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Scaletrains!!! My tier 4 gevo with sound arrived!!!

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  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Sunday, August 19, 2018 8:16 PM

Anyone know if the ESU has a doppler horn like rapido? I kinda feel like the horn is tacky... could be that I need to switch to a better sounding one, even though the defualt is supposed to be accurate.

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1,345 posts
Posted by ATSFGuy on Saturday, August 11, 2018 6:44 PM

I'm still waiting for Intermountain to re-release those ES44AC's in the Red/Silver "Warbonnet" Scheme. They were announced in 2010/2011 are are ALL SOLD OUT!!

Red/Silver or Blue/Yellow has more of a nostalgic look than Black/Orange.

I really wish BNSF hadn't dumped the Warbonnet....

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Thursday, August 9, 2018 2:34 PM

The scaletrains rivet counter with sound is cheaper than the intermountian with sound though...

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: San Diego
  • 954 posts
Posted by stokesda on Thursday, August 9, 2018 2:20 PM

Congrats! I have two Tier 4 GEVOs, both non-sound. One BNSF from Intermountain, and I just received my new GE Demonstrator ScaleTrains version!

A bonus with the Intermountain model is it comes with a LokPilot DCC decoder installed. I had to buy one for the ScaleTrains version, which is an instant price increase of $35 Sad

I'm happy with my ScaleTrains GEVO so far. Only thing that was "broken" was a bit of traction motor cabling came loose and is sitting in the bottom of the box. I think I know where it goes, so I just have to glue it back on. No biggie.

On my Intermountain one, I had it for a couple months before I noticed one of the sideview mirrors was missing. It wasn't in the box, so I figured it was either missing from the factory, or got accidentally vaccummed up long ago. I have yet to contact Intermountain to ask for a replacement, but I hear they're pretty good about that kind of stuff. Maybe I'll call them right now...

Dan Stokes

My other car is a tunnel motor

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 10:50 PM

Number: 3764

Sometime in the future I will get more gevos. I will also make sure they have the GE "whoop". I want that, but my current loco doesn't have it (too modern?)

Mostly intermodal is what I am planning on using it for. It fits perfectly for this because all of the prototype info I could find on my road number showed it pulling intermodal, and sometimes intermodal trains only have one loco.

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1,345 posts
Posted by ATSFGuy on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 10:08 PM

Hang on to the user's manual, it will help you figure out how to program each indivdual function on your locomotive.  I always hang on to the User's Guide in case a locomotive dosen't run or detail parts are missing.

 

Sounds like you got a great deal!!!Big Smile

 

A few questions:

1. What number is your Tier 4 GEVO?  

2. Do you plan on getting two more?

3. What were you going to have them pull on your layout?

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 5:26 PM

BNSF UP and others modeler
When sounding the bell function after the horn, the two bells conflict. Since there are two speakers, they both play instead of one overriding the other.

Are there any decoders that have 2 separate sound outputs?  There may be, I just haven't seen that mentioned.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: North Carolina
  • 1,905 posts
Posted by csxns on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 5:13 PM

BNSF UP and others modeler
Please don't turn this thread into a debate about wether I should have got it or not

I have four SD40-2's and four tier 4's they are great one had a missing part and it was replaced you did not go wrong. 

Russell

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Scaletrains!!! My tier 4 gevo with sound arrived!!!
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 3:15 PM

Just thought I'd share the excitement. I got one of 'em in HO scale decorated for BNSF, and thought I'd post my take. This is the most expensive, detailed, and quality sounding model railroading item I have ever bought. My entire summer work went towards it. Please don't turn this thread into a debate about wether I should have got it or not. I am happy with it, and you can buy whatever you like.

First off, scaletrains shipped via UPS. I got free shipping, but it took way longer than my experiences with USPS. Oh well... Great packaging when it arrived, as expected. The actual loco box is quite beefy, and it has neat "blueprint" drawings on the box, similar to KATO. Removal of the lid reveals the operator's manual and spongey foam covering. Upon taking those off, I saw the loco "clamshell" snugly pressed inside more foam. Removing that gets you to the final stage of unboxing. I noticed that this part was very similar to other top brands. Seems standard, and works well. To finally get to your precious $230 purchase, you will first need to slide the plastic sleeve off. Then, you pop off the "tab" that holds the "clamshell" together, and unfold. Take the loco out, GENTLY, and put it on a flat spot on your layout. Remove the two handrail protectors, plasctic truck guards, and fire 'er up!!

Details rival Athearn Genesis and others, but I won't go into details on thatBig Smile. Sound is excellent, but it didn't blow me away in a manner that caused me to immediately chose Loksound over all others for the rest of my life. Two sugar cube speakers feature a very powerful sound output, and in my opinion, the sound volumes are all adjusted to prototypical levels. I find it very difficlut to hear the prime mover and bell in prototype videos, which is nicely replicated by low sound volumes for these two on the model. Paint color doesn't bug me, as I am no judge of that. The headlights and ditchlights, as observed in youtube reviews, seemed a teeny dim, but again I feel that I don't have enough prototype expirience behind me to fairly judge that.

Problems:

Humans are not perfect, so anything they produce will garunteed have some blooper, be it big or small. These were mine: One of the lift rings on the antenna array was missing/ broken off. Hopefully that wasnt me. 3 see through grills at the rear of the loco are popping out slightly, and I have no idea how to put those back in all the way. When sounding the bell function after the horn, the two bells conflict. Since there are two speakers, they both play instead of one overriding the other. This seems to happen on youtube reviews I watched too...

Despite those truly piddly problems, this is a stupendous buy! Definitely a wise choice for those of you who have a heart for gevos or model the modern era.

Feel free to positively comment below!

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

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