Anyone get their Stealth SD40-2 yet?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm still waiting on mine. Supposedly they are shipping, but I have not received a notification from Factory Direct. I am really curious how they will sound with an ESU decoder compared to the IM engine and the upcoming Scale Trains version. Bachmann also has one in the works, but it uses Econami sound.

[peteski]

I'm curious how the internals look like. Will there be a standard decoder interface?  I don't believe a Next18 would work (too wide to be under the hood). Maybe it will have the 6-pin connector and you will have roll-your-own for sound install?

[reinhardtjh]

I'm curious how the internals look like. Will there be a standard decoder interface?  I don't believe a Next18 would work (too wide to be under the hood). Maybe it will have the 6-pin connector and you will have roll-your-own for sound install?

BLI has information posted about both steam and diesel stealth internals.  I think these have been updated since they were first posted a while ago.  But they sure do look too wide for a hood unit.  It's hard to tell since there are no dimensions given.

Instructions:
http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/Next18%20Diesel%20Instruction.JPG

Pinouts:
http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/Next18%20Diesel%20Pin%20Outs.png

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm curious how the internals look like. Will there be a standard decoder interface?  I don't believe a Next18 would work (too wide to be under the hood). Maybe it will have the 6-pin connector and you will have roll-your-own for sound install?

Isn't the 58818 only 10mm wide? That should work in an SD40-2.

[ridinshotgun]

I'm curious how the internals look like. Will there be a standard decoder interface?  I don't believe a Next18 would work (too wide to be under the hood). Maybe it will have the 6-pin connector and you will have roll-your-own for sound install?

BLI has already said they will have a next18 connection on the motherboard and it is shown in the product announcement literature:

http://www.broadway-limited2.com/announcements/StealthSeriesFlyerFinal_20230324.pdf

[nstars]

The Next18 standard specifies a maximum width of 9.5 mm for a decoder. It should fit.

Marc

[TW877]

The Next18 standard specifies a maximum width of 9.5 mm for a decoder. It should fit.

Marc

That does depend on which standard either manufacturer follows. NMRA set 9,5mm as width for both sound and non-sound Next 18 decoders, specifically due to narrow body diesels. The older NEM (European) standard still allows up to 10,5mm as width for sound decoders; which the NMRA may allow only as exemption based on when the decoder was first produced. Newly designed decoders must comply with the 9,5mm restriction, no exemptions. The ESU LS5 Micro is listed at 10,0mm, so it might not fit if the loco's decoder space was designed in accordance with the newer limits.

Chris

[nstars]

The current RCN118 standard also specifies 9.5 mm for both sound and non sound decoders. It used to be 10.5 but this has been changed in 2020. So European decoders also have to comply to 9.5 mm. I haven’t measured a Loksound decoder, but I guess they have rounded off the 9.5 to 10 mm.

Marc

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Mine just came in. I ordered a CNW unit because the engine number matches the early phase of the body style and works for my 90's era layout. The only glaring issues is that it has ditch lights which the prototype didn't get until UP, and no gong bell. The ditch lights will never be used as these units lacked cab signals.

I have to say I'm really impressed with build quality. It feels as solid as Kato in the hand and is packaged very nicely. The HTC trucks really stand out well, and compare favorably to the ones on the Kato SD40-2. Paint is better than the Kato and most details are press fit. It uses a lot less glue than the IM model.

For those looking at converting this to Loksound, you may need to get creative. The dynamic brake blister is a separate part and the shell is offset inside for it to be press-fit. This means a decoder will need to be about 1/2mm narrower than the rest of the shell interior. I'll measure it out with my review later. If I can add Loksound, I'll just use an NCE silent decoder as I've standardized on that for my non-sound models.

This is a great model for the $150 asking price. I wish BLI did standard DC earlier as I would have bought more. I would like to see them make the stealth boards available for past releases as an upgrade option.

Great looking engine though!

