Next run of IM SD40-2's announced

[packers#1]

No, I can't make myself do it! I'm mentally stuck in 1971, and I've built strong walls around my choice.

Hey, you do have the 1971 Hemi Cuda that year, so I can't really blame you 

[Packer]

I wonder how good the N-scale versions will look. Just curious about them.

The HO ones aren't that good (Athearn or Kato are king for the SD40-2 in HO).

[mu26aeh]

I still want the first run to show up !

[u18b]

I still want the first run to show up !

You took the words out of my mouth.

Is this like the sixth run or so announced...... and the first run has not been delivered yet?

I have to admit, I would rather hear actual reports of people who actually have them before placing a bunch of reservations.   But that is just me.  Other's probably think differently from me.

I hope they are going to be great.

[basementcalling]

I still want the first run to show up !

+1.

[tom mann]

Has anyone even seen photos or samples of the first run?

[Leggy]

Don't think so, IM seems to spend more time announcing SD40-2s than actually showing off any CAD or physical models.

[unittrain]

They will probably cancel them if they don't get the pre-orders  They are odd in how they do things tons of road names and no model to view for quality assurance just pictures of HO models I hope they're good models we sure need them!! It will be quite upsetting if they flop as this is a very important locomotive!

[Smike]

I like the Wheeling and the MP units, but that NW one can only mean one thing; they'll be making a Southern high hood (unless I missed the announcement of those, which is completely possible  )

Southern High Hood was in the prevous announcement:

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/n/nloco/nlocsd40-2.htm

[lock4244]

IM SD40-2W should give an indication of what to expect...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7x_CYFhYrAs/UvWdQLAcyxI/AAAAAAAAAh0/PT8IW7Ib-n4/s1024/MWL_9782a.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8rv_eloLfCw/UvWdnqXj_6I/AAAAAAAAAic/p4RmQ-oDCxw/s1024/MWL_9779a.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9sWgoVwlhho/UvWdw6IXrDI/AAAAAAAAAik/qjRrJrt7oRY/s1024/MWL_9788a.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2gV6ZMSWZEk/UvWdpdVs7fI/AAAAAAAAAis/sl7QW7PWHNk/s1024/MWL_9791a.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ETRbOCpZjf4/UvWdzTriW1I/AAAAAAAAAi4/FUzOb5mqpLQ/s1024/MWL_9793a.jpg

[C855B]

IM SD40-2W should give an indication of what to expect...

...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9sWgoVwlhho/UvWdw6IXrDI/AAAAAAAAAik/qjRrJrt7oRY/s1024/MWL_9788a.jpg
...

Hmm. The rest of the industry has moved beyond slab wheels. Hope this is addressed in the new releases.

[wazzou]

Hmm. The rest of the industry has moved beyond slab wheels. Hope this is addressed in the new releases.

The tooling looks a little soft in that shot too unless it's just heavy paint application.

What are your general thoughts of the SD40-2W @lock4244?

[wcfn100]

The tooling looks a little soft in that shot too

That's the same for all IM tooling.  I assume the aluminum molds contribute to this if not directly but maybe the plastics that have to be used?

Jason

[davefoxx]

Is that a pre-production shot of the SD40-2W?  Because, overall, the detailing looks nice, but I did notice that the paint has an orange peel finish . . . and some dust.   

DFF

[Denver Road Doug]

Hmm. The rest of the industry has moved beyond slab wheels. Hope this is addressed in the new releases.

The tooling looks a little soft in that shot too unless it's just heavy paint application.

You know, I've thought a lot about this announcement.  Knowing that the tunnel motors were sort of a flop, and that the "W"'s we're maybe some better in the looks dept and not much said about the mech, I just have to pause.  Part of me wonders why there are such high expectations for this Intermountain model?   Because they make nice covered hoppers?   Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a huge fan of Intermountain.  But it seems we are "manufacturing" these unrealistic expectations based on ???? 

I actually DON'T have huge expectations for this model.   I fully expect the reviews to either be (a) it costs too much for what it is, (b) for what we're paying it should be better, or (c) it's absolute crap and you're a fool for even considering it.   And I have one on order, fully bracing for the worst but I figure the chance of getting a Katy Dash 2 anywhere else is just a pipe dream.  And, I have a unit...with sound...that's cheaper--and likely better--than a custom job.

But you know what?   I think the proverbial (potential) blood on this SD40-2's hands is SQUARELY on the entire industry, not just IMRC.   There has been ample opportunity--and certainly time--to release an out-of-this-world model of an SD40-2 in n-scale.   Kato has done it at some level, but they simply aren't interested in any "non-top-five" roads...at all.   But any other manufacturer has had their chance.  And this is not some high risk "CF7" or something like that.   SD40-2's, GP38-2's, and SW1500's (and probably some others) are so ubiquitous and iconic that they should have been on their fourth or fifth manufacturer trying to squeeze in the game by now.  (so yeah, same could be said for the criticism of the SW1500...Micro-Trains gave everyone about a 40 year head start...)   

So anyway, yes I know I'm defending a bad model that may not be bad at all.   But I just don't see Intermountain as being as "bleeding edge" as are the expectations here.   And yes, at some level I am glad that the higher standard of expectation exists here.  But I also think we need perspective...Intermountain is not carrying the torch here.  As with the SW1500, I expect there to be at LEAST one other manufacturer in this game in the next two years.   

So maybe we can keep the pending meltdown to, say, halfway to the Earth's core versus all the way through and out the atmosphere on the other side of the planet?