Hi there ... a few questions for y'all. 1. InterMountain will be coming out with 4 MRL SD45s next year ... are these going to be worth getting? and if so ... do I really need to reserve them now? or should I be able to wait for them. 2. do the InterMountain engines run well? i.e. should I even bother? 3. Did overland cancel the MRL SD70ACe? I cannot find mention of it on their site. Thanks G
I have had a standing order for a half dozen of the SD45-2s since they were first annouced eons ago. I just recently canceled them, however, in light of a conversation with another N scale friend. Let me preface this by saying I have no firsthand experience with InterMountain locomotives. I was told that the InterMountain six-axle units weren't worth bothering with because all released so far have had a number of detail issues and the mechanism is a rip-off of the Atlas system which is a rip-off of the Kato system. Now, I personally I don't have a problem with Atlas models and have a number on my roster already. When I started doing more research into InterMountain's models I decided to cancel my reservations and decide if I want them after they are released. Infer from this what you will.
I partially agree--the IM mech is much like the Atlas mech, but not a very good runner like a Kato SD70MAC, for instance. That said, I have several IM engines (SD40T-2, F7), and they all run fine enough for me. The detail issues from the infamous first runs... http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/975/tm_j.jpg http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/975/tm_l.jpg http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/975/tml.jpg Have been addressed sufficiently enough (in my humble opinion) for me to buy several.... http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1050/DRGW_5399_nose.jpg The SD40T-2's are a great engine, but there are those who rightfully expect a better engine for the price point of these locos. I buy them due to the fact that it is unlikely to buy a better engine in brass at that price, and it is highly unlikely another manufacturer would do them again. They run just fine, and with digitrax dcc decoders, they run very well.
Hi Guys Well heres my two cents , Wait till you see how they Run I have about 9 tunnel Motors they look great run poor , parts fall of or brake off easy . The Shades are two large . I have spent about 20 Hrs wrking on a couple DRG units to fix them up . The only good thing is that they ar now on ebay tons of SP units I got three with shipping for under 100.00 us Dave WAKE UP KATO SEND THEM A EMAIL , I hope they due the new EMD or GE units soon
Hi Well George just got the CN SD45T in the mail and well agains its very nice to look at but this ones again ruff . but I will brake it in and see . Dave Just a note the first run SP tunnel motors are not as good as the second run thats why they sell for 50 buck on ebay . Intermountain discounted them all when they didn't sell at the over 100.00 us reatil mark
The IM mechanism is NOT a 'rip-off' of an Atlas mechanism. It is new frame halves that were designed to use Atlas parts. This is well known, and a simple search would have turned this up. The Atlas mechanism is NOT a 'rip-off' of a Kato mechanism. The Kato mechanism is a more refined version of the Atlas mechanism. There's a reason why Kato had to use a different design when they released the GP38-2 and GP50 (while they were still manufacturing locomotives for Atlas)
I like the IM engines a lot. They are very smooth and excellent low speed capability. I certainly prefer them to the Kato six axle engines for the better IM slow speed capability. I guess there is a wide range of opinions on this? [edit] As usual. :giggle7yc:
InterMountain will be releasing the following SD45-2s Santa Fe (blue/yellow (not warbonnet)) - 4 #s Clichfield - 4 #s CSX - 4#s Montana Rail Link (MRL) - 4 #s Erie Lackawanna - 4 #s Conrail - 4 #s more info here: http://www.nscalesupply.com/IMR/IMR-Diesel-EMD-SD45-2.html
I have no idea. For me it is a visual thing. I don't need more locomotives but have lusted after bright red locos with Multi Mark for decades - at least 2. :sun:
I know nothing about the CSX ... but there is an image in that link I posted: http://www.nscalesupply.com/IMR/IMR-Diesel-EMD-SD45-2.html
No. It's ex-Clinchfield/SBD. There are two ways to tell. One - It doesn't have the huge "bathtub" fuel tank that the EL/CR SD45-2s had. Two - It's wearing a patched version of a scheme used by early CSX, long before the Conrail split.
Thanks. I see the fuel tank difference. Hope IM will include that detail. It could be kitbashed, though.
