C40-8: WTF???

[ljudice]

Paul just likes taunting us...

[Walkercolt]

'Scuse me Paul. I didn't see your bunch. I got that second-handed from a club member. Saturday, I don't think I could have gotten from the layout to your booth with a flame-thrower for the crowd, and Sunday I ended up doing "stuff".

[ljudice]

Well, I'll tell you...  with the QC problems I hear about with the B40-8's (Atlas, Trainboard), the problems with the SD60's I've had, etc... I am getting a bad feeling about these C40's...

[oakcreekco]

I'm with you on that.

IMO, it took several years for Atlas to get their 4 axle units as good as their "Kato Built" units. They finally did, and their paint/detail put them over the top too.

I built up my fleet of 4 axle units, without hesitating to preorder. Not so sure about this now.

Once again, IMO, Atlas has never even come close to matching Kato's 6 axle units for performance and reliability, out of the box. Better paint jobs, but that's where it stopped.

With all the fuss over the latest 4 axle noisey release from Atlas, I'm concerned, and I won't part with any of my money for the new 6 axle units. Just won't do it.

I hate to say that it looks like Atlas has gone "backwards" on producing a quality running/sounding "legacy" product.

Sad situation, especially during these economic times, and pricepoints of these products.

[John]

Shouldn't you guys at least wait until they get into the stores before they are bashed? Hell, the container hasn't even hit LA yet.

[oakcreekco]

Don't think that we're "bashing" yet, but if they run like previous SD50/60's and IM, the "fun" will really begin.

[3rdrail]

...............With all the fuss over the latest 4 axle noisey release from Atlas, I'm concerned, and I won't part with any of my money for the new 6 axle units. Just won't do it.

I hate to say that it looks like Atlas has gone "backwards" on producing a quality running/sounding "legacy" product.

Sad situation, especially during these economic times, and pricepoints of these products.

Shouldn't you guys at least wait until they get into the stores before they are bashed? Hell, the container hasn't even hit LA yet.

John, by the way I read this, he has already decided not to buy one, and is seeking to discourage others from buying them. If that's not "bashing", I don't know what is... ???

[Mark5]

Once again, IMO, Atlas has never even come close to matching Kato's 6 axle units for performance and reliability, out of the box. Better paint jobs, but that's where it stopped.

No probs with my Atlas SD35s ...

[sundowner]

As long as they don't sound and the windows look like Athearn SD70's, I will be OK with them. Beside if they are is something wrong with them Atlas will fix them.

[oakcreekco]

3rdRail, I probably have as "large" of roster of locos as many around here. Over the years, I've spent a ton of money on Atlas, Kato, IM, and LL locos.

It appears that some folks are concerned about the latest release of very noisey engines from Atlas. Previous runs of the same loco did not have these "issues". Now they do?? So, there's some uneasiness on how an all new, 6 axle will be.

My experience, and many others too, have had numerous problems with the Atlas SD50/60 trucks, and Atlas has never "addressed" the problems. IM uses the same trucks on their TM's, and they have the same problems too. Bashing? No, just the experience that I've had with them, and the reason I won't buy anymore SD50/60's or IM's.

I've got a ton of GP40's, -8's, B23's, and GP38's, and they are outstanding units. Owners of the latest Atlas release are stating that they sound like "coffee grinders". This is coming from several of the boards. Should I be concerned about this? I think so. Bashing? I think not.

Maybe there's a "fine line" between expression of one's opinion, and "bashing". I don't know.

Now I do believe that MTL get "BASHED" here on a very regular basis. That's just my opinion, and I may be wrong.

There's several of the new "C's" that I would like to add to my fleet, but I have concerns. If that's bashing , so be it I guess.

I really don't care how folks spend their money, and I was just expressing my opinions.

Now, ya'll can "bash away". I'm a big boy

[John]

So, there's some uneasiness on how an all new, 6 axle will be.

I understand .. but to throw them under the bus before we get them is a bit premature

My experience, and many others too, have had numerous problems with the Atlas SD50/60 trucks, and Atlas has never "addressed" the problems. IM uses the same trucks on their TM's, and they have the same problems too. Bashing? No, just the experience that I've had with them, and the reason I won't buy anymore SD50/60's or IM's.

The 50/60s do have some problems, they sure are hit and miss .. but we are supposedly getting different trucks on these

I've got a ton of GP40's, -8's, B23's, and GP38's, and they are outstanding units. Owners of the latest Atlas release are stating that they sound like "coffee grinders". This is coming from several of the boards. Should I be concerned about this? I think so. Bashing? I think not.

Me too I have lots of engines, many of the atlas.. and I generally don't believe any of this until I see it firsthand. I have 3 of these coming .. I will let you know how they run.

Now I do believe that MTL get "BASHED" here on a very regular basis. That's just my opinion, and I may be wrong.

MTL seems to shoot themselves without too much help from the masses ..

I don't really care if you buy them or not, or if you express your opinion/bash, whatever .. but it is a new mechanism .. lets at least get it into our hands before we throw it under the bus .. there will be plenty of chance once its released ..

[ljudice]

Guys, I'm sure they are going to be great...   

It's too bad there is cause for doubt at this point, but unfortunately, in my mind there is.

My take on the Atlas mechanisms was that the SD50/60 had issues, but the four axle didn't. I ran some models sitting in boxes - new for a couple of months  the other night and I was really surprised at how noisy some of them were. I was also surprised at some Kato AC4400's which all seemed to operate at different speeds - though they all did it smoothly and quietly.

I just think QC is getting worse - and I hope the extra time was used to make the C40's great.

I know they will be! 

[Walkercolt]

I'm sorry guys, but what's said over on the "A" board is usually wrong and from people who don't run trains, just talk about them. I didn't buy any SD50/60's because they weren't ATSF's, but lots of people have them, and they run just fine, and I've not noticed any great noise from them. I have lots of Kato engines, back to the GP-50's which all have had to have the u-joint cups glued or Lok-Tited onto the shafts. I haven't read the latest poop about "classics" with noise problems, and probably won't. I don't take shaft bearings out of my engines either. Hey, anything not as loud as an Arnold/Rapido GP-7/9 or GP-30 is OK with me, if it pulls and runs good. Carping about Micro-Trains doesn't interest me either. Nobody in N-scale has the variety of cars they do, and 999 times out of a 1000, the "mistakes" MT makes on painting/lettering turn out to be dead WRONG or they rapidly become $1000+ cars. Ever see an Atlas car auction for $6000? If you don't like MT, don't buy 'em...I buy what I want, in food, cars, guns, pets and trains. This deal about griping about stuff not in the stores yet is like the guy with the new 'Vette or Mustang saying it'll take a Viper in the 1/4 but they never put up a grand for a run at the strip. I paid for one of my motorcycles with bets at the drag strip, and paid for a combat pistol shooting matches with cops. My "resolution" is to ignore this stuff. Some people want to turn N-scale into HO, only smaller, I don't. If you do, fine, but don't try to "convert" me. Let people do what they want to and have fun running trains, otherwise, what's the point?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm sorry guys, but what's said over on the "A" board is usually wrong and from people who don't run trains, just talk about them.

Lol

[bobcat]

Well, I'll tell you...  with the QC problems I hear about with the B40-8's (Atlas, Trainboard), the problems with the SD60's I've had, etc... I am getting a bad feeling about these C40's...

Oh, and the sky is falling too!