ScaleTrains GP30 Arrival (End of January)

[sandypsj]

Got my pre-order notification for a C&NW unit from Lombard this morning. Loved the SD40-2, looking forward to seeing this unit.

[CBQ Fan]

Received my shipping notice this morning!

[C855B]

St is doing the gp35 in HO . I could see them do the DD35 booster in both scales to go with the GP.

 

I don't see anything on ScaleTrains' site about a GP35. BLI, yes, they're re-running their HO version this year, their third batch. But given three runs already and nothing about a '35 in N scale, I tend to think a port to N is not in the cards.

DD35... I had a brief chat with Shane Wilson a few months ago at one of his tour presentations. After I gave him grief about doing UP oddballs like the turbines ("They sell out!"), we talked about more of the same. This discussion included why the GTEL4500 wasn't on a chassis that could be used for the "Veranda" version of the 4500 and the U50 like ConCor did; he wrung his hands about "decision chain" issues. But after we laughed over my suggestion of "C855, too!", he mentioned a passing interest in the DD35 and DDA35.

The corollary here is that a GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set in demonstrator colors would be a super-obvious winner. So while I'm not holding my breath over anything specific, there is a spark there of possible development along those lines.

[sundowner]

C855b your right its another run of gp30, the SD 7 is the new loco.

[pedro]

Mine arrived today. UPs and CNWs. First impression without running them is of course highly favorable. Scale width hoods, correct fan spacing, non-squinty number boards. Near-scale handrails. Non-dynamic CNWs, UP canvas sun shades. Details galore etc. I’m not giving away my Atlas/Kato veterans just yet, but the difference is glaring, sorry to say. It’s like seeing your high school girlfriend at the 30-year reunion.

Anyway, my only question/concern… what’s with the very prominent ribs on the cab roofs?? The UPs have one in the center, and the CNWs have five, so it seems to be intentional on ST’s part. I’ve been looking at proto pics and I’ve yet to find anything but flat and smooth examples across multiple roads. Am I missing something?

As an aside, I weighed them in, and the results show their one (not unexpected) shortcoming:

Atlas/Kato chonky original:  3.26 oz
Atlas/China DCC/sound ready: 2.45 oz
Scaletrains: DCC/Sound installed: 2.32 oz

[wcfn100]

Anyway, my only question/concern… what’s with the very prominent ribs on the cab roofs?? The UPs have one in the center, and the CNWs have five, so it seems to be intentional on ST’s part. I’ve been looking at proto pics and I’ve yet to find anything but flat and smooth examples across multiple roads. Am I missing something?

They do show if you can get the right picture angle, but I would guess they are oversized on the model.



Jason

[Southern1970]

Mine arrived today. UPs and CNWs. First impression without running them is of course highly favorable. Scale width hoods, correct fan spacing, non-squinty number boards. Near-scale handrails. Non-dynamic CNWs, UP canvas sun shades. Details galore etc. I’m not giving away my Atlas/Kato veterans just yet, but the difference is glaring, sorry to say. It’s like seeing your high school girlfriend at the 30-year reunion.

Nice.  How’s the sound on them?  Mine have been shipped but I imagine they’ll take at least 2 weeks to get to Australia.
Cheers

[pedro]

They do show if you can get the right picture angle, but I would guess they are oversized on the model.



Jason

Good to know, thanks. None of the pictures I looked at showed that. I do wonder what they are for, and why they’re different on the two models. Yes, probably a bit oversized.

[kscessandriver]

I don't see anything on ScaleTrains' site about a GP35. BLI, yes, they're re-running their HO version this year, their third batch. But given three runs already and nothing about a '35 in N scale, I tend to think a port to N is not in the cards.

DD35... I had a brief chat with Shane Wilson a few months ago at one of his tour presentations. After I gave him grief about doing UP oddballs like the turbines ("They sell out!"), we talked about more of the same. This discussion included why the GTEL4500 wasn't on a chassis that could be used for the "Veranda" version of the 4500 and the U50 like ConCor did; he wrung his hands about "decision chain" issues. But after we laughed over my suggestion of "C855, too!", he mentioned a passing interest in the DD35 and DDA35.

The corollary here is that a GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set in demonstrator colors would be a super-obvious winner. So while I'm not holding my breath over anything specific, there is a spark there of possible development along those lines.

I'd be in for all 3 of the C855's...

[Missaberoad]

Some GP30 roofs were indeed ribbed for pleasure.
Not sure how many variations there were tho.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/farmerdavemi/38742102670

[C855B]

Good to know, thanks. None of the pictures I looked at showed that. I do wonder what they are for, and why they’re different on the two models. Yes, probably a bit oversized.

Wow. Those couplers certainly hit one in the face! Boxing gloves, indeed!

I've been on a tear to replace couplers on nearly all my motive power with TSC, so I'd better check my stash before my order arrives on Saturday 'cause these definitely need it!

[pedro]

Here’s a clear shot of the cab roof ribs:
https://flic.kr/p/222vpnq



And yeah, those couplers are an awful blemish.

[MRLX1020]

My DRGW pair and UP A/B set are en route from Tennessee, but I think this shows improvement/promise on ScaleTrain's part - thats a much better looking draft pocket/coupler box, and those are the MTL clones, not their own type E...

Does anyone know if Pat at Trainworx is still planning to do the DRGW steel cabooses?

[peteski]

Wow. Those couplers certainly hit one in the face! Boxing gloves, indeed!

LOL!  I chuckle because those are standard size MTL N scale couplers (or clones), not those *REALLY LARGE* Scale Trains own boxing glove couplers they use on other models.

[pedro]

re: the roof “ribs”:

If an old thread on the Atlas rescue forum* counts as research… the fatter middle rib is a lap joint where the roof was welded together. The other ribs may be weld lines/reinforcing ribs where it was an option on the shop floor to fabricate the two halves from smaller pieces of sheet if necessary. I’ll take that as a plausible explanation. Regardless, they’re a bit overdone. And I’m not sure if there was any rhyme or reason to which orders were which way. I wonder if it possibly even varied by individual unit. Probably won’t ever know for sure.

* the poster on that forum claimed to have EMD documentation indicating all this. For what it’s worth.