Walthers is going to release their EMD GP60 in wide cab configuration and thus beat Fox Valley to the punch? :wideeyes::wideeyes:
If it is indeed true I can't believe walthers would be as detailed as Fox Valley units. Also would they be decoder ready? Which road names? Details please!!! I haven't ordered my sets yet but getting close. Brian
Knowing Walthers, they'll have oversimplified details, large flanges and Rapido couplers! :teeth: Let's face it, Fox Valley already has a track record of quality N scale trains. Walthers doesn't.
I don't think that the track record for the Walthers N scale lokies is as bad as you suggest (comparing the trainset quality lokies is not a valid argument). I have never had a DOA, and on the average the ones I have owned ran as well as most Kato or Atlas models. As for details, though they may not compare to the FVM models, they are comparable to anything made in the days when they were designed and tooled. Life Like/Walthers has produced (not counting the older plastic frame trainset lokies) a GP18, GP20, GP38-2, GP60, C-Liner, Erie Built, SW8, SW9, FA1/FB1, FA2/FB2, BL2, and a steamer or two. Though not DCC ready when first released, Walthers is now in the process of updating mechanisms to allow for ease of DCC conversion. My hat is off to them. In the case of FVM, how many engine types have they produced? Yeah, they may have a few more details, but that is much easier when you start with a clean sheet of paper.
I agree, no need to bash Walthers here. I think they made some poor decisions with lack of DCC, etc, but the former Life-Like/Walthers "non-trainset" locos are quite good runners. Of course, at this point we don't know if this is anything more than rumor....only thing showing on Walthers' site is the FVM's. And FVM is not without their warts. I realize the BNSF Heritage-II scheme is a booger to get right, but FVM's version is pretty "off" to me. (skinny, malformed looking BNSF letters, for one, color, et al) I have a Silver/Red FVM B-unit on order but if I were interested in the H-II version of the GP60M (I'm not at the moment) I would probably not preorder until I could see one to see if FVM made any tweaks to it. So perhaps Walthers gets it right? If it IS legit, then the "why do we continue to have dupes" part of me is livid right now, but I guess it's just gonna be the way it is from here on out. Egos will continue to drive companies into the dirt, and of course they will still use the "n-scale doesn't sell" excuse. They need to change it to "n-scale doesn't sell....twice as much as the market can bare".
I only have a couple complaints about Walthers units. Yes, they are not DCC, but for someone like me who still uses DC this is no big deal to me. The mechanisms are on par with an Atlas, but not as good as a Kato. The detailing is good, comparable to an Atlas in my opinion. Now here is where I have complaints. Why in the WORLD does Walthers glue the pieces into and on a locomotive body during assembly on a UNDEC unit??????? This seems to be something that makes NO sense what so ever! My other complaint against Walthers is the availability of spare parts, IT IS NON EXISTENT!!!!!!!! These 2 reasons I just stated has FORCED me to continue to use Atlas/Kato as my basis when painting a loco.
Glue? Must be from the same manufacturer that Intermountains uses.....LOL! As for the spare parts, I feel your pain there. I have managed to get some from Walthers from units on their dead line, but the story I get from Walthers is that then they bought Life Likes model train division, they never received the spare parts. Now that they are producing new releases, hopefully parts will be available.
Yeah, for those of you that are bashing Walthers, have you seen the GP60's from a few years ago? They are excellent models and good runners, like others have posted above. As for being glued together, yes that could be an issue for those wanting undecs, but to alot of us around here the only paint scheme that counts is the red & silver so if they offer it in that then there's no need to take it apart!
I wasn't bashing Walthers like some othere were. I was only complaining about the lack of spare parts and that they glue their undec locos together during assembly. I have a couple LL NP GP18s that are some of my favorite locos. They run just as good as my Atlas GP 7s. I also have a couple of their SW units from the old run. The LL units have not given me ANY problems mechanically.
There were two things about the SW9 that I hope are changed on the upcoming release, the sill mounted electrical pick-ups and the plastic worms. On all of the ones that I have, I replaced the plastic worm with a brass Kato worm and the noise difference is night and day. It would be really sweet if they made the mechanism narrow enough through the hood for possible future use in Alco switchers.
Just where is this coming from? Walthers has made no mention that I'm aware of about producing a GP60M.
As far as I have seen the Walthers GP60 still does not use the correct side frame. They sold so poorly that we ordered almost none for stock. Then Walthers raised dealer cost but not retail without notice.
The life-like walthers trucks are junk, I replace mine with Atlas trucks. They might of gotten more sales on the new run if they did SP/SSW. I'm glad I've got a few from the first run. Also would be nice if they tooled three nose versions, ATSF ratchet hand brake with headlight on the nose, standard brake wheel along with the recesed brake wheel version that they made that is really only correct for the SP speed lettered units.
Are the Atlas trucks a straight swap-out or are there any modifications necessary? Otherwise, these are some of my best looking and running locos. Russ
The Atlas Blomberg M trucks are a straight swap out, no modification needed. They are the correct trucks too rather then the Blomberg B truck that is stock. There are some detail mods that can be made if desired such as adding the leaf spring on the side and additional shock absorber to the top but these are just details and aren't necessary. The Atlas trucks are only available in black from their parts dept. so painting them may be necessary depending on road. The Atlas wheels are also code 55 compatable which the stock LL wheels on the first run are not.
Thanks, but I forgot to ask this....are we talking about just the sideframes that are a straight swap or the whole truck assembly with gear tower and all? Thanks! Russ
