Good evening all,
I am working on a new, small, proto-freelanced switching layout and am considering the Athearn Genesis MP15AC (in SP colors & DCC/Sound Equipped) for the main workhorse. Seeing as its coming up on 3 years since the MR review of this locomotive, I was wondering if anyone's had good, bad, or indifferent experiences with it. I have received advice to stay away from the Athearn's because of faulty/balky mechanisms...and to go with Atlas or Proto1/2k. Any opinions one way or the other?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
-TexasSP
Try to find a newer Athearn version with DCC and Tsunami sound instead of the older one with MRC.
The Tsunami equipped version even has mars lights on both front and rear, red emergency lights on both ends, extremely smooth operation, and excellent detailing.
I have 2 of the Atheran Genesis MP15-AC units, 1 is the latest with Tsunami sound (G66208) which happens to be a SP unit, the other one is (G66095) UP that is not DCC equipped. I had this one professionally weathered and have just received the sound decoder, Soundtraxx, RailMaster high bass speaker and enclosure that I will be installing shortly. I had dismantled the running gear on the non CDC unit, cleaned and re-lubed before sending off to have it weathered. I have left the DCC equipped unit totally untouched. My plan is to see how "my" MP15 stacks up against the "stock" unit. The stock unit has no issues....runs at a scale 1 mph and sounds like the one I recorded a few years ago. Only complaint is these do not come with train "personnel" and the interior of the cabs are painted "god awful green". I have been pleasantly pleased with the quality of these two units.
Thanks for the replies! I have actually looked at getting that same p/n (G66208) or one in that line with the SoundTraxx decoder installed. I've found several at a great price (both in UP, old skool SP and the "speed lettered" SP. I think I might pull the trigger on one.
TexasSP