ZS026P JINTY 3F PROTODRIVE
ZS026P 3F ‘Jinty’ ProtoDrive User Notes V18.07
By Paul Chetter
This is a premium soundfile for your chosen Zimo sound decoder purchase. Cannot be bought on its own. Does not include decoder. Also available as a reblow or coded download please call.Please spend a few moments to read these notes which have been produced so that you may obtain the maximum satisfaction from your new sound scheme.
The sounds should work perfectly when the decoder is fitted correctly. Individual locos may require some fine tuning that you can achieve with your DCC controller.
What is Protodrive?
This is a system developed to allow you, the user, to change the way that the sounds respond to your driving style or needs. This avoids the need for reprogramming and all the additional costs that would imply. The ‘Plus’ signifies that the Reverser control is included in the project.
Operating Your ZIMO Sound Decoder.
As supplied, your new decoder will work in a ‘Full Gear’ configuration, but you will be able to switch between the available sounds using your DCC controller by following the straightforward instructions below.
This project utilises Zimo’s ability to switch between the various exhaust sounds enabling simulation of different valve gear settings.
These are all fully configured within the project, waiting for you to make your choice.
You can revert at any time.
All the CVs have been optimised but you may need to make minor adjustments to perfect it for your individual tastes.
There are many Functions, most of which have an individual sound attached. Some will perform a physical function (like turning on the lamps, if fitted), and some will do both (depending on equipment installed). Please study the list below.
Some of the sounds have a finite length and will play from start to finish when selected. Other sounds will ‘loop’ until switched off, whilst others will vary in length, depending on how you operate the F keys on your DCC controller.
In any of the driving sound sets, increasing the speed step by 1 or more will produce an acceleration sound for a few seconds. If you wish continuous acceleration, ease the throttle setting upwards rather than 0- 128 in one jump!
Similarly, in each sound set, a reduction of 1 speed step or more will stop the exhaust beats and the loco will ‘coast’ (or drift) for a few seconds before resuming exhaust beats. Continuous drifting can be simulated by easing the throttle settings down, one step at a time.
All sounds may be modified (including changing or removing them) individually, and the volume levels of each one may also be varied to your own needs. For this, and much more information on your decoder’s outstanding abilities, please download the latest Decoder Manual from: www.zimo.at/web2010/
You can get advice in English by joining, for free: [email protected]
Driving Controls
The driver of a real Jinty would use three primary controls, Regulator, Reverser (Johnson bar) and Brakes to ensure safe and appropriate speeds at all times.
The regulator controls the amount and pressure of steam available to the cylinders.
The reverser is used to change the position of the valve timing gear. When fully extended in one direction or the other, maximum steam at near boiler pressure is available for te whole duration of the piston stroke. This is referred to as ‘full gear’, providing maximum power but at the expense of poor efficiency.
Moving the lever towards the centre of its travel reducing the amount of steam allowed into the cylinder on each stroke by ‘cutting off’ before the end of the piston’s stroke. This reduces power but improves efficiency.
(When the gear is fully reversed, steam enters at the opposite end of the cylinder and the loco will move in reverse).
The loco brakes may be steam, vacuum or air operated, depending upon the equipment fitted, but in each case they can be used, after closing the regulator, to trim speed, perform an emergency stop and any braking requirement between these extremes.
Much of the driver’s skill will be applied in maintaining the correct balance between these three controls at all times.
All sound projects will give the modeller direct access to the regulator (throttle control), few provide working brakes and even less the regulator. This project gives you control of all three; that’s because ZIMO sound projects by Paul Chetter are based on the tasks which drivers of real locomotives undertake rather than how to make a model train move.
We believe that this is truly immersive, not just a label for marketing purposes.
Regulator
The throttle control on your DCC system acts as the regulator. Increase the speed steps to accelerate, hold status to cruise and reduce to coast (drift).
Reverser Controls – F keys 5, 6 and 7
This project has four reverser positions in each direction. The default setting is ‘full gear’ but three levels of cut-off are available with the F 5 key which operates as a reverser. The exhaust sounds are modified as follows:
Full Gear. This is the one to use to start with a heavy train on the hook. Steam is admitted to the cylinders for the full piston stroke. The chuffs are loud and harsh as steam at virtually boiler pressure is exhausted. This configuration gives the maximum power, but is the least efficient setting. Maximum power would be required on a real loco to lift a heavy train. This means that as well as opening the regulator, the driver would allow maximum steam into the cylinders with the reverser fully open.
During acceleration, the exhaust beats will bark aggressively, but the tone and volume will soften automatically after a few seconds as the real driver would advance the steam cut-off to reduce steam entering the cylinders, increasing the efficiency of the engine.
Cut-Off. With a light engine movement, or when a train has been ‘lifted’, the driver will reduce the duration for which steam is admitted to the cylinders. The steam still provides power for the rest of the stroke by expansion. This reduces the pressure of the exhausted steam, resulting in softer more subdued exhaust sound.
The first cut-off position can be selected with F Key 5.
To access the second cut-off positions sounds, engage F key 6. If F key 5 is already engaged, there will be no change until F key 5 is disengaged.
