Kato N Scale NW2 ZIMO MS-NW2_A246 DCC Decoder Installation
Last Updated 250928
DCC Decoder installation instructions for Kato N Scale NW2 with ZIMO MS-NW2_A246 DCC Sound Decoder and SBS4DCC "Tailor-Made" speaker enclosure.
Recommended sound file is ZSP00726 EMD 12-567.zpp.
Originally published on September 28, 2025.
Supplies:
- ZIMO MS-NW2_A246 Micro Direct DCC Sound Decoder - N Drop-in Board for Kato NW2
- SBS4DCC "Sugar Cube" Speaker 8x12mm 8 ohm .7 watt w/ N Cab Roof Sound Chamber for N Kato NW2
- Kapton Tape
- Modified interior insert for speaker
- Hobby Knife
- Flush-cut pliers
- Optional blackened out cab interior windows
Installation Notes:
- Removed 3mm x 20mm of the rear split-frame in order to make room for a 12mm x 8mm sugar-cube speaker mounted in a custom 18mm x 8mm x 6mm speaker baffle.
- Ran a 0.25mm black styrene strip directly beneath the decoder board bottom to protect from shorts.
- Applied kapton tape to sides of the decoder to protect from shorts.
- Speaker baffle required a bit of milling on the bottom and top to clean up the residual 3D printing flash.
- Soldered brown 36AWG wire leads to the speaker and tightly wrapped kapton tape around baffle.
- Speaker gently slides in between the split-frame and bottom of decoder board.
- Last step was to use black Sharpie to blacken out the cab interior windows from the decoder mounted SMD LED’s.
- Overall look and shell reassembly was excellent.
Installation Pictures: