The Chronicles of Norm #28 - Blunami H10

[@jimn8dod]

Thanks Norm for this amazing production, Jim Teeple Warren, Ohio

[@daviddryden8088]

Say what I will about 3 rail, tight radius and oversized flanges, it is hard to ignore how good your layout and models are. Do I wish this was proto48? Yes. But still, large scale seldom looks this good. I've been a fan of this layout for a couple of years despite my internal groaning. A masterpiece of scenery, weathering and tech that few can present in any scale. Not much in this hobby can move at less than walking speed without a hitch. Hat is off, Good Sir. Seeing her move at 3mph off the turntable was worth the price of admission.

[@dkaustin98]

Good video showing what can be done in 3 rail with Soundtraxx Blunami. I model in On30 and I have 8 Broadway Limited Imports C-16s. Those were produce around 2004. The only On30 release from BLI that I ever found. Nice heavy models. Came equipped with QSI DCC. I found that QSI equipped C-16 took a quarter to half throttle on a Digitrax Zephyr to get moving. Also, if you used a sound feature, say like the Bell, the chuff turned off until you released the Bell. So, I started gutting the QSI systems for modern Tsunami 2200 Steam decoders. These BLIs came with dual speakers. I replaced those with Mega Bass speakers. The electric motor in the C-16s is an excellent motor without any whine found in so many other model steam locos. I also do complete tune-up. I use Nano Oils by St. Claire on the gears and rods. The Nano Oils will cut down on current draw. I need a working coupler on the pilot so I cut off the pilot with dummy coupler to graft on a Bachmann pilot with working coupler. Once everything is completed I have C-16s that will pull strong, creep along at the slightest crack of the throttle and I have been able to run up a 5% grade pulling numerous cars. Now, I am using Blunami 2200 Steam decoders. I'm impressed with the Blunami decoders. Programming on the fly with an iPad or iPhone. You can still control one with a regular DCC throttle. Since I do use grades on my layout I can tell you that once one of my C-16s hits a grade, the engine will get much louder going up as it get into the grade. When going down grade it will get quieter as though it is drifting down grade. I noticed you turned on some rod clank on your Blunami. There is a lot to play with on a Blunami. One thing you should try is a micro slide switch that hangs under the tender, out of sight, with one side to track power and the other side to a battery used in Dead Rail. That way when you visit to run on another layout you can flip to battery power to run regardless of what power is available on the rails.

[@robwillett7832]

Great video. I’m an ho guy fascinated by your layout This video really shows what Blunami can do.

[@user-ki2ip6rf5h]

Love Norm's trains, scenery and structures. Exceptional knowledge and imagination.

[@mike6206]

I love Tsunami's products. The chuff is awesome and you have it timed right! My BLI Pennsy M1's have Tsunami Sound with the Pennsy 3-chime whistle (The "banchee" is like finger nails on the chalkboard to me! :-)) ) Overall I swear by Soundtraxx! Great stuff.

[@williamneufer1098]

Your layout is so realistic that I was waiting for a hawk to soar above. Awesome job on all the detail you put into this.

[@theprrmainline]

Very cool video. Love the scenes at the end too.

[@daivdwalker2374]

That new board is pretty amazing it seems thanx 4 the video

[@visionarylocomotiveworks9703]

As time goes on, the more tempting Blunami becomes for me to start utilizing. There are plenty of great, old conventional locomotives from the modern era out on the market for bargain prices that could easily benefit with the Blunami boards for a reasonable cost. I have an MTH Blue Comet from like 1998 that I originally thought of putting in ERR or ask a friend to do a LEGACY conversion, but the more I think about it, it might be better to go this route and get more out of it. As always, excellent video, Norm!

[@normstrains]

A lot of those engines had better motors and drivelines than what's being made now.

[@FunWithHOScaleStuff]

Interesting conversion.

[@foraminuteforaminute4056]

Me while watching with my Bronze Age-level of understanding of electricity, "Behold, wizardry!" And speaking of the Pennsylvania Banshee, that's gotta be my favorite whistle, simply because it sounds spooky as all get-out when echoing distantly in the night.

[@vettebecker1]

Awesome job as always!! ❤

[@johnpandolfino8663]

The realism in your layout is sublime.....😊

[@lifeislucci]

The manual cutoff with the rod clanking sounds make it really sound like a real steam engine. Wow

[@normstrains]

@@lifeislucci I love that

[@nikospapageorgiou57]

Beautiful video amazing layout!

[@charlesferebee263]

Damn it Gump. ! You're a G. D. genius. !

[@railchief74]

Great job on the video! The locomotive I think sounds great with the blunami sound system

[@NJB1948]

I've been using these for a year and they are great. Add a battery and you can get rid of the pickup rollers and wiring.

[@normstrains]

It could be a nice way to run a battery powered 2 rail engine on my layout 🤔

[@betsy662]

Nice work on the Blunammie decoder, great looking H10 too!

[@Mr.Funk92]

I love the idea of installing this on O scale engines. Just need a way to operate the electro coupler.

[@DynamicDuo795]

Nice video, as always. I'm at the Greenburg train show with my club. I was finally able to run my Lionel VL UP Baldwin centipedes for the very first time since buying them. Have you ever thought of picking up one of the Pennsy versions? Lionel is planning to make another run of the VL centipedes in the near future.

[@normstrains]

@@DynamicDuo795 I still have the MTH set kicking around. Not sure if I want to pony up for a new Lionel set especially since my last few things from them have been less than stellar.

[@dexecuter18]

Saw yours there this afternoon from the NTrak club. Everyone was in aw the speed it was getting pulling a 30ft train.

