GP38 Thoughts

First, the detail quality on this model has gone down. Lets start with a 2 scale foot drop step. Globbed on paint on the endrails. Lift rings that look like nipples. Grab irons that are too wide. The fan grab is a foot thick. The plow has to have an unrealalistic curve in it to make room for the enrail and a modeler cant fit an apropriate sunrise or BLMA plow without modification.

Second, THE SLOW SPEED ISSUE IS THE MOST STUPIDEST TOPIC EVER TO COME TO THIS SCALE. I can't stand people expecting the model to do everything for them. IT IS THE MODELERS RESPONSIBLILY TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF HIS LOCO. Now I have GP38s that cant be MUed to anything because people are too lazy to have control over their speed.

By the way, Atlas' flywheels still don't work!

 

What's wrong Scott,not getting enough attention lately.

If you don't like ATLAS why even bother looking at their product.

The only thing you've said that made any sence was about speed control,and I agree with you on that.

 

most stupidest?

 

Scott, I agree with you that the engine detailing wise needs to be considerably upgraded, but the slow speed change is a heading in the right direction. I just ran 2 GP38s yesterday and they were great. The slow speed performance was a (slight) improvment over the current Atlas offerings and the top speed, although still far too much, was also brought down.

I have no idea why you cannot MU your engines, I did with an SD60 amd everything ran well. The entire argument that the slower motor will not allow you to MU is bogus, just do it! However if Atlas pursues to make our engines run even better, with a revised gearing, then there could be some concern for mismatching locos. But by then hopefully everyone will see the considerable advantage is upgrading our mechinisms into something less of a toy. BTW, with a revised gearing it would make flywheels actually work even at low speeds, and the whole speed argument was to improve the slow speed characteristics, not limit top speed.

Mike

[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: atirns ]</p>

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by atirns:

I have no idea why you cannot MU your engines, I did with an SD60 amd everything ran well.

Mike

[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: atirns ]<hr></blockquote>

You must have a very slow running SD60 because when I try to put a GP38 with anything else, the GP38 gets pulled around by the faster loco.

BTW, topics have been slow on TB and we need some lively discussion, not the 200th MT coupler question and other repetitive, boring stuff like that.

 

Scott. That is your opinion and you are entitled to it. A confrontational post such as the one you have blessed us with, would be more suitable on the Atlas N scale forum. The ingrates who tend to frequent that site would be more than happy to have a spirited discussion (their discription, not mine), about the particular subject you have mentioned. Perhaps next time you should choose your words more carefully so you don't come off sounding like some miserable person who likes to find the negative side of everything. Perhaps for your next post you could tell us what you LIKE about N scale model railroading.

 

Scott, I would like to give you some constructive feedback that may keep you from making an unhappy purchase in the future. First, it appears that you have bought your GP38 sight unseen, possibly by mail order. Since your profile shows you live in Fremont, NE, I would expect that there are good hobby shops within a 100 mile radius. I would suggest finding a hobby shop in your area that has the item in stock, and go there and inspect and test it in person BEFORE buying. If you find the locomotive unsatisfactory, you can decide not to purchase it. If travelling 100 or even 150 miles to find a hobby shop is not feasible, maybe you should think twice about spending hundreds of dollars and trying to save money by mail ordering items that you may be unhappy with once you receive them.

Before you get all defensive about my response, let me tell you the perspective I have. My model railroading has a tight budget, and I have rarely purchased a product sight unseen. One exception was a JnJ GP50 shell I ordered through a hobby shop that I thought would fit my Kato GP50. It turns out that the shell is for an Atlas GP40-2 frame which I don't have. It now sits on my shelf collecting dust, and I am out about $20. I have travelled many times to Los Angeles (120 miles from Bakersfield) to buy items that are not carreid by my local hobby shop because I wanted to see them and/or try them out before I bought them. There are several items I would like to have that have come out recently (new runs of SD60M's and C44-9W's, SD9043MAC's and GP38's), but they just don't fit in my budget. In other words, If you can afford to spend $500 on a mail order purchase, maybe you can cut back your purchase to $400 from a hobby shop and spend the additional money on transportation (gas, bus, or other public transport).

