Can anyone give me a quick review? I am looking at the N-scale SD70M model.
Thanks in advance.
Peter
I found that the Athearn SD70M was very noisy and had excessive glue used during its assembly. The glue was visible on the cab windows. It was a reliable runner and would pull on par with the Kato SD70. With MSRP’s about the same, I took my Athearn models back to the LHS for a 1 to 1 swap with Kato units. For the same money, the Kato is a better deal.
Bob
Not sure about the diesels, but I bought one of their N scale UP Challlengers a couple of months ago and am very please with it - so far…
Tracklayer
<>Thanks guys. My buddy has an HO SD70 that he wasn’t really pleased with either. Guess I will hold off on buying one.
Bob, by any chance, have you tried to swap shells with you Katos? Would/did they fit?
Peter
I really didn’t consider it. The Kato shell is quite a bit nicer in appearance, and the Athearn mechanism is just too noisey. Kato makes the SD70M in NS, so I have no need for the Athearn model. As with any manufacturer, I gave them a chance with this mechanism and they did not meet my standards for detail and operation.
I do not mean to bash Athearn, as their 2-6-6-2 Challenger is a very nice model. As well some of their flat cars and mill gondolas. While not up to MTL standards, for the price, they are excellent.
Totally understand. I just had an extra Kato SD70M in NS that does not fit in my prototype but Athearn has a EMD Lease unit that would…
Anyway, I’ll just wait till someday Kato produces more of my road or I learn to paint better.
Peter
Huh???
Did you ever serve on one of them thar Iowa Class Heavy Cruisers???
RT,
I worked with the Navy’s 88"/6 caliber muzzle loading smooth bore tubes. We shot 129,969lb guided rocket propelled projectiles a pretty fur piece! This was our main battery and consisted of 24 single shot guns in fixed mounts. You may know them better as the Ohio class SSBN’s with Trident II strategic weapon system.
To keep this on topic, I ran the Challenger for a few hours last night and my opinion of it has not changed, it’s a great model.
I bought a couple (SD70M & SD75I) and was a bit disappointed with them. The motors were noisy and did not start and stop smoothly. The engines also lack pulling power and I would rate the details and paintwork as fair.
I must admit that the motor noise reduced after a few hours of running and I hope Athearn would put a better motor in their future models.
Stick with Kato for quality!
Cheers,
I bought two EMD lease for a couple of weeks ago.
I mounted Digitrax DN163K1B in them. The digitrax decoders was a little too long so I had to sand a little on the forward led to make it fit in the body. On one of the locomotives I had trouble to get a proper contact for the decoder and the locomotive frame halves. It was not a good decoder choise but my supplier told me that they should fit.
Another problem is that the wheels don’t fit the Atlas c55 turnouts. The locomotive jumps when the truck passes the frog. I have ordered a track gouge to check the wheels. I dont’t know if it is possible to adjust them. Maybe some of you know that?
Apart from these remarks it runs good and I will keep them but I would probably have bought Kato if I had known about the problems I have mentioned.