Last night I ran my 2 new BN SD70macs from Kato. I have a BNSF exec from the first release that I coupled up to make a 3 loco lashup. I was surprised to find that the new SD70macs are significanly faster than the first run. I can understand a small difference since the old unit has run several hours, but there was a very noticeable difference. Almost enough that they wouldn't run together. I didn't run them very fast, so I wasn't concerned about hurting them, but I wonder if the mechanism is different? Anyone else notice the speed difference?
I haven't run them together yet, but I wouldn't be too concerned just yet if I were you. My BNSF units from the previous run ran like a bat out of hell for the first hour or so until they had a chance to break in a little. Now they run very smooth and slow. I noticed this same speed difference between the H-II units that I'd had a few weeks prior to the Exec's, but they all match up well now. So hopefully this isn't a lasting effect, but I'll test mine out just in case. On a somewhat related note, did you notice the color variations between the BNSF Exec's and the BN's? No big deal, as the prototype has all kinds of different shades and faded paint. I just found it kinda interesting. I really like the fact that they went the extra mile and put the correct trucks on there....they look really good. Now...BRING ON THE SD75's!!!!
The only thing I noticed on my vomit bonnet was that the headlights aren't the bright white, they are more like the old yellows. Anyone else have that?
I think thy used golden-white LEDs in the latest release. This has been debated many times before, but I also think that the original white LEDs produce the brightest headlights. I know there are those who say the new ones are just as bright but have had the bluish tint corrected, but this somehow also takes away from the overall intensity as well, IMHO. BTW, I was never bothered by any blue tint. The lights always just seemed to be intensly white and bright. As far as the original topic, I have 4 SD70MACs from all 3 releases and they run perfectly together. I think it's kind'a hit and miss, though. I have one C44-9W that runs like an absolute rocket compared to the others and won't run with my other Kato engines. I also have an older Kato SD40 that is slower than anything else I have and won't lash up. Russ [ 17. June 2004, 16:22: Message edited by: tehachapifan ]
All 14 of mine run great with each other nothing that I have noticed. As far as the lights go I have never run mine with the stock decoder only the DN163K1a decoders in them so I can not comment on the led color. Steve
