The Intermountain 2nd run Southern Pacific AC12 is out and my model came in yesterday. The second run has better gearing and will run faster than the first run hitting 25 mph top speed. This one will probably do about 50 mph or so.
The sound is Tsunami and the whistle and horn options are good, but it has the limitation of not being able to give four double chuffs per rev. The most it can do is about 3 when CV 116 is set to the maximum. This has been a problem with the double chuff feature on the Tsuami from the beginning and it has not been fixed yet. I received the first ones when they came out and talked to the Engineer directly at Soundtraxx about the problem but no fix is in the works. The first run Cab Forward does chuff correctly because of the 48 to 1 geat ratio allowing it to chuff four times per rev.
If anyone knows a fix for this problem, I would appreciate knowing how to set this one up correctly.
Off topic question: How well does this loco track in the 30" radius curve range? The first run Intermountain CF that I demoed on my layout had issues in this department and I opted not to consider buying one until the new version came out. Have they fixed these probelms?? Would love to get one but don’t want a loco that won’t track well on my layout. FYI: I run everything from small wheel base brass up to large articulateds with no problems with tracking and derailments.
Don’t have any solutions to the Tsunami program question…
I heard there was a problem with the new version of the locomotive shorting out because of contact of the tender’s weight piece contacting the electronics, and that the solution is to place thin insulation such as tape between them.
Sorry I can’t answer your question since it has been on any layout with 30" curves. I do suspect it will have some problems since the box does include an addtional replacement spring for the front lead truck with a note saying the lead truck may derail. When a manufacturer provides the spring and note, look out!!!
This is the 2nd run and since the first run was so poor in tracking, I would expect changes to correct the problem, not a note and a spring replacement. Does the old saying “On a wing and a prayer” come in mind?
My backup is some brass AC12 models that really do run and stay on the track rather well.
So far I have not experienced that problem, but if it has been reported, it might show up. This is a well detailed model overall with only one or two exceptions, match most of my brass models of this engine. I like the looks of it except for the steam dome. I looked at many prototype pictures trying to find out what the problem was and went back down to the CSRM and took close up pictures of the dome from the upper level. It is obvious now after looking at those pictures but this one cannot be fixed without some retooling.
Warning: this is a rant! In case newer m.r.ers or someone new to steam locos didn’t know of the past issues with the lst run:
Anyone who’s read any of my posts knows that I’m not a negative guy but in Intermountain’s case I think their past unresponsiveness and resolutions have turned off me (non-owner) and some friends who owned the lst run, permanently.
Isn’t $425 list a bit much for a plastic loco who’s lst run was a well known and unresolved (for the buyers) disaster even with such nice detailing?
The lst run was such a nightmare that I’d want to see and hear a lot of reports on the 2nd run before even considering being a Beta tester. I hope they get it right this time and the price comes down to something much more reasonable.
BLI’s AC4/5s were very nicely detailed (although not AC12s…apples/oranges?) but you could buy one for a couple of hundred bucks. What’s Intermountain thinking especially after the nonsense with the first run?
(leaving owners with expensive “shelf queens”.
You’d think they’d want to buy back some owner/user good will by pricing the 2nd run at a more reasonable price point, at least as a special re-introductory offer. Just my opinion after looking over a lst run model and seeing the many unhappy posts from most lst run owners.
There were a few happy lst run owners but they were the vast minority.
I was waiting and hoping for a dependable 2nd run but not at that price.
Sorry but I have a very low tolerance for expensive motive power from a company who didn’t provide successful after sales repairs/solutions to buyers of the lst run.
I’m looking forward to hearing feedback and owner reviews of this 2nd run and may (but doubtfully) consider one some day IF they fixed ALL of the problems from the lst run. Ok back to my usual sunny disposition.
Interested to see what you all think as this 2nd run is released, purchased, run and reviewed by owners.
I have the new model and it does have problems, but it only cost about $300. Granted, that is not cheap, but most of us do not pay full price on plastic model trains. I wanted to find out if anyone else had received their AC12 this week and what their thoughts are about this model. It is not the upgrade I expected after we talked to the representative at the Anaheim show 18 months ago. They indicated the problems would be fixed, but I am not convinced.
