Intermountain SD40-2

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Has it REALLY been that long?

Either way, I think they're worth the wait. After running @davefoxx 's Seaboard unit around, I'm smitten.

I can't wait for four of them to come home to me.

Even better, they don't look weird next to my custom one either, so now I can run FIVE of em around. Hell yeah! 80s Conrail all UP in this B... lol.

[bman]

It's been such a long time.......   And now I've Boston stuck in my head.  I wound up with all 4 myself.  2 DC and 2 DCC.  Also have a SOU DC unit I'm getting this weekend for the run through trains from Southern in Cincinnati up to Columbus.    I may try to get a hold of 3 of the decoders from IM if they are available just to hand onto should I DCC the home layout too.  Our club layout is DCC so that's why I split the difference.

[reinhardtjh]

I may try to get a hold of 3 of the decoders from IM if they are available just to hand onto should I DCC the home layout too.

I asked Matt Herman in the ESU Yahoo Group about the availability of the new decoders for general use and he said that the OEMs - Intermountain (and Atlas, I assume) had been taking all the runs of the decoders but he was going to demand some for retail from the next batch - whenever that might be.  So keep a lookout at the various retail shops.

[RAILCAT]

Are the handrails on the SD40-2 made from a better more flexible and forgiving material than on the
SD40T-2. All mine have broken, even though carefully handled.

[unittrain]

Got my Conrail unit yesterday, and have to say these are excellent models. These units really stand out with the extra long porch. I got a Chessie on the way can't wait to check it out.

[High Hood]

I wasn't to sold on the IM SD40-2, but I've started to warm up to them. My biggest concern was the massive gap over the trucks, but with an added frame and Kato wheelsets it looks like that can be fixed. It does seem like there is a big gap between the fuel tank and rails. Would Kato wheelsets fix that, or is the tank just off?

[lock4244]

I'm toying with the idea of grinding a Kato chassis to re-power an IM SD40-2. I find the gap to be horrible, and the trucks unsightly. Yes, the Kato wheels are a huge improvement, but I find there to be inconsistencies in the performance of the IM units, whereas Kato performance tends to be uniformly excellent. Just want to try one for now.

[High Hood]

I'm toying with the idea of grinding a Kato chassis to re-power an IM SD40-2. I find the gap to be horrible, and the trucks unsightly. Yes, the Kato wheels are a huge improvement, but I find there to be inconsistencies in the performance of the IM units, whereas Kato performance tends to be uniformly excellent. Just want to try one for now.

While looking for ways to improve the gap, I saw in an old thread that @randgust had a SD45-2 on a Kato mech and it looked really good.  The downside of a Kato repower would be losing out on the option to have factory installed sound though.

[lock4244]

While looking for ways to improve the gap, I saw in an old thread that @randgust had a SD45-2 on a Kato mech and it looked really good.  The downside of a Kato repower would be losing out on the option to have factory installed sound though.

I make my own sound, lol.

[BCR751]

My LHS PROMISED  these would be in stock by the end of September.  Guess what?   

Doug

[mu26aeh]

I'd only hold them to it if your LHS is owned and operated by IMRC and I'd still not believe it.

[squirrelhunter]

So has anyone seen a sound unit from this latest batch? I've seen at of 2 non sound, non DCC units on ebay and none anywhere else.

I'm with BCR751, this getting ridiculous...IM has supposedly been shipping these to dealers since 3 and half week ago. Did they ship them by wagon train?

[Mark5]

Apart from the wheels, not sure why these HT-C trucks (same as Atlas) are getting so much hate ... looking forward to getting mine - I will post comparison photos to the heavily dated Kato model then. 

I agree on the "gap" but that's an easy fix (much easier than fixing the probs on the Kato model).

I'm puzzled by inconsistent mechanism reports as this is a proven split frame design. 

Mark

[CPR9009]

I got notification last night that my 2 Chessie units have shipped.  Should have them tomorrow. 

Scott

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Apart from the wheels, not sure why these HT-C trucks (same as Atlas) are getting so much hate ... looking forward to getting mine - I will post comparison photos to the heavily dated Kato model then. 

I agree on the "gap" but that's an easy fix (much easier than fixing the probs on the Kato model).

I'm puzzled by inconsistent mechanism reports as this is a proven split frame design. 

Mark

It uses a screw-less mechanism like recent Katos.