Picked one up on Saturday. I got it home and threw it on the layout for test run and give it a once over. Ran it on address 00 since I had no decoder. I was shocked when I had to turn it upto "11" to get it to move at a snails pace. It ran alright, not like a Kato or Wallyworld Heritage peice, I'd put it on par with a Spectrum.
I picked up a DN143IP when I picked up the Cab Forward, but I wasnt thinking about the pin orientation...yeah mistake. I ended up running out to Moose caboose today and grabbed a TCS N12SRP, it worked out great. Throttle response was improved but doesnt match my other steam loco's with decoders. After a mild break-in I began to test the slow speed range, I noted there was a hitch in the gitty-up. The eccentric rods we're not where they should've been I corrected it by turning the eccentric to the proper place. I do have to note that it was too easy to turn the eccentric/crank-pin. It's enough to hold but I wonder about the long-term operation and if it will drift. The hitch was less, when I went in to investigate I noted many of the rods were slightly bent. The rods looked like they were manhandled by nubs-thumbs (makes me wonder if this loco is put together by hand). Once I had them all straight operation improved. While on the test run after straightening the rods, the rear truck would lock up solid. I found the side to side play in the driver closest to the steam chest would hangup on the crosshead. I ended up having to straighten the crosshead guide and tweak it a hair out.
It now runs pretty well, has a slight growl which I think will dissipate as I break it in more, I might consider throwing in some gear polish to get the gears to mesh a little smoother but satisfied at this point with the operation.
Overall the details are impressive however I'm slightly jaded in the cost vs. out of box operation (and the crappy engineering in the tender...and the need for low-pro wheels.).
The S.
