The OP has heard plenty of opinions at this point, and people are getting snippy for no good reason. Therefore, this thread is being locked.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Purchased two NS ES44AC units straight DC. Both in the Rivet Counter variation. They are great runners and the detail is over the top. Care must be used when handling which I do rarely. In my opinion they are comparable to my fleet of Kato SD80mac and SD40-2 units in performance. Very pleased with customer service when ordering direct from Scale Trains. The young lady I spoke with was beyond nice to deal with. I will be ordering more units in the future.
I have a Bachmann GG1 with SoundValue. When the sound is turned off the only sound discernable are the metal wheels on the rails. Drive is very quiet and smooth. The Bachmann GG1 got top ratings of all GG1's that I have read.
I have never had a problem with any of my Bachmann engines - Bachmann is high quality as long as you are not requiring all sounds (like coupler crash and wheels squealing). The detail is good - not quite as much as following locos.
I also have Intermountain Tsunami diesels and a BLI PRR M1b Paragon 3 steam engine - the latter have more sounds but cost another $100 approximately.
They do sound pretty accurate, but that's not the same thing as desireable. Standing next to a real turboed 645 or 710 doesn't make me want to walk away, yet somehow I can't take the modeled version for more than a few minutes. Maybe its the lack of basic deep base rumble of the models that allows the high frequencies to dominate my ear. When one of my op sessions lasts for about an hour at switching speeds to about 25 mph, I can't use a sound equipped turbo EMD loco from any current manufacturer.
No worries. I like the non turbo 567 and 645, the GE U boat FDL, and the ALCOs. They are all both accurate and pleasant sounding.
- Douglas
That's what they sound like though. Those are recent recordings. That's also probably with all the volumes at the default. When one (increasly rare) rolls through here, that turbo is very obvious over the other sounds, unless the loco is idling in a low notch and coasting.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
gmpullman I don't have a horse in this race but I have watched several video reviews from this gentleman and he seems to be fairly thorough: Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any ScaleTrains products, they simply have not offered anything that I can use for my era. Good Luck, Ed
I don't have a horse in this race but I have watched several video reviews from this gentleman and he seems to be fairly thorough:
Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any ScaleTrains products, they simply have not offered anything that I can use for my era.
Good Luck, Ed
Darn. Thanks to this review, I wont be buying one. Even though SD40-2s aren't really road switchers and most would operate them at above 30 mph, the slow speed sound is awful.
Like most manufacturers, the sound of the turbocharged EMD prime mover comes with the typical high pitched whine that's ear splitting and dominates the other sounds, even at reduced volume. Not Scaletrains fault really, all manufacturers of turbo EMD prime movers have that annoying whine that's just inescapable.
I guess the shell looks like an SD40-2, so theres no problem there, IMO.
riogrande5761 What is an opion?
What is an opion?
Something that appears on the opposite page from the ion.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The problem with accuracy of the shell so to speak is that the higher accuracy the more fragile the shell. It does no good to be accurate if the details break off.
So I will probably look at the operator line
Joe Staten Island West
fender777Thanks guys for your help. I saw that youtube review if you can call it that. He never really say how they perform compared to others are the good and bad like all engines have, I will try one.
Most reviews focus on the accuracy and the details of the shell. Not sure if most who create or watch reviews could tell the difference in how different locos operate anyway.
When all we do is set it on a shelf, or accelerate quickly out of staging to hit 40 mph ASAP, performance doesn't really matter.
Was looking at a YOUTUBE review of the SD40-2. Apparently there is a derailment issue with some of the locos in the first run caused by interference between the trucks and the sand lines. See about 24 minutes in at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-u9xLsWhM
Paul,
I think we just have different qualities that we look for (:
TheWizard,I get that your expectations are low; that as long as something moves and doesn't derail that you are satisfied. I get that. What I won't agree with is the idea that all engines that move and stay on the track are all just as good as each other. There are other considerations, and I'm not talking about details or prototypical accuracy.
How loud is the drive? Does it growl like a rock crusher or does it squeel like a teen girl at a Justin Bieber concert?
What is the speed curve? Does it take off like a shot, does it "stick" at low speed, does it run too fast or not fast enough?
Is the flywheel-action decent? Will the loco coast over irregular track or dead frogs or will it stop repeatedly at switching speed?
How is the drawbar force? Will a steam engine pull more than it's own tender uphill? Will a diesel pull a decent-sized train?
How smooth is the drive? Does a steam engine have a "hitch" in it's git-a-long due to misaligned drivers or oblong siderod holes? Does the diesel have gears that are not 100% round, or do they have rough tooth edges? Are the motor bearings properly aligned?Does the body roll? Are the truck connections so loose that the whole loco tilts to one side whenever it changes direction?
