TheWizard,
I get that your expectations are low; that as long as something moves and doesn’t derail that you are satisfied. I get that. What I won’t agree with is the idea that all engines that move and stay on the track are all just as good as each other. There are other considerations, and I’m not talking about details or prototypical accuracy.
How loud is the drive? Does it growl like a rock crusher or does it squeel like a teen girl at a Justin Bieber concert?
What is the speed curve? Does it take off like a shot, does it “stick” at low speed, does it run too fast or not fast enough?
Is the flywheel-action decent? Will the loco coast over irregular track or dead frogs or will it stop repeatedly at switching speed?
How is the drawbar force? Will a steam engine pull more than it’s own tender uphill? Will a diesel pull a decent-sized train?
How smooth is the drive? Does a steam engine have a “hitch” in it’s git-a-long due to misaligned drivers or oblong siderod holes? Does the diesel have gears that are not 100% round, or do they have rough tooth edges? Are the motor bearings properly aligned?
Does the body roll? Are the truck connections so loose that the whole loco tilts to one side whenever it changes direction?
I understand that you’re happy with anything that moves and doesn’t derail, but that does not mean that all running engines are equal because they aren’t. I had plenty of AHM pieces of junk as a kid in the 1980’s to know the difference. The most infamous was the RS-2 that literally disintegrated a gear box while running down the track and left plastic bits of itself in the gauge.
Was looking at a YOUTUBE review of the SD40-2. Apparently there is a derailment issue with some of the locos in the first run caused by interference between the trucks and the sand lines. See about 24 minutes in at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-u9xLsWhM
Most reviews focus on the accuracy and the details of the shell. Not sure if most who create or watch reviews could tell the difference in how different locos operate anyway.
When all we do is set it on a shelf, or accelerate quickly out of staging to hit 40 mph ASAP, performance doesn’t really matter.
The problem with accuracy of the shell so to speak is that the higher accuracy the more fragile the shell. It does no good to be accurate if the details break off.
Darn. Thanks to this review, I wont be buying one. Even though SD40-2s aren’t really road switchers and most would operate them at above 30 mph, the slow speed sound is awful.
Like most manufacturers, the sound of the turbocharged EMD prime mover comes with the typical high pitched whine that’s ear splitting and dominates the other sounds, even at reduced volume. Not Scaletrains fault really, all manufacturers of turbo EMD prime movers have that annoying whine that’s just inescapable.
I guess the shell looks like an SD40-2, so theres no problem there, IMO.
That’s what they sound like though. Those are recent recordings. That’s also probably with all the volumes at the default. When one (increasly rare) rolls through here, that turbo is very obvious over the other sounds, unless the loco is idling in a low notch and coasting.
They do sound pretty accurate, but that’s not the same thing as desireable. Standing next to a real turboed 645 or 710 doesn’t make me want to walk away, yet somehow I can’t take the modeled version for more than a few minutes. Maybe its the lack of basic deep base rumble of the models that allows the high frequencies to dominate my ear. When one of my op sessions lasts for about an hour at switching speeds to about 25 mph, I can’t use a sound equipped turbo EMD loco from any current manufacturer.
No worries. I like the non turbo 567 and 645, the GE U boat FDL, and the ALCOs. They are all both accurate and pleasant sounding.
I have a Bachmann GG1 with SoundValue. When the sound is turned off the only sound discernable are the metal wheels on the rails. Drive is very quiet and smooth. The Bachmann GG1 got top ratings of all GG1’s that I have read.
I have never had a problem with any of my Bachmann engines - Bachmann is high quality as long as you are not requiring all sounds (like coupler crash and wheels squealing). The detail is good - not quite as much as following locos.
I also have Intermountain Tsunami diesels and a BLI PRR M1b Paragon 3 steam engine - the latter have more sounds but cost another $100 approximately.
Purchased two NS ES44AC units straight DC. Both in the Rivet Counter variation. They are great runners and the detail is over the top. Care must be used when handling which I do rarely. In my opinion they are comparable to my fleet of Kato SD80mac and SD40-2 units in performance. Very pleased with customer service when ordering direct from Scale Trains. The young lady I spoke with was beyond nice to deal with. I will be ordering more units in the future.