ScaleTrains GP40s are being shipped.

[Spades]

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!

Tehachapifan 

You probably know this. Using and carving up a SD50 shell and walkway. You can cobble together an 88" nose, straight sill frame with sub-base and correct anti-climber. Also the laundry chute style air blower duct added bonus the hand rail over the duct.  Which never worked out (Grafting the handrail).  So I took the cobbled together handrail used it as a mask to spray paint a template, and used some gold medal stanchions and SS. That leads to doing the same for the rest of the hand rails

[N Scale Train Boy]

OK having taken a closer look, the grilles are definitely a little bit wonky on the rear fans. However, maybe due to the black PC paint or maybe just to my eye, I really can't tell in person. If i look at it directly side on, up close, I can tell, and who knows, maybe when its weathered it'll stand out more, but right now its really hard to notice when in the room with the model.

As for the trucks, my guess is photo trickery due to lighting, the waxy delrin or plastic or whatever they use for the sideframes, and the angle of the picture. Looking at it closely, it looks fine in person. Hopefully weathering will help matte down the trucks and bring out some more of the depth and details.

I'll be recording my review tomorrow evening, and trying to have it uploaded to YouTube by Sunday night. I plan on talking about the missing mirror, wonky grilles and fuel tank holes, and testing its pulling power after someone elsewhere online asked me about it after experiencing less than stellar performance on their SXT GP30. If there's anything else folks are interested in looking closely at, hearing about, or testing, LMK today/tomorrow and I'll see about including it in my video. Overall so far, still very happy with this purchase on the whole.

[tehachapifan]

Tehachapifan 

You probably know this. Using and carving up a SD50 shell and walkway. You can cobble together an 88" nose, straight sill frame with sub-base and correct anti-climber. Also the laundry chute style air blower duct added bonus the hand rail over the duct.  Which never worked out (Grafting the handrail).  So I took the cobbled together handrail used it as a mask to spray paint a template, and used some gold medal stanchions and SS. That leads to doing the same for the rest of the hand rails

Yes, I’ e even collected the parts necessary but never started the project.

[Iain]

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.

alas, you're probably not wrong.

[robertjohndavis]

alas, you're probably not wrong.

I guess I am at a loss to understand what people should sell their trains at a loss, especially recent production runs. It’s a hobby not a charity.

[tehachapifan]

I guess I am at a loss to understand what people should sell their trains at a loss, especially recent production runs. It’s a hobby not a charity.

That's not what was said at all. What was said is, they will probably (at least try to) sell the old Atlas loco they paid around $70 for at the price for the new ST version. And, since eBay will let you list something for an endless amount of time with no relisting fees, they can wait 10 years or so for some sucker to eventually come along.

[robertjohndavis]

That's not what was said at all. What was said is, they will probably (at least try to) sell the old Atlas loco they paid around $70 for at the price for the new ST version. And, since eBay will let you list something for an endless amount of time with no relisting fees, they can wait 10 years or so for some sucker to eventually come along.

Thank you. I definitely missed a key point.

Bigger picture, I have no problem with people seeking top dollar. They will get it or they won’t. And I have no problem walking away from a price too rich for me. If someone else will pay it, great.

I just lost an auction in a multi-person bidding war to someone who paid at least double what the trains were worth. I congratulate the seller for that.

[Rossford Yard]

The definition of worth is the amount of money someone has or will pay for it.  By definition, it can't be "not worth the price" if it sells for that.  It may not be worth it to you or me, but that is a different story.  I agree that timing plays a part in the worth of something, whether the seller is willing to sit on it (realistically an individual has no carry cost like an LHS) or the immediate perceived need of a buyer.

An EBay example from my recent experience, is that I wanted a steel mill on the layout.  It was hard to find any N scale Walthers steel mills, and they were all $400 or so.  Then, I found one pre-built, weathered, and lighted, and managed to be the only bidder at $475.  I didn't think the kit alone was worth $400, but the $475 built one struck me as a solid "entertainment value," i.e., $75 for the construction.  I had one 20 years ago and it struck me as a bit too hard to build, at least back then.

One sale of a well built structure seemed to spark a flurry of those, all in the $250-$400 starting range, and some of which went for double those prices in an auction.  I even got carried away once.  Then, I noticed a drop off in interest in those pricey structures for a bit.  Was it just two or three of us building big layouts where those structures would come in handy stopping after we got what we wanted or some other factor that caused the market dip? 

Who knows?  I always love the news talking about "the economy' as if it is just one big thing.  In reality, it is millions of us making literally a collective billion decisions an hour or day about how to spend our money.

[jagged ben]

The definition of worth is the amount of money someone has or will pay for it.  By definition, it can't be "not worth the price" if it sells for that.

...

The point was they will not sell. 

Your post reminds me a bit of how in middle school we got to play 'Lemonade Stand' on the Apple IIe.  At some point me and my friends figured out that the amount you sold was simple algorithm based on the temperature that day and maybe one other variable, and it basically didn't matter what price you set.   If the algorithm decided you could sell $100 that day, you'd sell 50 cups of lemonade at $2 or 2 cups of lemonade at $50.  This was ... not realistic. 

[robertjohndavis]

Back on topic, I tested and examined my ST GP40’s. Final score:

All 10 run great on the test track.

3 of them have crushed handrails from sliding around in the clamshell.

These are beautiful models with no issues I can see other than the packaging.

Rob

[milw156]

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)

Are you looking for DCC ready or analog chassis?

[spookshow]

I got my replacement unit in the mail today. Put it on the rails, gave it some throttle, and it proceeded to derail on a turnout just like my last one. And it looks like the decoder fried in the process, so that was a fun 5 minutes 

Do they all have that giant plastic obstruction attached to the front truck, or is that just a C&NW thing?

-Mark

[MRLX1020]

I got my replacement unit in the mail today. Put it on the rails, gave it some throttle, and it proceeded to derail on a turnout just like my last one. And it looks like the decoder fried in the process, so that was a fun 5 minutes 

Do they all have that giant plastic obstruction attached to the front truck, or is that just a C&NW thing?

-Mark

Giant plastic obstruction attached to the front truck is the Automatic Train Stop trip shoe that CNW used.  That said, it looks to ride lower than the truck frame pedestal - which is correct, but not plausible for N scale...

[spookshow]

According to the scaletrains website, the C&NW units are the only ones equipped with that particular detail ("ATC Pickup shoe on #1 axle, right side"), which I guess explains why I'm the only one complaining 

-Mark

[spookshow]

I bit the bullet and ordered a non-CNW unit just so that I can complete my review. I know, totally stupid, but what can I say? I really want a finely detailed C&NW GP40 with sound and if I have to move a shell from a dud to a different chassis that actually (presumably) runs, well, so it goes.

-Mark