Breaking News --- KLAUS is OPEN for BUSINESS !!

YES - that's right. Klaus, your Famous Klaus is open for business - again - to restore and install LGB trains, engines, cars and LGB antiques. Life happens. Sometimes  decisions need to be made.  And the  winner is : YOU!

This mid-March Klaus is again open for  LGB model train  installations, restorations and repair. Klaus will try to fulfill parts needs but may refer you  when appropriate.

You will see this blog as well as our other blogs regularly with information about old and sometimes new LGB matters. This blog will showcase  LGB restoration projects, and general old generation (1968-2006) LGB train,engine, and car history and new developments in ESU decoders. On LGB Yarner you will - again - find biographical stories  about LGB 'players, gamers and owners'. And the rather new blog Traincraft Trove  will furthermore contain offers from Klaus' personal collection.

Your Famous Klaus has installed ESU sound decoder (generation) V 4.0 since 2012. To quote him:" driving characteristics in speed steps 1-3 are unsurpassed by any other sound decoder out there" (YT: see You Tube ESU in F 7 video slowest F 7   which at one time was the least watched video on You Tube). But there is more: the enormous amount of light functions like Mars light, firebox light, dimmable headlights with fade-in/fade-out function and many more. All in all 18 light functions are available.

Klaus also really likes the fact that ESU has the biggest library of loco sounds. Just look at the
extreme variety of locos Klaus installed the ESU decoder in: ( all LGB) Mogul, Crocodile, F7, Streetcar, 2055, 2056, 2043, 2020, 2021, 2070, Forney, Mallet, Mikado, Uintah, 2099, 2095, Glacier Express, Ruegen, Ballenberg-- and also, into Shay, USA GP, USA S4, Aristocraft, Aster, MTH GG (YT: A non-LGB loco might require extra work and higher installation costs). And since Klaus is also a knowledgeable sound mixer he custom-designs sounds from that library as well.

Klaus utilizes the ESU decoder for digital operation but it can also be operated in analogue mode. However in analogue mode there is no power buffer once the loco is parked. To solve this special problem Klaus installs the Phoenix sound decoder which also operates digitally but has no driving functions ( sound decoder only ) whereas the ESU V 4.0 and V 50 are a combined sound and driving decoder.

At this year's International Toy Fair ESU introduced their new next generation ESU V 5.0 sound decoders.
As before the programming is an easy task via the Lok Programmer. A wide variety of pre-programmed motor settings is again supporting the smooth functioning of the loco in drive and sound move. The unique auto-tune function allows the automatic decompression of the decoder to the motor. New design contents are: it can play up to 10 sounds simultaneously without them interfering each other. So i.e. whistle, bell, braking noise, air pump and more are played at the same time clearly. Each channel can be resolved with up to 16 bit forward/31250kHz and by that finally offers hi-fi quality for your engine. There is virtually no difference to the original. A dual class D amplifier with up to 2-times 6 Watt output powers the speakers. It is equipped with 12 amplified function outputs which thereby allows you to control lights, servos, smokers etc - up to 12 of them.

The new V 5.0 generation sound decoder will be available by April.

Klaus contact data is the same --- call or email. Thank You for Your Support!!