I have been reading up about the quality of Micro-Trains release, and am left with a few questions. First, it seems that some vendors have already received their shipment of the SP SW1500's (and are mostly sold out), while other have yet to receive them. Has there been some type of shipping delay on a portion of the release? I have read about issues with the model that Micro-Trains has corrected; i.e. headlight angle... Could it be that they are currently holding a portion of the release to fix an issue with the model? Second, it appears that the Micro-Trains SW1500 uses Life-Like chasis. Anyone have any performance reviews of the previous road-name releases? At $134, this seems like and expensive model for basically being a Life-Like engine. Of course, MT reworked the SP lighting arrangement which I am sure cost them some money. But the unit is a must have for most SP modelers, but I am not so sure what to expect from the units. Any feedback would he really helpful. Nate
I got two from Chuck at Feather River and am really happy with them. Rear headlights are dummy lights, but Im running them back to back so I dont mind it. Performance seems to be pretty good. Overall I am very pleased with them.
It's an SW1500. In SP paint. With SP-specific details. On an unusually good, tried-and-true LL chassis. Don't be like Pennsy modelers. Buy these. Now. (assuming you still can) I want them, and I don't even model SP. I wouldn't think twice about it if I did model SP.
"Don't be like Pennsy modelers?" I don't believe a Pennsy modeler needs an SW1500. Let alone one in SP paint. Pretty sure the PRR did not own an SW1500. Now PC did purchase SW1500's. And CR inherited them. And Microtrains had these for sale. And I naturally had to buy one(accounting would not let me purchase more). But yes, they run great and the details/paint are done well. And it runs pretty well on DC with my Atlas slow speed motor units. Microtrains even ran undec shells for these. Kudos. And now for my first cup of coffee so my sarcas-o-meter will kick on.
I purchased two Reading units, ran great on DC. I had some problems installing Digitrax DCC decoders, not really DCC ready! After a little work they now run very well, the paint and detail are IMO first rate. What one would expect from MT.
I would have liked to have purchase a RDG one as well to paint out. Someday it will happen. Still have to convert the one I have and other loco's to DCC. Thanks for the heads up on this and other threads.
There is nothing wrong if it's based on the Life-Like switcher chassis. It's still one of the best ever in N scale. Doug
