Newly arrived Atlas Dash 8-40BW

[peteski]

Their less the helpful response - "Remove the fuel tank and push the speaker up than reinstall the fuel tank. See if that helps. Let me know if you have any questions".

Their response seems to indicate that they are willing to continue troubleshooting if the initial response did not fix the problem.

That response seems to be a typical initial troubleshooting step.  Just like when you call computer tech support and you get the pre-canned "reboot your computer" or "install the latest software updates" response.  You could reply pointing them to this thread to make them aware that it is not a one-of problem, but it appears to be more widely spread.  Maybe they will take it a bit more seriously seeing others having the same problem.

[spookshow]

My response was that the speaker doesn't push in any further and that the only way to run without scraping the rails is to remove the speaker entirely. Haven't heard anything back yet.

-Mark

[peteski]

My response was that the speaker doesn't push in any further and that the only way to run without scraping the rails is to remove the speaker entirely. Haven't heard anything back yet.

Hopefully you will receive a helpful reply. If not, then Atlas is not really doing a good job with customer support.

[wmcbride]

I was seriously considering buying 2 of the new Dash 8-40BW. I have always liked them in Santa Fe and had 2 from the initial run years ago.

The new "track-cleaning" version of the Dash 8-40BWs bespeaks what I never expected from Atlas: poor design and myopic or absent QC in the design review that allowed this flawed design to go into production.

Atlas was always reliable and predictable - one knew what one would get a reliable, well-painted generic model of a particular engine model, e.g. a GP40. Now, after 40+ years in N scale, Atlas is going into my see-before-buy bin.

[GGNInNScale]

Hi  I just received a new Dash 8-40B, SP 8001.  It is the 2021 release (Atlas data base).  It does not have any issues running on my layout.  I did have to bend the "air hoses" up just slightly, but I do this on all of my rolling stock.  I will be installing a LokSound decoder and speaker soon.

[spookshow]

I didn't have any "issues" either. Despite skimming the tops of the rails, performance seems to be just fine. I guess what issues are to be had depends on ones specific track situation. Others have reported that the loco gets hung up at particular places on their layout.

-Mark

[tehachapifan]

I think I have one coming from Santa, so I'll have to see if mine has this issue too.

Is it weird that I'm sort of looking forward to fixing it if it does? Tinkering is a favorite pastime of mine after all.

[spookshow]

I would say it's probably the easiest fix ever. If it were me, I'd just sand a millimeter off the bottom of the fuel tank. Nobody ever sees that anyway.

-Mark

[peteski]

I would say it's probably the easiest fix ever. If it were me, I'd just sand a millimeter off the bottom of the fuel tank. Nobody ever sees that anyway.

-Mark

Sure, another newly produced model which modelers have to tinker with to get it into optimal condition?  The design engineering or the QC team at Atlas China does not seem to be doing a good job.  We see this time ant time again with newly produced models.  The 1:1 locomotives do not have fuel tanks rubbing rails - models should not have that "feature" either.

Mark, me being anal I suppose you meant "millimeter" figuratively, because the thickness of the fuel tank's bottom wall is less than a millimeter. 

[kscessandriver]

I put my 3 on track tonight and while they don't drag (or appear to drag), the fuel tank does sit noticeably lower than any other brand of locomotive I had out handy to compare to. Only able to run 1 with DCC/Sound, others await an install, but it seemed to run great along the small section of track I have functional these days. And for what it's worth, the Amtrak fuel tank seems as if it sits a bit higher than the 2 P&W models I got.

[MetroRedLine]

I was almost ready to pull the trigger on purchasing one of the Amtrak models when I came across this review:

https://centrevillerailroad.com/2023/12/new-on-the-layout-atlas-ge-dash-8-40bw/





Yikes. Is the truck-body gap really that humongous? This is the reason why I don't buy any BLIs.

[ridinshotgun]

https://www.ncedcc.com/online-store/N14A3-p178947872

Should be back in stock soon.

How would that fix the issue with the ST SD-40?  The ST SD-40 will have a mother board that only accepts ESU proprietary E24 connection decoders.  No one else uses E24 and the mother board, if anything like the atlas  SD9/7 release, it is not anything at all like a drop in board.  It is screwed down to the frame and hardwired to the trucks and there s no more isolated frame halves.  No one using that style of board has yet to answer anyone's questions about availability of a non-sound decoder for their units. 

The response is crickets on social media from both Atlas and ST. Atlas will tell you privately in email that ESU has a decoder for these boards but ESU says yeah not so much.  We designed one but it is not in the production que, meaning it isn't anywhere on the horizon.

I would like to get a couple of the ST SD40 but I am not willing to get burned like I did with the SD7/9.  That do nothing now but sit on a shelf collecting dust. 

[tehachapifan]

I was almost ready to pull the trigger on purchasing one of the Amtrak models when I came across this review:

https://centrevillerailroad.com/2023/12/new-on-the-layout-atlas-ge-dash-8-40bw/





Yikes. Is the truck-body gap really that humongous? This is the reason why I don't buy any BLIs.

I have about a half dozen of these from earlier runs and, TBH, I never really noticed the gap and always thought these were really good-looking engines (and I'm pretty particular). Out of curiosity, I just looked up some proto photos and that gap at the rear is filled with what looks like maybe an I beam-type frame....

https://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=84745

To me, this seems like a quick, easy and rather fun project that I just might do to my small fleet. Again, I'm a tinkerer, so this is right down my alley! Doing small custom upgrades like this adds to the enjoyment of the hobby, in my opinion.

[wmcbride]

I have about a half dozen of these from earlier runs and, TBH, I never really noticed the gap and always thought these were really good-looking engines (and I'm pretty particular). Out of curiosity, I just looked up some proto photos and that gap at the rear is filled with what looks like maybe an I beam-type frame....

https://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=84745

To me, this seems like a quick, easy and rather fun project that I just might do to my small fleet. Again, I'm a tinkerer, so this is right down my alley! Doing small custom upgrades like this adds to the enjoyment of the hobby, in my opinion.

I have added some plastruct i-beams under the frames on my earlier-run Dash 8-40BWs to fix the gap. It's fairly easy and makes me feel better when I am watching trains from a lower vantage point.

[wmcbride]

How would that fix the issue with the ST SD-40?  The ST SD-40 will have a mother board that only accepts ESU proprietary E24 connection decoders.  No one else uses E24 and the mother board, if anything like the atlas  SD9/7 release, it is not anything at all like a drop in board.  It is screwed down to the frame and hardwired to the trucks and there s no more isolated frame halves.  No one using that style of board has yet to answer anyone's questions about availability of a non-sound decoder for their units. 

The response is crickets on social media from both Atlas and ST. Atlas will tell you privately in email that ESU has a decoder for these boards but ESU says yeah not so much.  We designed one but it is not in the production que, meaning it isn't anywhere on the horizon.

I would like to get a couple of the ST SD40 but I am not willing to get burned like I did with the SD7/9.  That do nothing now but sit on a shelf collecting dust. 

Ditto.

I regretfully cancelled my two ST SD40-2s after my Atlas SD7/9 "learning experience" with no Lokpilot for the E24 connector.