Hi Scott , yea I’m a Southern fan as you. I have 3 of those units all with sound. Because I didn’t want to have to install the decoder . I haven’t took my unit’s out of the box yet. I have wide turns hopefully I will not have issues with the sand tubes. Thanks for the heads up. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. 😎😎 👍
There is just so much detail you can get with N-SCALE in my opinion. This is why I love my KATO locomotives. Great price and function very well. The same goes with N-SCALE building and scenery. If you are into modeling detail. I would definitely recommend larger scales for sure. For me, space was the reason I model N-SCALE and have enjoyed the scale, but I have learned that detail is limited because of the size. I have a few Broadway limited loco's and ran into the same issues you have here with Scaletrains. N-scale has its limitations because of their size for sure. I think most N-scalers feel your frustration !
Scott, I have only rum mine back and forth a few times on a test track. So thanks for the heads up. Scale Trains delayed the SD40-2 for some quality issues if I remember right. They do seam to care and will fix issues if one reaches out to them. This is the second loco from scale trains to use the non NMRA approved E24 decoder. The last run of the GE C39-8's have them too. Atlas is using them too on the latest runs of GP7/9's and SD 7/9's. I don't care for the ESU decoder either. I don't do onboard sound because I'll have Soundtrax's Surroundtrax on my layout. And it uses Digitrax's transponding so the sound fallow's the loco around the layout. Digitrax hasn't made a Next18 decoder and must not plan too as it's been out for several years. I wouldn't bet they will do a E24 either. There are a few making a Next18 board so you can solder a wired decoder too it then plug it in to the loco. So you can work around it. I sent Stan Le at LaisDCC the connector info on the E24 and he said they will be able to make one for the E24 too. So hopefully we will have a work around for the E24 soon.
Thanks Scott for the honest assessment. I think I'm going to hold off on the ST order, had quite an itch to get a couple in Milwaukee Road. I just took delivery of three Intermountain SD40s, 2 with sound and 1 DC. Very solid, not the prettiest but they have the correct size fuel tank . They still use the slide in decoder like before
The gold monograms are accurate. After Southern switched to yellow, the SD40-2's continued to receive the gold monograms from the factory. I assume EMD was simply using up excess stock.
I have been test running my two CSX -3s around my basement layout. One fuel tank hangs a bit low on one end. Atlas code 55 track, mostly flat. So far no issues. I'm finding that my sand pipes flex as the locos flow around the curves - granted, I have fairly generous radii of something like 19 inches or less which probably helps. So far, so good. Impressed with directional flashing ditchlights. The positives seem to outweigh the negatives for me, thus far anyways. I'll be adding some of other flavors to the roster.
Too many fiddly details adding too many dollars to N scale equipment these days. If manufacturers are going to add this stuff, they need to ensure it stays in place, and it doesn't hinder performance. I won't run ST on my layout for other reasons but seeing how many issues have come out with this release just compounds that thought process. Can't wait to see more updates on the layout.
Hi big fan of the southern high hoods, I'm going by memory which is not so good anymore, but I remember noticing when I was a kid growing up near the Atlanta and West point line seeing the gold and imatation gold missed matched on some units. Or they just might have been dirty.
The more issues I keep hearing from people, makes me wonder if i should cancel my preorder for the AC4400CW's that i ordered before i end up with $500+ worth of headaches..
I agree. With painting my own locomotives for my railroad, Kato proves to be the easiest to disassemble, paint, and reassemble without issues later, especially performance.
Hi Scott , yea I’m a Southern fan as you. I have 3 of those units all with sound. Because I didn’t want to have to install the decoder . I haven’t took my unit’s out of the box yet. I have wide turns hopefully I will not have issues with the sand tubes. Thanks for the heads up. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. 😎😎 👍
There is just so much detail you can get with N-SCALE in my opinion. This is why I love my KATO locomotives. Great price and function very well. The same goes with N-SCALE building and scenery. If you are into modeling detail. I would definitely recommend larger scales for sure. For me, space was the reason I model N-SCALE and have enjoyed the scale, but I have learned that detail is limited because of the size. I have a few Broadway limited loco's and ran into the same issues you have here with Scaletrains. N-scale has its limitations because of their size for sure. I think most N-scalers feel your frustration !
Scott, I have only rum mine back and forth a few times on a test track. So thanks for the heads up. Scale Trains delayed the SD40-2 for some quality issues if I remember right. They do seam to care and will fix issues if one reaches out to them. This is the second loco from scale trains to use the non NMRA approved E24 decoder. The last run of the GE C39-8's have them too. Atlas is using them too on the latest runs of GP7/9's and SD 7/9's. I don't care for the ESU decoder either. I don't do onboard sound because I'll have Soundtrax's Surroundtrax on my layout. And it uses Digitrax's transponding so the sound fallow's the loco around the layout. Digitrax hasn't made a Next18 decoder and must not plan too as it's been out for several years. I wouldn't bet they will do a E24 either. There are a few making a Next18 board so you can solder a wired decoder too it then plug it in to the loco. So you can work around it. I sent Stan Le at LaisDCC the connector info on the E24 and he said they will be able to make one for the E24 too. So hopefully we will have a work around for the E24 soon.
Thanks Scott for the honest assessment. I think I'm going to hold off on the ST order, had quite an itch to get a couple in Milwaukee Road. I just took delivery of three Intermountain SD40s, 2 with sound and 1 DC. Very solid, not the prettiest but they have the correct size fuel tank . They still use the slide in decoder like before
They setup to high on the trucks or they would look fine.
@@NSSCOTTTEAGUE Is there any way they can be lowered to make them more realistic?
@@tulyar1043 They are low enough
The gold monograms are accurate. After Southern switched to yellow, the SD40-2's continued to receive the gold monograms from the factory. I assume EMD was simply using up excess stock.
I have been test running my two CSX -3s around my basement layout. One fuel tank hangs a bit low on one end. Atlas code 55 track, mostly flat. So far no issues. I'm finding that my sand pipes flex as the locos flow around the curves - granted, I have fairly generous radii of something like 19 inches or less which probably helps. So far, so good. Impressed with directional flashing ditchlights. The positives seem to outweigh the negatives for me, thus far anyways. I'll be adding some of other flavors to the roster.
Too many fiddly details adding too many dollars to N scale equipment these days. If manufacturers are going to add this stuff, they need to ensure it stays in place, and it doesn't hinder performance. I won't run ST on my layout for other reasons but seeing how many issues have come out with this release just compounds that thought process. Can't wait to see more updates on the layout.
Hi big fan of the southern high hoods, I'm going by memory which is not so good anymore, but I remember noticing when I was a kid growing up near the Atlanta and West point line seeing the gold and imatation gold missed matched on some units. Or they just might have been dirty.
I have all 6 of the Southern units and 2 of the NS units. Only problem I’ve encountered is the low riding fuel tanks
The more issues I keep hearing from people, makes me wonder if i should cancel my preorder for the AC4400CW's that i ordered before i end up with $500+ worth of headaches..
50/50 shot
Kato's are just made better.
I agree. With painting my own locomotives for my railroad, Kato proves to be the easiest to disassemble, paint, and reassemble without issues later, especially performance.
Seems like there are more and more issues with these. Makes me doubt about buying any.
But how do you open them, i.e. remove the shell without destroying anything?
Take both couplers out and the shell will side off
Are you ever goin' back to the "Train Horn" side?..