Is the new Arnold U25C the best N scale engine ever?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have not tested the couplers yet but they look great. I would say they look better than both MTL 905 and those other Z scale couplers we did a group but in a few years ago.

I may sound like I was bashing this engine before, I'm not. It's an interesting construction and new to north America. Athearn's F45 also had an old school design and they run beautiful.

[bbussey]

... The picture of the couplers Bryan posted does, however, illustrate my long standing, well known and somewhat singular stance against diamond tread.... the picture shows how oversized it looks (and for the record, Arnold looks to have done a good job so I'm not slagging them) when compared other details. Real diamond tread is just too fine to be accurately represented and thus people accept oversized attempts (yet they get nutso about 2 scale inches of darn near impossible to see excess hood width...)

I hear you on the diamond tread, but I have to disagree only because there are so many other features on motive power and rolling stock that are enlarged on N scale models in order for us to see them.  Scale rivets are the #1 feature that wouldn't be seen.  Scale grab irons are #2.  Car stirrups would barely be seen, and the detail of linked chain would be imperceptible.  Roofwalk grating, handrail diameter, wheel flanges, wheel tire depth, truck frame width, rail size — all much larger or fatter than the prototype.  All of those features are oversized on every single N scale model ever issued, and no one ever sites them.  So yes, while the diamond tread on an N scale model is much larger (and deeper) than the prototype, our eyes tell us that it's close enough to the prototype to be representative.

[bbussey]

Two observations regarding the lighting in the model, one disappointing and the other very good:  The LEDs have a bluish tint, so some clear yellow will have to be added to warm it up.  However, while the headlights are directional, the four number boards stay lit regardless of which direction the unit is traveling.

It might be interesting to yellow-tint the headlight LEDs and leave the number board LEDs as they are.

[peteski]

One thing of note — you can see in the pics that there is no RDA on the "fingertips" of the Arnold knuckle, so the jury is still out on how it holds up under heavy load. 

Funny, I was going to mention that after seeing your photos. It also shows a bit of a flash where the coupler's mold halves meet.  More so than I see on MT couplers.

I'm not planning on buying this loco. Is the coupler listed as a replacement part. I would like to get one of them to expand my coupler comparison info.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Pete, I'm not sure they are set up for parts yet. I'll ask at the Springfield show.

[peteski]

Pete, I'm not sure they are set up for parts yet. I'll ask at the Springfield show.

Thanks!  I'll be there myself (doing the full weekend this year).

[peteski]

I was looking at the subject line Daniel used here and I think that it would be worthy of the Kato FEF (which might be the best N scale locomotive produced up to date).  FEF has so many ground-breaking features. U25C? Not so much.

[u18b]

The wait for photos is driving me crazy.

 

[strummer]

I was looking at the subject line Daniel used here and I think that it would be worthy of the Kato FEF (which might be the best N scale locomotive produced up to date).  FEF has so many ground-breaking features. U25C? Not so much.

Impressive to have two releases so close together that seem to be so good.

Seems N scale is in pretty good shape...

Mark in Oregon

[peteski]

Impressive to have two releases so close together that seem to be so good.

Seems N scale is in pretty good shape...

Well, each is from a totally different company.  It is not all that uncommon to see that happen.  But there is no denying that N scale is in the best shape it has ever been.  Speaking of that, I haven't seen the "model RR is dying theme" mentioned for a while now.  So yes, model RR in general is thriving.

[CBQ Fan]

I now have so much CB&Q rolling stock and engines I am having to pack up most of my other freight road names to make space.  I am toying with some sort of display shelving just to keep them out and visible.

[jagged ben]

Pics of this engine, please?   

[CBQ Fan]

I am no photographer but wanted to get a couple pics up.  You can see the Atlas U25B for color comparison. 

[CBQ Fan]

One wheel on each truck has a traction tire. One on the right front and one on the left rear.  Kind of odd for two TT to be split this way.

[jagged ben]

I should have said what I meant...  Pictures of the mech.  My fault.
But thank you. 

That traction tire thing is just weird.  Weird weird weird.