Burned out board?

[nscaler711]

Not surprising as IIRC, the Scale Trains guys are ex-Athearn employees with experience in H0 trains.  I still prefer designs which minimize the rat's nests of wires inside.  Yes, like Kato, or some of the recent IM locos.

Yeah they started Scale Trains after the Horizon Hobbies buyout if I remember it right, heck I think Shane was the President/CEO of Athearn?
@scaletrains would be able to elaborate better though.

Though I'm not to fond of that design myself as it was kinda the bane of my existence while I was messing with HO. (and now tinkering with it again RIP my wallet)
As for N, definitely with you on the Kato style mech split frame is the way to go in N and Z scale for sure.
Well except the Kato ACe... Why Kato? Why?

[peteski]

As for N, definitely with you on the Kato style mech split frame is the way to go in N and Z scale for sure.
Well except the Kato ACe... Why Kato? Why?

Is that the new screw-less split frame mechanism?  I think Kato has jumped the shark, over-engineering the mechanism.
But there are also plenty of Kato non-split frame locos which are also wire-free. All the E-units, F40PH, P42, some newer F-units, and probably few others I don't recall now.

[nscaler711]

Is that the new screw-less split frame mechanism?  I think Kato has jumped the shark, over-engineering the mechanism.
But there are also plenty of Kato non-split frame locos which are also wire-free. All the E-units, F40PH, P42, some newer F-units, and probably few others I don't recall now.

Yeah its also the one where you'd see that the trucks on those mechs will just randomly pop out. Usually during shipment... I really think it has a lot to do with the mech to be loosely fitted together.
IIRC the SD40-2 Mid Pro. is of the screwless type as well but doesn't seem to have the same problem.

[peteski]

Yeah its also the one where you'd see that the trucks on those mechs will just randomly pop out. Usually during shipment... I really think it has a lot to do with the mech to be loosely fitted together.
IIRC the SD40-2 Mid Pro. is of the screwless type as well but doesn't seem to have the same problem.

Fortunately the truck/worm/driveshaft assembly can easily be snapped back in place.  It is designed to come out like that.  The are also super smooth runners, but very susceptible to picking up debris from between ties and having te gears jam.  I put a piece of masking tape over the trucks bottom gear cover to minimize ingestion of debris.