MT just posted this on Facebook regarding MT1500

[cjm413]

Not exactly sure what you mean by irrelevant, but the sole kodachrome MP15DC (#2700 pictured above) was painted in an entirely different take on the kodachrome scheme as compared to the 2539 (but was very similar to SW1500 #2575). Perhaps the modeler wanted to get as close as possible to modeling SW1500 2539 and its particular scheme.

Would that make this a legitimate model of a TE70-4S?

[jagged ben]

Would that make this a legitimate model of a TE70-4S?

Hahahahaha

[tehachapifan]

I'm apparently not getting my point across very well.

....but to answer your question, for many people out there who don't possess the skills or simply don't wish to take on that much of a project...or don't really care about loco details and variances very much, the answer (for them) is probably yes.

I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable and fairly accomplished SP modeler, but I'm not very up on my TE70-4S's these days. I would actually have to do some research to refresh myself of the variances from the model pictured. My first reaction, if I saw that model running on a display layout or something would be "hey, cool! A TE70-4S Popsicle!"

[peteski]

I'm apparently not getting my point across very well.

....but to answer your question, for many people out there who don't possess the skills or simply don't wish to take on that much of a project...or don't really care about loco details and variances very much, the answer (for them) is probably yes.

I agree 100%!
 Also, from many years of NTRAK membership I can tell you that you do not bring and run your "good" models at public train show. Especially where the modules do not have rope on stanchions or at least Plexiglas shields at the front edge.

[cjm413]

I'm apparently not getting my point across very well.

....but to answer your question, for many people out there who don't possess the skills or simply don't wish to take on that much of a project...or don't really care about loco details and variances very much, the answer (for them) is probably yes.

I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable and fairly accomplished SP modeler, but I'm not very up on my TE70-4S's these days. I would actually have to do some research to refresh myself of the variances from the model pictured. My first reaction, if I saw that model running on a display layout or something would be "hey, cool! A TE70-4S Popsicle!"

The amount of skill required to paint an undecorated MP15 as a MP15 does not exceed the amount of skill required to paint it as a foobie SW1500.

To any extent that someone could overlook the differences between a MP15 and SW1500, it follows they could also could also overlook any differences in the paint scheme and road number between SP SW1500 #2539 and SP MP15 #2700.

A different example would be an Atlas MP15DC that I saw that was painted as a Milwaukee Road MP15AC.

I assume the person who wanted it lacked the skills to kitbash it into a MP15AC (with or without the benefit of the MP15AC hoods offered by Bill Denton), but either way, the lack of any Milwaukee Road MP15DC's left that person without the obvious choice of painting it as a Milwaukee Road MP15DC.

[cjm413]

I agree 100%!
 Also, from many years of NTRAK membership I can tell you that you do not bring and run your "good" models at public train show. Especially where the modules do not have rope on stanchions or at least Plexiglas shields at the front edge.

There is big difference between a foobie MP15 running at a public train show and a foobie MP15 with a $180.00 price tag.

[tehachapifan]

The amount of skill required to paint an undecorated MP15 as a MP15 does not exceed the amount of skill required to paint it as a foobie SW1500.

To any extent that someone could overlook the differences between a MP15 and SW1500, it follows they could also could also overlook any differences in the paint scheme and road number between SP SW1500 #2539 and SP MP15 #2700.

A different example would be an Atlas MP15DC that I saw that was painted as a Milwaukee Road MP15AC.

I assume the person who wanted it lacked the skills to kitbash it into a MP15AC (with or without the benefit of the MP15AC hoods offered by Bill Denton), but either way, the lack of any Milwaukee Road MP15DC's left that person without the obvious choice of painting it as a Milwaukee Road MP15DC.

Not to belabor this too much more, but I would say that in the case of SP 2359 vs. SP 2700 or 2575 specifically, the most striking visual difference to most people would be the very different take on the paint schemes. Additionally, it is very common to see railfans, etc., mistake an MP15DC for an SW1500 and vice-versa.

[cjm413]

Not to belabor this too much more, but I would say that in the case of SP 2359 vs. SP 2700 or 2575 specifically, the most striking visual difference to most people would be the very different take on the paint schemes. Additionally, it is very common to see railfans, etc., mistake an MP15DC for an SW1500 and vice-versa.

It is common to see Vesties mistake a MP15DC for a SW1500.

We are not Vesties.

[tehachapifan]

True, but we are an uncommon breed. "There is something wrong with us....something very, very wrooonggg with us."

[cjm413]

True, but we are an uncommon breed. "There is something wrong with us....something very, very wrooonggg with us."

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=32110.0

[Ken Ford]

Since there seems to be quite a few people familiar with the M-T SW1500 in the room, I might as well ask this here.  What kind of pulling capacity to these have?  If I were drilling with a pair of them, how many cars could I expect to handle in a cut on the flat?

[cjm413]

Since there seems to be quite a few people familiar with the M-T SW1500 in the room, I might as well ask this here.  What kind of pulling capacity to these have?  If I were drilling with a pair of them, how many cars could I expect to handle in a cut on the flat?

"Pulling power is strong, with mine being able to comfortably haul 15-16 assorted 40' freight cars through curves on level track."

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/mtsw1500.html

[jagged ben]

Since there seems to be quite a few people familiar with the M-T SW1500 in the room, I might as well ask this here.  What kind of pulling capacity to these have?  If I were drilling with a pair of them, how many cars could I expect to handle in a cut on the flat?

I did some switching with mine at the club the other week.  I tried to run it by itself and while it seemed to have no problem pulling plenty of cars, I had to add another loco so that it didn't lose pickup.  (This was probably mostly because of the track condition.)    The other loco was an FVM GP60 because that's what I had.  I believe the SW1500 pulled at least 15 by itself, so I would imagine you could pull at least 30 factory-weight cars with a pair.

[tehachapifan]

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=32110.0

Yep, that about covers it!

[Spades]

....Regarding the eBay Kodachrome unit, before the MT offering came out the Atlas MP15DC was probably the closest you were going to get to an SW1500 without undertaking a serious kitbash. Without commenting on pricing, it looks like the modeler did a pretty decent job of painting and decaling (that little warbonnet is a $#@! to get just right!) and the unit probably did a good job filling-in as a crud. Most folks would probably not pick up on the discrepancies, although the no-box-hood would certainly have been a better choice (if the modeler even knew there were different hood options).

I used side frames from Miniatures by Eric, DA headlights and the angled airbox MP shell for my faux SP SW1500, until the MT release. 

Russ I believe the TE70-4S'were stored on a siding in Sam Leandro? before they were dismantled.  They were visible from the air on final to Oakland International then 27R.