I hope this response will help you out in the future. Also, I hope you come to realize that the manufaturers aren't doing this to personally make you mad or otherwise produce products you hate or have no use for. They are only trying to make a profit by producing the cheapest possible model that modelers find acceptable. I have no problem with this, and nobody else who understand free market capitalism should. I'm just happy that there are decent quality plastic models available for under $100. The strongest power you have as a consumer is your right not to purchase a product. If enough people feel the same as you and stay away from a product and make complaints, the manufacturer will either respond to the consumers or suffer on the bottom line. What you have to remember is, manufacturers will never make everyone happy (translation: you will not be happy with every product they produce).

Remember, Model Railroading is a hobby. It's supposed to be fun. Getting mad over the size of lift rings and drop steps is not fun. My advice is to step back and look at the hobby (and life) with a broader perspective.

Sorry for the long post, but I work around Mental Health professionals. I tend to be analytical and long winded in my responses. I just try to cover all the bases...

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by friscobob:
[QB]

And a highly negative post is lively discussion
QB]<hr></blockquote>

Who cares if it is negative. It is the truth. I cannot understand why topics on these forums have to be 'feel good only'. We can't ever talk about something that is even mildly contraversal. I gave my side of the story and I would like to hear what other people think, not attacks on me.

 

-All

Scott brought up the issue of the new motor in the Atlas GP38, and although it was blunt and strongly opinioniated, that is the issue here, not about Scott and whether he needs to "chill". Alot of you missed the point here, this is not about customer dissatisfaction about Atlas, nor Scott not testing the engine before he purchased it and about his monetary expenses, nor whether or where he should give his opinion. This is a forum, discussion board, whatever, and Scott gave his opinion on the Atlas GP38 (quality and mechanically wise) on it. Please recenter yourselves on what Scott said (the motor and quality of the GP38) and not about Scott himself, as this is exactally how flames start.

Mike Antkowiak
the same one on the Atlas forum

 

Yes Mike,but Scott has allready made known his dislike for ATLAS products,yet he continues to buy them and complain.

Scott,Why do you buy ATLAS products??

 

Atlas said the new motor will be in all their future releases and will also be available to drop fit into older engines. So it will be possible to retrofit older engines to MU with the newer. To this end Atlas has announced the re- release of the RS3 with the newer motor. MUing with engines of other manufacturers has always been a problem and the new motor will not help in this regard. MUing capability has been one of the claimed advantages of DCC. As far as the details on an engine I think this is where the modeling (as in Model Railroad) comes in. Also where do you draw the line between what is technically feasible vs economics vs fragility vs whatever else. Scott and Atlas apparently do not draw the line in the same spot. Just as I and Kato do not draw the line in the same spot when it comes to customer service. A difference of opinion. Opinions are like bellybuttons, everyone has at least one. But sometimes the way you express your opinion speaks louder than the opinion itself. Scott is much like Rob the Rebel on the Atlas forum. Sometimes their delivery speaks louder than the message they want to deliver. In his defense at least he did not resort to the vulgarity he posted on the Atlas forum on 7/25/20001.

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Catt:


Scott,Why do you buy ATLAS products??<hr></blockquote>

Nobody else makes a SD60, SD60M, B23-7 or GP38 so Atlas is my only choice if I want to accurately model UP and BNSF.

 

As my opinion on the GP38 sits, I feel a lot like Scott does.

As most of you know I love detailing engines (look at the link below), and my whole point in modeling is to make things look as realistic as possible.

After looking at the GP35 for a few minutes I noticed many things that I did not like. There are a few things on this locomotive that could have been thought out a little better, so I hope Atlas listens like they have been.

On the slower speed issue I totally disagree with Atlas for coming out with a slower speed motor. As I have always said, it is up to the modelar to run the engine at the speed he/she wants. As long as the engine has good low speed performence and can do a scale 60mph, who cares how fast it max's out at??

Just my thoughts, and yes, I do like Kato better when it comes to qaulity of their product and the part being thought out, but at least it seems Atlas is listening more.

 

Scott, just my two cents:
As a modeler, I usually replace most of the molded on details anyways. Its what I love to do, and since my budget very rarely allow for such expensive Atlas and Kato units, I've grown quite accustom to oversized item and poorly thought out items. Just cut'em off and practice a few new skills.