When Life Like came out with the P2Ks, I was quite impressed with overall performance, crispness of the paint and detail, and invested in quite a few. When they introduced the P1Ks, I got the impression they were a low-cost option, but I never figured out exactly what they lacked that the P2Ks had. I never bought one so had no opportunity to do a hands on comparison.
Anyone care to comment on the differences?
Biggest difference is that the P1K units have most of the detail - grab irons, etc.- molded on, as opposed to separately applied. Other than that, the mechanisms are virtually identical. The P1K stuff runs very smoothly and quietly.
Proto 1000 is to the Life-Like/Walther’s line what Blue Box is to Athearn. Proto 2000 is more like Genesis.
No the mechanisms are not identical. There are no two locos that have a P2K version and P1K version so you can’t even compare the two anyway.
Most of the larger P2K locos use a sort of Athearn clone motor and most of the larger P1K locos use a sort of Kato clone motor.
The switchers are another story.
P2K locos usually are DCC ready with a DCC pug. Most of the P1K locos are hard wired and need cutting and soldering to install DCC.
That’s not quite right, or at least can not be made as a blanket statement. For example, look at the Proto 1000 C Liners, they have grabs that are not molded on but are user applied. But others do have molded grabs.
So maybe there is no real rhyme or reason to 1 vs 2?
The P1Ks I have are very smooth runners, drawing less current than older P2Ks. Im DC only. The P1Ks lack grabs and checker plate walkways. I’ve applied grabs to one and it’s not a job I enjoy. I like their headlights - they are very bright.
Mike
The closest comparison I’ve got is a P1K Alco RSC-3 and a P2K GP9. The P1K definitely has less detail, but it’s a solid, smooth engine. The Geep is a much nicer looking engine, with illuminated number boards and seats for the engineer and fireman. (You have to supply your own crew, which I did to each engine.) As I recall, the Alco was hard-wired, and the GP9 had a light board that could be swapped out for a decoder board.
The subway trains are P1K. They run very smoothly, and I like the detail level. The newer ones come with end-gate details, while the original pre-acquisition units had no end gates. (They are available from Images Replicas, if you care.) These have light board, but no plugs. I added simple DH123’s to them with very little effort. (My first decoder install, several years ago. Piece of cake.)
The Proto 1000s all have different levels of detail, but lack any prototype variation from what I can tell. The F3, RS-2, RSC-3, Erie Built, and DL-109 all have most all of their detail cast on, although it’s all very clean looking. The C-LINER has separate grab irons, but the detail is still basic. The RS-11 has an incredible amount of detail (like separate door handles), but still no prototype variation.
The Proto 2000s always have a very high level of detail, and include prototype variations for each railroad. Both lines use basically the same mechanisms (my DL-109 uses P2K PA-1 trucks), and some more recent P2Ks even use the less expensive P1K Canon-clone motors.
The Proto 1000 RDCs have a heavy frame, equipped with a brass flywheel, and smooth running, They’re very nice looking units, and come with interiors.