Talked to Walther's tech support, and the new switchers will have: -An improved electrical pickup system and NOT the type used (and easily abused) on the SW8's. -A clip-on decoder, like what is used on the Kato NW2. -A diecast frame in order to give it a little more "heft". According to the person from Walther's, they've put a lot of effort into making this a successful product. I wanted to get some of these details clarified before I put in my pre-order. As a side note, I asked about Walther's ever offering the Ethanol series in N-scale, and the reply was that the goal was to at some point release things in N-scale that had been done in HO... I have no idea what, where and when it would be released but thought it was encouraging none-the-less.
Maybe this means that someone will finally do a chop nose GP 7/9. :thumbs_up: Because Atlas sure wont. :thumbs_down:
I don't suppose they opined on whether the old body shells would fit on the new chassis? I have a half-dozen NKP units from the old run, and would gladly swap my shells for a new, improved mechanism. I don't really want to repaint a half dozen new shells, though. John C.
No, no I didn't, but good question though. Hard to tell given the "innards" are going to be differently shaped in order to have room for the decoder, and the frame sounds like it's a new design also.
Last time I scaled them out, I believe I recall that the Alcos S2-S4s had wheel bases and truck dimensions which were very close the the SWs. Just dreaming I guess... md
I doubt the new LL SW1200 chassis will fit the old shells. They will need to reinforce the chassis near the cab, and fueltank areas if they are going to add a decoder and standard leaf spring pickups. This would interfeer with the way the cab attaches to the chassis. As for the SW1500, any chassis that would be tooled for that would be just about perfect for an S1/2/3/4. The truck centers are almost the same, and both feature a narrow, low hood. I think the only motor thats would be really capable of fitting in a SW1500 would be the Kato mini motor or the one Bachmann uses in their 4-6-0. All others, even the 10X15mm Mashima would be too large to fit that, a frame, a full sized decoder, leaf springs and a fully detailed fueltank under the hood.
If they do Alcos I'll take back everything I've said about Walthers. It does sound like they've put a bit more thought than usual into the new SW's. I've also got some old ones in paint schemes they aren't doing in the new run that I'd repower if the new mechanism fits because once the Kato NW2 came out the LL SW's were suddenly too much work to install decoders, if they could tell us it did I'm sure they'd sell a heap more.
At the cost of tooling for the shell, I can't see them changing much there. I would almost bet the shell will be the same and the truck axle pick-ups will be modified transfer power directly to the frame ala the Atlas GP15 and older Kato revised F units.
I would think if they are trying to add more weight, they would need to retool some of the cab area. there is significant overhangs along the battery box that could be hollowed out to make more room for weight.
The Walthers rep said they were going to use a more conventional method for electrical pickup. I don't think that means going the Atlas GP15 route. Since they are looking at using the same decoder as the NW2, then I would guess the electrical pickup will be similar to the NW2 also, which features the brass wipers running the length of the locomotive.
Well, we can always hope. I think I am becoming a pessimist in my old age. I am amazed and very pleased that they are finally stepping up and releasing the Life Like line in a DCC ready format. Now if they would only go back and fix the C424 to model the phase II and maybe do the C425....
That really sounds great! But... unfortunately I need them to do a chassis that will fit the dozen or so SW9/1200 and SW8/900s that I got about 10 yrs ago for between $15.00 to $30.00 a piece. I seriously doubt they will be a perfect fit... and at about $70-$80 each... I'd be hesitant to purchase them. Of course... if Walthers does a bunch of D&RGW SW1200... I'm a buyer. I wonder how different the wheelbase for the SW9/1200 is from a Baldwin VO660???
I'd also be in for several DRGW units!! I'd also be in for the trucks and maybe the VO 660 frame, IF low enough to allow bashing into the DRGW #25 slug used at Grand Junction hump! Build from VO 660 #68. Any one know IF I can get head headlight housing for the last run of the LL SW9/1200?? I need a few, for the units I have - 2 ACL, 1 Northern Pacific. And at least 1 replacement truck. Unless I can swap the original with Atlas??
The Berk actually wouldn't be that hard to make DCC ready; run 4 wires from the engine to the tender and install an 8-pin plug in the tender (the drawbar already would conduct pickup from the engine wheels/fram to the tender strips and the headlight board can easily be isolated with a slight design change; motor isolation would be fairly easy, as well, by simply omitting the bronze strips that push against the frame and using a small plastic cap over the motor brush). The real problem with the Berk is pulling power. If they did it again, they'd have to use traction tires; but then the problem is that the Berk's nose is light and it has a tendency to lift on curves or on the slightest bump when the engine is under load. I have put "home-made" traction tires on mine, and the lifting tendency becomes noticeable at 25 cars (40' MT boxes); by 30 cars, it is a big problem unless you have really wide curves (18" or better) and near perfect trackwork. Net result: the chassis really needs a complete redesign for better front-end balance, but I don't know how you get more weight up front without doing something exotic like a machined tungsten weight for the nose area. John C.
How about replacing the boiler face with Pewter, along with a few other pieces like sand domes etc that are a heavy metal and not plastic? Or they could re-run them with a metal shell like Model Power does........ But use a better alloy with more weight too. There are options if people could step back and think of new solutions instead of trying to tweak a flawed design.
On second thoughts perhaps we should leave the steam to Bachmann and leave Walthers to try and get their diesels right, my 4-6-0 out pulls my Berkshire.
