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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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2
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2158
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Sat May 19, 2012
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$189.95
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8.0
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Description:
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OK wannabe U-50 owners, here's a short review:
I just finished installing a decoder in my model. Just a DH-123 since I intend to install a Tsunami eventually, so a basic 2 function is good enough for testing.
Nice big brass model quality box, and the usual plastic inner sleeve.
The rear ladders and the bell are in a small parts bag inside the sleeve.
There are four phillips head screws on the bottom between the forward and rear truck pairs. Remove these and the shell comes off. Do it gently, as the detail parts are press fit and you can knock them loose if you get ham handed.
The light package leaves much to be desired. The lights are dim. I will discard the factory light boards when I do the sound install. The factory board is equipped with the customary socket for the 8 pin plug and the 9 pin JST harness with dummy plug. I always pick the 9 pin when using these boards. YMMV. I had a dickens of a time getting the shell back on. After a few aborted tries and some cussing, I figured out that the front blower housing had split apart slightly and was fouling one of the metal screens in the shell. The metal screen didn't pop off though it should have. I think the detail assembly quality is getting better. I managed this install as well as the Genesis GP-9 decoder installs without breaking anything!
With the shell back on I attached the bell. This is a metal part going into the metal chassis. ACC is necessary. The rear ladders are press fit items, as are the front ones. You could glue them, but I don't recommend it. I knocked one off twice during handling. The running gear swings wide and can catch on them and pull them off. Look out for this when handling the model.
The motor was a little noisy on DC, and quieted right down once the decoder was installed.
I intend to test it at the club tonight and will follow up with those impressions, pulling power, and maybe a photo or two if I remember the camera
There is no minimum radius information on the box or the instruction sheet. I would not try less than a 30" minimum radius with this big honker, but for you adventerous types who insist on forcing the big stuff around 18 and 22" radius curves, you will want to watch the bell and those rear ladders. They might foul the running gear.
The model is equipped with knuckle spring McHenry couplers. I removed these and replaced them with Kadee Whisker Springs. I use the standard head, not the smaller one, as I am an operator first. The 158's smaller knuckles look nice, but on long cars and locos they can be very sensitive to elevation changes, and are not very forgiving of less than perfectly correct coupler heights. In a club environment, less hassle is better!
Nice model for the bucks. I have heard one with the Tsunami installed, and I have to tell you, the U50 begs for sound. If you can't afford a pair, they can be paired with anything bloody nose, or even F's. I've seen lots of prototype photos with cabless DD-35's. GP-35's would work or maybe a tunnel motor.
Enjoy!
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Keywords:
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Athearn's new GE U50 diesel |
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Engineer
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Posts: 1,580
Registered: July 2006
Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Author
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Espeefan
Engineer
Registered: July 2006
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 1580
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Review Date: Sun October 16, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $189.95
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Nice detail for the money, good performance !
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Cons:
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Lighting could be better. same problem as the turbines
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OK everyone, here's a follow up. After some run sessions with it, I'm happy with how it performs. I managed to get 25 cars up a 2% grade with it, which is actually pretty good for any single loco on our layout. Don't forget this thing has one motor and only two of the four trucks are powered, so as big as she looks, she's still just one loco! The SP had three of these, so they just about never ran them in pairs (at least I have not found photos of any) I found an Atlas GP-38-2 that looks good with it if I need any extra oomph. One other thing: This thing is FAST! it accelerates quickly, and did not run well out of the box with anything else I had available, so if you want to match her up with anything else, you'll need to do some speed matching with your other power. A friend at the club bought a pair of UP models, and installed sound. He used the Tsunami FDL-16. A dual prime mover version of this decoder is in work and we should see it soon. One other thing: I had recommended not gluing the ladders to the shell. After some time handling the model, I've changed my mind. I would definitely glue them. I have had one pop off the shell several times during routine handling, even when being careful, and they're easier to lose than you might think! Glue them and then handle the model carefully when transporting it.
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Alan
Modeling Espee on the Coast and in steam
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sd24b
Conductor
Registered: May 2009
Location: colorado
Posts: 161
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Review Date: Sat May 19, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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cheaper than brass and runs better
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Cons:
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only 2 trucks powered. dim lights.
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I have the UP version. Tractive effort a little better than the turbines. And like Espeefan, found the lights dim. Rear light wasn't connected. Pulled 26 cars (40 & 50') up 2% grade on 36"rad. curve. Could not find pics matching the location of one of the rerail frog as on the engine. I ran my unit with Walthers RS27, Life-Like P2k GP9BM, Stewart U25B, and FRP GP9A & B on DC without problems. Phil
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