[CMOTD]

One thing lacking from our favourite toy is the sound of a real engine. There have been a few attempts over the years with a distinct lack of success but is it time to take a fresh look at it? Previously it relied on an external source to provide the sounds with the twin auto screams of the 60s, Scalextric Sound Track in the 70s and speakers built into hand throttles in the 80s. Fly also had a few cars with some fairly rubbish onboard sound.

However, the model train world has been fully geared up with this for many years and the range of sounds that their locos can emit is mind boggling. DCC sound chips are widely available and virtually every 00 gauge loco comes with the facility to fit sound. I have even seen N gauge locos fitted with it and they are tiny! If you can fit sound chips and miniature speakers into one of those then a 1/32 slot car should be a doddle. It is increasingly being fitted into R/C cars as well so the technology for the engine sounds already exists. Digital slot cars must be a prime candidate for experimentation I would have thought.


Apart from the technical aspect of making sound chips work in slot cars there are some downsides to the idea though:
1) It is bloody expensive! Sound chips and speakers for trains come in at about a £100 a pop fully fitted.

2) Locos don't have a gearbox but cars do. Changing gear sounds six times in the length of the average home circuit straight could be a bit tricky!

3) Toy trains don't normally crash. Making a system robust enough to withstand slot car accidents may also be difficult.

All this is just idle musing on my part but I would be interested in your opinions on the subject, especially from our resident electronic experts. After you have finished making chips the size of a pinhead perhaps you could turn your thoughts sound-wards.