Athearn HO scale 4-8-8-4 Big Boy video

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Athearn HO scale 4-8-8-4 Big Boy video

I had many problems with this train. Nice looking but too fragile; will not really work well on 18" curves on a “real” layout.

I would have to hear the sound of the Big Boy in person, because the video sounded strangely similar to the African Queen from the movie of the same name. The close-up sound from the engine sounded a bit more like what I’ve heard a Big Boy sounded like. The bell sounded good and the detail on the engine looked fine.

The steam chuff sounded more deisel like with the background noise. It sounded like the engineer was afraid to pull the whistle cord all the way, somewhat dissapointing. Good looking model and I would purchase it and fine tune the sound if possible.

Very impressive.Wish I could have seen the real thing.

I purchased one of each road nunbers(4005 and 4006). I have had no problems with these engines. The sound is nice and they are quiet with the sound off. I’m very pleased with these models!

Nice Whistle. Ok bell… The chuff sound off to me though. Looks great.

Sound was a bit strange for a Big Boy. Also it seemed to be hesitating at low speed when operating by itself.

After viewing the video I would have liked to see the real one in action. I did see one in Los Angeles years ago although it was in a park.

The steam sounds…was that the engine, or a machine shop? The speaker sounded like the volume was too high. Nice detail. I like the Precision Scale model better in the sound department.

strange soundingalso it hesitated. looks good

The detail is quite good (seen it personaly), but the sound is not improved over the challenger. In the close up it seemed obvious, that there is no back emf decoder inside (little unsteady running). But overall i would buy the loco, because of its running quality - which is considered the same as the challenger over normal trackwork. In contrast my Lionel challenger forces me to rework every new switch, whereas other locos run flawlessly.

This model looks good but the sound is not as I expected. I have a Challenger with sound and it sounds almost real.

Looks good! I am not all together happy with the sound, it does not have the sound of the real loco. Maybe that I am old fashioned but I like to imagine the sound in my mind.

Is the chuff rate good enough? The whistle was very far off! The detail on the other hand is very good!

Wow! This is a really awsome loco. You might have to do some playing around with the chuff rate to get it right, but none the less the loco is great. In fact, one of the whistles is the real thing! Also, the speaker wont cracle like the athearn F-7.

Both this & PCM where looking good on the vidoes, but the sound of PCM werison was better sounding. I just may be vidoes if seen in person maybe that would change my opinion of them both.

Engine has nice detail,sound is distorted? Is volume turned all the way up? Could not hear whistle.

awsome i love old steam engine i have a few on my ho layout

I don’t think the video does this model justice. I would have to see it in person to decide.