I’ve only had experience with an older SD75M. The detail is very good, but it runs real jerky because every gear has it’s hole drilled off center. If it had the MU details and coupler lift bars and a Kato mechanism they would be the best ever.[:D]
I also own F-units from Stewart, Proto 1000 and Genesis. For details and crisp paint jobs, the Genesis win hands down. I have both a set of Southern and GM&O A-B-B-A F-units and they are beautiful! To me, they run as well as the other two brands. They also do very well with DCC. In each consist, I have three Digitrax decoders and one Soundtraxx. Granted, there is only room in a B-unit for a small speaker, but they sound great and perform flawlessly. I wish I would have waited until the new Genesis sound versions came out. However, I’ll probably bite the bullet and get a set of the Broadway Limited F-units when they come out. I have over 40 engines with sound now and I’ve become ADDICTED to it!!!
I also have several SD70’s & 75’s. I think they rank up there with KATO in detail. Never had any problems with derailments or noisy motors. The only thing I hate is installing the small Ditch Lights. Other then that I think they are top quality. Maybe I was just lucky on the ones I got. I do run them on big radius curves (35"-43" minimum) I have no problem with them going through Double Crossovers, ect.
The sound in the F units probably will be as good as the Challenger sound. It that is true, the F units will use a generic sound that does not represent an F unit, but might sound like an ALCO or Baldwin switcher. I hope they actually work with the sound people this time., but don’t expect it.
I emailed Athearn after the 3985 came out, and they did acknowledge my email and passed it on, but no change came about. I guess they think a NYC Hudson whistle is correct for the UP engine, along with the single puffing and all of the other problems that come with it.
The 2nd release Challenger sound imissed the mark with the same sound as the first release.
there is not excuse today not getting it at least close to real, when the 3985 is available for recording the true sounds.
I have seen the sd75m and i was not impressed, but the f-units are awesome engines, the grill work is so cool, i think they have great freightcars, now if they would just put a coupler that was worth a hoot on them they would be even better. I hope the sd45-2 are good i really want a couple in yellowbonnet and maybe a couple in Santa fe Bicentinial
I have three 2-8-2’s and one 4-6-2, and I really like all of them. I bought one with a broken drive gear, got a NWSL replacement and fixed that one, and all is well at the present time. Added some weight and they all pull fine. Haven’t gotten around to installing tender pickup because they haven’t caused any problems or stalls so far on unpowered frog #6 turnouts. Nice smooth running mechanism in my opinion. I replaced the tenders with some ex-Riv 0-8-0 tenders on 3 of them, and those tenders have pick up, I just haven’t hooked it up yet.
Posted in other Threads. Regardless of how they look (The paint job is why I purchased the last Athearn SD70 instead of Kato - big mistake), I hate paying over $100 for a locomotive that I have to fix, repair, tweek, etc. just to get them to run tollerably.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=40417&REPLY_ID=419806#419806
Just saw the MKT F-3s and they are painted wrong. The sides are gray instead of silver. I don’t know how a major manufacturer can still get this wrong. In the last ten years Lionel, Stewart and some other Brazilian Co I had never heard of got it right.
Dang, borrow a copy of the Collias book and it’s there, silver sides to match the Texas Special E7’s.
SteveBntx
I bought a set of Athearn Genesis F3A and F3B units some time ago but have only just fitted the A unit with a dcc decoder. I was very disappointed with the running of the loco: it surges noticeably and is the worst-running engine of the dozen or so engines that I have. It looks fine while standing still, but is ruined by its poor running.
The only Genesis locomotive I own is the 2-8-2 and like the others I feel it lacks in several areas. My biggest problem with it is the pigtail that you plug the decoder into. If you transport the model rather than leaving it sit one of the wires coming out of the cab will break. I’ve had it repaired twice now so I leave it assembled all the time.
I have two Athearn Genesis SD70s.An SP SD70M.and an Alaska RR SD70MAC.
I love them both. They run great,and I have had no problems with either one[:)][8D].
It sounds like the new ones are pretty good. i’m interested in 40 (not a typo) IC SD70’s.
The Genesis F7 ABBA consist I have looks good and runs well enough that I ordered an AB set of the F3’s in freight livery. Three of the F7s, an A and both B units, run better than my Kato NW2, quieter at high speed, smoother at low speed, the fourth one runs about the same. A little more bearing and gear noise than the others, some clicking in one direction only.
Detail is excellent, they came with factory wipers and there’s so many add ons you have to be careful picking them up, but they need MU hoses. Easily remedied, I’d buy another set if they checked out on a test drive at the hobby shop. I’m going on faith regarding the F3’s, internet order, we’ll see what’s what when they arrive.
I can’t coment on the diesels as I don;'t have any of them so therefore I have no opinion on them one way or the other. I do own one Pacific and one Light Mike. The Pacific has worked flawlessly a bit light but it does what I need it to do. I did have to replace cracked driver gears on the Mike. No sweat Athearn replaced them without cost to me so I can’t complain too loudly about that. One hitch though this all happened before horizons takeover, I’ve heard horror stories about the "New Athearn’s " customer service, so I have not tested the waters again.
Rob
I have an F7A and F3A-B that I am more than satisfied with. They run and look great with no problems.
Rick