IM SD40-2W

[lock4244]

I can live with the wrong door handles  ;D

The release lists features such as "Four window safety cab, snow sheilds, and distinctive stairwells and handrails of the CN version". Also, "Sharp painting and lettering, etched metal details and wire grab irons, smooth DDC ready drive and MT couplers". Four in the zebra stripe scheme and two in the CN North America scheme. The artwork shows the units as being dynamic brake equipped, which is accurate for some of the fleet, but not the majority. I hope they do both versions.

[SirTainly]

I hope they do both versions.

As said before the guy from IM at Supertrain said they would, lets hope he was correct.

[lock4244]

Me too, removing DB from a shell it a PITA.. really wish Kato did a non-DB version of their SD40.

[oakcreekco]

This will be interesting. I think that they have to use a different truck than one on their tunnel motors. The gear tower is not "offset", so internal clearances may be a problem with the way a -2 truck sits under the porch.

That Atlas 6 axle was crap IMO anyways, so depending on what's used for this -2, things may be better, or maybe not.

[lock4244]

When these are released, there should be a forum dedicated to them (not a thread). I think it'll get ugly.

I agree with you on the SD50/60. Those centre axles are a joke... and for whatever reason, Atlas doesn't seem interested in fixing them. Do Kato's most recent SD40-2's (mid production) have an offset gear tower?

[nscalesteve]

This will be interesting. I think that they have to use a different truck than one on their tunnel motors. The gear tower is not "offset", so internal clearances may be a problem with the way a -2 truck sits under the porch.

That Atlas 6 axle was crap IMO anyways, so depending on what's used for this -2, things may be better, or maybe not.

offset or not, what they will use is the same drive as in the SD45-2 and not the one from the tunnel motors...
...when I opened my SD45-2 for the first time and I saw the drive I knew immediately somethings bad will happen in future  :-\ :'(

[wm3798]

When these are released, there should be a forum dedicated to them (not a thread). I think it'll get ugly.

Understatement of the decade.  It already is ugly, and all we have from IM is a few test shots and bad reputation!  I think we should ask John to add two categories... Gripes about new products, and gripes about new product announcements...

I do think it's important that you guys make the effort to contact Intermountain with your concerns.  Having survived the F-7 B unit debacle, I can identify having your own ox gored, but air it out with Intermountain!  Jeezey Creezy!

Lee

[oakcreekco]

I don't know what truck the SD45-2 uses. I never have seen a pic, and "assumed" that it would be the same Atlas truck.

The only Kato SD40-2's that I have are the "older" ones, before the "floating" truck design with the completely new mechanism. The older Kato trucks have an offset tower, so that last wheel can sit under the porch correctly.

If IM isn't using an offset truck of some type, the only way to get the correct truck location, is to really "skimp" on the frame by pushing the tower all the way back. IM frames are as bad as that damn Atlas truck IMO. Just poor designs, and frames have terrible QC.

But, folks buy them, and IM keeps making them, so I must just be too fussy. I guess I expect too much for the high IM price point.

I would like to see a pic of the SD45-2 truck and the "new" -2 truck.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm actually putting together an email right now to send to IM: http://thecrhs.org/?q=CRHSForums&c=showthread&ThreadID=1122

I suggest anyone who is interested sending something similar.

[oakcreekco]

Lee, I agree with you 110%................and I did that.

When I received my 6 DRGW Tunnel Motors from IM, I was the happiest guy in the world. Finally, a coal train with tm's in the front, and pushers at the back. What more could a guy want.

Well, troubles started right out of the box, so I took pics and documented EVERYTHING. I then ran a 24 hour session, watched them drop like flies, did the trouble shooting and more pics................................and sent IM a three page "evaluation" of everything that I found on these units.

The reply.............thanks for buying IM products, and we will replace any or all defective units at n/c.

WTF................it was plain as day the "problems" that I found in design/mfg/qc. They just didn't listen or care IMO.

I went OVERBOARD to document and take pics of every aspect of the chassis and body that caused, or could cause failures. I asked for nothing in return, but hoped that IM would look into this an correct issues. They didn't, and every release since has been the SOS.

So, I feel I have every right to give them hell, on every board, when the subject comes up about the QC/design/running issues with their 6 axle products.

When you have a premium MSRP, I expect a premium product. When I compare their chassis to all others, the same old saying comes out my mouth now.........."if they are a good as a Kato, I'll buy them"

They're not even close, and they just don't seem to care.

[nscalesteve]

I don't know what truck the SD45-2 uses. I never have seen a pic, and "assumed" that it would be the same Atlas truck.

yes it's the same...



...the old Kato drive did use offset trucks, the new one doesn't, IM uses the "old stepdancer" from Atlas

[nscalesteve]

I suggest anyone who is interested sending something similar.

thank you...
...done for CP Rail SD40-2

[Chulvis]

Lee, I agree with you 110%................and I did that.

When I received my 6 DRGW Tunnel Motors from IM, I was the happiest guy in the world. Finally, a coal train with tm's in the front, and pushers at the back. What more could a guy want.

Well, troubles started right out of the box, so I took pics and documented EVERYTHING. I then ran a 24 hour session, watched them drop like flies, did the trouble shooting and more pics................................and sent IM a three page "evaluation" of everything that I found on these units.

The reply.............thanks for buying IM products, and we will replace any or all defective units at n/c.

WTF................it was plain as day the "problems" that I found in design/mfg/qc. They just didn't listen or care IMO.

I went OVERBOARD to document and take pics of every aspect of the chassis and body that caused, or could cause failures. I asked for nothing in return, but hoped that IM would look into this an correct issues. They didn't, and every release since has been the SOS.

So, I feel I have every right to give them hell, on every board, when the subject comes up about the QC/design/running issues with their 6 axle products.

When you have a premium MSRP, I expect a premium product. When I compare their chassis to all others, the same old saying comes out my mouth now.........."if they are a good as a Kato, I'll buy them"

They're not even close, and they just don't seem to care.

Excellent post.

[oakcreekco]

Steve4, a pic is worth a thousand words. That IM frame, if manufactured like past IM frames, is a disaster waiting to happen with the screws that far from the end.

Any warp or bad "stack up" will let that truck just "do what it wants".........and those trucks are good at that anyways.

Unbelieveable, but I work my locos, and not just look at them.

Chuck..........ya make me blush.

[Mark5]

I'm actually putting together an email right now to send to IM: http://thecrhs.org/?q=CRHSForums&c=showthread&ThreadID=1122

I suggest anyone who is interested sending something similar.

And politely suggest that they "fix" the fixable errors in the existing tooling. I may take you up on this.

Although I've been hoping someone would end Kato's SD40-2 monopoly the thought of IM screwing them up is not comforting.