Similarly, to access the third cut-off position sounds, engage F key 7. If either F key 5 or F key 6 are engaged, there will be no change until the lower F keys have been disengaged.
Engaging F key 5, 6 or 7 will switch the exhaust sounds to a different set of samples, so the exhaust is less aggressive in nature and quieter with each successive F key. This represents the increasing ‘cut-off’ on the reverser on real locos.
Each cut-off position also has three states, regulator opened for more power/acceleration, regulator ‘feathered’ to maintain cruising speed, regulator closed to shut off power allowing coasting and gradual deceleration.
In all, 12 combinations of reverser and regulator positions are modelled in the sound project.
I have provided the reverser so that you can change the sounds to simulate reality more closely. In model form, there’s nothing to stop you from using it to vary the exhaust sounds simply to add interest.
Working Loco Brakes
F2 will give the sound of brake applications. F2 can be ‘dabbed’ or held for varying durations. The sound will respond accordingly.
If the throttle is reduced in advance, as a real driver would do, before operating the Brake Key, a progressive braking force which will actually reduce the road speed of your model will be applied. This force will continue to increase the longer F2 is held. Short dabs will provide speed trimming, held down continuously will result in a controlled ‘Emergency Stop’.
PowerCab users please note that the Horn/Whistle button operates the same sound/function as the F2 Key, but set as ‘momentary’. This enables the precise operation of the brakes and should be used in preference to the actual F2 key.
Other DCC systems may have F2 set to operate as ‘momentary’ by default, or can be set to do so.
Special Zimo Function on F17, Light engine
The Inertia and Momentum settings by default are set high, producing acceleration and deceleration rates expected from a heavy train. A light engine, or very lightly loaded train, can accelerate more rapidly, so when engaged F17 will instantly reduce inertia and momentum to provide more brisk acceleration and deceleration.
Tip. You can also use F17 to reduce the stopping distance without using, or use in conjunction with the Brake Key
Dynamic Inertia
In either Heavy or Light modes, flipping the throttle quickly to high speed steps will cause the model to accelerate 3 times more quickly from standing than if the throttle is gradually opened. This is automatic, no F keys are involved.
So now, the rate of acceleration is affected by how wide you open the regulator, just as it would on a real locomotive.
Live Volume Control
Provide the sound is switched on and the ‘fade’ button is not active, it is possible to change the overall volume to suit changing needs.
Engage F27 and the sound levels will gradually reduce, eventually to silence
Engage F28 and the sound levels will gradually increase, eventually to maximum.
In each case, disengage the F key when the desired level is attained. Set F27 and F28 as ‘momentary’ if your DCC controller allows you to do so.
Note: If the volume controls appear to not function, check that F19, F27 and F28 are disengaged before making a further attempt.
Rod Clank Volume
Many projects have heavy rod clanking included. You can change the volume of these sounds to suit your requirements.
CV286 = 110 is the project default. Higher values will increase volume, lower values will reduce volume relative to the other sounds.
Function Keys List
There are 24 Function Keys used in this sound project. Please see below.
Some of the sounds have a finite length and will play from start to finish when selected. Other sounds will ‘loop’ until switched off, whilst others will vary in length, depending on how you operate the F keys on your DCC controller.
Some keys have a control function rather than a sound.
Function List
Key Number
|
Sound or Control Function
|
Volume
CV
|
F0
|
Toot
|
-
|
F1
|
Sound ON
|
-
|
F2
|
Brake Key – see text for explanation
|
CV517
|
F3
|
Long Whistle
|
CV520
|
F4
|
Toot Toot
|
CV523
|
F5
|
Reverser Position 1(see text)
|
-
|
F6
|
Reverser Position 2
|
CV529
|
F7
|
Reverser Position 3
|
CV532
|
F8
|
Blower
|
CV535
|
F9
|
Wheel Flange
|
CV538
|
F10
|
Live Steam Injector
|
CV541
|
F11
|
Hand Brake
|
CV544
|
F12
|
Coal Shovelling (This sound is also a random sound)
|
CV547
|
F13
|
Wagon Snatching
|
CV550
|
F14
|
Buffering Up
|
-
|
F15
|
Cylinder Drains Opened (Use this to run ‘taps open’)
|
CV556
|
F16
|
Coupling
|
CV559
|
F17
|
Heavy Train/Light Engine mode toggle
|
CV562
|
F18
|
Guard’s Whistle
|
CV565
|
F19
|
Fade All Sounds
|
-
|
F20
|
Shunt Mode (half speed plus no inertia or momentum)
|
-
|
F21
|
Safety valves lifted
|
CV677
|
F22
|
Tender Water Filling - variable length
|
CV680
|
F23
|
Reserved
|
CV683
|
F24
|
Reserved
|
CV686
|
F25
|
Reserved
|
CV689
|
F26
|
Reserved
|
CV692
|
F27
|
Overall Volume Down
|
-
|
F28
|
Overall Volume Up
|
-
|
Volume setting range 1 – 255, higher values give louder sounds.
Paul Chetter
October 2017