Scale-Trains doing Tier-4 Gevos....

[MetroRedLine]

I fixed the direction and started cleaning up the programming mess. Mine weren’t programmed anything close to what the manual described. I’m glad they included the manual as I needed to reassign most of the sounds and functions. My issue now is I have one ditchlight on each engine that doesn’t work. It’s like the bulb is too low in the housing. A tiny bit of light comes out, but it still looks off. I contacted ST already, we’ll see what happens. (Attachment Link)

I had a ditchlight problem in one of mine (the DC version, after adding the ESU Next18 decoder). The LED is fine, it's just not mapped to a function button. For those of us used to the one-lightpipe-for-all-lights format, this is new territory. Do you have JMRI Decoder Pro? If so I can show you how to program the ditchlights so that both will work.

[unittrain]

That's one incredible N scale locomotive I hope they do one from the era I model. Would be nice to see a Scale Trains GP30 or  something from that era I would have said an SD40-2 but now with BLI planning one that would be too many, but Scale Trains would definitely probably be the best as far as details and what not.

[jpwisc]

I had a ditchlight problem in one of mine (the DC version, after adding the ESU Next18 decoder). The LED is fine, it's just not mapped to a function button. For those of us used to the one-lightpipe-for-all-lights format, this is new territory. Do you have JMRI Decoder Pro? If so I can show you how to program the ditchlights so that both will work.

I have a LokProgrammer. The function and mapping from the factory was all over the board. I fixed most of the odd programming on one unit already, and Mark at ST gave me a copy of the sound file so I can reload it for a fresh run at it. I’m sure I’ll have it back online shortly.

[lashedup]

I know you said its a quick video, but next time throw some of that trademarked Full Throttle at us!  

I did! That whole video was a 2% climb with FT on and fans running. I'm going to reprogram one of the units with the second Tier 4 GEVO sound file that LokSound has available and see how it sounds. At least a little variation would be good. The prime mover sound is the most challenged as the newer recording has a LOT of bass rumble to it that doesn't translate well with tiny sugar cube speakers.

- jamie

[JanesCustomTrain]

I have both Kato and Fox Valley ES44s, and, OMG, they both look like toys now compared to these!

Look is not everything ! How do they run compared with the mighty Kato drive ?

Jane

[ek2000]

This model will now be the standard as to how other N scale locomotives will be judged. I have both Kato and Fox Valley ES44s, and, OMG, they both look like toys now compared to these!

Insofar as looks are concerned, this is definitely a beauty. But you also have Rapido making high end prototypically accurate stuff. I have just the one Kato PA with loksound and it runs and sounds better than every other model. Whatever @nightmare0331 does with the Kobo sound install is now the Gold standard for sound installs in my opinion. I do recognize it is a custom install but for the same price the sound quality is much better.

[ek2000]

I’ll give props to ScaleTrain. They are already helping me get it taken care of. Great customer services response.

+1 to that. The folks at TN seem to be very customer centric based on first impressions.

[Mark W]

I did! That whole video was a 2% climb with FT on and fans running. I'm going to reprogram one of the units with the second Tier 4 GEVO sound file that LokSound has available and see how it sounds. At least a little variation would be good. The prime mover sound is the most challenged as the newer recording has a LOT of bass rumble to it that doesn't translate well with tiny sugar cube speakers.

- jamie

Oops, my mistake. 

I fired up my Loksound ES44AC to see if I could tell a difference (difference in sound file aside, they should be pretty similar at least).  Coming 'live' from the model it definitely growls more, as much as a tiny speaker can.  When I added the fan, I could still distinguish the prime mover but the fan definitely drowns it a lot.
So I recorded a clip on my phone.  That video playback on the phone still had a distinguished background prime mover.  Sent it to the computer, and the prime mover was completely lost to the fan whine.  Next I played your video on my phone and there was that background prime mover growl.

Aside from my poor computer speakers, I do think both of ours could have the fan volume reduced a touch.  But also, would it even be accurate to have the dynamic brake fans running while not braking?  I understood the prime movers to have separate cooling than the dynamic brake grids.   

