My previous post linking back to my blog where the photos of the Little Joe are was deleted because it was interpreted as advertising. Just to be clear, my website is simply a personal blog on hobby related stuff that I personally own. I do not sell locomotives in any way. So, I'll just post a link to the YouTube video I took if that's permissible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PxnrdFAnV8
Santa Fe - All the way! Missouri Pacific - Route of the Eagles!
I am using an NCE Power Cab DCC controller. I don't think I'll be investing in a DCS system. Too much other DCC stuff to operate. Plus, my club uses DCC (no surprise there, I'm sure!). You still get a good amount of control and features using DCC with MTH stuff, but there are limitations.
Curiousity:
How does the prototype Milwaukee Road Little Joe compare to the New Haven EP-4 as far as appearance? (besides the huge grill that the EP4 had on the sides)
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
dinwittydo me a favor, setup some curves, like 22" radius, then run about 10 cars behind it, and run it backwards and watch the porch action.
AntonioFP45Curiousity: How does the prototype Milwaukee Road Little Joe compare to the New Haven EP-4 as far as appearance? (besides the huge grill that the EP4 had on the sides)
rcgrabbagdinwittydo me a favor, setup some curves, like 22" radius, then run about 10 cars behind it, and run it backwards and watch the porch action. I'm don't think I'm familiar with the vernacular...porch action? What is that? Does it get bound up or pushed around somehow? I'll give it a go an see what happens. Did you post something similar about the BLI Centipedes in another thread?
dinwittyrcgrabbagdinwittydo me a favor, setup some curves, like 22" radius, then run about 10 cars behind it, and run it backwards and watch the porch action. I'm don't think I'm familiar with the vernacular...porch action? What is that? Does it get bound up or pushed around somehow? I'll give it a go an see what happens. Did you post something similar about the BLI Centipedes in another thread? someone posted about the Centipede's porch twisting while backing up causing a derail issue, I checked mine and sure enough, backing up they nudge off center pushing cars, the articulated porch on the model, the prototype didnt, and I own a NWSL Little Joe and its porch is direct on the driver frame, no articulation, runs fine. I posted more on the BLI forums.
rcgrabbagdinwittyrcgrabbagdinwittydo me a favor, setup some curves, like 22" radius, then run about 10 cars behind it, and run it backwards and watch the porch action. I'm don't think I'm familiar with the vernacular...porch action? What is that? Does it get bound up or pushed around somehow? I'll give it a go an see what happens. Did you post something similar about the BLI Centipedes in another thread? someone posted about the Centipede's porch twisting while backing up causing a derail issue, I checked mine and sure enough, backing up they nudge off center pushing cars, the articulated porch on the model, the prototype didnt, and I own a NWSL Little Joe and its porch is direct on the driver frame, no articulation, runs fine. I posted more on the BLI forums. I gotcha. Yes, it would seem the same thing would happen with the Little Joe.
dinwittyAntonioFP45Curiousity: How does the prototype Milwaukee Road Little Joe compare to the New Haven EP-4 as far as appearance? (besides the huge grill that the EP4 had on the sides) 2 less driver wheels, can looks more like an F unit, no extending front porch.
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Wow! A picture is worth more than a thousand words. Dinwitty, thanks so much for sharing that photo of your brass unit (who made it, Alco Models?). The Little Joe (2-D+D-2) is a monster compared to the EP4 (2-C+C-2). I'm a New Haven fan and am hoping that a manufacturer will produce an EP4 as well as an EP5.
AntonioFP45dinwittyAntonioFP45Curiousity: How does the prototype Milwaukee Road Little Joe compare to the New Haven EP-4 as far as appearance? (besides the huge grill that the EP4 had on the sides) 2 less driver wheels, can looks more like an F unit, no extending front porch. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wow! A picture is worth more than a thousand words. Dinwitty, thanks so much for sharing that photo of your brass unit (who made it, Alco Models?). The Little Joe (2-D+D-2) is a monster compared to the EP4 (2-C+C-2). I'm a New Haven fan and am hoping that a manufacturer someone would produce an EP4 as well as an EP5.
Wow! A picture is worth more than a thousand words. Dinwitty, thanks so much for sharing that photo of your brass unit (who made it, Alco Models?). The Little Joe (2-D+D-2) is a monster compared to the EP4 (2-C+C-2). I'm a New Haven fan and am hoping that a manufacturer someone would produce an EP4 as well as an EP5.
A fimr in Brazil I think is making a plastic version, there were some on ebay not too long ago, I was almost tempted to buy one.
Frateschi makes the model in plastic. http://www.frateschi.com.br/produtos/v8_eng.php
Kon
Modelling the BN 1970-1995
Burlington Northern Rails A fimr in Brazil I think is making a plastic version, there were some on ebay not too long ago, I was almost tempted to buy one. Frateschi makes the model in plastic. http://www.frateschi.com.br/produtos/v8_eng.php
Who also makes those nifty shortyblnt observations, so it ought to be a decent looking loco.
-Morgan
Keep in mind, a lot of these options and features you want, don't want, like or dislike, are customizable on the MTH Little Joe, even in DCC. You can turn off the voices, adjust the volume of the engine sounds, raise and lower each pantograph manually and individually by DCC control (you don't even need their proprietary DCS system to do all these things). I know a lot of people bemoan the use of DCS, but I don't own DCS and never will, and I still get a lot of control with MTH products using DCC (NCE DCC to be exact). I don't own MTH only, maybe 3-4 locos. I have more BLI, Athearn, Walthers, etc. I say this only to present what I'd like to come across as an unbiased view. I can't argue the inaccuracy of the details as I am no expert in that area. But if you're basing a large part of your decision on inclusion/lack of operational features, it's a good chance that what you're asking for is already there.
