Sd45-2'

[John]

I would wait until they are actually in the hands of some folks .. Intermountain and Athearn locos are in my "wait until someone else buys them" list ..

[Mark5]

From the looks of the photos on the NScaleSupply site, they look pretty good and do not have the visible defects that the Tunnels had (have).

Not to hijack the thread, but what "visible defects" did the IM Tunnel Motors have?

warped frame, cab rivets too large, crooked parts, etc.

all this was supposedly re-tooled after those early runs. Perhaps Marty can comment.

[sundowner]

So the CSX bright future model is an ex CRR/SBD unit.  Did not know that.  I saw another picture from Intermountain showing a different unit in the "Dark Future" paint scheme.  Maybe that one is ex CR/EL and would have the correct fuel tank that is incorrect on the bright future unit.  I have not purchased any Intermountain diesels to date.  All of these negative comments are making me lean towards saving my money.  $90 a unit is not chump change.  I didn't end up purchasing the Walthers/Life Like GP38-2's since everyone bashed them when I asked for some opinions.  Something about the fans being toy like.  Has anyone got their hands on the Intermountain units who can give a good assessment of the job they did?  I think everyone would appreciate it.  Thanks.

This run for CSX are ex SCL/CRR units so the fuel tank is wrong. The YN3 run are the ex CR/EL units.

[tom mann]

all this was supposedly re-tooled after those early runs. Perhaps Marty can comment.

Yes, but every run was plagued by "something".

[TiVoPrince]

All SD40T2 runs
have various inaccuracies from paint errors, easily broken handrails, to missing specific spotting details like SP split equipment doors and only having DRGW style rear light packages.  I still bought a fleet of them, because there are no other manufacturers stepping up for tunnel motors anytime soon...

[Mark5]

I've been wanting a SD40T-2 as pool power for a while now so I have a vested interest in this particular model. Many models have minor inaccuracies (Atlas GP40-2?) - some I can live with.

[GonzoCRFan]

From the looks of the photos on the NScaleSupply site, they look pretty good and do not have the visible defects that the Tunnels had (have).

Not to hijack the thread, but what "visible defects" did the IM Tunnel Motors have?

warped frame, cab rivets too large, crooked parts, etc.

I seem to recall some glue blobs as well. Also, I saw some photos of units from previous runs where the locomotive paint actually rubbed off against the white plastic insert. I'd love to have a pair of CR 45-2s, and if they're a good model, I'd even be in for a pair of EL paint-outs. But the quality of these things has just been so inconsistent, I could never bring myself to pre-order them.

[Ian MacMillan]

Oh god...take a look at the photos on Atlas.....These should go right to the dumpster.

[Ryan87]

Oh god...take a look at the photos on Atlas.....These should go right to the dumpster.

I don't know whether to cry or throw up. :-\

I have a pair of EL on order... Now I don't know.

[Allentown Hump]

I was wondering why they were missing the rear louvers

Same reason they have the wrong ECAFB, wrong sill cutout, and apparently lack beads on the blower duct...

I looked at the pics on the A-board and in one pic, it looks like the beads are there on the blower duct. If you look close enough... :

[ljudice]

They've got to get the EL and CR ones right!

[CVSNE]

From the looks of the photos on the NScaleSupply site, they look pretty good and do not have the visible defects that the Tunnels had (have).

Not to hijack the thread, but what "visible defects" did the IM Tunnel Motors have?

warped frame, cab rivets too large, crooked parts, etc.

Ugh, I just got a shiver down my spine . . . at least in my new job there's less pressure -- nuclear power plant security is nothing compared to ravenish N scalers and their tunnel motors.  . . .
someday I'll write a tell all -- the sh$% Matt and I couldn't say about the industry . .  .

Marty

[tom mann]

The photos on Atlas are odd: it almost looks like a hand-built and painted prototype.  The handrails look like they are melting, the paint looks far too thick (especially the yellow and blue), but the shell itself looks crisp.  The engine doors look like you can open them.

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[Dave V]

Wow, at first I thought you guys were being too harsh...

...but then I looked at the photos on the A-board.  Wow.  I expect better than that these days, and this isn't even my era or road.  It looks like they used that textured spraypaint to do the handrails, and what's up with those rear number boards?  I could do that with Sharpie!

As for the technical specs (ducts, fuel tank, etc.) I'll take your word for it.  But in terms of appearance, this doesn't hold up too well in close-up photos.  Heck, I've hand-painted cars and locos that have thinner paint.