As some of you have seen, ScaleTrains has announced the SD40T-2 in N scale. For those of us that bought big into the same Intermountain unit, but were disappointed in its quality, this is a tempting choice but difficult to justify the astronomical cost of replacing a single unit much less the fleet. I have seen a couple reviews on the new SD40-2s, and some indicated the locos are jerky at slow speeds. Not something that I want on steep grades and sharp curves in the mountains. Anyone with ST units of any kind, what's the running quality like? How about fit and finish? The ST site shows some nitpicky fit/finish issues on the SD40T-2s in D&RGW alone (numberboards on cab are inset/not flush, molded cut levers not really a good color match) and on the SD40-2s (numberboard fit, fuzzy paint lines and flawed number printing on the long hood on the BN units). I recall the quality control of the IM units when they first came out to be less than stellar, too. Maybe these issues are preproduction anomalies (but the photographer should have identified them and replaced the units for publication purposes), but it makes we wary. Maybe I'm old fashioned (I am!!), but I feel if I'm investing that kind of money, I should have a stellar product. I tried the search function to see if this has been addressed (but search is dead), and went a few pages back to see if there was an existing thread, so I apologize if this is a repeat. Thoughts?
Hemi, Haven't been to the ST website to check those out yet but it sure doesn't sound like the pics are what one would expect from ST. I have one ST Rivet Counter C44-9W and 6 of the Operator series ES44's. So far, every one of mine run super smooth and have some great slow speed along with good pulling power. I can try and get a few decent pictures for you of them tomorrow and post but I haven't had any issue with the look or finish either. Of that's just my observations, others mileage may vary. One thing I know is all the units I have are equipped with an ESU Next18 style 18 pin decoder. Seems like I read the SD40-2's are coming with an ESU Nano style 21 pin decoder so maybe that has something to do with the slow speed issues?
I received two of the SD-40-2s this week, both sound equipped. I have also seen the reviews of jerky performance - mine however are super smooth. Not a hint, not a hint, of jerky operation. Silky smooth. I like mine so much, I am thinking about getting two more - I just have to come up with the funds to do so. These were my first Scaletrains locomotives and I am very happy with them. They will NOT be my last!
I have 3 soon to be more when my SD40's show up today! I was really impressed by the performance, right up there as a competitor of Kato. Will have to see if any of that will show up in mine. I have decided after all the issues with decoders, getting these is easier on my mind than doing the installs and programming especially on the ESU decoders.
I forgot to add........ Although a very minor detail, and one that can be easily programmed, my two units (both Southern) came factory programmed with the long end set up as forward. I thought this was a nice touch and nice attention to detail. They certainly didn't have to do this - and I definitely noticed it!
My SD40-2's did arrive today along with my Black Kato E9. It took a bit of effort to get wake up the decoders in the SD40's. But after a bit they started to behave properly. Funny thing is that they can not be recognized by JRMI when placed on the programming track for JRMI.
I’ve got 2 on the way. So far reviews look good. Ironically, Kato just announced another run of their SD40-2 early model. May pick up 2. Their ESU sound equipped ones are $325. Pretty steep when you can get a scale train for about $75 less and it’s already detailed.
One thing, the IMRC tunnel motor plow looked kind of generic and not a match. Maybe they can be replaced, but the photo's of the ST D&RGW SD40T-2 plows look correct. I've preordered some.
I too received my BN SD40-2's and , out of the box, then run very good at all speeds. I have "more than a few" of the ST GEVO, C44's and now the SD40-2's and they all run great with no slow speed jerking. I would say that the motor setting, from ST, are fine but I have tuned mine to fit my needs. I actually loaded a new sound file in 2 of my ST SD40-2's. I didn't realize it but I have a KATO #8023 and now a ST #8023. It's interesting to compare the shells as they look very similar for the most part. The ST SD40-2 depicts the as delivered with no ditch lights; the KATO comes with ditch lights. The ST does come with a mars light on the roof to meet FRA regulations. Hoses are more detailed, window visors and windshield wipers. Hand rails are a little finer with white railings near the steps and white safety step markings. The green paint is identical to the KATO model. Lettering and lines are vey crisp. The BN model is not very fancy so not hard to recreate. These SD40-2 use the ESU Nano sound decoders. Something new for this model is that you can turn the number boards off with function 14 whereas they stay lit on all previous models. My locos came with (maybe) MT couplers instead of the larger ST knuckle couplers. They could be knock-offs. I haven't had any time to see how well they couple or stay coupled. I installed ESU sound decoders in all of my KATO SD40-2's and I can easily run both ST and KATO together with no issues, after speed matching.. The details of the shell and all of the lighting options give ST the edge. The only thing that I personally don't care for is locating the speaker in the fuel tank - I haven't pulled the new SD40-2 shell off but I presume that the speaker is in the fuel tank like all previous models. On all KATO locos; I have installed speakers on top of the frames and I think the sound has much more base using the shell space instead of the fuel tank location...IMHO. Who knows; KATO may start to do this as they released the Amtrak Charger locos with a speaker location in the fuel tank. Out of all the units that I have purchased from ST; I had one that had an LED issue and the folks at ST are the BEST to get a hold of and take care of any issues or answer any questions that you might have. Brian
I thought I added a long post yesterday but It's not here...? Anyways, briefly, all of my SD40-2's have been speed matched and have been put into service. I am very impressed with these. They seem different than previous releases as the gearing seems different (meaning really, really smooth through all speeds) Fuel tank clearance is less than any other loco I have but I don't have any issues of scraping rail, turnouts or crossings. The couplers are MT similar... They look much better than the previous releases. Hopefully they operate as reliable as MT couplers. I can confirm that the motor in the SD40-2 is a new motor, ST confirmed this. This would explain some differences from the GEVO and C44-9W; All good as far as I'm concerned. Brian
Got my 2 BN units on the track today. Great units. Ordered the other two BN units. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I got the 4 of mine running and also uploaded by the lokprogrammer into the computer. Now to test the ability to transfer the CV settings from the ESU data file that JRMI can upload.
Hemi, I feel like the ST tunnel motor pics are for sure pre-production. I would just contact them with your concerns and see what they say. I have four of the BN SD40-2's but I haven't had a chance to run or really inspect them yet. I would say, give it a little time so that everyone can run them and get a better understanding of how they run and how they look. I've seen reviews on opposite ends of the spectrum so far, but we're probably talking about a sample of 2-3% of them at this point. My take in very simplistic terms is you're trading details and sound for pulling power if you're talking about sound-equipped ST versus a traditional DCC-only Kato. (a comparison of the SD40-2's in my case) Since the IMRC were never great pullers and weren't blowing anyone away in the looks department, you're proabably not losing anything moving to the ST tunnel motors. Except a large pile of cash. If you've had the IMRC units from the inception, you've probably made some mods to get them running and looking better. So, maybe you don't need to upgrade across the board. Just get a couple of the ST's to run on the head-end for pics and call it a day.
