What should I buy? Atlas S2 v. P2K S1

[Anonymous]

I asked about the Atlas S2 a while back and the forum gave great reviews. Long story short I never made the purchase. At any rate can you folks do a pros and cons on the P2K S1 too? If it were your cash what would you buy?
Thanks,
Jacob

[nfmisso]

Jacob;

Which ever matchs your prototype. They are both great locomotives. The P2K unit has better detailing.

[tstage]

Jacob,

I can't speak for the Atlas, but I do have the P2K S1. She's a sweeeeet lil' engine. Nice detailing and runs really smoothly at low speeds.

([:O] OH, NO! [:O] Get ready for Tom's shpeal ...again!!)

The S1 can be purchased from Trainworld.com (http://www.trainworld.com) for dirt cheap. (Here's the direct link: http://www.trainworld1.com/lifelike/lifelike_proto.htm) MSRP is regularly $110. Trainworld has a blowout price of $29.99 (some $39.99). If you order one from them, you can have it in your hands in 3-4 days. They're quick.

(Okay, fellow MRRer's - the coast is clear. It's safe to come back into the room now..)

There is one down side to the P2K S1. Even though Lifelike claims that the S1 is "DCC-ready", it's really not. If you decide you want to convert your S1 to DCC, you must FIRST isolate the motor from the frame BEFORE installing the decoder. (Or the decoder will go "poof", if the locomotive shorts on a turnout or something.)

Isolating the motor from the frame is not a bad conversion. It just takes some extra time and soldering skills. Randy Rinker has a VERY nice visual "How to" on his web site that came in quite handy for me.

Jacob, if you decide to go that route, go ahead and replace the 1.5v incondescent headlight with a 3mm LED. I really makes the headlight look much more prototypical.

Hope that helps...

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

I have a Proto S1--still my favorit engine. Only have one Atlas, a GP-38 Master. That one is my second favorite.

[Anonymous]

I have one of each. Both are fine models and both run nicely, although my S2 runs a little quieter....however, I bought it used so it may have been more broken in. The S1 has way more separately applied details, although many are so small and delicate that they may not be worth the effort. I like how Atlas rendered the Blunt trucks more than how Lifelike did them....those on the S1 are a little flat and sharper edged where the S2's Blunts have more of the funky roundedness that I like about them. Bottom line? As always it's personal taste. You won't go wrong with either one.