Just wondering how well Percision Craft locomotives perform. Anyone own any. Thanks
I have the Big Boy, and after some lube on the side rods, and after 1 hr. of break-in period each ways, she pulls anything you could imagine. I dont know if anyone else had this but… the first 10 minutes both ways the gears sound as though they are grinding, but after that, she is quite.
I got a pair of F3 A/B sets. I love the way they run. Starting and stopping is done gradually and the braking sound is excellent. My only complaint is the workmanship on the detailing. The “chickenwire” grills were not installed tightly and bulge badly. It really detracts from their appearance.
I own the Reading T1 4-8-4. Upon arrival from store she was in bad shape. A month back at BLI set it in 100% condition.
She is adequate on the mainline with 14 or so cars up a 3%. At this time Im waiting for funds to send it to Tony’s for a sound file upgrade as I dont like the whistles as provided by the factory.
I like PCM enough to consider several more engines for 2008 but due to advance reservations, limited run and TBD meaning indefinate production if at all if there is not enough orders, there is a risk it will not be produced.
I own a bunch of BLI and QSI steam (Proto) and they perform well enough to allow me to enjoy the hobby. Not like the crappy tyco trainsets of long ago.
I have the Big Boy, F3s and the ALCO FAs and they all run very smoothly with no problems at all. I didn’t have the problems mentioned previously with the F3 grills - mine came okay.
The FAs did arrive with 2 wiperblades missing but PCM did send me replacements within a week. So I’m a happy camper and hope the PAs will arrive soon…
I also have the Reading T1 that I purchased through Factory Direct Trains. Mine arrived in excellent condition and has run like a top ever since. It runs well at slow speeds and pulls 20 cars no problem - I have no grades on my layout yet. I like the sound, of course since this is my first sound loco, I have nothing to compare it to.
The three PCM steam locomotives I have are great running models and are worth the money. The sound quality is very clear but not correct for the prototype engine, but we were able to upload new whistle and bell to correct the problem.
I have 3 E7’s, all with sound. Initially I just love them because there are nothing else like it. But as technology advanced and the recent release of the MRC sound decoders for Kato engines which I just got mine and about to test this weekend, I start to think they are a little over-priced…I mean they performs well, nicely made but now with my sound equipted Kato’s, I think they will be just as good if not better an at almost half the price.
This must be a common problem since the grills on my Intermountain F7s have the same problem. My BLI F7, however, did not have this issue.
I have three of their On30 Galloping Geese, with sound. All sound and work great!
My T1 runs great. Slow speed performance is nothing short of phenomenal. We’re talking count the ties speed, with no hitching along. More than a half hour to circle my layout (simple 8x12 oval). It had a little hitch out of the box but I wasn’t afraid to unscrew the boiler shell and take a look - the motor was a bit off to the side so the universal was always twisted, I simply aligned it and it’s been fine ever since.
Safety Valve - the alternate whistle on F4 is pretty much an accurate whistle for the T1 in service. Since I model the 50’s, I remapped the functions so F2 sounds that whistle. The stock one on F2, well, over the course of many Rambles they did apply different whistles to the T1’s, but that one doesn’t seem to match any that anyone remembers. The one in Nick’s sound set that is on the Tony’s site is an actual recording of AFT 1. Oh, and it also replaces the air pump sound and the generator with actual T1 recordings.
–Randy
I have Nick’s sound set on the computer I just need to send the unit to Tony’s or get a upload track that connects to the PC for a few dollars more. I already blown my budget for the month and paid for it with a total house cleaning for the wife as part of my punishment (It’s sooo worth it he he)
My QSI equipped proto 2-10-2 just absolutely is champ in crawling on my whole roster. Nothing I own can crawl slower.
By the way I think the PCM T1 is equippted with a alternate speed set for DCC “Switching mode” that cuts top speed in half and increases behavior to the throttle… know anything about that?</
My T1 is one of the better running locos that I have (out of about 40…brass,Bli,Bachmann,LL heritage etc.) I did have TTX install a Tsunami and it runs & sounds great.
The Loksound decoders do indeed have the “switching mode” option that cuts top speed in half and also cuts the effects of momentum in half.
As for replacing the Loksound decoder with a Tsunami - would be nice except there is no proper whistle option. The BIG downside of the Tsunami is the lack of any ability to load your own sounds. You are stuck with the whistle combos they offer for the small, medium, and large steam. There’s a PRR ‘banshee’ whistle in the medium which might work for a T1 but I’d think the Heavy would be a better choice for the large T1. ANd there is a Reading 6-chime passenger whistle, but that’s only in the Light Tsunami.
–Randy