Well, my new Fox Valley NS Heritage/Reading SD70ACe arrived today. I've been waiting for these FVM units for a long time. I was really surprised by two things at first look: 1. The handrails are a kind of light orange while the stanchions are yellow (I can't find a prototype photo where the handrails are anything but yellow but maybe I haven't looked enough). 2. The yellow on the shell looks almost like that awesomely bright zito green C&NW used. I know Reading yellow faded and yellow is a hard color but ... Wow! It just looks way off. It almost looks as if the yellow was painted over the green I have 16 FVM ES44 and GP60s and I really like them have been a big FVM supporter and I have usually looked a bit sideways at the color complaints on Kato UP yellow etc. since the real world varies and each of us can be very subjective in how we perceive color. So the yellow may be a bit bright to me but look just fine to someone else. The orange handrails, though ... ? What is interesting is that in the photos I shot and post here, the yellow looks OK. In person, with the three-inch or three-foot rule in place, it looks pretty zito to me. There are rear ditch lights -- as promised! I have not run this one yet because the color may be a deal killer for me. I may send it back and exchange it for another heritage scheme.
I agree. In the photos I posted it looks like a "normal" Reading yellow. Reading units tend to fade almost toward white -- a really pale yellow. In person, this really has a green tint to it and it is bright. Weathering can cover a lot. I am really just more puzzled by the handrail color.
all the engines are newly painted. so way would there be a faded look? I seen the engine up close and the stanchions and railings are the same color and the yellow was not faded.
Because they are over 2 years old already. The colors look right to me. Some of it will depend on what lights you are looking at it under. Different bulbs will make the colors appear different shades. This fairly recent shot looks very much like the model shots posted above.
See this photo: Looks like the stanchions match the yellow body color but the handrails match the reflective stripe along the frame above the trucks.
Hi I concur on all above, got mine from Feather River Trains 2 days ago. DCC install is easy- remove shell pull out shorting plug, replace with EUN 651 decoder. The running qualities are different from any other loco I have, not in a bad way actually good. We are speaking about a non adjusted, factory reset decoder, all CVS are set at default save for the 4 digit address. The issue is, when I advance the throttle to about 65-70% the speed will not increase the unit is going probably at least 100 MPH at that point, so it is a moot issure. Slow speed control is really good, haven't MU'd; with anything yet. The paint seems a bit thick, but overall it is a nice model, I would definitely look at one in real life to see if your color taste is OK with this model the yellow is not right at all....this is after looking at it under Noon sun, setting sun, white fluorescent light. I understand color temperature and that without a photo calibrated to 18% grey there will be variations. I will just call it a bit weathered faded and leave it at that.
Well, if you are unhappy about the handrails, consider having Randy do them for you. Some of the reason they look bad is because they are just so HUGE. The smaller size will make them look much better. Perhaps have him use GMM stanchions. Happy Modeling! David Cutting
I've come to the conclusion that you cannot, cannot, CANNOT use photos to determine correct color....at all! It is VERY misleading but seems (incorrectly) conclusive in many cases.
The speed comment above bothers me a bit. There's not a one of my FVM locos that could remotely do 100 - and if these do, I'd be a bit worried. Or perhaps it's the decoder; I use Digitrax. I would expect the EUN's high speed to be the same...if not, I'd really like to know...
Well as I said in my first post, it is a Digitrax EUN decoder with all factory CV's except for the 4 digit roadnumber. All of my other engines increase speed until they max out at 28 (out of 28 speed steps) this maxes out at about step 17, I am guessing at the speed of 100, like I said it really doesn't matter, just an observation. this thing will be running at a scale 40MPH max.
Leonard, Quick question for you. What 1:1 railroad would purchase a beast like this to only max out at 40mph? Just curious? Carl
Well I will use this on drag freights and coal unit trains in my world and most of those trains wont be doing a BSM impersonation. Slow speeds look better on most layouts. I am not sure what 1:1 railroads would do with AC traction units pulling high tonnage trains on grades at high speeds. My world my railroad..... I do Have a Thalys and AVE series 100 for my high speed fix!
A lot of the freights in my region do not reach forty. When they do, it isn't for long periods of time. I saw a BNSF average speed assessment some months ago, and it was more in the 25mph and less range. Mountains, long tunnels, a lot of curves following rivers, etc.
Most of us don't model the wide open areas where trains can hit 55 mph. Most of us model the urban or yard areas where speeds are much lower. The line I model has a max mph of 25.
Using my 12" Unitrack dblxover as a measuring area. I try to run my trains in these speed ranges: 2 sec = 54.55 SMPH 3 sec = 36.36 SMPH 4 sec = 27.27 SMPH Excursions runs in the 2 to 3 second range Freights run in the 3 to 4 second range There is a great model train speed calculator here... http://www.stonysmith.com/railroad/speedcalc.asp
