Today I received my Walther's Proto 2000 E3 A/B units. They look really nice. Haven't run them yet. Nice detail, nice paint job. Only discrepany I can spot is the diaphrams have some mold marks and imperfections and the steps appear to be out of scale. Otherwise I'm pleased. This addition makes the complete train
Bigiron,
Can you post some photos, with some closeup and distance shots? Also, consider taking a few outdoors as this gives a nice perspective on the paint finish and colors.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Yeah, post some photos.
Rich
Alton Junction
Yes, by all means, post some photos if you can please.
Also let us know how they run when you run them!
Inquiring minds want to know!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I received mine yesterday. I was taken aback a little bit by their subdued colors and plating when comparing them to the Athearn Genesis F7's of a few years back (see the last photo below). Is this correct for the F3's? It's very difficult to capture the differences in a photograph due to the reflective nature of the plating, but here you go:
If the photo on the right is the Genesis F7's (phase II), they appear to have no plating at all, ie no stainless steel panels. The ABBA set on the left must be the Walthers P2K F3's phase IV by the looks of the DB squirrel cage fan on the roof. It appears to have SS side panels. I do not know if Santa Fe applied SS side panels to some and not others.
My Genesis Western Pacific FP7A has SS side panels with an almost "mirror" finish to them and it strongly contrasts with the silver paint portions of the model, as it did on the prototype. My Stewart F3B units, by contrast, do not have SS side panels but they should, so I may have to "metalze" them.
Either way, handsome diesels!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The set on the right in the bottom photo is the Athearn plated F7s. The plating is very mirror-like and is simply reflecting the white table surface. The plating on the Walthers F3s is much less reflective/polished.
Here is another photo utilizing a busy background to illustrate the difference in reflectivity of the Walthers vs. the Athearn plating. On the left is the Walthers F3, on the right, the Athearn F7. You can see how much more reflective the Athearn's plating is:
Nice demonstration. The Athearn Plating really is mirror like and the reflection is quite clear. The reflection of the P2K plating is out of focus and dull. The earlier picture seemd to contrast well against the silver paint. I really have no idea which is closer to the real thing, I guess prototype photo's would provide a clue.
riogrande5761 Nice demonstration. The Athearn Plating really is mirror like and the reflection is quite clear. The reflection of the P2K plating is out of focus and dull. The earlier picture seemd to contrast well against the silver paint. I really have no idea which is closer to the real thing, I guess prototype photo's would provide a clue.
Rio, guys.......
It's likely that BOTH are correct! Remember my threads on the research regarding metalizing? Stainless steel finishes (on passenger cars, locomotives, truck trailers, classic RVs, etc) tend to become duller with hues turning light-grayish as they age if they're not well maintained. You can see this in many un-edited photos on the web and in some books......even when lighting of the subject is taken into consideration.
Sometime in the 80s or 90s, I remember seeing photos of the restored prototype Santa Fe Warbonnet F7s. They were repainted with Imron single stage polyurethane and the stainless steel was polished back to a very reflective sheen. Up until then, the sides had been quite dull.
I bring this up because on several forums I've read of arguments as to "which plated finish looks the most realistic" when the topic should focus more on "what age and/or type of wear do I want my plating to reflect?"
As I've pointed out before, even the Walthers Superliner's plating can be dulled down with a thin coat of an acrylic semi-gloss or flat clear depending on how worn one wants the sheen to appear.
If I were modeling Santa Fe in the 1960s time period, just before and after Amtrak.........I'd go with the more toned down plating look. 1940s-50s........yes that mirror like shine would be a good way to go, imho.
I can see how both are correct based on the age or maintenance of the finish, but it doesn't seem likely that Walthers was trying for an aged or weathered look, given that they didn't disclose that in their product description, nor did they seem to apply the same effect to their rather brightly-plated passenger cars.
Yes, agreed RC.
I think that both companies were going for the "as delivered" look and it's likely that when samples were produced by the selected overseas manufacturer(s), reps or managers from each company (Walthers, Athearn) made their own choice as to which finish they felt would be best and most likely acceptable for the customers (us).
The plating of passenger cars and certain locomotives is a relatively new game for Walthers and Athearn. The Superliners have a high sheen, but notice that the sheen on the new Pine series cars has been "toned down". IMHO, this shows that manufacturers are listening to input from modelers and are improving.
I've spoken with reps before via email. They want to make sales and are taking constructive customer input seriously; especially since they're quite aware that now we can "plate" (metalize) our own streamliners just about as nicely as they can with our own desired level of sheen. Win-win!
Sorry for not posting photos as requested. I was out of town for three days attending my son's college graduation. I still have company here visiting. I have noticed someone has posted some very good pictures, so I don't see a point in adding anymore unless someone was interested in see what I think are imperfections. Overall, I'm very excited about these, since this was the first HO engines I received when I was a boy. It is alos my first name train purchase and with the expense probably my last.
Finally got around to posting some video on the 'Tube. Hope to have better video next week when there are not as many people at the club.
watch?v=jNV0b7 UDk
RC,
I enjoyed that vid! Thank you for posting it.
A suggestion, if you don't mind. On your next vid, try shooting the "Classic Railfan Scenario Shot" very close to the train. One, facing the train with it coming towards you and passing by (Just like the opening credits in "The Adventures of Superman" but of course, not as fast).
The next segment, the camera close to the track facing in the opposite direction with the train passing by and moving away from you down the tracks. Shoot both segments on the same spot.
High Greens
Hi,
Nice video and its a lovely train. Of course growing up in California and having traveled around the west quite abit before getting stranded in "no man's land" of the east, I love western railroading the best.
If I could collect a couple passenger trains which are "off topic" for my personal modeling focus, they would both be western trains including the Chief and the Empire Builder - which IMO are among the top most handsome US passenger trains! Sweet video! Post more please!
rcgrabbag Here is another photo utilizing a busy background to illustrate the difference in reflectivity of the Walthers vs. the Athearn plating. On the left is the Walthers F3, on the right, the Athearn F7. You can see how much more reflective the Athearn's plating is:
That's interesting. I have an Athearn Genesis F7 AB set, and they both have the satin finish. I picked up another F7 Genesis B unit and it has the mirror finish.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR