Next run of IM SD40-2's announced

[Bendtracker1]

+1 Doug.   

I would be happy to have a slightly imperfect model that I need to tweak a bit than to NOT have one at all.

[davefoxx]

I absolutely love IM's N scale F-units, so I give them a pass until I see the actual model SD40-2.  In other words, I have no expectations.  They did great on F-units but failed spectacularly on the SD45-2.  Hopefully, IM will have learned from that debacle.  I still see SD45-2s out there that keep tempting me, but, thankfully, I haven't succumbed due to the stupid prices they're listed for (e.g., too close to MSRP), considering the problems with that model.

"Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time." 

DFF

[lock4244]

Hmm. The rest of the industry has moved beyond slab wheels. Hope this is addressed in the new releases.

Yeah, the wheel totally suck. That is my major peeve with the SD40-2W... beyond that they're pretty decent.

[lock4244]

You know, I've thought a lot about this announcement.  Knowing that the tunnel motors were sort of a flop, and that the "W"'s we're maybe some better in the looks dept and not much said about the mech, I just have to pause.  Part of me wonders why there are such high expectations for this Intermountain model?   Because they make nice covered hoppers?   Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a huge fan of Intermountain.  But it seems we are "manufacturing" these unrealistic expectations based on ???? 

As far at the motor goes, the SD40-2W runs as good as an Atlas engine. Not a Kato, but they're pretty good. I've noted some variation in the quality of the running side of things, but it's roughly the same as you'd get with Atlas. The odd noisy unit, things like that.

The high expectations are the road specific details. No one else has dared to do this in N that I can think of.

[Denver Road Doug]

"Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time." 

Ha, that made me laugh... 

I did forget about IMRC's F-units.   I guess those do have pretty good rapport with John Q. Modelrailroader.  Anyway, like I said we've resorted to complaining about--and defending--a model that may be a year away.   We'll be studied by the psychology field before long, if not already.   

[wazzou]

Hey, I just had an opinion about a photo that was posted.  Since when is that verboten?     I stand by the opinion.  To me, IMO the tooling looks soft.

[tom mann]

I'm actually confused as to what we're wound up about this time! 

[asarge]

W&LE!! YEAH BABY!! Been waiting for those. The bashing/speculating is SOP around here, but we would be waiting until heel froze over for most of those schemes.
Now after this we need an AS616 from somebody.

[peteski]

As far at the motor goes, the SD40-2W runs as good as an Atlas engine. Not a Kato, but they're pretty good.

Um, aren't majority of their mechanical parts Atlas?  So, they run almost as good as Atlas. 

[lock4244]

Um, aren't majority of their mechanical parts Atlas?  So, they run almost as good as Atlas. 

IMO, they run as well as Atlas... not almost as well.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

+1 Doug.   

I would be happy to have a slightly imperfect model that I need to tweak a bit than to NOT have one at all.

As would I. But that only works if the imperfections are things you can fix. For example, Bachmann's diesels are so frustrating because of the way they tool their doors and windows. There's not much you can do to fix that.

Same thing on my IM SD45-2. I'm 100% ok with having to add details and stuff like that, but having to fix the divit on the cab roof, or the slots in the cab sides, or the big gap between cab and hood are all things that will require significant rework.

I'm really hoping the 40-2s aren't like that. The SD40-2W makes me think I might be in luck, but we'll have to see.

[lock4244]

The tooling looks a little soft in that shot too unless it's just heavy paint application.

What are your general thoughts of the SD40-2W @lock4244?

As far as the SD40-2W is concerned, biggest win is that it's an SD40-2W. Never imagined I'd see this RTR in N scale. IM has generally done a nice job getting the feel of the unit overall, and there are some things I really like:

- accurate road numbers for details. CN's SD40-2W fleet, as well as the SD40's, came both with and without DB. IM offers both concurrently
- snow shields or no snow shields depending on road number
- piping from bell to where the horn were relocated in the late 80's (originally were above bell), and there is variance in where the relocated horn is placed (not sure if accurate to road #, haven't looked into that)
- separate added grabs
- freestanding brakewheel correctly located at rear engineer's side
- winterization hatch or not depending on road number
- all numbers produced have the correct chicken wire radiator grilles (only CN 5354-5363 have the corrugated grilles, but IM has not done one of those)
- snow plows installed
- dual headlight in nose (irritating that most of the nice factory painted CDN units have headlight between the number boards)
- single rear headlight
- class lights
- paint is nicely applied, lettering/numbers crisp and legible
- numbers in numberboards

Not so good:

- handrails, though painted, are flimsy and brittle so that break very easily (also press fit, so they fall out easily... glue to fix)
- no treadplate on walkways
- headlights are too bright
- some have had warpage at front or rear so that coupler droops (need to gently unwarp them)
- wheels are fugly (I change with Kato)
- I'll agree that tooling looks soft (it's not heavily applied paint), but that really isn't an issue to me personally
- shells glued together (again, not really an issue to me, but some folks hate that) but not messy or poorly done as TM's were
- I don't like the looks of the trucks... can't place it, but something about them seems off (Atlas SD50/60 anyone?)
- they got the gray wrong (stripes, lettering) on the original run (it seems white), but corrected it on the second run

They run well. I had several Kato donors waiting to re-power my units from the original run based on the TM's performance, but will have to find a new use for them as I was satisfied with how they run on delivery. They creep nicely and pull well. Make more noise than a Kato, but comparable with Atlas.

If you expect a Kato, you will be disappointed. If you expect a TM, you'll be pleased. For the road specific details and availability, I think most will be happy. For those who are not, well, you'll have something new to bash.

What I still don't understand it why in the hell do I have RTR SD40-2W's in N but no GP40-2L's?!?!?! 

[lock4244]

As would I. But that only works if the imperfections are things you can fix. For example, Bachmann's diesels are so frustrating because of the way they tool their doors and windows. There's not much you can do to fix that.

Same thing on my IM SD45-2. I'm 100% ok with having to add details and stuff like that, but having to fix the divit on the cab roof, or the slots in the cab sides, or the big gap between cab and hood are all things that will require significant rework.

I'm really hoping the 40-2s aren't like that. The SD40-2W makes me think I might be in luck, but we'll have to see.

Ed, none of my SD40-2W's suffer the shell issues you note. They have improved over the TM's and 45-2's. I'd say hands down the biggest issue now is the handrails.

[u18b]

Don't like the handrail issue.... but they are not alone.

I'm pretty careful with locos.... but I broke the rails on my Atlas B30-7 years ago.
Those rails are pretty thin too.

[davefoxx]

Don't like the handrail issue.... but they are not alone.

I'm pretty careful with locos.... but I broke the rails on my Atlas B30-7 years ago.
Those rails are pretty thin too.

Coincidentally, I broke the handrails on an Atlas B23-7 last year.  I ended up just replacing the entire shell when I found a replacement B30-7 shell online that was reasonably priced.  Allowed me to upgrade the mechanism to a B30-7 in SBD paint as opposed to the SCL (Family Lines) paint that was on the B23-7.  Of course, I had to buy trucks and a fuel tank from Atlas , but it was still far cheaper than buying a whole new locomotive.

DFF