I understand that you're happy with anything that moves and doesn't derail, but that does not mean that all running engines are equal because they aren't. I had plenty of AHM pieces of junk as a kid in the 1980's to know the difference. The most infamous was the RS-2 that literally disintegrated a gear box while running down the track and left plastic bits of itself in the gauge.
I think you partially understand me, but maybe I wasn't being completely clear.
I have low expectations. Does it run? Do the lights work? Do its wheels roll? Can it stay on the track around a curve?
These are my expectations for two main reasons:
* Because I've been burned by all of those issues before -- the best looking quietest most detailed steam engine is useless if it can't stay on the track due to a bent axel. And don't get me started on the Walthers Amsleds...
* Because once I get 5+ feet away, I'm not going to hear motor noise or see their superb detailing anyway.
So from these expectations, trains that I can happily run include everything from the ScaleTrains.com SD40-2 to AHM, and most everything in between.
TheWizard,Um, no. There's no way that a Bachmann H16-44 runs as well as a Rapido or ScaleTrains loco. I have a Bachmann H16-44. I also have a pair of Bachmann EF-4's (E-33's) and a few Bachmann 44tonners around, not to mention experience with their F40PH's and F7A's. All of these Bachmanns are loud, growly engines. These Bachmanns don't run smoothly at any speed. If they're growling, they aren't smooth.
At my club, we test every loco on a spring scale for drawbar pull as part of registration (up to 1850 locos now). The soundless six-axle Bachmann EF-4 (E-33) is a large loco, yet they pull less than the smaller & sound equipped Rapido FL9 by half an ounce (3.25oz to 2.75oz). Why? Because the Bachmann drive is wasting a lot of power through vibration, which causes noise.Compared to an AHM pancake motor, sure, Bachmann drives are good, but that is setting the bar pretty low.
fender777Wizard to say they run like any other engine is not good. Their is quite a bit difference in brands and how they run. Bachman being the worst most times. I never even seen 2 engines of the same brand run the same. But thanks I guess for your reply.
With respect, I disagree 100%. When I put a bachmann engine on the track, it runs just as well as a Rapido or an AHM (remember them?). That is to say, I apply power (via a DCC command) and it starts to move. Every manufacturer runs smoothly at above 5 scale MPH, and the lights light up and the speaker makes noises.
Truth be told, the only engines that have disappointed me in the past 10 years are from MTH, as they require a higher track voltage and that leads to lower top speeds -- e.g. my H10s topped out at under 64 speed steps.
While I vastly prefer ScaleTrain.com and Rapido over Bachmann due to fidelity of detail, to somehow imply that my Bachmann FM16-44 is less enjoyable to run than my Rapido F40's is incorrect. In fact, given the non-rolling nature of my Amfleets, you could argue that the Bachmann is more enjoyable to run.
So regarding ScaleTrains.com' SD40-2's, they're good engines. They run well, just as well as any other engine, and they have details and features that truely raise the bar for the industry.
But the bar has been set to "good enough" since the demise of rubber band drives and pancake motors, and more recently, LED lights. I guess that's the reason I'm always disappointed by Athearn...
maxmanIf I had a question of this nature I'd be calling Scaletrains and asking them
Russell
I met them at a train show. The product looked great but I was not able to test it out.
csxnsIf my Athearn,Atlas,Kato and others have working ditch lights on DC why not Scale Trains.
Now how the heck should I know that? I was just speculating based on my reading of the Scaletrains information manual, which states that on DC the headlight is direction dependent, and that the class lights will come on in white only. Says nothing about the ditch lights other than they will flash when the horn is blown. Can you make the horn blow with DC, and what do the ditchlights do then? Or on the models you mention are the ditchlights on constantly?
If I had a question of this nature I'd be calling Scaletrains and asking them.
maxmanAccording to the Scaletrains operating instructions for the SD40-2, the ditch lights will flash when the horn is blown. If you can't blow the horn. then I'd guess that the ditch lights don't function
I have 2. They run like any other engine. They have good pulling power. The same could be said about Atlas, Bachmann, etc...
csxnsThinks but mine are no sound DC.
According to the Scaletrains operating instructions for the SD40-2, the ditch lights will flash when the horn is blown. If you can't blow the horn. then I'd guess that the ditch lights don't function.
csxns TheWizard F6 will turn them on and off. Once they're on, they will flash automatically when you sound the horn. Thinks but mine are no sound DC.
TheWizard F6 will turn them on and off. Once they're on, they will flash automatically when you sound the horn.
Thinks but mine are no sound DC.
Rivet Counter or Operator?
Only the Rivet counter ones have ditchlights...
TheWizardF6 will turn them on and off. Once they're on, they will flash automatically when you sound the horn.
I have heard nothing but good things about scaletrains.com. I am about to place an order to see for myself on their tier4 gevo. I just can't decide between getting the rivet counter with sound or two of their operator line models