Intermountain SD40-2

[wmcbride]

I've had very quick responses from IM and even some free parts for what was MY screwup.

I suggest emailing them and enclosing some photos.

[jagged ben]

So I got 2 MKT sound ones from MBK. The coupler cut levers on the front and the MU hoses on the back are glued on with pretty noticeable patches of glue.

Does anyone know if I would have any luck seeing if Intermountain would replace the units? I'll try to get photos to post later, but it's disappointing that units that are otherwise good (the cab numbers a little crooked), have great sound and cost almost $200 have parts glued on with patches of glue.

I was sent a replacement for one that had some fit issues between the cab, handrails and rest of the body.  You're description of the problems sounds more minor, like something I'd fix myself, but nevertheless based on my experience I think they'd send you a replacement shell if you asked.  They do 'honor system', they send you a shell and trust you to send the old one back.

[squirrelhunter]

Thank yall for the info!

I've had trouble getting photos of the glue on the cut levers and MU hoses, but I did get some of the crooked cab numbers on one of my units. I'm posting from the phone so I'll try to post those pics tomorrow.

The glue had filled in the loop on the cut lever on one unit. I was able to use a sharp knife to get most of it out, but there is still some there that is going to be more difficult to get out.

I'll call IM and see if they will let me exchange the sill units or  maybe just sell me an extra pair of sills plus the appropriate detail parts. I don't mind doing some assembly exchanging parts.

[squirrelhunter]

Ok, work has kept me from uploading photos.  here are some photos I took with my S5 of my two units.

Cab numbers on 604- they seem to slope up from front to back



Same for 601-



As far as the glue on the pilots, I was able scrape some off, and the rear of both units will be ok with a little more work. The next photo is a really poor one trying to show where the glue got into the loop on the coupler cut lever. I am not sure I'll be able to get all the glue out without breaking the lever. I wish I could get a better photo, but my phone had a hard time focusing on the pilot area at all. '

[Englewood]

As far as the cab members, maybe it's an optical illusion? To my eyes, you have the big yellow stripes going down and it makes the numbers look like they slope the same way. I bought a pair of these and I never noticed anything with the cab numbers, but if I stare at them long enough, they start to look slanted in the direction of the stripes.

[peteski]

As far as the cab members, maybe it's an optical illusion? To my eyes, you have the big yellow stripes going down and it makes the numbers look like they slope the same way. I bought a pair of these and I never noticed anything with the cab numbers, but if I stare at them long enough, they start to look slanted in the direction of the stripes.

I think you are right. If one was to to cover up the diagonal stripes, I bet the numbers would look level.

Similar to the lines below - the are actually parallel. Optical Illusion.

[Philip H]

I will say the close shots do show what appears to be decent to really good detailing of the shell, glue issues not withstanding.

[squirrelhunter]

Peteski, I'll put making tape over the sides of the cab so only the numbers are visible and take some more picture this weekend.

Philip H, you are exactly right. I just wish IM would just use a rest fit for detaisl like the engine room vent, coupler cut levers and MU hoses. The vent on one of them is very slightly crooked, but you can't tell unless you are up very close and I'm not going to risk damaging the part of the shell trying to get it off to straighten it out.

These units are really excellent in many respects. I'll try to get so more detail shots. On the MKT units they did paint the front horn and MU receptacles yellow, which is correct for the locomotives as they were delivered in 1978. They also added the single note blat horn on the long hood, which is a MKT specific feature.

[wazzou]

I will say the close shots do show what appears to be decent to really good detailing of the shell, glue issues not withstanding.

Only exceptions being the beacon or whatever that is and the horn.
I think the beacon could be corrected with a steady hand, fine brush and some silver paint. 
The horn looks like it needs to be removed, the hole drilled larger and then pushed down further or the mounting pin cut shorter.

[peteski]

Peteski, I'll put making tape over the sides of the cab so only the numbers are visible and take some more picture this weekend.

Make sure that the tape strips have parallel edges and that it is not applied crooked. 

[mu26aeh]

The horn looks like it needs to be removed, the hole drilled larger and then pushed down further or the mounting pin cut shorter.

I think that has been reported on a lot from this release, almost like someone didn't cut the sprue off correctly

[nsbob]

I looked up the pictures of MKT 601 and 604 in rrpicturearrchives.net.  There are not many pictures of each, but one picture of 604 clearly shows the numbers on the engineer's side of the cab to appear to be crooked like the model.  I guess it's an individual preference of whether you want the numbers to be straight or to be prototypical.  When I decal my Norfolk Southern locomotives and rolling stock, I prefer prototypical if the pictures are available.  It's an individual decision because it's your model.

[mu26aeh]

Thread drift alert !

Not the picture mentioned, but @Ed Kapuscinski , you might need to buy a MKT unit

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3353929

[squirrelhunter]

OK, Peteski had a point- I put masking tape along the top and bottom edges of the cab side, and the numbers looked less crooked. Still a little crooked, but less so. As far as 604 goes, I looked at photos from fallen flags and the link posted to rr picture archives, and I think 604 came from the factory with the fireman's side number slightly crooked, but I think the engineer side one is straight.

Ok, here are my photos of the masking tape experiment-

[squirrelhunter]

And here are extra detail shots of both 601 and 604-