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

[chesapeake490]

I have two NS units coming my way!!   

[mu26aeh]

NS units do have ditch lights on both ends.

I am aware they have them on both ends.  What I was refering to was the fact they flash/alternate where as the IMRC units with ESU decoders do not.  They are lit, but end user needs to do some work to get them flashing/alternating.

[ai5629]

I am aware they have them on both ends.  What I was refering to was the fact they flash/alternate where as the IMRC units with ESU decoders do not.  They are lit, but end user needs to do some work to get them flashing/alternating.

I misunderstood what you were asking.  I was just confirming that I saw ditch lights on both ends of the model SC had at the convention.  I do not know if they are functional beyond lighting up.  Thanks.

[GaryHinshaw]

Excellent!  I am obviously very happy to see these.

I really like what I see in the photos. I'll probably send ST a few comments about 1 or 2 cosmetic things I think could be easily improved, but they are minor.  Above all, I really hope these run as well as my Kato's.  Running quality will make or break this release for me.

[drift]

Anyway, bottom line, and also from my talking to them last year plus their mechanical execution of the turbine, I have that I-wish-I-didn't-have-this-queasy-feeling we are again dealing with 99% HO'ers imposing HO product priorities and designs on N. Clearly they're doing some great stuff and I will continue to stand behind (and buy the results of) their efforts, but I am concerned.

My above concern about running quality is motivated by the turbine reviews I read.  It won't stop me from pre-ordering though.

I know what you mean about being queasy, but I think they read the N scale market extremely well with their container release: that offering filled a huge gap in the N scale catalogue and was anything but a "niche" offering.  I remain optimistic that the carbon black example is a one-off they will learn from.
[/drift]

[Smike]

The detail is amazing!!!  Like others I hope they run well, but I'm certainly in for at least 3 units, without question.

Bravo! Scale Trains!

P.S. Don't think the wide handrails on the NS units didn't go unnoticed. A road specific n scale first!!!

[RBrodzinsky]

Thanks for clarification.  Still pissed IMRC and ESU couldn't get this correct on the SD40-2's 

I just went back and looked. The boards in the IM units do have full Aux1-4 functionality. I do not know which lights are on which functions, but I would bet all that is needed is to set the grade-crossing bit in the CVs for the two rear ditch lights. Unless IM did something stupid on the NS units and used a split light pipe from the rear ditch lights to a single LED.

[mu26aeh]

I just went back and looked. The boards in the IM units do have full Aux1-4 functionality. I do not know which lights are on which functions, but I would bet all that is needed is to set the grade-crossing bit in the CVs for the two rear ditch lights. Unless IM did something stupid on the NS units and used a split light pipe from the rear ditch lights to a single LED.

They have LED's on both ends, but there is only 1 LED per end.  Equals you have lit ditch lights, but not alternating.

[CBQ Fan]

Welllllllll... yes, that is a valid point, but I'm not quite sure the N marketing plan is as cogent as that.

I chatted for a couple of minutes with the rep at the StL RPM show today, asking if things improved for the N scale carbon cars. He frowned and indicated, no, and they are still trying to understand why the demand isn't there in N as it was in HO. I responded that what is popular in HO is not necessarily going to be a demand item in N, that you don't want to make the same mistakes that ExactRail did. I stated my take that HO'ers are typically appreciative of unique cars because of the orientation toward individual models, rather than N, where by and large we are modeling whole trains and setting an ambiance. Oddball cars in the consist are, well, oddball, especially when there's no reasonable justification for the traffic in the train. I got, "But these cars are everywhere," and I argued that they were not, we rarely see them here in the Midwest, and outside of my years in California that carbon black cars "in the wild" are notable by their rarity. At that point I was getting what amounted to an eye-roll, so I gave up.

Anyway, bottom line, and also from my talking to them last year plus their mechanical execution of the turbine, I have that I-wish-I-didn't-have-this-queasy-feeling we are again dealing with 99% HO'ers imposing HO product priorities and designs on N. Clearly they're doing some great stuff and I will continue to stand behind (and buy the results of) their efforts, but I am concerned.

I don't understand companies who "just don't understand why the N scale offering doesn't have the same demand as the HO" and then ignore and dismiss feedback from actual N scale modelers! 

[tom mann]

As others have said, the details are amazing and very HO scale like!

[unittrain]

I ordered 2 1970s carbon black cars but honestly never have noticed any that I can recall on the many many trains I've watched 40 years.They can't be that common but oh well they are going to do what they feel is best for there N scale line but I agree they are super nice cars well done indeed.

[jagged ben]

I really did think for a minute that these were 'HO scale model shown' until I noticed the coupler.   Are those bolt details on the grab irons?  Seriously?

Too new for my era.  Not going to be swayed.  But I'm encouraged for their next release.

PS:  This is N scale?

[Hyperion]

PS:  This is N scale?

Not only that, but according to their specs, those labels are actually "legible under magnification".

That's some crazy high resolution if so.

[James Costello]

I think I just experienced "Era Creep" .... Again. 

At least they still fit prior to the recent Walonger works.

[sundowner]

While they look stunning, I will wait for there release to see how they run before pulling the trigger on the 6 up without sound.

[basementcalling]

While they look stunning, I will wait for there release to see how they run before pulling the trigger on the 6 up without sound.

Do the samples at the convention run or have full mechanical parts in the trucks so folks can know if the engineering issue has been contained?