ScaleTrains to announce all-new N Scale locomotive at NSE Nashville

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm a little disappointed UP didn't paint the engine number on the fuel tank as well.  And maybe also on the brakeman.

No, they tattoo the barcodes on them.

[LarryN]

I would like to see the mechanism. While I would want a few "fast forty's", and an maybe a few others, I need a SD40-2 chassis for my GM6C electric loco shell. The actual unit was built on a SD40-2 chassis, but the short stubby hood has proven the be tough to merge with a chassis. In addition, the fuel tank area needs to be vacated for air tanks and an smaller electrical box. Most chassis out there will crumble with that amount of material removed. I am hoping the ST model might do the trick.

[southernman]

Um, I guess nobody is too worried about the hood width . . .

I’m not. Too modern for me.

[GonzoCRFan]

I was thinking about that today. While IM did the as-built units, you'd think CRQ would be a no-brainer. Except... it'll require tooling that I'm bet will be expensive to do for the trucks. I wouldn't expect them to half-a$$ it and not do them right.

Per their response to a comment I made on their Facebook announcement, the CR units will have Flexicoils.

[peteski]

Is there a reason anyone should be thus concerned on this 21st century model?   

The (excessive) hood width has been mainly dictated by the commonly used "standard" Kato (or clone) motor.  It was adopted by many manufacturers.  In order to make the hood narrower, another (smaller width) motor would have to be used.  Scale Trains has been using those Kato clone motors on all of their N scale narrow hood locos.

I remembered that the excessive width has been mentioned as a big foobar on Kato's models, so I wondered if Scale Trains model will have wide hood.

Just because it is a "21st Century" model, that doesn't mean it will be perfect.  Just look at other threads here describing pretty much any newly released model, and there always seems to be something not quite up to the 21st Century expectations.

[High Hood]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the gap between the trucks and frame. Of course these are the very first samples that they will be going over to correct problems on.

[ljudice]

The (excessive) hood width has been mainly dictated by the commonly used "standard" Kato (or clone) motor.  It was adopted by many manufacturers.  In order to make the hood narrower, another (smaller width) motor would have to be used.  Scale Trains has been using those Kato clone motors on all of their N scale narrow hood locos.

I remembered that the excessive width has been mentioned as a big foobar on Kato's models, so I wondered if Scale Trains model will have wide hood.

Just because it is a "21st Century" model, that doesn't mean it will be perfect.  Just look at other threads here describing pretty much any newly released model, and there always seems to be something not quite up to the 21st Century expectations.

22 years into the 21st Century, it might be time to conclude it "is what it is" and just enjoy these new models as they are...

It took 30 years to get an accurate NS loco in N - now we have almost everything except the AC44C6M.  Are these models perfect - no - I find something annoying in every product I buy (except JTC's containers).   But on the whole I'm through with worrying about this stuff anymore.

[Tristan Ashcroft]

Many people don't know this but there is a disco ball in the cab that projects the engine number throughout to remind the crew what engine they are in. So no need to paint it on the brakeman.

Well huh, that is news.
Is it time to move this thread to the Prototype Railroads board?   

[nightmare0331]

https://www.scaletrains.com/fox-valley-models?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=oo8f2dvau-1ADAXequ0MwY6B-BTVOO2ylcSL1hThJwM79NlguibW1HQ3ZYIgsuaV.hnq4B2

Let's throw this in the mix now.   

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[kscessandriver]

https://www.scaletrains.com/fox-valley-models?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=oo8f2dvau-1ADAXequ0MwY6B-BTVOO2ylcSL1hThJwM79NlguibW1HQ3ZYIgsuaV.hnq4B2

Let's throw this in the mix now.   

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

I think it's a plus, and it makes sense why IM ran the FVM autoracks, as having ScaleTrains run both would probably be overkill. Another run of Milwaukee Road Atlantic's when...

[ljudice]

I think this is great news!

Hopefully, NS specific versions will follow which go further than the FVM ES44AC....

[ski]

Those seem like premium prices for models that are well over a decade old and not really on par with the ScaleTrains levels of detail. They should have announced this first, let it soak in and then announce the SD40-2s to make everything a little better. Their HO ES44s are very nice and l was looking forward to that treatment in N.

The FVM GEVOs were nice when they came out and certainly still decent (I own quite a few), but I am personally a little let down. Not A Christmas Story-Ralphie-and-Little-Orphan-Annie-decoder-ring levels of let down, but whatever. Still happy about the SD40-2s!

ljudice, my thoughts went immediately to what future NS units will be like..

[squirrelhunter]

Didn't the FVM GEVO's come with user applied grab irons? I suspect some detail improvements will be on the FVM GEVO's.

Excited that Scale Trains might re reun the FVM boxcars, it's been a long time. All they need to do is design something similar to the Atlas FMC 5077 underframe and BLMA trucks and they can fix the ride height.

[High Hood]

I’m behind excited for the possibility of more Silversides! There are still several lettering variations that need to be done.

[learmoia]

Per their response to a comment I made on their Facebook announcement, the CR units will have Flexicoils.