Few weeks ago I saw a posting about a Spectrum GP 7 or 8 at Miro-Mark for $40.00 and it got good reviews. Today at my LHS I happened to see they had a special on Spectrum SD 45 part number 82717. Is this the same caliber of engine has the one talked about at Miro-Marks? Prices is all so only $40.00.
One thing I remember, no one thinks highly of the Bachmann decoder that comes with there DCC engines. Can a new decoder be plugged in, or does it have to be hard wired?
I am not to worried about fine details, long as it does not look stupid.
Thanks for your time.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Verify it is a Spectrum. The quality of them is very good. The price seems low for one but if it is and you have a problem, just send it back for repair.
Springfield PA
cudaken Few weeks ago I saw a posting about a Spectrum GP 7 or 8 at Miro-Mark for $40.00 and it got good reviews. Today at my LHS I happened to see they had a special on Spectrum SD 45 part number 82717. Is this the same caliber of engine has the one talked about at Miro-Marks? Prices is all so only $40.00. One thing I remember, no one thinks highly of the Bachmann decoder that comes with there DCC engines. Can a new decoder be plugged in, or does it have to be hard wired? I am not to worried about fine details, long as it does not look stupid. Thanks for your time. Cuda Ken
Go with the GP 8, if you can find one. They're much better but hard to find.
Ken, how funny is that, I was over at K-10 myself on Saturday and picked one of these up, the Conrail version, as that is one of Crispy's favorites. Anyway, the decoder was a bear to program, until I remembered that these need the 1K resistor across the program track. Then was able to program with no problems. For the price, the detail is excellent, see through wire grills on the air intakes for example. It runs smooth, but seems to need a lot of throttle to get going, messing with start voltage did not help much at this point. Top speed seems slow to me. We have not tried out the pulling capability. Crispy is begging to go back today to spend some of his Christmas money on another! At basically half price, it was a good deal IMO.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
The DCC equipped Spectrum offered by Micro-Mark for $38.50 (plus $8.95 shipping) is a SD-45.
A DCC equipped Standard line GP-40 is priced at $29.95 (no choice of roadname) or $36.30 if you pick the roadname.
I don't own either one, so I have no comment about quality other than what has been said about the poor quality of a Bachmann decoder by other forum members.
Ken,
I had one of the earlier Spectrum SD-45's and the detail was quite good on it. It's my understanding that Bachmann reworked the SD-45 for the latest run to add see-thru grills and some other additional details. The drive in the one I had worked very well, smooth & quiet on DC. I sold it when I changed my prototype, even made a few $ on the deal.
For the price you are seeing it should be a fine basic engine, even if you later decided to replace the bare-bones Bachmann decoder board.
Mark Gosdin
Thanks for the answer folks. Now, do I really need another engine is the question? I properly be better off buying two new motors for my other engines that have not been converted to DCC yet.
But, the Freight Santa Fe SD 45 would sure go well with my SD40-2.
Simon, I guess I will see you at K-10 today. Do the lads want me to bring anything for them to run?
Ken