Intermountain SD40-2 !!11!

[6axlepwr]

Well said Kalbert and Puddington. Wyatt, don't some of these guys run ya' down. In the whole darn scheme of things, they don't matter. Unless IM doesn't get enough orders, this model

We don't matter? That is some great input.

I am very happy your IM F units run as good as you say they do.

It appears this thread is bringing out the anger in some who cannot handle a discussion. So if the moderator wants to lock it. so beit. I said my piece and not one of you read what I have been trying to get through. Instead, it boils down to modelers like myself that want better for our scale, well " they don't matter".

Great talking with you all.

[James Costello]

I would LOVE to see BLI announce a new N scale steam locomotive and watch what happens.

Jason

I'm not sure what would be more entertaining - whether said steam loco was a K4 or whether it wasn't a K4.

[cnw mike]

I'll tell you what's depressing. Spending just shy of $1k for the first release of Tunnel Motors, believing the advertised claims, and then ending up with endless problems and issues. They sure weren't designed for "continuous running".

I spent more time trouble shooting and trying to fix issues on 6 Tunnel Motors, than all of my previous time spent on all engines, my entire hobby life. Documented and discussed all problems with the factory.

A few releases later, I pre ordered more, based on the "promised" improvements. My dealer agreed that if I wasn't happy with this release, bring them back for a full cash refund.

Depressing...........................when the new release arrived.........................they didn't even make it out of the hobby shop. SOS

So, for an die hard DRGW fanatic in N scale, that gave them a chance to "resolve" issues, I ended up with test turds. Parted them out, sold parts on the Bay, and as I've said earlier, any manufacturer EARNS their reputation.

This whole scenario was depressing, and until I see IM prove differently, I'll stick with the "just say no" attitude for future locomotive buys. Pretty sad for a guy who WANTED to spend money, and buy 15-20 Tunnel Motors.

Spending that kind of money, and not getting the quality that was hyped, is depressing, and sticks in ones mind too.

So if it appears that some of us are negative, or depressing, just get YOUR cash out, and throw it away on sub par for the day loco's that were touted as "revolutionary" .

Yeesh. I think I get why some people are irritated by IM. Ask Kato money and deliver early 2000s Bachman. I'd be irritated too. I've never owned an IM locomotive so I have no skin in the game. But I will buy at least one SD40-2 just because.

[Philip H]

Gentlemen:
In 16 pages we've once again proven that no manufacturer will be judged on the merits of each product produced as it comes out. I remember great weepin and wailing when Bachman announced their Alco S switcher. How could they - it couldn't run it was going to be badly detailed, it wouldn't have a decoder worth a hoot. Yet between the Bachman and its close Atlas cousin we're now seeing eBay flooded with Arnold S units no  one wants anymore.

I don't own an IM loco because they've nerve released on I had to have. Some folks seem to have good luck with them, and Spookshow gave them good ratings. Others want  to convert them to fishing weights. All of which goes to show that we're different - which still seems to be a problem around here.

So I'm with Brian - we ought to lock this and move on until there's demonstrable product.

[VonRyan]

Call me an abomination, but I have read through this entire thread, paying particular attention to the two powerhouses of both sides.

Brian's point of view hold significant merit because he presents basic facts while utilizing his steadfast opinion to bolster his points of discussion.
The main proponents of the other side, such as Scottl, have presented perfectly reasonable counterpoints, and in some instances have basically pointed towards the same thing.

In short, there are some strong concerns as to how well this model will stand up. As of right now it is all purely speculation, but IM's track record has given some cause for said concerns.

Although some may very well see this as quite the "flame war" I see this as being very legitimate discussion, albeit quite the strong one. The fact that this thread hasn't been locked as of yet tells me that I must not be the only ones seeing this in a similar light.

Although there have been some points where emotions have run a bit more than just 'hot', I feel it would suffice to say that both sides have kept this discussion from becoming something worse, purely through their well-explained points and cohesiveness of thought, even though what started out as a simple announcement with initial skepticism has now become more of a debate over Intermountain and it's relationship to N-scale and their potential for better N-scale product.

Thanks all for quite an interesting read.

It will be quite interesting to see how these models turn out.

Cheers!
-Cody F.

[peteski]

So I'm with Brian - we ought to lock this and move on until there's demonstrable product.

Oh, come on!  Why spoil the fun?  I am enjoying reading all the comments about a non-existing model. 

[Dave V]

I am going to have to disagree with you Dave.

You can change what IM does if you voice your concerns. You are the consumer. If enough people stand up and demand better, I think they will listen and possibly make that step forward.

It's a nice sentiment, but I see very little evidence of it in practice.  That said, what I meant was that essentially IM has done the reseacrh and design for the SD40-2, so we're gonna get what we're gonna get.  But as for manufacturers listening, I can't think of any of the big players that really do.  And we forget often that here on the Railwire, we have a different standard than the mainstream who, honestly, will buy en masse without complaint.  Until the vast majority of N scalers get out of this mindset that they have to be grateful for any scrap that falls from the table, I don't see any real impetus for the manufacturers to do anything different.  IM doesn't frequent the Railwire and neither does the Railwire speak for the "buy no matter what" crowd.

I am not saying I won't buy it. I will if it is truly a good model.

I wasn't necessarily referring to you.  I know others who have sworn off of various manufacturers for various reasons.  You name a company and someone has written them off because of some past offense.

That is true that people will bitch no matter what. I am not bitching though. I am a concerned consumer and what what todays technology can deliver. That is not asking to much because IM will already use todays technology. It all depends on what extent they will. Will they go cheap and have ham fisted knuckle busters or will they go to the finite and have beautiful latches like Atlas does.

