Velleman MK134 Steam Engine Sound Generator Mini Kit, 240 V, multicolored

Well planned and laid out kit. Good instructions. The sound is kinda tinny and the horn sound is terrible. If you enclose the speaker in a plastic bowl, the sound is improved (more base) but the horn still is not great. It worked okay as a temporary sound generator until a better, motion sensitive module came in. I wired this up to the train power with a small power convertor so that it came on when the train was moving.This would be a good kit for older kids to practice soldering skills. You have a large variety of components from IC sockets to resistors.

You had better be able to solder. I'm NASA certified, but a good hobby skill is adequate. It worked the first time. It draws about 50 milliamps at full volume. The resistor colors are true and easy to identify. The PCB is well identified, and has large solder pads. I did buff the pads with steel wool to make sure the solder would flow nicely. The steam sound is Ok for what I wanted, a 48" electric locomotive for my grandson and daughter to ride on. I made a megaphone from a large metal can for the speaker. I don't want a real loud sound, especially in the house. I actually had to reduce th colume with the megaphone! The whistle is only a squeak, so will not be used. The shipping was fast, and arrived before the early delivery date. I rec'd it today and assembled it right away in around 2 1/2 hours. Velleman did a good job. I'd buy this again.

I supose in order to reduce the cost - this product comes as an electronics kit - all the diodes, resisters, capacitors switches, potentiometers and etc are found in a ziplock baggy and the circuit board is separate . Have some experience in soldering circuit boards, it still took about 3.5 hours for the assembly but the sounds generated have absolutely NO resemblance to a train whistle (whoo--whoo) of any kind. The closest approximation to any known sound may be a very squeaky-pitched European police siren but that is being generous. Then there is also supposed to be some sort of a "choo-choo" sound which is actually an electronic "click" .This electronic device is completely useless. Don't waste your money.

Nice little circuit board and easy to assemble if you have had previous experience in wiring and soldering. The switch for the train sound and for the whistle in integrated onto the board so there was a little extra work to make these external. The sound is not bad, particularly if you use a much better speaker than that enclosed. I would recommend and buy again. Great service from company.Eric Stephan

No real instructions included? Upon completion, made sounds but not really train sounds at all! Loud high pitch squeal instead of whistle sound. No huffing steam sounds?

The sound is at best an escaping steam noise and a "squeaking " whistle - NOTHING like a STEAM Locomotive or a Loco Whistle..!! The two controls don't do what is described - the "volume" also affects the sound character and the "SPEED" is only changing usable in the last 30% of the potentiometer. Therefore, it's useless as a serious sound effect generator for a model railroad or Steam Locomotive and too expensive for a "toy". The time for assembly was a waste - but at least the instructions were correct and easy, no parts missing (to say at least something POSITIVE) ... SORRY..!!! P.K.H.

It's a great kit. Not hard to solder, though you should be careful and not get components too hot. I put the speaker in a tin can for use with my steam punk telescope, and the the volume is more than adequate. Whistle is a little "tinny" sounding but, again, good enough for my use.

Nothing about this kit says I sound like a steam engine. Just get a cheap tiny MP3 player instead. You will be able to download all kinds of steam sounds for less money and better quality.