[basementcalling]

Mine just came in. I ordered a CNW unit because the engine number matches the early phase of the body style and works for my 90's era layout. The only glaring issues is that it has ditch lights which the prototype didn't get until UP, and no gong bell. The ditch lights will never be used as these units lacked cab signals.

I have to say I'm really impressed with build quality. It feels as solid as Kato in the hand and is packaged very nicely. The HTC trucks really stand out well, and compare favorably to the ones on the Kato SD40-2. Paint is better than the Kato and most details are press fit. It uses a lot less glue than the IM model.

For those looking at converting this to Loksound, you may need to get creative. The dynamic brake blister is a separate part and the shell is offset inside for it to be press-fit. This means a decoder will need to be about 1/2mm narrower than the rest of the shell interior. I'll measure it out with my review later. If I can add Loksound, I'll just use an NCE silent decoder as I've standardized on that for my non-sound models.

This is a great model for the $150 asking price. I wish BLI did standard DC earlier as I would have bought more. I would like to see them make the stealth boards available for past releases as an upgrade option.

Great looking engine though!

How does it compare in paint and detail to Scale Trains? I know their SD40-2s aren't out yet, but I think that is the main competition for hobby dollars for these models. The Stealth version from BLI is priced at almost the same point as the non DCC Rivet Counter line from ST.

[wmcbride]

Mine just came in. I ordered a CNW unit because the engine number matches the early phase of the body style and works for my 90's era layout. The only glaring issues is that it has ditch lights which the prototype didn't get until UP, and no gong bell. The ditch lights will never be used as these units lacked cab signals.

I have to say I'm really impressed with build quality. It feels as solid as Kato in the hand and is packaged very nicely. The HTC trucks really stand out well, and compare favorably to the ones on the Kato SD40-2. Paint is better than the Kato and most details are press fit. It uses a lot less glue than the IM model.

For those looking at converting this to Loksound, you may need to get creative. The dynamic brake blister is a separate part and the shell is offset inside for it to be press-fit. This means a decoder will need to be about 1/2mm narrower than the rest of the shell interior. I'll measure it out with my review later. If I can add Loksound, I'll just use an NCE silent decoder as I've standardized on that for my non-sound models.

This is a great model for the $150 asking price. I wish BLI did standard DC earlier as I would have bought more. I would like to see them make the stealth boards available for past releases as an upgrade option.

Great looking engine though!

Thanks for your assessment of your new SD40-2.

I was looking on the Broadway Limited web page at the photos and I will be curious to see how the CSX units are in production. The web site photo has abysmally colored blue handrails -- very different from the body color.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I am sure the ST will blow all these models out of the water. There really is nothing on their level of detail and performance. The ST announcement was the reason why I'm gathering each SD40-2 produced in N scale. I want to write an article on the evolution of the engine in N scale.

[John]

See this .. at about the 3 minute mark

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57144.0

[ridinshotgun]

I am sure the ST will blow all these models out of the water. There really is nothing on their level of detail and performance. The ST announcement was the reason why I'm gathering each SD40-2 produced in N scale. I want to write an article on the evolution of the engine in N scale.

Yeah but the problem that you ignoring is that we are talking about the stealth model here not the sound which for ST is great because it has a loksound decoder.  Their non sound dcc ready version isn’t going to move at all for dcc since there isn’t any motor decoder that fit the E24 except some vaporware from ESU at this point.  At least the stealth BLI has the options of various decoders with the next18 connection.

Atlas and ST both should have insisted on ESU having a motor decoder available with an E24 connection before their recent releases that are now going to nothing but gather dust if you don’t want sound.

[peteski]

Atlas and ST both should have insisted on ESU having a motor decoder available with an E24 connection before their recent releases that are now going to nothing but gather dust if you don’t want sound.

I've been chatting with Bryan from Streamlined Back Shop and the LokPilot E24 decoder is coming.  While the timing is not optimal (model released first), you will get that LokPilot decoder.