I'm just now getting back into N scale model railroading after a 10 year hiatus due to a move to another state (MI). I enjoy your videos Mike and they help me catch up on what I missed. Thanks for taking the time and effort to put them together.
MIke I just want to thank you for helping my out indirectly twice. First, I watched your video on properly lubricating n-scale locomotives. I had a real annoying Atlas Southern Pacific Dash 8 40B, it would squeal like a cat in pain as it went around the track. I took off the chassis and trucks, cleaned it up then applied to the front and rear of the worm gears only. I then placed it on the track and walla it runs like a charm. I had bought this locomotive used on eBay and I think it probably sat in the box for a long time without running. I don't recommend doing this I try to run all of mine at least ever few months or more. Next I just bought the Walthers GP38-2 CSX version after watching your detailed review. You convinced me it is a super nice locomotive. Thanks again Mike, keep up the good videos.
Hi Mike, Thanks for doing a video on Walthers GP38-2. I have always wanted to see the new Walthers locos run. I hope the quality of these new locos stay consistent. We can thank Kato and Atlas for setting the bar high for quality! Randy
Hi Mike • Looks so small in your hands, but there is a lot of detail. I do like the hand rails and paint job. Looks good on the test track. Looks better running slow, more prototypical. • Cheers from Michigan
I purchased the CSX model about a week ago and had alot of trouble with it running over sodder points. After running in for a good part of 4 days it seems to run very well, and I gotta give kudos to Walthers because the headlights and number boards are brighter than any N scale loco I've ever run!!!
+James Spohn Every locomotive should be run in for about an hour or so at a moderate speed in both directions. I really like mine as well. Glad you like it. Mike
I got the GP-20s on the last production run and love them greatly. I noticed they had changed the trucks from the earlier Life Like/Walthers trucks that used the old brass wheels that didn't take much to get dirty. The new trucks are blackened metal I think and perform exceptionally well. I assume it's the same for the 38-2s. I am so glad Walthers has stepped it up to compete with the other manufacturers. Now if they can only try to produce new models. Thanks for the decoder install tips Mike.
I like the slow speed as this loco could be used in yard work in addition to a road engine. Like it. They are coming as well this year. Soon and with DCC installed I believe.
Glad to see this, Have not been to the point I wanted to spend money on Walthers engines. Not sure if it is Life-Like etc. Not wanting to spend money on my own to find out :)
metroredline Mike had a few problems, You need to be on a hard surface and make sure nothing gets in the way. The step was sitting on the inner flap of the label. Keep that stuff in mind. You do not want the loco to bounce. If it bounces it lose energy and then second bump could be on detail parts or couplers. When I 1st started doing this I would drop the loco on the box lip. Go back to way early videos and you can see me do that. Before I figured out you can drop the entire group as a unit. I know put a foam or road bed inside the box to keep the loco from sliding around in the box and give a little cushion after the release. The most import step is to read the instructions!!! And to the naysayers, I have not broken a handrail or detail part etc. now that I do it this way over the old wedge and wigle way with toothpicks and micro drivers. And thanks for watching my videos :)
hi Mike... great review.. i have 2 life like / walthers gp 60's i bought about 2 years ago.. i was totally impressed on how well they run.. thanks for sharing.. vinny
Mike, I have several walthers locos but they are older and don't have the motor strips. The original board has nothing that goes down to the motor. Is there a decoder for these older locos. The assembly sheet shows how to replace DC with DCC but does not tell you a decoder to use. Gp38-2 Loco but no brass motor connector
@@N-Scale Thanks for the reply but the DCC controller for these old Walthers GP38-2 locos looks exactly like the current DN163L0A board but without the motor connectors. All the connections are in the four tabs on top. The assembly instruction say to remove their board and replace it with a dcc board. There I a video of the Loco on my youtube channel if you would like to see it disassembled.
Thanks for this. I've always been leery of anything N scale by Walthers that come with wheels (their structures are wonderful though), and was turned off by their N locos when I saw some new ones a couple years ago that STILL had Rapidos on...That said, my UP layout needs local power badly and since the Atlas versions are harder to find these days, I might have to get into these. For those of you who own both the Atlas and Walthers versions, I'd love to hear that your thoughts are.
Since I have been getting into n scale things have changed for the Better thru the years n scale has done it 's homework thats why I have come to n scale.
Hello Mr. Fifer. Great video, as always. I recently got one of these (in CSX) but haven't quite unpackaged it yet due to needing a decorder (which your video covered). What I was wondering is how's the pulling power on these locomotives? Thanks -James
Any chance on a review of the walthers sw9 1200 switcher ? Walthers proto. out of the pack. I have seen a couple run videos of dcc converted units but no out of the box dc reviews. Wondering if they are new tooling or just rebadged lifelike. ?
