First taste of MTL SW1500

[johnh35]

I just installed a couple of TCS CN decoders on a Atlas/Kato GP35 and Life-Like GP38-2 and really like them. Nothing against Digitrax as my current system is a Digitrax Empire Builder, but hopefully TCS will create a decoder for this new MTL locomotive as well. Just my 2 cents, but I feel it's always good to have more than one option 

TCS tells me they are still working on the decoder for the SW9, but sound is their bigger push. I like the dual mode function of the digitrax (switcher vs road engine) but prefer the motor control of the TCS decoders.

[randgust]

Just wanted to plead guilty to criminal stupidity on the wrong mechanism ID under the pre-production photo...... apologies offered, wounds licked.

Violated rule #1, never post before coffee.

I am very glad to see, however, that Joe has now equipped his cat avatar signature with proper PPE to be on this forum.   Now for the flame-retardant suit...

[Sokramiketes]

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I wonder if the tiki torches at the anual MTL July 4th picnic with have effigy of all the Railwire members in this thread.

[sdodge]

I've renamed my Fob  "a$$hat"  seems fitting.

Sorry to keep this going...I am a supporter of this model and intend to buy a few flexicoil versions when available and the ride height question has been answered but.........is there something askew with the model in this photo?

[learmoia]

Sorry to keep this going...I am a supporter of this model and intend to buy a few flexicoil versions when available and the ride height question has been answered but.........is there something askew with the model in this photo?

I'm a supporter as well.. ... I'm in for both Conrails in December.. and I'm saving my pennies for when the nose handrail version comes out..

I can appreciate Micro Trains working with Digitrax to bring a decoder to market for the LL SW8/9/1200 as much as anything..

This is the closest alternative beyond building your own..


~Ian

[CBQ Fan]

Looks pretty close and good to me.  Looks like a white stripe on the front sill is missing.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019776

[jpwisc]

Looks pretty close and good to me.  Looks like a white stripe on the front sill is missing.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019776

That picture is of the back end, did you want this:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019775

[johnh35]

Horse, it's what's for dinner. Anyways, I was just thinking about the decoder and the lighting situation. Since the current LED has to be bent upward to properly illuminate the headlight, I am pondering what will happen when the decoder is installed. I realize the smaller LEDs used on the boards are brighter, and that in itself may present a problem. If I understand correctly, the sides of the shell were made thinner in an attempt to keep the overall hood width as close to scale as possible. Have provisions been made to keep the decoder LED from lighting up the shell (a visible glow)? Or has this angle been checked? Has a shield with a light pipe been considered to ensure that the headlight is properly illuminated when the decoder is installed?

[JoeD]

Yes, we are waiting for a board so we can look at designs for light pipes that will take into account the surface mount LED that's being used.

Happy 4th.

Joe

[johnh35]

Yes, we are waiting for a board so we can look at designs for light pipes that will take into account the surface mount LED that's being used.

Happy 4th.

Joe

Fantastic!

[learmoia]

Yes, we are waiting for a board so we can look at designs for light pipes that will take into account the surface mount LED that's being used.

Happy 4th.

Joe

Any chance those light pipes could extend into the cab....     Please   ~Ian

[Ike the BN Freak]

So curious what the chances of roller bearing AAR-A trucks being tooled up is?

I know all of the BN units came either with roller bearings or Flexicoils.  The NS units released should have roller bearings.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

It maybe annoying but its not hard to modify the trucks to RB. All you need to do is file down the friction boxes and add RB caps from another truck such as Bachmann's SD45 Flexcoil. That is what I did with my SW1500 bashes.

[Ike the BN Freak]

It maybe annoying but its not hard to modify the trucks to RB. All you need to do is file down the friction boxes and add RB caps from another truck such as Bachmann's SD45 Flexcoil. That is what I did with my SW1500 bashes.

However I don't have extra trucks to steal from.  So while it can be easy, its hard when one doesn't have the other parts.