stock_2007 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I always find it odd the way companies try very hard not to give info' out. The Scale Trains SD40-2 looks a great loco I'm about to order a NS unit (none sound) The loco has a great lighting layout with front and rear ditch lights...or it has as long as you fit a ESU LokPilot 21 pin chip! Which is the only chip the loco is wired for. It sounds a lot like a Dapol loco I had trouble with Edited July 14, 2017 by stock_2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted July 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 14, 2017 I always find it odd the way companies try very hard not to give info' out. The Scale Trains SD40-2 looks a great loco I'm about to order a NS unit (none sound) The loco has a great lighting layout with front and rear ditch out...or it has as long as you fit a ESU LokPilot 21 pin chip! Which is the only chip the loco is wired for. It sounds a lot like a Dapol loco I had trouble with I rather fancy that you have partly answered your own question - an 8-pin decoder cannot access the required number of simultaneous function options on complex lighting and sound installations. I think this is what led to the introduction of multiple-pin interfaces of recent years. At least you would find you got value from the decoder. I need the same model for commanding very simple lighting in a Rail87 4-wheel railcar trailer, which doesn't even have a motor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Hi All, I recently took delivery of one of the second run of this model. Mine is a C&NW in 'as delivered' "old yellow" or "Stagecoach" yellow, in the 'Rivet Counter' series, fitted with a Loksound decoder. I do like the class lights that change colour with multiple presses of F5. Correct northwestern style nose mounted 'gong' bell. Great detail on the trucks and that detailed knuckle is metal. Nice fans. I was expecting better detail on the horns though. Strangely, the number boards only seem to light up when the sound is on. The roof is everything you would expect. Really? A sweeping brush fitted to the nose! F7 sets the warning flasher going. Looks every inch a northwestern SD40-2 to me. The paintwork and lettering detail is very fine indeed - there is nothing to do but add weathering. I've now got quite a few C&NW SD40-2's from Athearn, Kato, Broadway, this is as smooth running as a Kato, better sounding than Broadway and exquisitely detailed. I'd say that Scaletrains.com have indeed made the definitive classic American loco. I'm very pleased with it, it's a heavy model too so I will have no haulage problems on anything I can run it on. I'm rubbish at shooting videos but here's my effort at demonstrating it; Cheers, John. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 Looks like a really nice loco, I'm still not big on the sound thing I think its just a fad where did you pick up your loco by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Thanks, William. I bought it directly from Scaletrains.com. IF I get another (maybe in a more modern livery?) I would probably try and buy from Trainworld or similar as shipping was approx. $35, ouch! Re: sound - well, the Americans (and me!) have been highly enthusiastic about it for over twenty years now as it adds a terrific dimension to operating your models. The key is to get the level of volume correct, I like it just below the threshold of what my ears can bear in a small room at home but at an exhibition, I think it should be audible only within about three feet of the model - a difficult ask as the hall volume ebbs and flows. Cheers, John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Trainworld now has a minimum overseas shipping cost of $40.00. However, the overall cost of the Atlas sound fitted loco I bought still cost £50.00 cheaper than buying from Gaugemaster. With regard to sound. The 'Turbo Whine' of an EMD prime mover can be irritating after a while. However, I love the sound of my EMD GP38-2 as it has a non-turbo prime mover with the superb 'Drivehold' feature. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 19, 2018 Author Share Posted February 19, 2018 I was once talking to a trader who was placed between two sound layouts at a show, by Sunday packing away time came around he was a sound convert...and deaf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Regularity Posted February 19, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2018 Some traders show videos, and have them running quite loudly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 Our club was once at a show where on one side we had a Southern Railway layout which used bells as part of its signalling set up and on the other side we had a BR shed layout full of sound fitted class 37...great fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) Dear RMWebbers,Thankfully, just like the pursuit of Scale Visual modelling,Scale Aural modelling means that once the appropriately-scaled sonic model is achieved,there is no (scale modelling) reason to change it (IE make it louder)...Turning up the Master Volume CV "because it's a noisy room"is IMHO no different than putting G scale details on a HO loco "because No-one notices the scale-appropriate-sized details at exhibition-viewing distances"....