When I was at the train show in Seattle last week, I saw Athearn’s new RTR SD45-T tunnelmotor loco. Wow–it looked great with the see through grill and lots of details. I’ll be buying a few for my layout!!!
YEAH !!!
Saw a pic on the MR e-mail update, very impressive. A few in Espee and DRGW paint would dress up any layout!
I thought the same but the D&RGW owns only SD40T-2 !
Yes, a nice model, indeed, and perfect for SP modelers. If the rear grills are really see-through, how do they hide the rear truck gear box and drive shaft in that area? The real tunnel motors had nothing at all in that area but empty space, and you could see completely through from one side to the other.
Compromise!! Its looks as if the gear tower is still visible in the picture. Be glad that were getting a model of this quality from Athearn
WAY TO GO ATHEARN!!!
Yes, the gear tower is visible through the rear intake grills. I hope to have a video clip posted we took of the SD45T-2 at the train show by tomorrow.
For myself, I plan to modify the model to remove the gear tower on that end and only power the locomotive from the front gear tower. It will reduce the power of the locomotive, but the way I have the tractive effort / train length ratio set up on the Siskiyou Line, a second generation diesel only needs to pull 7 cars up a 2.5% grade.
Are they only being produced in undec, or are they just egging UP on?
COTTON BELT BICENTENNIAL IS A MUST!!!
This should be a decent-looking loco. I have one of the late-model SD40T-2s by Athearn (with single-piece driveshafts) which is one of my best locos. Here’s hoping they keep the same drivetrain on the new model as it behaves very well, with decent power,smooth running, and reasonably quiet.
Joe: I enjoyed your presentation at the NMRA convention. I will try to post a picture of the Athearn loco, but things are alittle busy at the office right now. The grills are see through, but you can see the rear gear in the model, which is unlike the prototype.
Take a look at:
For streaming video clips of the National Train show see - http://model-trains-video.com.
One of the cooler clips is the new HO Athearn Challenger loco with sound. The sound comes through pretty good on the 100K and 300K broadband video clips. (The 56K modem clip, well, we tried … ). The video clarity is okay for streaming on the broadband clips.
Also, have clips of the new Athearn SD45T-2 and their scale-width hood GP35. Also have links to Harry Wong’s wonderful digital photos of the SD45T-2.
Plan to add more clips to the train show section at http://model-trains-video.com over the next few days so check back if you are interested in more info about the show.
Dittos on that one!
Here are some pictures I took at the train show:
Joe, glad to see you got some time away from your booth to see that lovely model. Were you able to swing by the Details West booth? They had a P2K SD9 all dressed up in their new SD9E detail kit. That kit will sure make detailing the other 4 SD9’s I have a lot easier.
I am guessing that this will be a ready to run locomotive costing about $150 or a Genesis costing at least $200. Have you noticed that every time Athearn comes out with a new product it costs significantly more that a similar product that came out not too long before that. Take for example the Genesis 60’ Excess Height Boxcars ($24.98) versus the PCF RBLs they came out with ($29.98). Were the R&D costs really that much higher or does it really cost $4 to $5 more to make the RBLs? I doubt it.
What is the purpose of the see through grills if there are parts there that should not be there?
I’ll take the “Blue Box” kits any day.
This is supposed to be a ready to roll model not a Genesis. I am sure that the prices will continue to go up as long people keep buyng the products. I suspect that street price will be in the $85-$100 level for these locos.
Compromise be glad Athearn is making this model at all.
All Hail Athearn!!!
The price of the DRGW SD50 is about $105. I am sure the SD45T-2 will be more, espicially if UP wins the lawsuit.