Trueline Trains came out with these a couple of years ago -- what are they like in terms of exterior detailing and performance? On the inside, are they essentially an Atlas mechanism? Are they difficult to install DCC in?
Basically TLT paid to have the shell tooling made using the Atlas drive. Detail is excellent and the paint/lettering is Atlas quality. It appears that TLT may be out of business (all US distributors have dropped the line saying nothing is coming or even hinted at) and we are hoping this tooling can be saved and re-issued.
I just looked on the BLW site and they show still in stock. Sounds like you better get them while you can!
TLT's website is up and running and they are activly updating it. They will be at the New England Proto modelers meed in CT June 3-4. Isn't TLT the biggest Canadian model distributer too? I find it hard to beilieve that they are gone.
Darren Altbaum owns True Line Trains and, while not a model railroader himslef he's working through a steep learning curve quite well. I don't think n scale has treated him very well due to some errors on the 50' paper boxcars but I don't think they are going anywhere soon.... Their RS 10's an 18's are excllent - I own nine and run the #$#@#@ out of them - they are good pullers and better lookers, especially when dirty.... They are great units.
What decoders do you use in these, out of curiousity? Do the BEMF split-frame ones intended for RS-11s work? Thank you for all the help.
Mine has the same mech as the Atlas DCC ready RS11 and I used the DN163A2 decoder. Easy to convert, no wires to run
http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_dn163a2.php this one right here, John? And I suppose you still have to take the engine apart to isolate the motor, etc, correct? Thank you.
That is the one. The motor is already isolated, but I usually remove on frame half so that I can ensure the motor contact wipers seat on the board properly. Kapton tape isn't needed, but I do put some on the frame where the contact from the lower motor brush holder comes fairly close. The newer Digitrax boards actually have a slot that you can bend the contacts to engage, and after all is seated it runs like a champ.
I also own 2 each of these locos in CP. They have the Digitrax decoders. They are amongst the best runners I have.
