ScaleTrains GP40s are being shipped.

[wmcbride]

Thanks for confirming the dreaded holes. It looks like it rides low (not a criticism).

Do you think there is room to add a styrene blank to the bootom of the fuel tank to "plug" those holes?

[N Scale Train Boy]

I'd have to take a closer look tomorrow (will be away from home after work tonight), but you may be able to fit a very thin sheet in there. I plan on filming a review tomorrow evening and getting it uploaded to YouTube by the end of the week for folks who want to see/hear more.

[tehachapifan]

Really hoping ST is planning to do an N scale GP40-2 as well! The Atlas offering left much to be desired as far as SP-specific details and features, to include but not necessarily limited to:

* Incorrect nose length
* Incorrect anticlimber (and subsequent incorrect front handrails)
* Brake ratchet vs. brake wheel
* Incorrect style of jacking pads
* Incorrect walkway blower duct length
* Incorrect sub-base door arrangements below cab and battery area (there are a few variations just with SP units alone)
* Incorrect dynamic brake housing shape/features (again, a few different variations just with SP units)
* Lack of SP-style lighting appliances (more than one type and arrangement just with SP units)
* Lack of roof details (AC unit, antenna plates, beacon/beacon stands, ducting)
* Incorrect long hood end regarding numberboards (SP didn't have any)

The last GP40-2's built for SP even had straight sills, and an angled blower duct housing like a GP60, along with some other changes (like sub-base/battery doors, Oscitrol lights vs. Gyralites).

I wouldn't expect ST to do all the variations withing the SP fleet, but even just one with correct SP details would be amazing!

[Mark5]

Dennis - thanks for those pics! 

If ST should decide to do N&W GP40s, I would not cry.  (in fact, I would abandon my Atlas GP40 project  )

[N Scale Train Boy]

My pleasure Mark - Figured if I had the model I may as well share the pictures!

Given the fact that they have HH N&W GP30s in the run coming out in October, it's certainly not out of the question!

[CR4100]

Got my Penn Central unit yesterday! Looks pretty good, unfortunately does have those dreaded holes in the bottom, and the volume is set to almost maximum out of the box, so that was something to fix, and my unit seems to be missing the fireman side front wind deflector/mirror, so I'll have to reach out to ST and see what can be done about that, but otherwise I'm pretty happy so far. The sound files are great, and the details are beautiful. This weekend I'll set up a loop of my T-trak modules to get it broken in and test how it really runs on something other than my 3' test track.

It looks like the tops of the fans are all at different angles and not flat. Are the fans as wonky in real life as the photos show? DB Fan looks OK for some reason.

[Chris333]

And it looks like the truck side frame was hit with a heat gun.

[peteski]

And it looks like the truck side frame was hit with a heat gun.

Or a very thick layer of black paint.

[Mark5]

It looks like the tops of the fans are all at different angles and not flat. Are the fans as wonky in real life as the photos show? DB Fan looks OK for some reason.

Ouch

[robertjohndavis]

My stash came today. They look great overall. The WP bicentennial units are stunning.

I just inspected each within the clamshell but did not fully unpack them as I need to get some sleep and don’t want to rush. My biggest concern was that the locomotives would slip inside the clamshell like most of my GP30’s did (resulting in broken Train Phone antennae and one where the top of a fan got torn off).

Three of my GP40’s have clamshell issues. One is skewed sideways about 45 degrees but seems to have escaped damage. Two others stayed up right but the clamshell crushed the front handrails.

Normally I’d be tweaked, but ScaleTrains (much like BLI) has always been good with replacement parts and repairs, so after I fully inspect and test run all of them I will send a defect list. So far, it’s all stuff I can fix myself.

I have never had these problems with 6-axle ScaleTrains locomotives. If buying ST 4-axle units in a hobby shop, inspect before leaving. If ordering online, ask the store to make sure there’s no damage.

Not sure it’s as chronic as the Bowser H21’s of which an alarming amount of mine got decimated by the packaging (and judging by the broken ones they are dumping online, it was widespread), but still frustrating to have packaging damage a beautiful model.

I have a lot of second run GP30’s on order. I hope this gets resolved before they are packed for shipping.

Rob

[garethashenden]

It looks like the tops of the fans are all at different angles and not flat. Are the fans as wonky in real life as the photos show? DB Fan looks OK for some reason.

Etched fans superglued in off kilter?

[N Scale Train Boy]

It looks like the tops of the fans are all at different angles and not flat.

I'll have to check when I get back home tonight, but they are definitely etched fan grilles, so it may just need some persuasion to right. I didn't notice that at first, thank you for pointing it out. As for the truck frames, again I'll have to check at home but my guess is either paint like peteski suggested, or possibly even digital zoom artifacting. I'll take a closer look at all of that (and update yall with pictures) and be sure to address it all in the video I put out.

[Iain]

Kinda hoping these are a home run and people will be dumping their old Atlas GP40s for cheap so I can swallow them up for their innards.

(GP40s and certain Baldwin products had the same distance between truck centers)

[crrcoal]

I used tape and it made a huge difference.

Thanks for confirming the dreaded holes. It looks like it rides low (not a criticism).

Do you think there is room to add a styrene blank to the bootom of the fuel tank to "plug" those holes?

[tehachapifan]

Kinda hoping these are a home run and people will be dumping their old Atlas GP40s for cheap so I can swallow them up for their innards....

Trouble is that nobody sells off their old stuff for cheap anymore. Seems everyone wants to try to recoup what they paid on a recent release. My guess is you will see old Atlas GP40's listed at brand new ST GP40 prices. On eBay anyway.