Model Railroading > ScaleTrains SD40T-2 They have arrived...

The big brown truck dropped off a box of goodies this morning... SD40T-2's from ScaleTrains.com 
These are simply the quintessential SD40T-2 models on the market and probably the best locomotive model yet from ScaleTrains.com The crispness of the tooling is one of the major standouts that give this model such an impressive look. The painting is awesome as is the lettering detail. If you have a good magnifying glass or readers, you can make out what each label says. Even the tool box on the walkway of the firemans side (SP model) is marked. After a close inspection, I found no shipping damage or sloppy applied parts on any of my four locomotives. These models are exceptional.
Operating the models I found they moved ever so slowly on the first speed step of 128. This is largely because of the superior motor control of the ESU LokSound decoder. I turned the master volume of the locomotive down to 25% before even running it on my test track. I have found this setting to be acceptable to listen to from about 3' distance. The sounds of the locomotives sound great as do the appropriate horns. All of my models have multiple lighting functions that are also quite impressive. Both the animated signal lights on the SP and D&RGW models are done quite well, probably the best I have seen on a factory model yet. The class lights can display white, red or green in DCC mode and the number board lights are separately lit. 
I really can't find anything to nitpick on with these models and to say I am anything but impressed is an understatement.
The attached video shows the different lighting effects except the UDE red signal light (I forgot to include that), but it works as well.

Andy 

---

---

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Three more shots with the cell phone...

---

---

---

 Thanks for the quick review and sharp images! Indeed, they look great!!

Those are absolutly gorgeous, the detail looks incredible. Thanks for posting I can hardly wait for my two to arrive. WOW

Very nice.

I have four as-delivered DRGW coming Monday, probably because I pre-ordered later than you. The SP look great too, but couldn't afford all.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/19 16:29 by SPDRGWfan.

I think my biggest complaint (and this goes for all of their engines so far) is the numberboards.  They look to be printed from behind, which gives them a "behind glass" appearance.  Which, if it was a GP9 in the 50s would be one thing.. But it also shows the edges which should be gasketed, as clear, allowing the base color though.  You can see this on the DRGW one.  

Other then that, they look amazing, and I am rather looking forward to mine.  

Those look amazing.How does the rear truck drive ?
Regards,DK

Mine came today as well.  Got home in the evening and it was in the mailbox, and only had a couple of minutes to check it out, but I will check it out at length tomorrow!  Beautiful engine!

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Here's a couple of shots of the SP8307 in and around Dunsmuir in the early 1990's.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

---

---

Those look awesome, right down to the rusty front coupler.  They sound awesome too.  The only thing I see missing in the details is the locomotive assigment underneath the cab, in this case "Los Angeles."

 

I think that came later, not sure, but I think it was early 80's.

where the sp oil and dirt

billmeeker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those look awesome, right down to the rusty front
> coupler.  They sound awesome too.  The only
> thing I see missing in the details is the
> locomotive assigment underneath the cab, in this
> case "Los Angeles."
>
>  

The maintenance homeport and work code lettering under the cab didn’t start appearing until the early 80s, as obsessedfoamer pointed out.  

These sure do loook nice!  Almost makes me want to get back into modeling!  Now we need some CCTX cars for them to pull!

Rob

---

What a great shot, Rob! If you have any more CCTX shots I'd love to see them, especially the 4200cf gondolas.

Coleto Creek coal cars to Texas?  IIRC there were  several types of coal cars on that train, including hi-side coal gondolas as well as the bathtub type.

Cheers, Jim

Managed to get a great photo of a double rotary gondola as well.
Graham.

Looks amazing! Do they have see through photoetched steps per chance?

...of course

---

Thanks and WOW!  I have to start saving now for when the 90's era models hit.

SD40T-2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...of course