[Mark W]

Look is not everything ! How do they run compared with the mighty Kato drive ?

Jane

I can't say for the release models, but the production sample I got to run back in July last year was extremely smooth and silent.  Easily on par with Kato's quality.

This brings up another question.  The production sample had through hole axle pickups.  Are the release models the same or did we get the miraculous upgrade to pointed axles/cups?

[jpwisc]

I reloaded the sound file on mine and I got all my functions (including both ditch lights) back. Life is good.
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[daniel_leavitt2000]

Mark has already done his review over on spookshow:
http://spookshow.net/loco/stcgevo.html

Look how small that sound decoder is! I wonder if they will offer this with a wire harness for the Next18.

I really wish this was in my era. These really look great. The only question I have when they announce the C39-8... Should I get ALL of them? 

[nscaler711]

Sorry, what's TSC?

Micro Trains True Scale Couplers...   

[lashedup]

Aside from my poor computer speakers, I do think both of ours could have the fan volume reduced a touch.  But also, would it even be accurate to have the dynamic brake fans running while not braking?  I understood the prime movers to have separate cooling than the dynamic brake grids.   

I only ran the radiator fans and I agree, they could be a tad lower in volume. I made some tweaks to mine with the LokProgrammer to reduce volume for various functions to a better balance. I also loaded the other T4 GEVO sound file (sounds only) the ESU has on their website to add a little variation. I think I like it a little better for the prime mover. If you go on the ESU website under downloads/soundfiles and find each of the T4 GEVO files and play them in your web browser, it almost seems like they had clipping issues with engine recording on the newer file. It also sounds like they record these inside the hood as opposed to outside and I think it would make more sense to record outside the unit (if you can keep ambient noise to a minimum). Recording outside would replicate what we see rail fanning and also balance out air compressor noises and such that you don't hear as loud on the outside of the loco. I'll have to call Matt and ask. It's on my list of things to talk about with those guys.

I also ran the auto motor adjustment and now my units will literally crawl at speed 1. The trade off is a tiny bit of what I'd call "micro" stutter at speed 1 through say 3, after that the motor smooths out like butter. I would assume that the ScaleTrains guys learn something from each of these projects and things should get even better on future runs and products.

- While the pickups aren't Kato-like, I don't have any issues with mine dropping out on the sound units.
- Paint is a little thick in places on versions with complex paint jobs (like the BNSF unit)
- Body molded details like the cabinet doors and such are also a little more pronounced than I think they need to be.
- Tru-Color paints are not always right with their colors (which isn't completely ScaleTrains fault). On one hand I like the idea of using commercially available paint for touch ups or matching. But TruColor's UP yellow has too much mustard color in it.  TruColor BNSF orange is right for Heritage schemes but not for BNSF swoosh units (which tend to be a bit brighter) nor is the yellow on the stripes right either, needs more orange. Paint matching is just one of my OCD things and while it probably won't bother most, it doesn't look completely right to me. In complete fairness though, very few manufacturers seem to get the colors just right. Kato's BNSF swoosh is too neon orange and FVM is more similar to ScaleTrains. Atlas gets close.

Other than the above items and making sure QC stays best it can, these are all small complaints on a model like this one. At normal viewing distances you don't see most of these things. But to give a proper Railwire critique, those would be my fussy items to mention. Didn't stop me from ordering more and I still give them a big thumbs up. The bar has been raised. I really don't know how they sell this for $200 with everything in it and the hand detail work that's involved.

[bnsfdash8]

I got my NS one in today and I'm pretty pleased with it. I have the quibbles as others, but happy to have it now on the roster.

Anyone try converting one to MT couplers yet? I was thinking of putting some Z scale couplers on.

[ski]

So can anyone with a UP unit tell if the nose/walkway is actually painted??? From the photos I have seen, it looks like the factory forgot to paint them...

The locos look fantastic other than that.