pmilazzo
06-19-2009, 01:30 PM
As many of you may be aware, TAS (Train American Studios) is no longer selling TMCC conversion boards to the general public. Instead they changed their business model to be a direct supplier to Weaver and Atlas (B2B).
If you have TAS boards installed and are under warranty, they will support you, but what are the options going forward if you want to add or convert an engine to TMCC?
Right now, you have several options:
First Option: If you want TAS products, you can have Weaver install them for you in any make or model. Pros: They do the installation and give you a warranty on it. Cons: You pay shipping both ways and you can't do it yourself.
http://www.weavermodels.com/page30.html
Second option: Electric Railroad (ERR) offers TMCC boards and conversions.
Pros: You can opt to have them do the install or just buy the boards you need and do it yourself. Cons: Doesn't offer railsounds, but their boards can be made to work with it. They do have a sound option using a sound commander which is significantly cheaper than railsounds, but doesn't sound as good.
http://www.electricrr.com/
Third option: Digital Dynamics offers all the kits and parts you need to do conversions yourself including many RS choices for both diesels and steamers. Their speakers have a reputations of being superior to the ones manufacturers are using. Pros: Good customer serivice - One stop shop for kits and parts. Cons: Small one man operation and sometimes you have to wait a few weeks until they do another batch when out of stock.
http://www.digitdynam.com/
I can't say one is better than another and there are many factors besides cost and convenience which may influence you one way or another.
Personally, I used ERR for my Polar Express conversion to TMCC with a Sound Commander because it offered cruise and the price was right including installation. In the future, I may replace the sound commander board with railsounds from digital dynamics and do the work myself for improved sound quality.
If you have TAS boards installed and are under warranty, they will support you, but what are the options going forward if you want to add or convert an engine to TMCC?
Right now, you have several options:
First Option: If you want TAS products, you can have Weaver install them for you in any make or model. Pros: They do the installation and give you a warranty on it. Cons: You pay shipping both ways and you can't do it yourself.
http://www.weavermodels.com/page30.html
Second option: Electric Railroad (ERR) offers TMCC boards and conversions.
Pros: You can opt to have them do the install or just buy the boards you need and do it yourself. Cons: Doesn't offer railsounds, but their boards can be made to work with it. They do have a sound option using a sound commander which is significantly cheaper than railsounds, but doesn't sound as good.
http://www.electricrr.com/
Third option: Digital Dynamics offers all the kits and parts you need to do conversions yourself including many RS choices for both diesels and steamers. Their speakers have a reputations of being superior to the ones manufacturers are using. Pros: Good customer serivice - One stop shop for kits and parts. Cons: Small one man operation and sometimes you have to wait a few weeks until they do another batch when out of stock.
http://www.digitdynam.com/
I can't say one is better than another and there are many factors besides cost and convenience which may influence you one way or another.
Personally, I used ERR for my Polar Express conversion to TMCC with a Sound Commander because it offered cruise and the price was right including installation. In the future, I may replace the sound commander board with railsounds from digital dynamics and do the work myself for improved sound quality.