Your thoughts on this engine? How does it run, detail, sound, paint, etc?
I owned the originally released non-streamlined version and it was one of the nicest plastic engines I ever owned. The detailing was excellent. It ran well, and the paint was very good (this is coming from someone who refuses to buy Athearn diesels due to their poor quality control history in recent years).
I had the non-sound version, so cannot comment on sound.
John
The newer versions with the skyline caseing are fantastic!
They have great detail, generic Soundtraxx Tsunami sound, and excellent paint!
However, the chuff is not in sync with the wheels out of the box. You'll have to screw around with the CVs to fix it.
The running isn't great either. The 2nd driver has the traction tire, which makes the model do a wheelie occasionally, because the drivers are unbalanced. Only a few have this problem.
hope this helps!
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
My MT-4 runs great and will crawl along at < 2 scale mph. Setting CV 116 to 200 should synchronize the sound.
I really only have 2 criticisms of the model. One is that the blowdown spreaders are missing (easily rectified by castings from PSC). The other is that the engine number at the rear of the tender is too small and in wrong location for post 1946 lettering.
Andre
I am amazed that the OP received quite eloborate answers in complete sentences to his rather snappy questions.
To the OP - a little more politeness certainly helps to get the answers you may expect. After all, people dedicate their leisure time to answer you - keep that in mind next time you want know something.
DAVID FORTNEY Your thoughts on this engine? How does it run, detail, sound, paint, etc?
Snappy and impolite?
Let's check this out.
Nope, can't figure that one. Looks like a pretty straightforward posting asking for opinions on a specific model.
Apparently, none of the people answering the OP's questions had a problem with it either.
I don't think at all my question was as you call "snappy".
My question was direct and included what I needed to know, nothing else. What would you like me to write? A letter three paragraphs long before I get to the question?
I do appreciate the answers that were posted, much appreciated.
I find it sad when a good forum like this one is being turned into a platform on which people continue texting as if this were a mobile phone.
Apparently I belong to a different generation of people who still take offense in this, IMHO, crippled communication.
You may rest assured that I won´t be bothering you with an answer to any of your future questions.
Sir Madog I find it said when a forum like this is being degenerated into a platform on which people continue texting as if this were a mobile phone. Apparently I belong to a different generation of people who still take offense in this, IMHO, crippled communication.
I find it said when a forum like this is being degenerated into a platform on which people continue texting as if this were a mobile phone.
So, stop texting.
I like to be direct and ask what I need to know. Worked well for me in my 40 year career in senior management. My employees always seemed to appreciated it.
Now that I am 70 I'm not about to change.
Sir Madog I find it said when a forum like this is being degenerated into a platform on which people continue texting as if this were a mobile phone. His post wasn't rude or contrite, plus he had capital letters and punctuation. Apparently I belong to a different generation of people who still take offense in this, IMHO, crippled communication. You may rest assured that I won´t be bothering you with an answer you may have in the future.
I find it said when a forum like this is being degenerated into a platform on which people continue texting as if this were a mobile phone. His post wasn't rude or contrite, plus he had capital letters and punctuation.
You may rest assured that I won´t be bothering you with an answer you may have in the future.
You do realize like everything else in life internet related this entire forum is set up for mobil(aka cell) application?
I don't like it either, why do I want to squint? There is a reason I have a 17inch laptop and a 65 inch TV
Does everyone else agree this entire site looks stupid when viewed on a computer and you get to use the middle 2/3 of your screen....... But, it's unavoidable now sadly.
As to the new MT-4, while I have not seen one in person, but a club member was running one last week and he had nothing but good things to say about it when we were talking about it. Ran very well, unlike my Genesis Northern 4-8-4. Double the price of 10 years ago and quality is garbage
I set up this page so it nearly fills the entire screen - much easier to read, much easier to handle this way.
Believe it or not, I don´t even own a cell phone, let alone a smartphone. I just don´t have the need to being called while I am doing my business in a rest room or paying my bill at the cashier´s of the supermarket.
