Lifelike GP20 Feedback Wanted

Could anyone who owns the Lifelike GP20's tell me how they have held up in service? Any problems with the trucks, gears, metal contact strips, or the motors? I would like to know since the announcement of the FA's came out and the trucks and such should be about the same. Thanks!

Dale

 

Everything has held up on mine. The only thing I don't like is the low gearing (they run real slow). You shouldn't have any problmes with any thing though, the mechanism is just about the same as the new Atlas ones.



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Craig Martyn

Best Looking Models Around
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AND N scale detail parts.

http://users4.50megs.com/blma/

 

I have found the GP-20 to be a great little loco. It has been used almost everyday since they first came out. Its only problem has been that it is very slow, and not quite a quiet as I expected. It is a very strong pulling loco for its size, and I would say it gets a 2 thumbs up from me.
Art

 

I have 3 gp20s and have had no trouble with any of them. I agree that they run a little slower than my Atlas/Kato units but to me that is not all bad.My two BN units sure look cool with a CB&Q unit in between them! BNSF what's that?

 

I go with all the above. Great value for money (for us at least Downunder), though they do run slower than their Kato and Atlas counterparts. (I am still trying to get the swapping sorted for getting Atlas and LL running at the same speed - I haven't forgotten about this.)
They run well straight from the box (a bit noisy), look sharp, and do the work. Also, the chassis is a good base for adding Atlas shells to, for more GP7/9's that run with the 20, plus upgrading the LL GP18 chassis.
I would say an all round good unit.

I imagine the FA1's will be just as good, if not better.

And, as Dan said, the BN/CB&Q lash-ups look great!

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page
N to the Nth degree!

 

the frisco fa-fb-1 will be in a later run--maybe the 2nd i hope----in the mean time order some in mopac

 

I have 3 GP20s and am happy with them. I have installed a digitrax decoder in one of them even added a LED rotary beacon using FX settings. Looks pretty cool.
I think they are a good bargain and would by more LL .

Bryan

 

Hey, thanks for the info. A couple of you said you had some noise. Was it gear noise or motor noise? The reason I am asking is my kids had 3 Lifelike GP18's and a FA2 and they were the noisiest engines ever, mostly from the gears but one from both the gears and motor. They all crapped out after about 10 hours running and I couldn't get parts from Lifelike so they were just trashed. I decided before I shell out $320.00 for the 4 UP FA/FB sets I was going to find out how the other split frame engine they have is holding up. The fact that the body's they are going to use are wrong for the UP prototype may keep me from buying more than one set. Since they are charging Kato prices for this powered/dummy set I want to be well versed in their mechanicals before shelling out the big bucks! Thanks for your feedback.

Dale

 

The noise I get is gear noise, and as I have run the loco more it is getting less. I don't believe it will ever be as quiet as a Kato but it is ok with me.
Art

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by friscoluvr:
...The reason I am asking is my kids had 3 Lifelike GP18's and a FA2 and they were the noisiest engines ever, mostly from the gears but one from both the gears and motor. They all crapped out after about 10 hours running and I couldn't get parts from Lifelike so they were just trashed...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My 5 year-old has been running two of the GP20s for a couple years now without a problem. Being five, he's not the most gentle of beasts either. I can tell you that the GP20 can push through six green army men to get to a T-Rex, and keep going . It's like a Timex! (I should point out that he has his own layout, with Lego buildings, etc. I won't let him do this stuff with mine).

Ed Harrison

 

Ed, i can only imagine the havoc a 5 year old would wreak on a layout!

 

They are awesome, only problem is getting a decoder in them

Happy RRing,

Dane N.

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BCRailKing@Canada.com

Teen Association of Model Railroaders-
for information, contact Dane N. at TAMR2860@Canada.com
http://www.tamr.org

"I was DC, and went DCC!"