The only complaint I have against all the N-Scale companies is why they haven't come out with a AC6000 locomotive in in any of big 4 roads. I am about 99% sure it would be a hot seller. Have you heard of any news of a possible release of this model?
You really do not want to use anything that coarse. I would recommend a cleaning pad system such as as this. fiferhobbysu770.corecommerce.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=16735 Sandpaper leaves scratches that collect dirt particles. Thanks , Mike
I'm just now getting back into N scale model railroading after a 10 year hiatus due to a move to another state (MI). I enjoy your videos Mike and they help me catch up on what I missed. Thanks for taking the time and effort to put them together.
Hey Mike That Locomotive Does look good And Yes I will Be Getting that for My Ho and N scale.
If you can find one. This video is 8 years old.
Mike
Nice video Mike you made it look easy and showed how to free up the shell to me that is the hardest step !
Thanks , This shell is a pretty stubborn one but it finally came off.
Mike
MIke I just want to thank you for helping my out indirectly twice. First, I watched your video on properly lubricating n-scale locomotives. I had a real annoying Atlas Southern Pacific Dash 8 40B, it would squeal like a cat in pain as it went around the track. I took off the chassis and trucks, cleaned it up then applied to the front and rear of the worm gears only. I then placed it on the track and walla it runs like a charm. I had bought this locomotive used on eBay and I think it probably sat in the box for a long time without running. I don't recommend doing this I try to run all of mine at least ever few months or more. Next I just bought the Walthers GP38-2 CSX version after watching your detailed review. You convinced me it is a super nice locomotive. Thanks again Mike, keep up the good videos.
Glad to help.
Thanks so much , Mike
love the in depth review and tips on this video. you got yourself another subscriber :) great video.
+RichyRich9120 Thanks Richy, Glad to have you.
Mike
Hi Mike, Thanks for doing a video on Walthers GP38-2. I have always wanted to see the new Walthers locos run. I hope the quality of these new locos stay consistent. We can thank Kato and Atlas for setting the bar high for quality!
Randy
Thanks Randy , I have since run another and it had a slight growl in it but I believe it will go away with more break-in.
Mike
Review and 'How to" demo were both WELL DONE. Thanks
Thanks so much Ken, Mike
Hi Mike • Looks so small in your hands, but there is a lot of detail. I do like the hand rails and paint job. Looks good on the test track. Looks better running slow, more prototypical.
• Cheers from Michigan
She is a super runner.
Mike
Nice looking loco.
Thanks so much John , Mike
I purchased the CSX model about a week ago and had alot of trouble with it running over sodder points. After running in for a good part of 4 days it seems to run very well, and I gotta give kudos to Walthers because the headlights and number boards are brighter than any N scale loco I've ever run!!!
+James Spohn Every locomotive should be run in for about an hour or so at a moderate speed in both directions. I really like mine as well. Glad you like it.
Mike
Great review Mike, great looking loco.
Thanks , Mike
I got the GP-20s on the last production run and love them greatly. I noticed they had changed the trucks from the earlier Life Like/Walthers trucks that used the old brass wheels that didn't take much to get dirty. The new trucks are blackened metal I think and perform exceptionally well. I assume it's the same for the 38-2s. I am so glad Walthers has stepped it up to compete with the other manufacturers. Now if they can only try to produce new models. Thanks for the decoder install tips Mike.
Yes , The 38's have the newer trucks and wheels.
Mike
Walters N scale are excellent running! I was impressed when I got mine
I like the slow speed as this loco could be used in yard work in addition to a road engine. Like it. They are coming as well this year. Soon and with DCC installed I believe.
Glad to see this, Have not been to the point I wanted to spend money on Walthers engines. Not sure if it is Life-Like etc. Not wanting to spend money on my own to find out :)
This is a locomotive I feel worth the change.
Mike
And he used your shell removal technique, too! :)
metroredline Mike had a few problems, You need to be on a hard surface and make sure nothing gets in the way. The step was sitting on the inner flap of the label. Keep that stuff in mind. You do not want the loco to bounce. If it bounces it lose energy and then second bump could be on detail parts or couplers. When I 1st started doing this I would drop the loco on the box lip. Go back to way early videos and you can see me do that. Before I figured out you can drop the entire group as a unit. I know put a foam or road bed inside the box to keep the loco from sliding around in the box and give a little cushion after the release. The most import step is to read the instructions!!! And to the naysayers, I have not broken a handrail or detail part etc. now that I do it this way over the old wedge and wigle way with toothpicks and micro drivers. And thanks for watching my videos :)
hi Mike... great review.. i have 2 life like / walthers gp 60's i bought about 2 years ago.. i was totally impressed on how well they run.. thanks for sharing.. vinny
Thanks Vinny, The frame on these is a new design from the LL GP38-2 and as you see easy to put in a decoder this time.
thanks Mike and will be waiting for more of you videos
+Doug McKay Thanks Doug , Mike
Thank you Mike, excellent video.