Again, my observation wasn't specifically geared toward your posts, because we could easily swap IM for Bachmann and your name for a half dozen others and have exactly the same conversation, even before the model comes out.  That we're this deep into it about a model for which we haven't even seen preproduction shots is a bit mind-boggling.  Sure, IM isn't my first choice for this either based on everything I've heard about the tunnel motors and the SD45-2s (although again, I gotta give props to the F7s I own).  Frankly it's a lot of hand-wringing and borderline vitriol to shed over something about which we know very little.

As a meteorologist I'm reminded of the saw that "persistence usually the best forecast."  You're probably going to turn out to be right.  I'm just suggesting that since we already know we're going to have to hear about it, page after page, after the model is made, mightn't we reserve our bellyaching until there's a physical subject upon which to heap our scorn?  Or maybe--just maybe--we'll be surprised.  Just maybe.

I do not htink model railroading in the internet age is all that bad. I have nmade loads of friends, have had great discussions like this one, purchased all my Kato SD40-2's for under $60.00. Since we live all over the country and world. this forum is as if we all went out to dinner together and are discussing what we want with each other. Some of it spirited and some of it not.

I've made a number of lifelong friends through this forum with whom I've railfanned and operated layouts.  That wasn't my point.  My point is that over the years the Railwire has seen a decrease in the amount of modeling tutorials and build threads while suffering a significant increase in speculation/bashing threads that, absent real data, really don't add much to the forum community.  Quite the contrary; they foment conflict between brand loyalists and brand skeptics, while the rest of us roll our eyes and pine for the days of Rich Yourstone.

Intermountain is going to do with the SD40-2 whatever it's already on track to do.  It will be bashed before it ever sees a pilot model and will be bashed--by some--for the rest of its existence even if it's flawless.  I doubt the shouts from the fringe (we are indeed the fringe) about how poorly executed some of IM's previous offerings will have factored into this model.  Again, the NTrak and collector crowds will gobble them by the thousands no matter how accurate they are--the same dynamic Bachmann counts upon.  If you think your voice can be heard, I applaud your optimism...but it won't be heard by IM through this venue.

In summary () I think it's pointless to bash this model until it actually exists and that bashing IM in general is not likely to motivate IM to do better.

[tehachapifan]

Remind me to never become a loco manufacturer.

[kalbert]

I've made a number of lifelong friends through this forum with whom I've railfanned and operated layouts.  That wasn't my point.  My point is that over the years the Railwire has seen a decrease in the amount of modeling tutorials and build threads while suffering a significant increase in speculation/bashing threads that, absent real data, really don't add much to the forum community.  Quite the contrary; they foment conflict between brand loyalists and brand skeptics, while the rest of us roll our eyes and pine for the days of Rich Yourstone.

As evidenced by a 16 page thread about how awful a model that doesn't exist will most certainly be (which I am guilty of participating in repeatedly) vs a two page thread about possible problem areas when trying to prepare a 3D print that really only generated a hand full of relevant posts. Granted 3D printing isn't "real modeling" or "ready for primetime" 

I do wonder though, if the "engineering report" section of TRW might be where the wheat is, as the N scale specific portion seems to be mostly chaff. I should spend more time perusing there than I do as there is some really great modeling going on behind the curtain.

[lock4244]

Truth be told my interest in Conrail is waning anyway.

Heretic! Where are those pitchforks, torches and the angry mob I keep hearing about?! The humanity! 

[Catt]

Like I said before,I will judge it once I see it in the plastic.Once I have seen it run,and if it comes in CSX Dark Future.

[learmoia]

Just found a photo of the new IM SD40-2!!! 


Ohh Wait..


Remember when this was a thing.????

I remember being excited (as a teenager) about the Spectrum Re-release in the mid-1990s.. then seeing the magazine add.. What a piece of garbage..  And that was before I knew the difference been Flexcoil and HTC trucks.

~Ian

[SkipGear]

I'm interested, our shop will pre-order. The SD40-2W's looked great and sold well for us, even though they run very much North of our area. There is more to life than UP, BN, and BNSF. IM will provide this. Without IM I wouldn't have both SD40T-2 that Indiana and Ohio owned.

I have 2 Tunnel Motors, both run great, the details are fragile. My 9 year old runs one in a consist at every N-trak show we attend and it probably has 100 hours on it. I've not experienced any longevity issues.

To tune up an IM tunnel:

Pulling power - Two Tungsten 5mm cubes fit nicely in the empty space in the fuel tank if it has the full size tanks. They pull as much as any other diesel I own with this mod.
Porch flex causes uncoupling - glue a couple styrene strips under the porches to support them.
Fine tune the wheel gauge, lube, and loosen the frame screws an 1/8 turn. These are things I do with most loco's anyhow.

That is all I have done besides normal cleaning and maintainence and have no complaints other than the fragile details. If my 9 year old can manage not to break it, grown men should be fine. (BTW - He started running this loco when he was 7.) It runs in a lash up of a Indiana and Ohio themed Bachmann SD45, Athearn SD70, IMSD40T-2, Walthers GP38-2.  About as much of a bastard combination as you can get and those 4 engines keep chugging along pulling 100 car trains at shows all the time.

[Scottl]

Bachmann SD45, Athearn SD70, IMSD40T-2, Walthers GP38-2.  About as much of a bastard combination as you can get

Violation!  He mentioned the dirty four in a single sentence!   

[Catt]

I ran a Bachmann SD40-2 for two years on a NTRAK layout.People were amazed at how quiert it ran and how good it actually looked.It finally died when some jerk deliberately bumped the layout and sent the loco to the floor.Cops gave him a choice p[ay me for the loss or go to jail.I gladly took his money.($125.00)

Then the rest of the group found out why my Bachmann ran so well when the saw KATO-Japan molded in the bottom of the fuel tank. By the way I still have that KATO chassis it is back under the SD45 shell I took it from.