MT SD40-2 mini review.

[tom mann]

I picked one up and wanted to share a photo of it since there are few big photos of it on the web.  This is out-of-the-box, no modifications:



A quick review, in lazy man's bullet point style:

• Even though the hood is the same width as the GP35, it doesn't suffer from the wide-body look.  I think this is mainly due to the length and the slightly wider trucks (different pickup than the GP).
• Detailing is pretty sharp, but some "features" are not rendered as faithfully as they could be.
• The handrails are nicely done.
• The fact that the couplers stick out so far is unfortunate.  I will try the Chris333 trick of using Uncle Will's.
• The price actually makes this one of the cheaper Z scale engines.
• Performance is impressive.  The engine started out nice, slow, and smooth and really creeps with hardly any noise.
• The light bleeds through the top of the cab - this can probably be fixed with black paint and the addition of air conditioner-type details.

This is a nice engine.   If you are on the fence about picking one up, go ahead and take the plunge.

[Chris333]

Hey anyone want a NS SD40-2?  I know a guy who bought one, converted the couplers and all the while he didn't even have a use for it.  :

[Sokramiketes]

I'm surprised about the wide body comment.  Well, maybe I shouldn't be...  My wife can hang a picture, think it's perfectly set, but look absolutely crooked to me.  I think architects probably get the best training for their "eye" for proportions, lines, angles, etc.  I got some of it in engineering, probably from drafting courses.  DKS has it from art and layout work? 

Is there a certain percentage of the population that won't notice?  Sure, it might even be the majority.  But that might only be with the engine sitting alone in space.  <insert DKS photo of MTL GP next to AZL GP here>

I have several SD40-2's from MTL.  So I'm not boycotting them, but there's also an itch I can't scratch when I look at them.  They are wide.  The proportions are off.  The "face" shows it worst.  The dust bin/inertial filter hatch and turbo exhaust don't look correct at all, because of the wide body.  As soon as I try to lash an SD40-2 with AZL SD70's the problem is highlighted even more.  I'll be separating the two brands on my layout, in separate MTL or AZL lash-ups, until AZL comes out with everything I might need.

Wide body Athearn units were accepted in HO for a long time until manufacturer's improved.  We accepted malproportioned Atlas GP's in N scale to reuse an alco drive.  This isn't the first time a manufacturer has done this.  It probably won't be the last.  The problem in Z is that the wide-body problem is and has been solved already, and the MTL units are almost obsolete the moment they come out because of this.

[tom mann]

What I meant by the wide-body comment is that the big body overhang over the trucks is not as apparent as the GP35.  The model's proportions are off, and it is noticeable, but not so bad that I feel like stomping on the model ;D

I appreciate the comment about AZL's SD70, but that is a model that is $70 more.  I think that is significant enough difference. 

[Iain]

I can't tell so much with the long hood, but the nose looks gastly even in the isometric shot.  Makes me want to stick with N.

[Chris333]

I have no idea what it is, but I notice the same thing. The GP35 hood width looks horrible and the SD40-2 looks OK even though they both share the same cab and are probably using the same width hood. Stock GP35 look like crap, custom GP35's with crazy details still look like crap with nice paint and nice details.  I think the SD40-2's are made with Elfin magic.

[DKS]

I think the SD40-2's are made with Elfin magic.

I don't know. Guess I'm not feeling the magic. Maybe it's because it's not a locomotive of interest. It's better-looking than the Geep, but I think that's because the length disguises the bulk better. The finish is nicely done, but it's kind of like lipstick, if you know what I mean. Z scalers are going to gobble them up, all the same.

[Robbman]

I have no idea what it is, but I notice the same thing. The GP35 hood width looks horrible and the SD40-2 looks OK even though they both share the same cab and are probably using the same width hood.

If it's using the GP35 cab it's not a SD40-2... just saying... the cab overhang being one of three defining characteristics of a -2...

[Bob Bufkin]

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the cab looks funky.  Kinda looks like an EMD export model for some reason.

[Chris333]

Perhaps in the test shots Joe put a GP35 cab on it, I don't know.

[tom mann]

David gives me a good idea:  scratchbuild a snoot nose for it!

Anyway, I still think it is a good loco, even with the compromises.  When viewed at eye level (my layout is designed at 56"), most of the issues go away.  The alternative is a $600 loco.

[Chris333]

Know what... I just looked at mine. There is no overhang at the rear of the cab. There is a sight glass though.


Seriously, anyone want mine make an offer ;D

[tom mann]

There is no overhang at the rear of the cab. There is a sight glass though.

deja vu!

[Sokramiketes]

Know what... I just looked at mine. There is no overhang at the rear of the cab. There is a sight glass though.


Seriously, anyone want mine make an offer ;D

$50?

[Sokramiketes]

David gives me a good idea:  scratchbuild a snoot nose for it!

Anyway, I still think it is a good loco, even with the compromises.  When viewed at eye level (my layout is designed at 56"), most of the issues go away.  The alternative is a $600 loco.

I've got one on the way for that purpose.  Rather than scratch the whole nose though, I'll probably just add to the back of it and touch up the paint.  It will be BNSF patch anyway.  Now if I could just get my hands on enough autoracks...