Intermountain SD40-2

[soo]

A factory reset would restore the prime mover volume.  You might want to consider sending it back under warranty repair.

DFF

Make sense Mr Fox. Still going to try, what can it hurt? Sending it in is probably the best thing to do.
Wyt

[Smike]

Next Batch just hit MTS website.... limited numbers.

[lock4244]

Photographic evidence shows SOO 781 (one of the IM units) has a full sized fuel tank in 1990 after receiving candy apple red, but earlier shots from 1989 show the 3200 gallon tank. Interesting. The IM SOO 781 IF it were candy apple would at least have the correct tank.

1990
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3638783
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=26553

1989
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1823047

I too am annoyed at the fuel tanks not being the correct size as indicated in the announcements, but I have two Kato MILW SD40-2's which also have the wrong tanks and are superior to the IM units which means I don't have to spend the money on an IM unit or two. Note that artwork for several of the SD38-2's shows shorter fuel tanks (BLE, CIM, EJE, Frisco) so we can assume these will also have the full tank.

[Mark5]

I have two Kato MILW SD40-2's which also have the wrong tanks and are superior to the IM units which means I don't have to spend the money on an IM unit or two.

How are your Kato SD40-2's superior to the IM units? (Kato has incorrect number boards, fans, hood width, etc).

Mark

[lock4244]

How are your Kato SD40-2's superior to the IM units? (Kato has incorrect number boards, fans, hood width, etc).

Mark

They are superiorly built mechanically. Should have qualified that.

[Missaberoad]

How are your Kato SD40-2's superior to the IM units? (Kato has incorrect number boards, fans, hood width, etc).

Mark

Depending on the order the fans on the Kato units can be correct, and the IMRC units have tooling issues to match the Kato SD40-2's flaws.

Are they an improvement over the Tunnel motors and SD45-2's? Yes... Are they up to the standard set by the Atlas GP40? Not yet...

[mu26aeh]

Whew, I'm good with this run.  I think mine are next up though (CSX YN2)

[nscaler711]

I've got a KCS S.B. On preorder with BLW... I AM EXCITED!!!
Well kinda... I need a KCS ghost to run with it.... But can't afford two sound units at the same time... So I am super afraid they will sell out before I get paid again!  time to go sell a kidney. Or part of my liver... At least it will grow back.

[squirrelhunter]

Missaberoad, what are the tooling error on the IM version?

I'm figuring tat this is my only shot to get factory decorated MKT green and yellow SD, so I'm curious if it has any deal breakers before I buy some?

[Missaberoad]

Missaberoad, what are the tooling error on the IM version?

I'm figuring tat this is my only shot to get factory decorated MKT green and yellow SD, so I'm curious if it has any deal breakers before I buy some?

@squirrelhunter Nothing that's a deal breaker mostly just details or features that aren't rendered very sharp or completely omitted... IMRC corrected some of the more brazen errors that were on the SD45-2 shell. I would have to measure an example to know how dimensionally accurate everything is...

I used the Atlas GP40/38 as an example because it is the most accurate and sharply detailed second generation EMD model to date. The Intermountain model is nice and definitely an acceptable layout model, but @lock4244 isn't wrong when he says the Kato model is nicer, in many ways it is...

[Mark5]

Depending on the order the fans on the Kato units can be correct, and the IMRC units have tooling issues to match the Kato SD40-2's flaws.

The most glaring thing on the Kato units to me are the number boards, which are simply horrible and a bit of a pain to fix.

I am going to pick up one of the N&W IM units - I'll need to address the wheelsets on the HT-C trucks (which like the Kato units are incorrect for N&W). I will post comparisons at that time.

Unless I find some really significant errors on the IM unit, I will most likely dump my Kato units.

Mark

[Smike]

Just a heads up, blwnscale.com just put up a few SD40's which are availble.

[tehachapifan]

How are your Kato SD40-2's superior to the IM units? (Kato has incorrect number boards, fans, hood width, etc).

Mark

I'm going to have to go out and look a little closer, but I've never noticed any issues with hood width, fans or number boards on my Kato SD40-2 (although my early or first run SD40's hood is a bit wide and has some other discrepancies). Was this on all -2 runs?

[Missaberoad]

I'm going to have to go out and look a little closer, but I've never noticed any issues with hood width, fans or number boards on my Kato SD40-2 (although my early or first run SD40's hood is a bit wide and has some other discrepancies). Was this on all -2 runs?

All Kato made EMD units have wide hoods compared to the prototype. This includes the Atlas GP30/35 and SD9.

Compare them to the later Atlas products to see the issue (GP38/40/38-2)

The numberboards have a squinty appearance compared to the prototype, this is a pretty common issue in N scale...

I'm still not sure whats wrong with the fans... @Mark5 can you elaborate?

[Mark5]

I'm still not sure whats wrong with the fans... @Mark5 can you elaborate?

Yeah sorry, been intensely busy. It's been a long time since I've discussed the fans, but will get some pix together and re-visit this when I get a chance.

Mark