How are they these days? An affordable alternative to Kato/Atlas? Or is it best to stay away from them?
The life Like units these days are quite good. They are built simalar to the Atlas locomotives with (starting with the GP20) split frame chassies, flywheels, all wheel drive/power pickup and what seems to be a very similar moter to the Atlas ones. Life Like started to get good when they issued the SD7 and the the SW9/1200 is a great little unit (at least my 5 are!). With the upcomming Canadian releases of the FA1/FB1, C Liners and the new C 424, It looks like I will have plenty of power for my CPR operations. Cheers! Terry
Moose, These get the BWT Stamp of Approval! I hope they will get around to re-powering all their past fleet. New tooling for their F-unit, BL-2, F40PH and GP38-2 with the new drives would ROCK!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by K.V.Div: and the new C 424, It looks like I will have plenty of power for my CPR operations. Cheers! Terry<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> They are going to do a C424? The AWRR will need a few of those
I'll echo the comments of the new Lifelike locomotives. The shell detail is on a par with the current state of the art. The drive mechanism is smooth for the most part. The Lifelike PA1's were favorably compared with the Kato PA's with many people selecting the LifeLike over the Kato. (I know there will be Kato diehards who will disagree with this). So far the GP 20 and the FA1's are the only ones with a split frame drive. (Not sure about the PA's as I didn't get any.) But the E 6's had the older weights like the E7's, SD7's and the FA2's. Still even these older design units were good runners and could outpull anything that Kato and Atlas offered. Some people had problems with the SD7's in the pulling dept. but mine do fine. The area that LifeLike is deficient in (up to now)are: 1. Locomotives are not DCC ready (no plug & play) 2. No directonal headlight or constant intensity. Both can be easily remedied. Many people had, and continue to have, hopes that LifeLike will be the N scale equivalent of HO's Athearn.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Inkaneer: The area that LifeLike is deficient in (up to now)are: 1. Locomotives are not DCC ready (no plug & play) 2. No directonal headlight or constant intensity. Both can be easily remedied.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well, can't agree with you that they aren't DCC ready. I have yet to see an N scale loco that is Plug & Play (HO locos you actually plug the harness into). Each require a circuit board replacement or a little work. Technically, if a loco has a split frame, and each side is isolated from the other, it is DCC ready. Motor isolation is a minor process. Directional Headlights are kind of blah, depending on what you model. All my locos have independent lighting (DCC). Also, as you said, this, and constant lighting, can be easily remedied.
where did you find out about the 424's. I have looked everywere,nothing. was there any indication on the roadnames and approx delivery, gotta have them!!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Craig Martyn: Remember Inkaneer, the SW9's had the split metal frame as well.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> They did? To tell you the truth I never looked. They run so well I figured why mess with something that ain't broke.
I have about 8 LL locos.. like em... LOVE EM. some people complain that the **** thingo is .00000000000000000000001 of a poofteeth out of scale, but the nearest SD to my place is half way round the world... I wouldnt know the difference. undefined
Has anybody been able to verify if LL is doing a C424? That would be great news if it was confirmed.undefined
someone on the atlas site said that they were from life like canada. and they had reserved some but did not leave a web site
The C 424's are comming , However, I have been told that they will be done on a shortened GP20 frame and will be equipped with EMD Blomberg Trucks . Considering that the new FA1 truck and even the Atlas RS1 and RS3 trucks will fit on the GP20, I would think that it should be a no- brainer to find a decient set of trucks for this unit. BTW, the C 424 will be offered in Canadian Roads (CP and CN) and undecorated, with no word on US roads. Happy Modelling Cheers! Terry
I was at our local hobby shop today and they showed me future releases from Lifelike which included a BL-2 and a re-release of some of the GP20's. I don't recall seeing anything on the c424's but I may be wrong. I have several SD7's, GP20's, SW9's and think they are all great considering the latest proce of Atlas locos are $200 AUS compared to Lifelike $70 AUS they are much better value for money. Here are a couple of my Geeps weathered by GATS [ 16 February 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Nothing has been posted on Life Like or Life Like (Canada) but it will be soon. I received a fax from John (manager, Pacific Scale Rail, New Westminster) on this unit. Also, he thought that,as the unit will be equipped with EMD Blomberg trucks that I might wish to reduce my order of them, because he feels that this will reduce the modelers desire to purchase them, and this begs the question to all the N Scalers on this forum: If this C 424 is indeed being offered with the wrong trucks, will you still get them even though you will have to purchase replacment Trucks from Life Like or Atlas? Thoughts please. Cheers! Terry
Hi Terry, My view? NO. It's a long awaited model for ALCophiles and it deserves to be done correctly. It will be fractionally shorter than proto as it's using the GP20 chassis (shades of abortive Atlas/Kato's first GP7/9's?), which really isn't too much of a problem, but using the Blomberg B's is not good move. I personally don't believe I should pay equivalent to $AU150+ for the locomotive and then another $AU30-40 for replacement AAR-B trucks for it. Afterall, it is a Life-Like in the end and if they want to charge Atlas and Kato prices, supply them with the correct trucks at least! Another thought - this sounds to me like this is not a full Life-Like unit, but one combining a seperate shell with a LL mechanism. If not, why are they making such a short run of 180 units in each (Canadian only) scheme considering the number that plied Canadian rails alone? Is this taking 'limited run' to the limit of sensibilty? Plus, I have to question their not doing any US prototypes - what about SP&S for starters? Maybe fodder for the non-existant subsequent runs? Gary. [ 16 February 2001: Message edited by: Gats ]
Considering the cost of tooling for an injection molded plastic Diesel carbody, it is impossible to have a run of a total of 180 units for less than US$250 and pay for the tooling for the mold alone. Along with thew other discrepancies, perhaps this is not a 100 percenbt Like-Like creation, but something cobbled together using a resin body or perhaps a modified Model Power body? I think some legs may be subject to some strong tension forces.
Hey guys, look at my post under feeding frenzy..I am too lazy to repost here except to say it will be 24/1000th of an inch to short....who cares! Bill was one who did the original post at Central Hobbies which started all these posts in all the forums here, and at Atlas, and elsewhere. He has told me (see my post in feeding frenzy) that you can replace the side frames for real cheap...couple of bucks with the Atlas part I mentioned in my other post. Also, Life Like Canada is not Life Like in USA. But it is like Kadee and Microtrains, both are owned by brothers. Life Like Canada has been releasing Canadian stuff first for obvious reasons, they realize we are ignored and are craving goodies. So as you whine and complain because they are not releasing american road names...welcome to the club...now you know what it feels like to be a canadian and see American companies not release Canadian stuff; especially when all they have to do is slap another paint job on it. And I won't even bother to rant about Kato.
It's not a matter of whining about not releasing US road names - I'll paint undecs for what it's worth. I will add I agree with your appraisal of it being 0.6mm short. Seriously, it's about supplying a locomotive that has incorrect sideframes, or trucks, and then having to buy replacements to correct it. Why aren't they on there in the first place? Atlas managed to supply the B23-7 with 3 different trucks to suit the prototype. And creating such a short (I'll avoid using that nasty 'limited' word ) run of what will be a sort after locomotive - 180 of each roadname begs questioning. How many undecs will be produced to cover the shortfall of decorated units? Don't get me wrong - I am glad the Canadian market is being given good service by Life-Like Canada. Gary.