(If the punter is truly-engaged by the model presentation,they _will_ automatically lean-in, get up-close,and be rewarded with a "finescale" audio bonus which is in-keeping with the otherwise-finescale visual model......said another way, even a prototype 12"/1' scale loco in notch8, screaming it's prime-mover out,is rendered "inaudible" by an earthquake or tornado-worth of "ambient noisefloor"... ;-) )Happy modelling,Aim to Improve,Prof KlyzlrPS just because a "scale sound" loco or layout can't be heard "against the 12"/1' scale noisefloor of the room" at 6' listening distance,does not mean the audio thru-air soundwaves the ear recieves aren't physically present in the air,Only that the punter has to actually _consciously listen_ for them... ;-)(funny, that's just the same as the punter having to _consciously look_ for the "superdetails" in a finescale modelling scene...) Edited February 22, 2018 by Prof Klyzlr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Dear RMWebbers, Thankfully, just like the pursuit of Scale Visual modelling, Scale Aural modelling means that once the appropriately-scaled sonic model is achieved, there is no (scale modelling) reason to change it (IE make it louder)... Turning up the Master Volume CV "because it's a noisy room" is IMHO no different than putting G scale details on a HO loco "because No-one notices the scale-appropriate-sized details at exhibition-viewing distances".... (If the punter is truly-engaged by the model presentation, they will lean-in, get up-close, and be rewarded with a "finescale" audio bonus which is in-keeping with the otherwise-finescale visual model... ...said another way, even a prototype 12"/1' scale loco in notch8, screaming it's prime-mover out, is rendered "inaudible" by an earthquake or tornado-worth of ambient noisefloor... ;-) ) Happy modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr PS just because a "scale sound" loco or layout can't be heard "against the 12"/1' scale noisefloor" at 6' listening distance, does not mean the audio thru-air soundwaves the ear recieves aren't physically present in the air, Only that the punter has to actually _consciously listen_ for them... ;-) (funny, that's just the same as the punter having to _consciously look_ for the "superdetails" in a finescale modelling scene...) and sadly I'm a bit deaf and wear spectacles so I'm no good to anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Dear Stock, sadly I'm a bit deaf and wear spectacles Nothing out of the ordinary there, plenty of active (Visual and Aural) modellers overcoming similar age-of-life factors(I personally wear glasses, and am -3dB down at 1K in my left ear...) so I'm no good to anyone Now, that's a flat-out self-depreciating lie, and I (and I'm sure many other members here) won't let you get away with it... As long as you can find the motivation in yourself to (in Modellng, as in Life) Aim to Improve, then what you're doing is most-certainly "good enough" to stand tall here or anywhere for-that-matter... Happy Modelling,Prof Klyzlr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 Hi All, I recently took delivery of one of the second run of this model. Mine is a C&NW in 'as delivered' "old yellow" or "Stagecoach" yellow, in the 'Rivet Counter' series, fitted with a Loksound decoder. I do like the class lights that change colour with multiple presses of F5. Correct northwestern style nose mounted 'gong' bell. Great detail on the trucks and that detailed knuckle is metal. Nice fans. I was expecting better detail on the horns though. Strangely, the number boards only seem to light up when the sound is on. The roof is everything you would expect. Really? A sweeping brush fitted to the nose! F7 sets the warning flasher going. Looks every inch a northwestern SD40-2 to me. The paintwork and lettering detail is very fine indeed - there is nothing to do but add weathering. I've now got quite a few C&NW SD40-2's from Athearn, Kato, Broadway, this is as smooth running as a Kato, better sounding than Broadway and exquisitely detailed. I'd say that Scaletrains.com have indeed made the definitive classic American loco. I'm very pleased with it, it's a heavy model too so I will have no haulage problems on anything I can run it on. I'm rubbish at shooting videos but here's my effort at demonstrating it; Cheers, John. I was looking over your loco again and I wondered if you knew of anybody who makes little add on parts like the sweeping brush, I have two CNW locos that need them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Hi William, Sorry, not a clue! However, I will be writing to Scaletrains.com to ask them if that metal knuckle is available separately (it's excellent!) so I can ask about the broom too. Will let you know, in due course. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Dear John, Stock, Broom-curious... Might I suggest any of the following? Evergreen Hill Designshttp://shop.evergreenhilldesigns.com/EH603-Street-Broom-HO-scale-EH603.htm Scale Structures http://scale-structures.com/ss2313 http://scale-structures.com/ss2509 Model Tech Studios https://modeltechstudios.com/hoscaledetailpushbrooms3packfinished.aspx Happy Modelling,Aim to Improve,Prof Klyzlr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock_2007 Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 Dear John, Stock, Broom-curious... Might I suggest any of the following? Evergreen Hill Designs http://shop.evergreenhilldesigns.com/EH603-Street-Broom-HO-scale-EH603.htm Scale Structures http://scale-structures.com/ss2313 http://scale-structures.com/ss2509 Model Tech Studios https://modeltechstudios.com/hoscaledetailpushbrooms3packfinished.aspx Happy Modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr Yes I think they will do the job, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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