Micro Trains SW1500

Allamuchy Joe Jul 2, 2014

  1. Allamuchy Joe

    Allamuchy Joe TrainBoard Member

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    Well, I went to my LHS last evening and I picked up my Micro Trains SW1500. My first impression was that the shells looks really nice. My LHS told me that apparently, the front light is misaligned and needs to be adjusted slightly. When I looked it up online, I found it detailed here on the Micro-Trains site.

    Anyway, when I took the shell off to adjust the light, I see that the chassis is from the Lifelike SW8 & SW9 locomotive. I am a little disappointed because I was excited to see if Micro Trains would have supplied a new chassis that could be used with future kitbashes.

    Well, at least I know it will MU with my SW9's.
     
  2. Philip H

    Philip H TrainBoard Member

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    Can you post a pic or two? Several fora are all lit up about these right now, in part because no one has posted any pictures.
     
  3. Allamuchy Joe

    Allamuchy Joe TrainBoard Member

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    No pics yet. I got home late last night and brought it into the office today. I'll try to take some pictures when I get home.

    But, I can tell you that the printing is crisp and the handrails are some of the thinnest I've ever seen. The cab has a weight in it, which I will probably remove -- I like that see-thru look.

    Joe
     
  4. Many Trains

    Many Trains TrainBoard Member

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    How about DCC conversion? Is this plug & play (like Micro Trains advertised), or something else?
     
  5. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

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  6. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Life Like chassis! When I and others suggested months ago they would do this we were shouted down and told "MTL wouldn't do something like that", well there ya go folks.

    At least they have made it DCC friendly although as many also suspected there is no headlight on the cab end of the unit like every other N scale diesel switcher made since the LL units. It's a good indication though of how small decoders can be made if you want to these days that it all fits on the headlight board.
     
  7. nd-rails

    nd-rails TrainBoard Member

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    >>there is no headlight on the cab end of the unit

    Incorrect statement.
     
  8. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    The image of the unit used by MTL in their advertising doesn't show well that the body is properly above the chassis. An image posted with an auction on eBay showed that the body is at the appropriate height. I don't own the image and don't have permission to use it so I don't think it's fair to copy it here.
     
  9. Many Trains

    Many Trains TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the info! I know they advertised plug & play, but it seems like you're never really sure until you see the produced locomotive. Good to see these will not have to be wired.
     
  10. Many Trains

    Many Trains TrainBoard Member

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    The online shop I bought mine from sent an email out that Micro Trains requested all of the units (at least all he had anyways) to be sent back in order to allow them to adjust the light. So I guess I'll be waiting a while longer to get mine.
     
  11. Allamuchy Joe

    Allamuchy Joe TrainBoard Member

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    It is actually very easy to do, though. Just pop the shell and slightly bend the LED upward (about 30 degrees). Then put the shell back on.
     
  12. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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    This has been discussed in depth over at the Railwire. The body has stops integrated to keep the chassis from inserting fully into the shell. This was done as a compromise to achieve the proper ride height. The downside is that the mechanism is visable below the shell/sill. In addition, the bronze pick-ups are highly visable over the trucks due to the increased sill height and are secured in the same manner as on the SW9, which is not very good.
    The hood width is definitely not scale, a compromise due to use of the SW9 mechanism. This may be acceptable to some, but may not be to others. It should be a good performing lokie, though I wonder if it may be a tad noisy due to the gap between the mechanism and the top of the shell.
     
  13. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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    BTW, if nothing else the DCC that Digitrax developed can be utilized on the SW9.
     
  14. Dave Schneider

    Dave Schneider TrainBoard Member

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    I do believe that the original statement is correct. There is one headlight, on the nose of the unit. The decoder has provisions for installing additional lighting, but there is no cab end light.

    Best wishes, Dave
     
  15. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    oh god what a horrible read that was. I hope that Trainboard never has a thread like that.
     
  16. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Only if the Trolls take a Stroll. ;-)
     
  17. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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    The bottom line is the engine is a compromise, and it is up to the individual to decide what is important to them. I think the biggest problem on the Railwire was that the information was leaked out in dribs and drabs by MT, even though they knew up front what the compromises would be. Only after the thread devolved to the point of chaos did MT step in and confirm what was already suspected.

    People have been waiting on an SW1500 for a long time, and given the advancements in the hobby I think a few were less than happy with the compromises. I will purchase one myself, but I am certainly less than thrilled. Using the SW9 chassis under the SW1500 will result in a hood width comparable to the Con Cor MP-15DC. Compare that offering to the one from Atlas and you get the picture (in all fairness though, the MT will be better decorated than the CC.)
     
  18. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    John...

    Not to ignite a firestorm over here...but...how many scale inches too wide is the hood on this locomotive ? TIA.
     
  19. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    It works out to be 6" too wide, or .0375", or 1/27"
     
  20. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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    The EMD SW9 is 10" wider than the SW1500 if the data I have is correct. MT had noted that they made the sides of the shell thinner in an attempt to minimize the discrepancy. Allen's numbers would be correct if MT was able to whittle it down to a 6" difference. The shell sides would be .0125" thinner than the SW9 shell presuming the SW9 hood width was scale to the proto.
     

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