The boards are exactly the same on the GP9-35-SD40-2. We changed the set up to secure the boards better...many of them were working their way off in shipping or the post was breaking off causing the board to "Roam" in the shell...not so good. I don't know the situation with the TC Decoder, I've sent them a number of chassis but they never sent us samples to check or approve...so you're on your own with that one. Joe MTL
Joe, the boards are just a little different. The one on the left is from a SD40. It has extra copper for power pick up. The one on the right doesnt have it. Thats why I think the Digitrax decoder will not work on the SD40. The TCS decoder is design to pick up power from the tap, so I hope it will work.
Funny, on all our pre-production samples...that change wasn't present...and they still ran ??? I pulled out the three chassis I have and put them on the track and off they went...took them apart and they don't have that extra exposed area....interesting. I'll look into it on Tuesday. Thanks for the heads up. Joe
John, just scrape the green off the traces, and tin the copper with solder, and they will be electrically the same.
UNCLE! I toasted another decoder. Robert, I get a short when I try to install the decoder. I guess I have to wait for your conversion.
From the pics, there appears to be enough greenfield on that circuit board to install a Cray supercomputer, a direct tv satellite dish, a dolby 7.1 channel chip and a DCC decoder. Why, in this age of DCC, isn't MTL putting DCC decoders in their new products? Since DCC-equipped locos run perfectly on regular DC lines, it would appear to be a no-brainer to put a 30 cent DCC chip on the board and bump the price by $30! Think of how far ahead of the competition that will place MTL! There is still time in Z to set the standard in DCC control systems; or is MTL waiting for Kader, dba Sanda-Kan, dba Bachmann to enter the Z market and dictate the next gen to all? I won't convert existing locos, but I will pay $30 more for a DCC-equipped-at-the-factory loco, and then I would probably buy their DCC command control system out of the FUD factor from buying a third-party system.
I recently bought a N scale Bachmann 44T and it was the first time I was forced to buy it with DCC since that is the only way they are sold. Well turns out they don't run so well on DC so me and a bunch of others had to remove the boards and wire the motor direct to the frame. I didn't mind the work, but I hated the fact that DCC was the ONLY option. Sorry, but I will pretty upset over and over if I end up paying extra for something I don't want.
I'm not a DCC guy (until now, no time to play with this stuff too...), but I had already a couple of DCC locos from my customers on my track and they run as good as a Dixi loo... I think having a choice factory equiped would be a good alternative for the ones who want DCC in the first place. BTW: Loren, where are my locos? You guys in the US have really an advantage, I have to wait for the sailing boat.....
Gerd, Patience my good man. The pigeon leaves tomorrow when the mail service returns to work. I was out of town for three days so the slight delay, but they are moving your way.
The locomotive in my photo would only move in one direction, the other way only the light would come on. I pulled the board and it worked both ways. Others said the locomotive would not start slow with DC, they pulled the board and could get nice slow starts. It was like the board has some kind of built in momentum that just didn't work very well. There were many other DC guys who pulled their boards and were surprised how much better the loco ran on DC that way. Of course this is Bachmann DCC I'm talking about.
OK, dumb (well let's say uninformed) question... In my UMTRR coverage of these locos, I missed the paint discrepency on the pilot et al, being black not blue, as stated here. I will note that in my "Oops Patrol" within the October column. But I seem to remember there being posted to this thread a reference photo of the short hood which showed a bit of the yellow coming up over the top. Was that photo here and was it pulled for some reason? Just trying to be as complete in my coverage as I can! Thanks!
George, if you want the truth, the yellow is off too. The yellow seems closer to YN2. YN3 has a mustard shade to it.
Yes, they are faster, but can be hazardous to walk under........ ) Ships only leave wakes while pigeons leave........well, you get the idea.....
Post #16 I posted links to photos in my post to this thread. You can find it on the first page... post #16. Alex Tokyo, Japan
Thanks, Alex. Too much trying to catch up with boards after being away... In terms of color, John, understand your point, but I've found that "truth" is relative when dealing with different shades. Black vs. blue is somewhat obvious. Degrees of yellow could start a fistfight...
Well, it looks like Hien Nguyen is first out of the gate with repaints for the SD40-2. I STILL do not have any of the 4 I ordered, so I did not have a chance in this competition! Here is Hein's superdetailed repaints: Notice the white bladed BLAMA fans, and most important... The straightened handrail stanchions, which required drilling new holes!
MASTER ! :star2::star2::star2::star2: (out of 4) !!! I'd put 5 up there but TB won't allow 5 Smilies ??? .
