Seems to be an awful lot of griping and complaining going on about a model that is not even built yet and the only thing seen outside of the MT inner circle has been an artist's rendition. About the only thing that somebody hasn't commented on is the roundness of the wheels. As far as the issue of whether it is lit at both ends is not a big concern for me. Unless you have a big clunking weight taking up the interior of the cab getting a light in that end isn't a piece of cake. It can be done but hiding it in an open exposed cab is the next issue not to mention keeping the light from bleeding out. And then I can see someone complaining about being able to see the bottom of the light housing if you stand on your head four inches away from the model and look down. Fiber optics would be the best choice since it can be relatively fine and hide up in the cab roof. Kato uses the fiber optic principal to get light from a single LED to the other end of a car and to rear marker lights. Having it come in with a dual mode decoder ala Bmann would be nice but not a prerequisite for me since I am not a DCC person. As far as it being a Walthers/Lifelike mechanism will have to be a wait and see. MT has used some LL and some Bmann power in their train sets so who knows. Somehow though I think not. But for heavens sake folks before we critic the heck out of something lets have something in our hands to critic.
John, there have been articles on modifying the Con-Cor "SW1500" since the 1980's, and N Scale of Nevada used to make a "Super Retro Kit" with a shell and all the detail parts to make a SP SW1500 (I was 13, I did not have the money at the time). Look at ANY forum and every time there is a "what loco do you want" list, there were two clear cut wants, an ALCO S and an EMD SW1500. We are now getting a pair of ALCO's, and one of them is from Atlas. Atlas has a great track record, has front and rear lights, plus DCC and sound as an option. This is the most wanted loco in N Scale for 20 years. This is a game changing model if it is done correctly. It would workin yards, industrial branches and for shortlines. If this loco had all of the options as the Atlas S, and from a company that has a track record like Atlas (name another company that changed factorys when it did not like how a loco turned out). MTL released their Southern Pacific bay window caboose the same time that Athearn did, the Athearn was an instant hit since it was correct, while the MTL caboose was clearly oversized, and the modelers voted for Athearn's Caboose with their wallet.
I agree with much of what you are saying. But again to go off critiquing something not even out of development yet and anywhere from six months to a year away isn't doing much good. Enough people E-mailing MT with what would get the contents of their wallet over a Walthers version would be productive now. The Concor model has been the subject of discussion as to what it was supposed to represent for sometime if you could go far enough to actually call it an SW-15. I had one of those crude cow/calf combos once upon a time. I figure that with enough decent input from the folks who will buy it that MT will do a good job on it. However they like others have had their occasional oops on a car. In my book they produced a fine running example of some FTs. Just timing plus the fact that IM has always tended to be more detail oriented had their version turn out to be a better seller. However IM has always made a better detailed car than MT because of all the separately applied parts. Still MTs cars are still danged nice even if getting a little pricey though and a lot better than others out there. Some decent input to MT though will go further than a lot of guessing and griping here. When the Galloping Goose came out it sold very well and with a lot of requests and input from modelers to Concor the next run came out with decoders which proves that the manufactures do listen to the people with the wallets.
Is it the case that Micro-Trains make the shells for their locomotives themselves and outsource the mechanisms? If so is it not too much to imagine that the mechanisms are being made by the factory that made the Life Like SW's and, if not the same mechanism, are an adaption of that design?
Well if we don't gripe and complain about this model...what else are we gonna do? I vote complain about the Atlas S2, as I don't need one as the time frame I model they were long since retired.
I presume you are talking about the VO-1000? If so, that is not a very good example. Atlas did 3 runs with Ajin (IIRC) before changing production facilities. On top of that, to forego the tried and true and use Ajin in the first place was like Coca Cola inventing the new Coke, and then having to backtrack to the Coke Classic. This example does not elevate Atlas above the rest in my book.
And this is an interesting 'eye of the beholder' data point. I still recall the rec.models.railroad discussions in which the separately applied parts were likened to "PVC Pipe"... and no, that's not in a good way.
I guess this derailed train needs to be put back on the track so, Is anyone going to buy one? I would like one. Mike
I'ld buy one for a dedicated yard switcher...just so I dont have to use my old LL GP20 for that purpose ;-)
I might buy two if I could get them in Espee. I have two of the Atlas MP15DCs and they don't pull much. Better to use an old pair of Alco C630s. Better yet, use four.
I would buy a bunch, if they did them in SP with the correct trucks and lights. Athearn did it for years in HO bluebox, I don't see why they can't do it with these. They would sell quite well.
So how about we do 8 pages on the new Bachmann Nw2 now?Seems like a bad decision on Bmann's part as they will never match Kato quality. lots of other engines that could have been selected that are not currently available.
Seeing as Santa Fe didn't have any and so it's not on my must have at any cost list I'll hold back from making any reservations until MTL tell us whether or not it will be DCC ready, if not I'll save my money.
If true and theres a DCC problem...I may just go with a Bachmann N Scale S4 w/DCC Decoder - Santa Fe Zebra Stripe #1528 for my yard switcher. I guess time will tell ;-)
If this is the case, glad to see MT is still in 1990 with locos and DCC ready...really think they are missing out. I know quite a few people who will not get them unless they are DCC ready.
How do you arrive at this conclusion? Is it a matter of interpretation of the term? Posters on this and other forums cite conversations/correspondence that suggest that there is no final word on the matter at this time, even suggesting that they are working with Digitrax IIRC. As far as your comments concerning a Walther's mechanism (though you didn't specify that it would be the SW9 as some have presumed), what do you base that on?