Ironic, isn't it, that most of the verbiage on this page has little to do with the original post?
andrechapelon Ironic, isn't it, that most of the verbiage on this page has little to do with the original post? Andre
Ironic or not, it wouldn't have happened if not for the unwarranted criticism leveled against the OP.
bnsf1 andrechapelon Ironic, isn't it, that most of the verbiage on this page has little to do with the original post? Andre Ironic or not, it wouldn't have happened if not for the unwarranted criticism leveled against the OP.
Actually, I also prefer questions that are written in full sentences and thus show a modicum of respect toward the target audience. The only reason I even bothered to comment on the MT-4 was as a counterpoint to a reply by someone else. Otherwise, I was disinclined to respond to the OP.
I would have worded it somewhat differently, but I agree with Sir Madog.
andrechapelon bnsf1 andrechapelon Ironic, isn't it, that most of the verbiage on this page has little to do with the original post? Andre Ironic or not, it wouldn't have happened if not for the unwarranted criticism leveled against the OP. Actually, I also prefer questions that are written in full sentences and thus show a modicum of respect toward the target audience. The only reason I even bothered to comment on the MT-4 was as a counterpoint to a reply by someone else. Otherwise, I was disinclined to respond to the OP. I would have worded it somewhat differently, but I agree with Sir Madog. Andre
Not to drag this out to the point of stupidity, but I really don't understand this concern over a question posed in short form vs full sentences.
It would seem to me, and I assume it does to the people who took the time to reply, that the point is that the question is understood.
Whether or not that's accomplished in a couple of lines or by stretching it out through full sentences is something to be decided by the OP.
If the fact that it's done in a shorter form is offensive to you or anyone else is obvisously a personal matter.
But, I would suggest that if you do take offence to questions or comments written in this style, you take the most obvious course of action.
Don't reply.
I myself would have preferred the questions to be a little bit more complete, but I was able to answer.
I do understand the folks who are getting frustrated at the lack of good grammar on forums such as this. Clear concise communication should not be going out of style, but sadly for many it is.
Honestly, if I communicated in the emails for my engineering work as some folks communicate in online forums, I would no longer have employment.
"Don't reply."
I didn't. I replied to someone who took the trouble to use complete sentences.
PRR8259 I myself would have preferred the questions to be a little bit more complete, but I was able to answer. I do understand the folks who are getting frustrated at the lack of good grammar on forums such as this. Clear concise communication should not be going out of style, but sadly for many it is. Honestly, if I communicated in the emails for my engineering work as some folks communicate in online forums, I would no longer have employment. John
You're absolutely right about the state of grammar today, however I'm compelled to make a point.
Not too long ago, a young model railroader posted a topic in one of these forums.
There were a number of grammatical and spelling mistakes in his post, but as I recall no one took him to task for them.
The people who responded were all polite and offered advice to help him get into the hobby.
To me, that's the point of this forum.
A community of people with similar interests coming together to help each other with the many facets of this hobby.
I'm sure there are things that people might do that could be offensive to some. But I'd suggest that those are the kinds of things that would get your account suspended, not an incorrect verb, spelling mistake or not phrasing a question in exactly the way that someone prefers.
First and foremost, this forum exists for the exchanging of information to help the people on here and those just reading the forum with their modelling.
If someone's lack of language skills or the way the phrase something is offensive to someone, they have the option to simply move on to the next post.
andrechapelon "Don't reply." I didn't. I replied to someone who took the trouble to use complete sentences. Andre
Actually, you did.
The original post was made by David Fortney.
PRR8259 replied, followed by Trainman440, followed by you.
If you intended to reply to one of the people who replied in "complete sentences", you should have added a quote so people would know you were talking to them, not the OP.
bnsf1 andrechapelon "Don't reply." I didn't. I replied to someone who took the trouble to use complete sentences. Andre Actually, you did. The original post was made by David Fortney. PRR8259 replied, followed by Trainman440, followed by you. If you intended to reply to one of the people who replied in "complete sentences", you should have added a quote so people would know you were talking to them, not the OP.
Now you're a mind reader?
