is proto 2000 worth it?

[Anonymous]

you guys have me convinced on P2K- but what is proto 1000 like? what does P1K have for a drivetrain?

[Budliner]

good question I have the p 1000 rdc and it has a fine setup but I got spoiled with the 2-6-6-2 and the protos all piled up and I cant run the litle guys they look asome though

[onetrack64]

If I recall the MR reviews of a few years ago, they said that the drivetrain in the P1000 is the same as what is in the P2K line. The main difference was in the level of detail on the shell.

I have at least 20 P2K units, and only had trouble with one. I called LifeLike and even after I told them that I had bought the unit USED at a train show, they sent me the part I needed at no charge!!

If you could get a completely accurate picture of things, I would say that the problems you are hearing about comprise a very small percentage. Let's just hope Walther's picks up the ball when it comes to customer service. LifeLike has set a shining example of how to do it right.

[tstage]

Correct. The drive trains of the Proto 1000 & 2000s are exactly the same. The detailing is what sets them apart.

Tom

[Anonymous]

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-30756 BNSF GP38-2- this is the one i'll look for for my first P2K -there are two P2K GP38-2's- one has an 88" nose the other does not- the 88" looks slightly longer (both are short hood) is that true- also the BNSF w/88' nose has green trucks & i don't like that---are Walthers trainline locomotives any good --i kinda like the ALCO FA-1

[Anonymous]

Q: Is Proto 2000 worth it?

A: In a word: No...negative...nein....nada....nyet...

[Soo Line fan]

I think they are very good. I have 2 SD60s and 2 SD60Ms. After a few years of use they started to get noisy, as others have stated. I did an oil / lube and good as new. Why would this be an issue? I also have 2 GP30s and the gears did crack. I e-mailed Life Like and new wheel sets came quickly. It probably took longer to write about this than fix. Its easy to keep customers happy when there are no problems, its when you have a problem that you can tell the good companies from the bad. Walthers has treated me very well in the past concerning parts so I have no reason to believe that will not continue with their new acquisition. Pricing is another story. That will be what the market will bear.

Jim

[AntonioFP45]

Interesting answers.

Speaking for myself, I like my Protos very much. I bought blue boxes for years but switching to P2K for me, was like going from Ford Escorts to Honda Accords.

Yes, I've had the split axle problem, which takes about 1 minute to correct. As for those E units? IMHO, they are Life Like's crown jewel----super sweet running machines!

I especially like the body detailing P2Ks offer.

To those that put P2K units down..............

If you were around in the 1970s you'd understand why guys like me greatly appreciate P2Ks. Detail Features like ]lift rings on the roof, opening doors, air hoses, drop plates, handrails, optional pilots and fuel tanks, etc., were fantasies for many of us back then.

If you wanted that........you bought a "fat boy" blue box Athearn, bought or scratch built those extra details, then made the effort to find time to install them............which many of us did back then.

Add to that: Those hoods were naggingly still too wide, and the windshields on the F units were too large. Atlas made some nice units, but only a few selections.

So, I'm very grateful for the Proto units. I plan on buying 4 more P2K E units, another SD45, two more Geeps, and 2 SD9s. The "little" mechanical glitches that some may have are usually an easy fix.

I've gotten several P2K units off of Ebay for great prices, often cheaper than Athearn blue boxes.

As for the "Loaded Question": Are P2Ks worth it...............it depends on what you the customer want. For me the answer is YES!

[ICRR1964]

I own Allot of the older BB Athearns, and enjoy them allot. They are good pullers and can be detailed easy. I also own quite a few P2K's, that are just as good as the BB, but have the details I want and better paint. As far as the gear splitting problem? Well who hasn't had them on the P2K's. Its a quick and easy fix to use the Athearn gears, plus you do not have to take the whole engine apart either. I like both the BB and P2K's, ones just a bit better than the other.

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ICRR1964

I own Allot of the older BB Athearns, and enjoy them allot. They are good pullers and can be detailed easy. I also own quite a few P2K's, that are just as good as the BB, but have the details I want and better paint. As far as the gear splitting problem? Well who hasn't had them on the P2K's. Its a quick and easy fix to use the Athearn gears, plus you do not have to take the whole engine apart either. I like both the BB and P2K's, ones just a bit better than the other.

I like the P2K GP7/9/30 shells..So,I am studying how I can power these shells..[:0]

[Anonymous]

since many of you have had cracked gears/ split axles-what has to be replaced? on my Athearn AC4400 you just remove the bottom cover on the truck and the axles come out-- also will Walthers / Life-Like send me parts free of charge?

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

since many of you have had cracked gears/ split axles-what has to be replaced? on my Athearn AC4400 you just remove the bottom cover on the truck and the axles come out-- also will Walthers / Life-Like send me parts free of charge?

So you will know here is the link in case you should need it some day..I am sure Walthers will stand behind their new LL products just like they have in the past.[:D]


http://www.nmra.org.au/Hints/P2K/P2K.html

[Anonymous]

thanks BRAKIE, i bookmarked that link should i need it- according to the link Athearn axles can be used- would these be a better alternative than L-L axles? would a L-L replacement crack as well?

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

according to the link Athearn axles can be used- would these be a better alternative than L-L axles? would a L-L replacement crack as well?

I doubt it. As I recall the history from memory - the cracked gear on the axle problem was on earlier production models of the GP7 or GP9. Some thought it was because they were just plain too tight, while others thought it was related to using a certain synthetic lubriant that attacked and weakend the plastic. I don't recall hearing of any cracked gear problems on current production models.

