Atlas S2

[peteski]

I am heading back to China on Monday for business. I volunteer!  Corey, give me a call......

But you don't qualify - not grumpy enough. 

[SkipGear]

Just set my PRR unit on the track for a quick power up. The sound is beyond impressive for such a small loco. I bought this as a "gotta have one of the first ones". Now that I am impressed, waiting for an announcement in B&O paint, preferably the early blue and gold scheme.

[nkalanaga]

One could always put chunks of lead in the holes where the speaker and decoder would go.  Find an old tire balancing weight and beat it into shape with a hammer.  If you decide to add sound and/or DCC later, take the weights out.

[Mark5]

So, how is the slow speed performance?

[sizemore]

Just set my PRR unit on the track for a quick power up. The sound is beyond impressive for such a small loco. I bought this as a "gotta have one of the first ones". Now that I am impressed, waiting for an announcement in B&O paint, preferably the early blue and gold scheme.

I will Old-Timey-Boxing Match fight you for a late Capitol Dome scheme. But this can all be abated if Atlas puts the S2 out in Western Maryland Speedscript.


The S.

[davefoxx]

It's out of my era, but, based on the videos online, I'd be a sucker for an Atlas S-2 in the classy red and black scheme of the Seaboard Air Line (SAL).

DFF

[basementcalling]

Atlas could have a monthly contest where the grumpiest modeler wins a free  trip to China to bitch the factory out. Win-Win?

Can we nominate grumpy modelers? Maybe the Chinese would keep a few? 

[SkipGear]

I will Old-Timey-Boxing Match fight you for a late Capitol Dome scheme. But this can all be abated if Atlas puts the S2 out in Western Maryland Speedscript.


The S.

I wouldn't complain about the Cap Dome scheme, I have a friend that could use a half dozen in that paint.

[Mark5]

Looking forward to a test drive 

[sizemore]

I wouldn't complain about the Cap Dome scheme, I have a friend that could use a half dozen in that paint.

Damn-it man, play along. We're not really going to, just trying to milk Atlas! I bought one in B&M to be repainted into WM Speed, now they are guaranteed to make one in Speedscript.


The S.

[sizemore]

I ordered one earlier in the week from MBK, picked it up today. All I can say it WOW. My recent locomotive purchases have had me considering moving to HO since the prices are comparable. This S2 is making that decision a lot harder, if this is what we're to expect from Atlas in the future. I am most impressed not by the operation, but of the handrails and pilot detail. Long gone are the chunky uncoupling levers and 4" thick handrails.

Thanks Atlas!

The S.

[mark dance]

So, how is the slow speed performance?

Would someone with a unit be able to address this question?

Md

[SkipGear]

Would someone with a unit be able to address this question?

Md

Like any other Atlas loco with a decoder in it. Could maybe be a little slower but speed step one is 4.3 smph. (13 seconds to move 6"). Speed control is very good with the default settings. I'm sure there are tweeks that could be made to improve even more.

[mark dance]

Like any other Atlas loco with a decoder in it. Could maybe be a little slower but speed step one is 4.3 smph. (13 seconds to move 6"). Speed control is very good with the default settings. I'm sure there are tweeks that could be made to improve even more.

Thank you. 

My experience with ESU decoders (limited to a couple of LL C Liners, an IM F7P and briefly to a pair of Rapido GMD-1s) is that their auto-calibration routine to set the Back EMF PID variables does wonders for the loco performance.  It is also very easy to do.   My hope is that these Atlas-ESU equipped units exhibit the same. 

In limited testing the ESU decoders appear to exhibit better engine control than the Tsunami or Digitrax decoders in the rest of the fleet.

md

[jdcolombo]

The Loksound ordinarily defaults to CV2 = 2; if you put 1 in CV2, it will probably run slower.  In addition, as Mark pointed out, doing the auto-BEMF calibration routine can work wonders, although I've found that the stock settings on the ESU work very well with the Atlas motor.  If this motor is new/different, then going through the auto-calibration routine would be useful.

John C.