I was replying to Trainman440. There are limitations when using a phone that aren't there with a full blown computer. Cut and paste is a real PITA. It should have been fairly obvious from the content of my message to whom I was replying (big hint: the reference to CV 116).
andrechapelon bnsf1 andrechapelon "Don't reply." I didn't. I replied to someone who took the trouble to use complete sentences. Andre Actually, you did. The original post was made by David Fortney. PRR8259 replied, followed by Trainman440, followed by you. If you intended to reply to one of the people who replied in "complete sentences", you should have added a quote so people would know you were talking to them, not the OP. Now you're a mind reader? I was replying to Trainman440. There are limitations when using a phone that aren't there with a full blown computer. Cut and paste is a real PITA. It should have been fairly obvious from the content of my message to whom I was replying (big hint: the reference to CV 116). Andre
When I set up the account, I was told by Kalmbach's service department that the Quote feature was there so people replying to someone other than the OP could make it clear to whom they were responding.
What if the post goes on for multiple pages and you want to relpy to someone who posted two pages back?
How is anyone supposed to tie your post in with theirs?
Is this where the mind reading comes into play?
The fact that you happened to be responding to someone above your post has nothing to do with it.
People use this feature all the time, even on the same page.
Your post does reference the CV from the previous reply, however it also contains generic information about the model, which would lead anyone to believe those comments are directed to the OP.
I hate to tell you this, but the quote feature can get very unwieldy on a smart phone when all you want to do is cut and paste a sentence or 2. Kinda like now.
andrechapelon I hate to tell you this, but the quote feature can get very unwieldy on a smart phone when all you want to do is cut and paste a sentence or 2. Kinda like now. Andre
I understand and I thank you for clarifying that.
I'm not using a smartphone for any of this so that's news to me.
Perhaps, referencing the person you want to direct your reply to would work.
Something like,
Modeler name,
In reference to...
Having said that, I understand the frustration of trying to do anything on a smartphone.
Geez, all I did was ask a question about a model engine.
I didn't expect it to turn into a discussion over writing in non complete sentences.
I always appreciate the help I have gotten here but there are some who need to stop worrying about how people communicate here.
I try to help when I can and so should everybody else.
DAVID FORTNEY Geez, all I did was ask a question about a model engine. I didn't expect it to turn into a discussion over writing in non complete sentences. I always appreciate the help I have gotten here but there are some who need to stop worrying about how people communicate here. I try to help when I can and so should everybody else.
David,
That's the point I've been trying to make.
We're here to offer advice and help each other with this hobby.
You didn't ask me to jump to your defence and maybe I should have let you deal with it yourself, but I didn't like the way you were treated and I figured if we let this one go by without commenting, who's going to get criticised next and for what?
I still don't think that the way you posed your questions was a problem. They were short and to the point.
But once again, I would respectfully suggest that if someone has a problem with the way in which a question is phrased, they have the option to simply move on.
I hope this experience won't discourage you from continuing to participate in the forum.
DAVID FORTNEYGeez, all I did was ask a question about a model engine.
You had capital letters at the start of each sentence, correct spelling, punctuation and your question was clear. I was OK with it and much preferable to 1/2 page run on sentence with spelling that wouldn't pass the 3rd grade.
Ulrich has been here much longer than I, but since I've been here, he has always been helpful to newbies. So we found his hot button, and it is not one of ours.... we all have hot buttons somewhere in life if not in this forum.
DAVID FORTNEYI try to help when I can and so should everybody else
Agreed.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
bnsf1 Not to drag this out to the point of stupidity
Too late for that!
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Good grief, a moderator needs to come sweep this topic clean and leave just the comments about the MT4. *sigh*
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
andrechapelon My MT-4 runs great and will crawl along at < 2 scale mph. Setting CV 116 to 200 should synchronize the sound. I really only have 2 criticisms of the model. One is that the blowdown spreaders are missing (easily rectified by castings from PSC). The other is that the engine number at the rear of the tender is too small and in wrong location for post 1946 lettering. Andre
Oh yeah, I forgot. The default whistle setting is for an Espee 6 chimer. Given the limitations of a small speaker, it sounds quite authentic. Other settings are for a one note air horn (shrouded MT4's had 'em) and a GS-4 whistle.