New to Garden Rail, Just bought USA's SD70MAC

[TomcatVF-211]

I don't know if anybody has posted yet on the new USA SD70MAC, I just bought one yesterday at ACE Hobby here in Tucson. It is huge, about 2 1/2 feet long and it weighs quite a bit, the power trucks themselves are articulated so the engine will handle fairly tight curves, I would say 8' minimum, just to be safe. I did notice a few detail inaccuracies, it has the SD50/60 blower duct on the conductors side and there is also something else not quite right about that area too but I can't quite put my finger on it, but I have no regrets about buying it, it's going to look great pulling cars around the yard.

Eric Strohmeyer

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a nice loco.

However as you go on in this hobby, you will find that less is better and when you decide which way you wi***o orient yourself; you may find that you have already made a costly mistake and then again maybe you have done somthing pretty good. A starter set would be better at this stage i think.

I only run European stuff and for several reasons to do with my layout and my desire for technical excelence i can ony run LGB.

Anyway the future will tell the tale.

I have been to Tucson, loved the desert next to the mountains and of course the Apago Indians add a lot of colour.

rgds ianj

[devils]

Have you seen the layout in the last garden railways by Jens Bang? Now that should give you ideas for the yard!
How about an Aristo -9 to go with it?
Can't be a mistake Ian you just run Standard gauge one day and LGB the next! My USA trains stuff runs as well as the LGB just draws a bit more current and has finer but more delicate detail. I'll trade minor pros and cons for being able to have models of a loco I like.

[Anonymous]

Eric,

Welcome to GRR. The number 1 rule is: HAVE FUN! [:)] [:)] Do what makes you happy. Everything else is peripheral.

That being said, Ian and Paul both make good points. The conventional wisdom is to begin with a starter set to have something to play with and learn from while you are accumulating all the things that are needed to have a layout. But I'm with you - I bypassed the starter set and went straight for a USA GP38-2. The upfront costs are higher but I'm be happier in the long run. Do what makes you happy.

The SD70 is definitely a beauty. Like Paul, I'm happy to trade off a few details for a loco that I llke. I'd love to have one but right now all my track is in the garage and the best I can do is 6.5 foot curves. Maybe next year when the yard is finished and I can move outdoors...

You've been watching the forums long enough to decide whether you like steam or diesel so you're a step ahead of the normal newbie. I would recommend that if you haven't already, use the search function on this and other forums liberally to pick up basic information about scales, power options, construction, etc. One tip - unlike roses, a G scale is not a G scale. With the SD70 you have started off at 1:29; the major manufacturers in that scale seem to be Aristo Craft and USA Trains. Different manufacturers build different scales from 1:20 to 1:32 and IMHO they can look kinda goofy putting them together. But again, do what makes YOU happy.

This is a great time of year in Tucson, getting nice and warm. (For readers from outside the Southwest, "hot" in Arizona doesn't start until the temperature hits 110 degrees F. Imagine living in a JennAire oven.) I spent some of my formative years there and it still holds a fond place in my heart, as you can tell from my screen name. Be sure to do a forum search on the effects of Arizona sun and brass track on plastic wheels. Soon. [8D] [8D][8D]

One other suggestion is to find other GRRers in the Tucson area. Check with the hobby shop for references or just post a question on the forum. You'll get a lot of tips and ideas from sharing this with fellow railroad fanatics. And it makes it more fun. There are also a large group of enthusiasts in the Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, area.

Again, welcome to the world of Large Scale. Have Fun.

Dan

[John Busby]

Hi TomcatVF-211
Welcome
You have broken conventional wisdom by getting a locomotive
rather than a start set.
Make sure you get the right minimum radius track for it it will be listed in the USA trains catalogue somewhere in the loco description.
Having done that the following rules apply
rule one
it is my railway I wil do it my way
rule two
in the event of a despute refer to rule one
rule three
there is no rule three refer to rules one and two

The apendix to the rules
Have fun [:D][:D]

A point Ian and several others have made from time to time there are no stupid questions,
only people too stupid to ask when they should have.
So ask away you will get a multitude of answers from around the world
most of the time one of those answers is bound to fit what you are doing
Regardless of what your local temps are 40c 110F lower or higher get as many
metal wheels under your train as you can more metal wheels = less track cleaning
[#welcome]
regards John

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I think you will find that Garden Railroading is far more forgiving than flying from that bird farm home! Most of us use the ten foot rule --- If it looks good from 10' away, it's good!

