Bargain O gauge DCC sound? Dapol Jinty + HM7000 Next 18 decoder

Who can resist a bargain? Not me but please don't tell the wife!

In this video, I attempt to unbox a standard (analogue) O gauge loco, install a DCC sound decoder and get it up & running - all in just one take (no cheating - no editing or post production - to be honest, I wouldn't really know how) - and on a budget.

Can it be done and for the low, low cost of around £180 all in?

Spoiler alert - yes, it can be done (although I did have to pause the video a couple of times to stop the dogs barking).

For anyone interested in having a go, the items featured in this video are:

- Dapol Class 3F "Jinty" (ref. 7S-026-012)
- Hornby HM DCC sound decoder (ref. HM7000-N18TXS)
- ESU 21MTC to Next18 adapter (ref. 51998) - but see footnote/caveat below!
- Lais stay-alive (ref. 86009)

N.B. This video is not sponsored and no recommendation of these products is intended. The HM7000 DCC decoders are rated at 1A continuous; I tested and measured the stall current of the Jinty (~800mA) before attempting installation.

FOOTNOTE/CAVEAT: perhaps surprisingly, everything fitted within the loco *width-wise* (I did have to manipulate the body-shell slightly to get it to slide over the projecting decoder) but - annoyingly! - the adapter/decoder "sandwich" is just too thick for the body to sit down fully. I think I can work around this (using a hard-wired Lais 860031 Next18 interface board instead of the ESU item) but you could definitely make life easier for yourself by using a different adapter/decoder combo ...

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

P.S. Since uploading this video, I've installed a decent-sized speaker and uploaded a 4F sound loco. profile - runs well and sounds "interesting" (I'm not used to steam!).

Видео Bargain O gauge DCC sound? Dapol Jinty + HM7000 Next 18 decoder канала Spring Mill Street