a 36 Volt system.

regards,
Robert

[Mashman]

http://shop.huntersystems.co.uk/small-diesel-engine-interactive-sound-simulator---type-2tm-380-p.asp

Hi Stu,

thanks for your reply.
I will contact Hunter Systems te hear if they can supply a 36 Volt system.

regards,
Robert