Thanks Jeff, hope it helped.
Mike
Great video and good looking locomotive
Thanks Randall. Mike
Mike, I have several walthers locos but they are older and don't have the motor strips. The original board has nothing that goes down to the motor.
Is there a decoder for these older locos.
The assembly sheet shows how to replace DC with DCC but does not tell you a decoder to use.
Gp38-2 Loco but no brass motor connector
The newer GP38-2 takes a Digitrax DN163L0A and the older locos may take TCS CN or CNGP but they need to be soldered in.
Mike
@@N-Scale Thanks for the reply but the DCC controller for these old Walthers GP38-2 locos looks exactly like the current DN163L0A board but without the motor connectors. All the connections are in the four tabs on top. The assembly instruction say to remove their board and replace it with a dcc board. There I a video of the Loco on my youtube channel if you would like to see it disassembled.
@@michellee6829 I have no idea
Wow..look like a easy install.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance
It was. Thanks Lance, Mike
Thanks for this. I've always been leery of anything N scale by Walthers that come with wheels (their structures are wonderful though), and was turned off by their N locos when I saw some new ones a couple years ago that STILL had Rapidos on...That said, my UP layout needs local power badly and since the Atlas versions are harder to find these days, I might have to get into these. For those of you who own both the Atlas and Walthers versions, I'd love to hear that your thoughts are.
+metroredline It's a little late now, but there's a review of their GP60 on my channel.
really cool
Thanks Buddy.
Mike
Since I have been getting into n scale things have changed for the Better thru the years n scale has done it 's homework thats why I have come to n scale.
I would have to agree. The hobby has really changed. Some better and some worse.
Mike
what model is that decoder plz? thx
Check at 6:07 in the video
Thanks for the good review, Mike. Looks like these are all sold out at Walthers, if I'm reading their web site correctly.
They may be , we have not tried to re-order any yet.
Mike
very nice on the information on the gp38-2 but is it possible to ad sound
+Doug McKay I do not know as I do not do any custom sound installs.
Thanks , Mike
That has a fantastic job on the locomotive I have a Walters bnsf locomotive but mine is ho scale but it is ok that I like your better take care of it
Thanks Michael , Mike
thanks for the demo.
Your welcome sir.
Mike
Hello Mr. Fifer. Great video, as always. I recently got one of these (in CSX) but haven't quite unpackaged it yet due to needing a decorder (which your video covered). What I was wondering is how's the pulling power on these locomotives? Thanks -James
Thanks TA , I would guess they pull as well as any 4 axle loco.
Mike
nice review Mike
Thanks Ger, Mike
When that model of GP38-2 came out it was law in the U.S. that all road locomotives had to have ditch lights, where are the ditch lights.
I don't care.
Mike, whats the most common coupler locos and rolling stock are sold with these days? Thanks
Micro-Trains.
***** thanks
pbeccas No Problem
Any chance on a review of the walthers sw9 1200 switcher ? Walthers proto. out of the pack. I have seen a couple run videos of dcc converted units but no out of the box dc reviews. Wondering if they are new tooling or just rebadged lifelike. ?
Dan , I do not often do this but here you go!!
ruclips.net/video/Jt3g0dQweMs/видео.html
Thanks , Mike
The only complaint I have against all the N-Scale companies is why they haven't come out with a AC6000 locomotive in in any of big 4 roads. I am about 99% sure it would be a hot seller. Have you heard of any news of a possible release of this model?
I have not. I know Kato benched a few diesel projects to do the FEF so maybe sometime in the future we will see them.
Mike
Hey mike how come using sand paper is Bad?
You really do not want to use anything that coarse. I would recommend a cleaning pad system such as as this.
fiferhobbysu770.corecommerce.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=16735
Sandpaper leaves scratches that collect dirt particles.
Thanks , Mike
Hi Mike, congratulations on another excellent video and product review. Let's see if one can reply to my comment. :-)
I can’t for the life of me install the pilots on these locos.
These locos do not require a pilot install. They already have the pilot.
Thanks , Mike