And this reminds me I should probably dig mine out of storage and at least get them out to test run and see if they have the problem.... sigh - another project.

To the orignal topic - Are they worth it. It depends on what you want them for. Personally I actually prefer the Proto-1000 for club use because they get such rough treatement there. Proto-2000s get all the nice detail broken off too easily.

[Anonymous]

i guess the question is do they run as well as the price suggests? the detail looks good

[tstage]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ICRR1964
As far as the gear splitting problem? Well who hasn't had them on the P2K's.

I haven't...and I have two.

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

i guess the question is do they run as well as the price suggests? the detail looks good

Dingoix,

How many reiterations do you want? YES!...they are TERRIFIC runners! Just TRY one and come to your own conclusions....

Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher


As I recall the history from memory - the cracked gear on the axle problem was on earlier production models of the GP7 or GP9. Some thought it was because they were just plain too tight, while others thought it was related to using a certain synthetic lubriant that attacked and weakend the plastic. I don't recall hearing of any cracked gear problems on current production models

well thats reassuring

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
Dingoix,

How many reiterations do you want? YES!...they are TERRIFIC runners! Just TRY one and come to your own conclusions....

Tom

okay, okay i'll go for a P2K GP38-2 when i have the money

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

QUOTE:
Dingoix,

How many reiterations do you want? YES!...they are TERRIFIC runners! Just TRY one and come to your own conclusions....

Tom

okay, okay i'll go for a P2K GP38-2 when i have the money

Be sure to test run it at different speeds.
Best bet is to wait and buy a Atlas Trainman GP38-2 or a newer Athearn RTR GP38-2.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Best bet is to wait and buy a Atlas Trainman GP38-2 or a newer Athearn RTR GP38-2.

why so? the t-man isn't available in BNSF and if i go Athearn i'll get the b-b kit beacause the RTR has green trucks & i don't like that- i'm willing to spend $85 for a P2K if it's gonna last a long time (b-b will last longtime)

[tstage]

dingoix,

I'm sorry for the somewhat curt answer before. I was thinking. Do you have an LHS nearby that you could checkout a P2K locomotive at? That way you see firsthand without having to committ to anything. Just a thought...

Tom

[Anonymous]

I'm going to get a GP7 either from ebay for trainworld. For $40 it can't hurt to try. But is the GP7 DCC-ready? Just curious.

[Medina1128]

I have a Proto 2000 SW1500 that just crawled around the yard right out of the box. [:)] Would I buy another locomotive from them? ABSOLUTELY!!!

[tstage]

dingoix,

After this long thread, let's us know what you think about the Proto 2000 Geep, when and if you get it.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I HAVE BEEN INPRESSED WITH P2K AND HAVE HAD I PROBLEM AND LIFELIKE GAVE ME THE PARTS AND MORE THAN I NEEDED. THE BEST PULLING AND LONGEST RUNNING. OUR CLUB HAS OPEN HOUSES AND I RAN A 125 CAR TRAIN WITH TWO SD60S FOR 6 HOURS AND NEVER A PROBLEM OR DID THEY HEAT UP OR FAIL. THE MONEY IS WELL SPENT.

[wjstix]

I like their E-units. GP's aren't bad, the ones I have are a few years old and have an annoying stutter/whine especially at higher speeds. Proto 1000 RDC and RS-11 I have are very nice engines !! Steam for me has been a bust, the Proto 0-8-0 I have never did run very well, the 2-8-8-2 ran well for about a year then gave up the ghost. Both look nice sitting still but would rather have less detailed but better running steam engines.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: dingoix,

After this long thread, let's us know what you think about the Proto 2000 Geep, when and if you get it.

I WILL get either a GP7 or GP9 from trainworld, BUT i want one in IC. I might wait a month or so.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry

OK I like PK2. But i have notices a thumping noise in some of my GP7s & 9s. I assumed it was flat spots on wheels. Is this noise the gear problem and if it is where do I get replacements

Yes that thimp thump is a split gear. If you contact Walthers now that they own P2K they will send you replacement gears. They are very easy to replace.

[CP5415]

OK, my 2 cents.

For a long time I was against Proto. Just plain didn't like them. It was Athearn or nothing else!

I ended up buying a Proto unit, I can't remember which one I bought, but I was impressed by it.
The real clincher was when I brought home my P2K PA. Man o man! The MARS light blew me away & the detail in is is impressive as well. The only thing I didn't like about it was it didn't have the correct sides to it. D&H PA 17 was different than the other 3 & I bought #17, but I got over it.

I now have 4 P2K's, the PA, SD45, SD50 & S3 as well as P1K C-liner, RS11 & 2 RDC's.

I strongly recommend them.

One reason why I don't have any Atlas locos is that they haven't come out with a model of which I would want to buy.
Kato, when they had the CPR SD90-43 MACS, I couldn't afford one at the time & I have 3 AC4400's from Athearn so a Kato is not in the purchasing budget.
I have bought a Stewart C628, it needs some TLC as it runs as noisily as a BB. I do like it though. I will see lots of use on the tracks.

I can guarantee that it you bought a Proto unit, you would be impressed by it too.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Yes in my opinion they are worth it. I have two that I have put decoders in and I love them. They run just as smooth as my BLI AC 6000. I did have to slow the BLI down a touch in the CV's but thats it. At one of our club shows they ran as a consist for 4 hours and never faltered. They weren't even warm when picked up. By the way I picked mine up for around fifty bucks each at shows. Yes they were used but both were still in the original boxes and just hardly run at all. They are super quiet and well worthy of the decoder install. I will be getting more when the CFO allocates more money for power.