[rpc7271]

Did you get a good deal on the SD70MAC? Where exactly is Ace Hobby in Tucson? I couldn't find a listing for it in the online phone books, I live in Mesa, AZ and just might run down there to check them out. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Devil mate;

It can be a mistake as it is ok to run LGB on a non LGB but it can be near impossible the other way round. I have 6 locos and only 3 of them will run on a non LGB analoguw layout and when you try to run non LGB locos on my layout they will not take:-

1/ The R1 curves
2/ 4 % gradient pulling any decent sort of consist
3/ reversibng loops.
4/ Track contact actuated points ( switches)

So consider the future and buy as little as possinble as it may not be what you want a year down the track.


rgds ian

[Anonymous]

show pics of your new toy!

[devils]

Ian, good point but unfortunately the 'ooh shiny new loco, want one' syndrome gets me! I'm lucky that a couple of friends have got layouts where my big locos can stretch their legs.
Eric, You sound like you know a bit about diesels do you model in other scales?
If you've got room in your yard then plan for the biggest locos you like and the biggest radius you can get in and then you're future proof even if you change theme. Or you can be like me and model a bit of everything! Have you got an eye on some double stacks to go with the SD70?
Paul

[Tom The Brat]

hehe...

I'm a steam nut, but those big modern diesels are cool[;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomcatVF-211

I don't know if anybody has posted yet on the new USA SD70MAC, I just bought one yesterday at ACE Hobby here in Tucson. It is huge, about 2 1/2 feet long and it weighs quite a bit, the power trucks themselves are articulated so the engine will handle fairly tight curves, I would say 8' minimum, just to be safe. <snipped>
Eric Strohmeyer

Great score Eric! I'm five months into ownership of my USA Hudson. 40" long. I've seen those SD70s and I think I'm going to score one too. Have to get some rail laid first tho. Best of luck on your GRR. Glad to see another 'mainliner' join the forum! 1:29 rocks! [;)]

[TomcatVF-211]

Hey,

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Ace Hobby here in Tucson is a great store, excellent prices, they are the ones who got me started in G-scale, seeing those huge engines in the display case there will get even the Z-scale guys thinking about it, I paid $329 for the SD70Mac there, near as I can tell that was a good deal. I have two other Locos, a USA Gp38-2 and an Aristo SD45, I am looking to get the Aristo Dash-9 in the next few months. I have been buying track now for about the last year, just getting a piece at a time, because of the power I have aquirred I have settled on 10' radius, which will work well as I have two and a half acres with which to play with. I am also very active in HO scale, my primary interests are in the SP in the mid 80's, and I am in the planning stages right now for my first "real" attempt at a layout. I do know a thing or two about locomotives as I am a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad. I opted not to get the starter kit because the equipment didn't really interest me, and I don't need to start out right away (too many other hobbies) RPC7271, Ace Hobby is located at the NW corner of 22nd street and Kolb Rd, they have excellent prices and currently the only train store in Tucson where you can get G-scale as weel as other scales. they are very small, occupying a corner section of an Ace Hardware, so their selection is kind of limited because of that. However, they do have around 15-20 G-scale Locos on display and are more that Happy to order anything. USA trains list price for the SD70 is $449, and I paid $329 for mine at ACE, so it might be worth thdrive down to check them out, they did have one left as of sunday, it was a Santa Fe. Thanks again guys for the good words, have fun and happy railroading.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Eric,
You didn't set up your profile to allow a private e-mail, so, If you'd like to know about a place there in Tuscon where you can get a real deal Philly Cheesesteak on the by golly real Amaroso Bakery Roll e-mail me back and I'll give you the scoop!

[moparrailfan]

SD70MAC's do have the angled blowing housing like the SD60's and SD50's. The SD70M is the one that doesn't have them.
Doug

[TomcatVF-211]

Yep your'e right, very odd. I had assumed that the Mac and the M had the same blower, wonder why that is.

Eric