[@DynamicDuo795]

​@@dexecuter18, nice! I must have not seen you at the show. Yes everyone was in awe of those centipedes coming down the rails.

[@paulwest3905]

Thank you for covering Blunami Norm. I have been curious since I first saw it, but was sceptical. Absolutely love the steam cutoff function, wonderful! I have to ask, can you speak to how this would roll out to multiple engines on a layout? Are there restrictions compared to standard DCC setups? Is multi-consist and tuning available? Sorry for the barrage, but I am a bit leery of the new guy on the block. Thanks again!

[@normstrains]

@@paulwest3905 I have yet to install another one. Trying to decide on the next project for another go. I was originally going to do a 3rd Rail M1b but I haven’t gotten it yet. Not sure about how this would work on standard DCC setups since I am running TMCC and Legacy on my layout. Consists/lashups are supported but I have yet to try it out.

[@zechariahfrink3707]

I think Blunami is really gonna shake up the o guage market in a way we’ve needed for a long time. For us guys that want the smoke puff and chuff operation i hope a solid solution comes for that. I talked with the guys at soundtrack and they are super nice and enthusiastic about their products and supporting their customers. I saw someone on KZbin with a 3rd rail up fef steamers with ESU loksound running on three rail track. So I think other companies in ho or n sound will make decoders with ac converters and we will have even more options for three rail O. This engines sound is amazing and super loud from I can tell. Can’t wait to have my first Blunami upgrade done.

[@normstrains]

@@zechariahfrink3707 I hope it makes a big impact. What a fun product. For those that want the puffing smoke and electrocouplers I hope they get the capability. I wouldn’t mind a chuff input myself. Lionel and MTH have blown it in the realm of tech. The new Base 3 is turbo lame. I slogged my way through the setup to get it online only to get rewarded with a half baked app that’s already broken.😡

[@zechariahfrink3707]

@@normstrains Yeah it’s sad the state Lionel is in these days. Like yourself I like alot of the older tmcc/railsounds 4 and some rs 5 stuff. I still like legacy sounds but they’ve gotten so expensive and their quality control is clearly in the trash can. They just don’t care about the hobbyist anymore. MTH is downsized and probably not gonna develop anything new. I’m sure guys like Sid and others could find a way to add the smoke and coupler features too.

[@Curious_Skeptic]

I'd honestly be happy having a few Steams setup like this. Wish Blunami was a bit closer in price to HO DCC. I feel like everything is just overpriced because it can be. ;) HO DCC is so cheap and easy! I'm sort of disappointed finding out how expensive Base 3 + a Cab1L will cost me. OUCH.

[@jonnyspeed]

One more step closer to 2 rail :)

[@normstrains]

It would certainly make it easier!

[@SteamFan42]

That crew has gone to plaid! Also, Norm, have you ever looked into black tack as an alternative to adhesive tape?

[@johncrowley3722]

LOL... Ludicrous speed.

[@Beangoeszoom]

Have you thought about selling a basic kit to do these retrofits? I have a few engines, both steam and diesel that could use this. You are good at the tedious part of piecing together the right resistors and rectifier etc.

[@normstrains]

No but hopefully what I used in the vid can help. All this stuff can be found on Amazon or eBay no prob. The JST connectors for the harnesses are optional but can be found all over Amazon in the form of pre-wired kits.

[@superwarp12]

I would say that smoother than ERR

[@normstrains]

Yes. While ERR is pretty stable Blunami allows more adjustment for accel/decel and even supports options for tuning.

[@luvindemtrains]

Common Norm , you're not overly attached to this little beast, lol? It has so much character. I just got one on the second hand market and it's staying on the layout for a while. Nice install with great amount of options.

[@michaelstrains4014]

8:44 13:02 ooh a Challenger. What’s that doing there?

[@normstrains]

@@michaelstrains4014 charity project for a train pal.

[@maxwellwalcher6420]

WOuld i see NYC Hudson 5449 Please.

[@mumumaaaah]

Hi norm are you going to make more vids?

[@miguelalarcon2754]

Why didn’t you go this route on the Allegheny? Is it still not as good as the other electronics you put? I got lucky and scored an anniversary edition on eBay last night!

[@normstrains]

I already had the parts on hand for that project. I watched that auction but didn't want to go thought all that work again so soon - good score man!

[@miguelalarcon2754]

@@normstrains thank you! I thought I was gonna end up In a bidding war for way more. I’m gonna run it the way it is for a while but what route would you recommend for upgrading electronics?

[@normstrains]

@@miguelalarcon2754 if the EOB works I'd keep it going if you run TMCC. Not sure I'd recommend ERR anymore due to cost and lack of modern features. I'd skip right to Blunami if EOB dies.

[@miguelalarcon2754]

@@normstrains awesome thanks for the advice really appreciate it! You have any social media to follow? Would like to see your collection.

[@normstrains]

@@miguelalarcon2754 no social media other than KZbin. Maybe my LinkedIn I never look at 😆

[@davevan8864]

In my dream land I'd gut all locos and add Blunami. But limit skill and even more limited funds means I'll keep my conventional system thanks

[@NJB1948]

My layout is conventional but if you add a battery you could make one of your engines Blunami. They won't interfere. Just remove the pickup rollers.

[@davevan8864]

@@NJB1948 Thx...it's really a cost issue. At my age....I'll stick to my olde time ways

[@jimzerner5229]

Beautiful trains but I cant help noticing all your locomotives look Gray? and not one has any Rust relicing on the wheels or trucks? Other than everything is top Notch!!!

[@tony8074]

I was hoping for an Adam’s Family crash, when you were running that full speed demo.