As I listened I wondered what is all that sound was from? It's and electric, didn't they just hum? Don't recall the GG1s in Harrisburg making engine sounds. Squeeling brakes, flange noise, but no motor sound.
rcgrabbagKeep in mind, a lot of these options and features you want, don't want, like or dislike, are customizable on the MTH Little Joe, even in DCC. You can turn off the voices, adjust the volume of the engine sounds, raise and lower each pantograph manually and individually by DCC control (you don't even need their proprietary DCS system to do all these things). I know a lot of people bemoan the use of DCS, but I don't own DCS and never will, and I still get a lot of control with MTH products using DCC (NCE DCC to be exact). I don't own MTH only, maybe 3-4 locos. I have more BLI, Athearn, Walthers, etc. I say this only to present what I'd like to come across as an unbiased view. I can't argue the inaccuracy of the details as I am no expert in that area. But if you're basing a large part of your decision on inclusion/lack of operational features, it's a good chance that what you're asking for is already there.
dinwittyrcgrabbagKeep in mind, a lot of these options and features you want, don't want, like or dislike, are customizable on the MTH Little Joe, even in DCC. You can turn off the voices, adjust the volume of the engine sounds, raise and lower each pantograph manually and individually by DCC control (you don't even need their proprietary DCS system to do all these things). I know a lot of people bemoan the use of DCS, but I don't own DCS and never will, and I still get a lot of control with MTH products using DCC (NCE DCC to be exact). I don't own MTH only, maybe 3-4 locos. I have more BLI, Athearn, Walthers, etc. I say this only to present what I'd like to come across as an unbiased view. I can't argue the inaccuracy of the details as I am no expert in that area. But if you're basing a large part of your decision on inclusion/lack of operational features, it's a good chance that what you're asking for is already there. If I am going to park the Joe, I may want to drop both pans, remotely , powered thru the overhead wire, drop them both, no power. Running on 2 rail no overhead, well dream on, have fun... I just hope MTH smartens up to the DCC crowd, if I can't do certain things without a DCS system, forget it.
I'm not sure I'm following. What exactly are you trying to do? Again, I don't think I'm defending MTH to any unreasonable degree. But don't you think your wish list, if I'm reading it correctly, is a tall order for ANY manufacturer to fulfill?
Correct me if I'm wrong...you're trying to drop both pans remotely, and then that's where I get lost. If you want to run power through the pans with the MTH Little Joe, you can simply throw a switch on the loco which sets it up to grab power from overhead catenary instead of two rails underneath. I don't think it's checking off all the items you want, but I'm not familiar with any manufacturer of an HO electric that is.
Personally, I don't think the things you can't do without DCS are a deal breaker, but that is my own personal opinion. In an ideal world, I would prefer that MTH move away from DCS, but since that is not likely, DCC still provides a great deal of control, and is certainly a far cry from the old days before DCC.
rcgrabbagdinwittyrcgrabbagKeep in mind, a lot of these options and features you want, don't want, like or dislike, are customizable on the MTH Little Joe, even in DCC. You can turn off the voices, adjust the volume of the engine sounds, raise and lower each pantograph manually and individually by DCC control (you don't even need their proprietary DCS system to do all these things). I know a lot of people bemoan the use of DCS, but I don't own DCS and never will, and I still get a lot of control with MTH products using DCC (NCE DCC to be exact). I don't own MTH only, maybe 3-4 locos. I have more BLI, Athearn, Walthers, etc. I say this only to present what I'd like to come across as an unbiased view. I can't argue the inaccuracy of the details as I am no expert in that area. But if you're basing a large part of your decision on inclusion/lack of operational features, it's a good chance that what you're asking for is already there. If I am going to park the Joe, I may want to drop both pans, remotely , powered thru the overhead wire, drop them both, no power. Running on 2 rail no overhead, well dream on, have fun... I just hope MTH smartens up to the DCC crowd, if I can't do certain things without a DCS system, forget it. I'm not sure I'm following. What exactly are you trying to do? Again, I don't think I'm defending MTH to any unreasonable degree. But don't you think your wish list, if I'm reading it correctly, is a tall order for ANY manufacturer to fulfill?Correct me if I'm wrong...you're trying to drop both pans remotely, and then that's where I get lost. If you want to run power through the pans with the MTH Little Joe, you can simply throw a switch on the loco which sets it up to grab power from overhead catenary instead of two rails underneath. I don't think it's checking off all the items you want, but I'm not familiar with any manufacturer of an HO electric that is.Personally, I don't think the things you can't do without DCS are a deal breaker, but that is my own personal opinion. In an ideal world, I would prefer that MTH move away from DCS, but since that is not likely, DCC still provides a great deal of control, and is certainly a far cry from the old days before DCC.
I would expect that it's theoretically possible to change the sound, but I'm not aware of MTH ever providing alternate sound samples. I'm pretty sure they never have. My solution would be to simply turn the sound down. There's a fair amount of "whirring" that doesn't seem to come through on recordings (such as my video), but I agree there's an odd sort of diesel sound that MTH has given it. I'll just turn it down. I have a BLI GG1 and it makes what seems to be a more accurate sound, but, it doesn't actually sync well with my throttle inputs, whereas the MTH does. It's an original Paragon, so maybe it lacks the synchronization of the Paragon 2's? Do they do this for electrics? In any case, seems like there's plenty of give and take across products.