New Atlas RS-1 vs. Atlas RS-2

[narrowminded]

And Jason at Rapido Trains always tells us just how much pride those Chinese workers have in their jobs.  He must pay them better than the factory Atlas uses.

... Or high turnover or just lack of training, either way intended to "lower costs", surfacing in VERY costly quality issues.   I've seen that time and again when businessmen insist on low wages to "save money" for themselves.  That's a universal, worldwide possibility/ problem.  Especially prevalent when managers are all about the "costs" yet don't really know what business they're in.  "But the spreadsheet says if we ..."

[Joetrain59]

Yes Pete, right out of the box, upon delivery.
 Looks like some of my earlier attempts at soldering.
 Joe D

[Joetrain59]

Atlas Paul, care to chime in here?
 Joe D

[Joetrain59]

So I resoldered the broken off contact to PCB, and also the contact on other side. It was crooked, and not making full contact with motor tab.
 Strangely, the electric shaver buzz is gone now. Loco runs great.
   Joe D

[Mark5]

Glad you were able to fix it!

[CBQ Fan]

Mine arrived today. Looks good and runs fine. 

[EL3632]

I have two DCC equipped RS2s, I picked them up yesterday. They run like champs, much like the prior LL runs, though I did find that one of the couplers was angled way down. I unscrewed it and angled it correctly and screwed it back in. Easy minor fix.

[Joetrain59]

Mark5, I don't want to go near a post office for a while. Now the gift return shipping will start!
 Otherwise, I would've sent it back to Atlas.
 Joe D

 PS, cab glazing is glued in.

[peteski]

PS, cab glazing is glued in.

Should that  be surprising?  Seems that Kato and MTL are the only manufacturers using all-snap-in (no glue) construction for their rolling stock.

[spookshow]

Should that  be surprising?  Seems that Kato and MTL are the only manufacturers using all-snap-in (no glue) construction for their rolling stock.

They weren't glued in when LL/Walthers was making them. I was examining mine recently and noticed that one of the side windows had popped out of its slot (at which point I had to take the cab off in order to get it stuck back in place).

-Mark

[peteski]

They weren't glued in when LL/Walthers was making them. I was examining mine recently and noticed that one of the side windows had popped out of its slot (at which point I had to take the cab off in order to get it stuck back in place).

-Mark

Good to know - thanks Mark.

[CBQ Fan]

I have noticed my RS-2 has an odd phenomenon with the headlights. When running one direction the rear facing headlamp flashes sporadically. This is straight DC.

[peteski]

I have noticed my RS-2 has an odd phenomenon with the headlights. When running one direction the rear facing headlamp flashes sporadically. This is straight DC.

If the headlights are LEDs, then that is a typical behavior (when the wheels momentarily lose contact with the track). For that instance the spinning motor acts as generator which puts put voltage at the opposite polarity, lighting up the reverse headlight.  Some locos have a capacitor installed in the headlight circuit to get rid of that undesired effect.

[CBQ Fan]

If the headlights are LEDs, then that is a typical behavior (when the wheels momentarily lose contact with the track). For that instance the spinning motor acts as generator which puts put voltage at the opposite polarity, lighting up the reverse headlight.  Some locos have a capacitor installed in the headlight circuit to get rid of that undesired effect.

Interesting, I will have to check it out at different speeds and see what difference that makes. Slower speeds should be more contact friendly I would think.

[peteski]

Interesting, I will have to check it out at different speeds and see what difference that makes. Slower speeds should be more contact friendly I would think.

You might be able to observe the phenomenon using a 9V battery.  Hold the loco in your hand and power the loco by touching the battery terminals to the wheels. At the instant you pull the battery away, you should be able to see a brief flash of the back headlight.