I would not even considered this model for full price knowing the messed up condition of the first run, which I have also. I don’t believe they have fixed much on this except the gearing which is much faster and now that change has made the sound incorrect also. So if you are considering one, I would advise pass on it. I am using this as a display unit and the airpump sound at rest is very good.
BLI/PCM still insist that they are going to bring in the die cast metal AC12 so that will be the ticket to sound and possible running models of the AC12.
Thanks for the info…I was kind of afraid that they might punt on the tracking fix, but hey, who knows, maybe they fixed some stuff that we can’t see in the mechanism??? Think I’ll save my cash until I can be sure…I do know that the person whose loco I demoed on my layout won’t be buying the 2nd run…
Capt. - Without stirring up Mark P too much, I should point out that intermountain offered some sort of deal for first run owners, not sure exactly what it was but it was an attempt at making good on some of the problems with the first run.
Does anyone else get the feeling this locomotive, either original or improved, is cursed? I have seriously considered testing the bullet impact of a 22 Hornet on mine.
Intermountain is exchanging new and (improved?) models for the originals. Although this offer is unpublished, it is bound to cost the company a bundle.
We were told by the Intermountain representative at the Anaheim train show they were considering an offer to all previous first run buyers and I put my name on their list and gave them my email. To be honest, the way this one runs, I don’t think I would pay anything more to get the first one replaced by this version. I purchased this second run to have the same number (4294) as the one at the CSRM and this one will be displayed also.
This model has high gear noise above the sound while running medium speed and the first run had the same problem but it was louder than the second run. My thought is they did change the gearing but this model has more problems than just the gearing speed. It is nice looking but should be avoided if you actually want to run it. I now have the first and second run and both are shelf display models to my thinking. That might not be the case for others so that is my review and any other thoughts are certainly welcome. It also wobbles as it goes down the track which is never a great sign for a model train to look as if it is going to leave the track anytime it gets a chance. I really hope my AC12 model is a one on mess and the rest of the AC12 actually r
The problem with testing is it is takes time. Yes the unit runs forward and backward and wobbles some but that would not stop shipment on a model. If they rejected every one that ran like this, they probably could not ship out many models and lose money on the project.
When the first ones came out, my model ran OK but a friend purchased two and both of his were very poor runners. One actually would jump up and down as it moved forward since it was way out of quarter on the drivers and it was sent back in for repair. This one is better then the first run but it is not the quality model I was hoping for.
I would hope each buyer would still consider running one at a LHS before deciding to buy it and verify what the model is really like. I was also hoping they would use a real sunny bright LED for the headlight but we got the yellow one again. It may be there is no way of getting quality control from the builders in China that they are using, but other import companies have done much better with the color of the lights and running qualities.
And to fair to Intermountain, they make fine running diesels so this model is not their standard product or not up to their standards.
The problem with testing is it is takes time. Yes the unit runs forward and backward and wobbles some but that would not stop shipment on a model. If they rejected every one that ran like this, they probably could not ship out many models and lose money on the project.
When the first ones came out, my model ran OK but a friend purchased two and both of his were very poor runners. One actually would jump up and down as it moved forward since it was way out of quarter on the drivers and it was sent back in for repair. This one is better then the first run but it is not the quality model I was hoping for.
I would hope each buyer would still consider running one at a LHS before deciding to buy it and verify what the model is really like. I was also hoping they would use a real sunny bright LED for the headlight but we got the yellow one again. It may be there is no way of getting quality control from the builders in China that they are using, but other import companies have done much better with the color of the lights and running qualities.
And to fair to Intermountain, they make fine running diesels so this model is not their standard product or not up to their standards.
I hope someone from that great club does tell us if this new version runs any better on their layout. That would be nice to know if mine is just a poor runner and not a good example to review.
I am still using the factory setting for CV 112. Using 96 according to the manual would select a single airpump for an articualted engine and medium wheel slip rate. The cab forward uses a special Tsuami with the dual airpumps that sort of whistle since they exhausted directly into the air via a large set of vertical pipes outs of the pumps.
The sound of the airpumps is unique to the later Cab Forwards and the setting seems to be correct for that function. I have worked with SV’s 209, 210,212, 213, and 214 which are motor control and motor feedback along with starting voltage at CV #2. It does do four double chuffs after it gets past 10mph or so but I am still trying to get a smooth start below 5 mph.
