Trufans...

[coosvalley]

I just saw this, and I think it's pretty cool....

[Chris333]

Seems like the fan motors could be smaller, but... This is a way better "thing" than BLI smoke puffing steam locomotives.

[Missaberoad]

[tehachapifan]

Wow!!

[Maletrain]

Definitely cool.  But, it looks like you need to fully pay a $360 pre-order.  At this point in our economic times that seems too risky.

If indeed they have a reliable "lowered drive train", that should become the future norm for fitting in sound, keep-alives, etc., anyway.  It is already a problem to get all that stuff into an HO loco the size of a GP unit.

[Mark5]

Very cool. 

In this case, I am grateful that I design my layouts to be viewed at "eye level" (ie trackside).

[Chris333]

"Lowered drive train" is no different than Kato RDC's that stuck an interior over the motor.

[Maletrain]

"Lowered drive train" is no different than Kato RDC's that stuck an interior over the motor.

If that were true, then these GP40s won't have flywheels and probably have very high top speeds. 

But, the printed info here https://classonemodelworks.com/collections/locomotives/products/emd-gp40-1a3-milwaukee-road-2027 says
"Precise And Quiet Slow Speed Control and
"Dual Flywheels"

And the drawing of the drive train seen here https://classonemodelworks.com/collections/locomotives/products/emd-gp40-1a3-milwaukee-road-2027 at 1:19 seems to show the motor in the fuel tank with snug flywheel(s?).  Can't see the gearing in the truck towers.

[Chris333]

Yeah I was going to add something about gear ratio, but this is HO and I just don't know HO much. Lately mfg's seem to try and make slow speed with motor control/DCC and not more gearing.

The fans appear to have more gear reduction than the locomotive does 

[Maletrain]

The fans appear to have more gear reduction than the locomotive does 

Yes, I think they must have substantial planetary gear reductions, which is probably why they look like "big motors".

[dangerboy81]

I had to look it up, I don't know HO that well, but I thought Aurora did working fans first. I think trufans are set up differently. I seem to remember reading about problems with Aurora's fans.

[lock4244]

Until we get a true functioning 1:160 scale diesel electric locomotive are we not just kidding ourselves?

[pmpexpress]

I had to look it up, I don't know HO that well, but I thought Aurora did working fans first. I think trufans are set up differently. I seem to remember reading about problems with Aurora's fans.

/>

Actually, around 4% of the Aurora Miniatures International HO scale GMD SD60Fs that were released in 2023 had badly manufactured gears that were factory installed in their trucks.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2979352232369478&id=1821526474818732&set=a.1822644154706964

https://www.pwrs.ca/announcements/view.php?ID=20652

The 2025 release of Aurora Miniatures International HO scale DCC/Sound Versions of the SD50F/SD50AF Diesel Locomotives have redesigned silent operating radiator fans.

https://www.facebook.com/AuroraMiniatures/videos/our-upcoming-ho-sd50fsd50af-locomotive-features-a-completely-redesigned-radiator/619842157291156/

[learmoia]

I had to look it up, I don't know HO that well, but I thought Aurora did working fans first. I think trufans are set up differently. I seem to remember reading about problems with Aurora's fans.

/>

Actually, I think Life Like Proto 2K was the first to do it.. (20-25 years ago)..


I watched the video early today... the fact that the fans are spinning individually based on what the drive motor is doing.. takes an absurd feature and makes it insanely cool..

I'm surprised they didn't have the drive motors built directly into the trucks like traction motors.

... I saw where someone is doing that in HO scale.. I think they were developing an insanely detailed SD40-2

~Ian

[pmpexpress]

Actually, I think Life Like Proto 2K was the first to do it.. (20-25 years ago)...

~Ian

You are indeed correct.

The first production run (i.e., pre-Walthers acquisition) HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 FA/FB locomotives had an operating fan.