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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 7:51:37 GMT -5
I am going to step out and say that so far there is no threat to knocking the Athearn SD40-2 off the top shelf. Athearn's SD40-2 model is still king.
I do not own an Intermountain SD40-2 nor have I seen one in person. Looking at photos, I can tell it is not well executed. I see shortcuts that have been taken and just plain lazy design.
This is the photo I am using off the IM web site. intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/49320.htm
1. The side frames do not have that heavy look to them nor the depth that the Athearn side frames have. The Athearn side frames still just have that stronger heftier look to them. Do not know what the material is. If Delrin, complete junk!
2. IM put the wrap around portion of the frame that supports the inside traction motor. Completely wrong. Looks very weak and does not at all have the shape it should. Detracts from the model, lazy design.
3. Step wells look weak and from the photos, the inner step well angle does not look correct. It could just be the photos, but it looks to shallow. Sort of on par with how Athearn did theirs to clear the truck swivel. Athearns step wells are not at the correct angle either. IM does appear to have better depth at the top step, but there should not be an opening between the frame and step. The step should flow into the frame with no openings.
4. Fuel tank is OK. Has end sheets. Fuel fill neck is laying to flat. Air reservoirs do not have the correct end shape.
5. Handrails look fairly straight. Not to bad. Definitely better than what Athearn is putting on their models. I could live with the hand rails being slightly oversized as long as they stand up straight and are not wavy.
6. Exhaust stack looks really bad. It appears that they took the design from the N-Scale SD40T-2 and upsized it to HO. Really hideous.
7. Fans as well are really bad looking.
I cannot comment on it dimensionally. But from what I can see, I'll pass on buying any and continue to buy the Athearn improved blue box models or the new Athearn ready to run models. |
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Post by stevef45 on Apr 30, 2014 20:27:37 GMT -5
If these handrails are the same material as the ES44's they will suck more then anything. Those would break if you stared at them long enough and had a mental vision of them breaking. They may be thicker but they are way more fragile.
The trucks are lacking just plain dimension, they look flat looking. The fans are what I would expect on a early 90's blue box kit.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Apr 30, 2014 20:53:39 GMT -5
Only thing Athearn could do is add walkway tread, other than that agree 100% Brian. I have 3 Southern, 2 N&W, 2 Chessie System, and 3 Milwaukee Road units. All run and look great!
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Post by iomalley on May 1, 2014 10:07:22 GMT -5
Well with the abomination that is the SD40-2W cab, the FP7s posing as FP9s...its a wonder they ever strayed from their awesome freight car line. I take it their F7s are good, but I don't run any F units or can garner an opinion.
Even the Kato SD trucks don't look quite right with the mould parting line running right down the middle of the sideframe.
Athearn will retool the SD40-2 line as Genesis, its only a matter of time.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 11:15:51 GMT -5
Well with the abomination that is the SD40-2W cab, the FP7s posing as FP9s...its a wonder they ever strayed from their awesome freight car line. I take it their F7s are good, but I don't run any F units or can garner an opinion. Even the Kato SD trucks don't look quite right with the mould parting line running right down the middle of the sideframe. Athearn will retool the SD40-2 line as Genesis, its only a matter of time. The Kato mold parting line is one thing I never understood. How they make a mold like that. I figure in the next five years we ill see a Genesis SD40-2. I hope it does not take that long, but we'll see. |
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Post by CP_8530 on May 1, 2014 20:04:20 GMT -5
We'll probably end up with a Genesis SD40 before then. There's a bit of a hole in the market in terms of a solid available SD40 now that the Athearn RTR tooling is t!ts-up.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 6:36:58 GMT -5
About a year ago, I heard that Athearn was going to tool an SD38/SD39/SD40/SD45. Now that would be great news. I do not know how true it is, but it put a smile on my face. I do not have any reliable sources on it though.
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Post by railfansd40t2 on May 3, 2014 20:40:04 GMT -5
Wow,
At first when I looked at this I thought it looked pretty good but then I have to say the issue with the trucks is what really jumped out at me even before I read you comment on them. I went back to look at the pictures again after you pointed out the other stuff and yes those things are noticable for sure.
I was always glad that Athearn went to the plastic side frames many years ago because they were easily removed for painting as well as good detail and now I like them even more after you pointed out what you did.
Paulie
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