|
|
Post by MONSTERRAILROAD on Nov 21, 2014 14:14:46 GMT -8
Well I finally took the leap to pay $205 for a Genesius SP GP38-2. Engine Link The GP38-2 is actually in my top 5 favorite locomotives so decided I will give the Genesis GP38-2 with sound a try. I was not happy (I never am) at plunking down $205 for an engine but I really wanted one. I may even give it a review since it is my first Athearn Genesis GP38-2 model but I have not decided. You see I own two other GP38-2 models. I own a Athearn RTR that I highly detailed, weathered, Soundified and LEDed up and I also own a Atlas Trainman GP38-2 that I did the same too except for the LEDs (Yet). I am hoping that all I will have to do with this new Genesis GP38-2 is add the Monster LEDs, weather it then add the UP patches to it and be done. I know these models have been out for quite some time so I know many of you rich model railroaders own 3, 4, 5 and 8 of these models.  What do you guys think about them? I already KNOW what to expect with the handrails, trust me. I had two Athearn Genesis SP & UP MP15AC models that handrails broke off and bent on both so I was mad! I broke down one and kept the parts and GAVE AWAY the other. They both did not have sound so I did not pay $200 a piece, I paid about $120. Adarius just handled both of them often and every damn detail came off and in short time they got lost. SO I removed the motor, board, trucks on the SP unit and kept them for other projects and the Union Pacific MP15AC I just gave away to some young Model Railroader that wanted it when he saw it at a train show. I told him it had handrail and a few lost detail issues and gave it to him. I am going to try something new before I do anything to the model. I am going to use the "Super Glue" technique to the handrails in hopes that it makes them stronger as I was told last year but we will see. In all honesty it still makes me mad because NO ONE should have to do that on a $200+ engine anyway! |
|
|
|
Post by tankcarsrule on Nov 21, 2014 14:48:18 GMT -8
Two hundred dollars is a lot of money!
Regards, Bobby
|
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Nov 21, 2014 15:16:53 GMT -8
I will have to chime in here. I keep giving Athearn chance after chance with diesels that I really want to own and keep, and the poor quality control of their builder(s) keeps letting me down, whether Genesis or not.
I've developed an interest in first generation Alco roadswitchers, and really really wanted to own one of the Reading green and yellow RS-3's, especially since Athearn's photo looks just, well...drool.
Ordered one from MBK (they still had 3 in stock). It arrived with I have to say nearly Genesis level details--correct horns and placement, correct for roadnumber headlight placement, metal grabs, stunning paint, even really outstanding handrails--and a horrible glue mark down the engineer's side between the long hood and the walkway, and subsequent poor masking of black paint resulting in black paint up into the yellow area, where it kinda stands out. (Yes I know the real things leaked oil like a sieve, but if the model is in fresh paint I don't really want it to look like that). Checked to see if I could remove the excess glue, and it was not the water soluble variety. Returned model to MBK, no problem there. (Think my return rate is up to all of 4 returns in more than 100 orders from them, so I don't usually return stuff).
Checked local train store--they had one--same problem, same side, just not as bad.
Contacted one member of this forum to see if I could acquire an older Atlas (admittedly not as nice of a model as the Athearn) 2006 run green and yellow Reading RS-3 from him, and found out his Athearn Reading RS-3 had a significant defect where one of the trucks practically fell out of the model upon removal from the box, and he found an unthreaded screw that was part of the problem.
So--that makes 3 for 3 questionnable Athearn Reading RS-3's of the ones I've personally seen or spoken to the owner, which leads me to ask: Do they never look at anything that comes in? I really wanted a recent Santa Fe GP-50 from Athearn, looked at several in the store, and all had issues that made them completely unacceptable. I never bought one.
My "luck" with Genesis units is no better than with RTR units. Have tried plenty of both.
YMMV.
P.S. The recent Athearn Interstate RS-3's I saw in person weren't so hot either. That's why I didn't buy any of them (but someone did, one shop I know sold several mail order--a real stack of them).
I sincerely hope Al is happy with the SP unit. I did see some of those, from the run a year ago or so, that were indeed awesome. All the ones I saw from that run were acceptable to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by wmrdgfan on Nov 21, 2014 16:03:56 GMT -8
Hope they get the color right... I'm still miffed about the color of the LV units from last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChessieFan1978 on Nov 21, 2014 16:31:35 GMT -8
Hope they get the color right... I'm still miffed about the color of the LV units from last year. Athearn rep at the NMRA show in Cleveland told me they were supposed to correct the color of the LV units and offer a trade in. Still waiting! |
|
|
|
Post by eh49 on Nov 21, 2014 17:42:04 GMT -8
Al, I don't think I would ever let a young child Handel a $200 dollar locomotive. Get some more sturdy, less detailed models for him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Paul Cutler III on Nov 21, 2014 18:04:54 GMT -8
Do they look at every item that comes in? I'm guessing no. Think about it. If a typical run is 5000 units, and it takes a person here in the USA 5 minutes to take one out of the case, open the box, remove the packaging, look it over, put it on the track, run it back and forth, then put it back in the packaging, back in the box, than back in the case, that's 25,000 min. spent going over and testing each loco. That's 416+ hours of work, or over 10 weeks at 40 per for one person. Even at California minimum wage of $9.00, that's almost $3800 in labor. It's far cheaper (and faster) just to ship it, and then handle any customer problems if they crop up.
wmrdgfan,
For NH models, the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association created color chips from DuPont paint codes. Athearn has a set, and they've used it for every NH product they've made since. Has the Anthracite group done something similar? That'd be one way to stop the "wrong color" problems.
|
|
|
|
Post by MONSTERRAILROAD on Nov 21, 2014 20:16:49 GMT -8
Al, I don't think I would ever let a young child Handel a $200 dollar locomotive. Get some more sturdy, less detailed models for him. 2 things: Adarius actually handles all my models extremely well considering he is now 4 and he has been handling the new Spring Mills Depot PD3000 covered hoppers for a week without any issues. #2 Adarius actually handles my $750+ Overland models the most because they are heavy and very sturdy for anyone to handle. I have never worried about those models but any Athearn is a problem to even grown ups like me. OMI is the models I taught him how to properly handle to get him trained on how to hold, pick up, move and carry the models. That boy is good, Athearn models are not. The issue is Athearn not Adarius. Just ask anyone about their details falling off, handrails breaking, glue residue and running issues. So the problem with those two models were manufacture issues. I even did a fair review of the new Athearn CP ES44AC that had similar issues. So I worry about the new GP38-2 holding up to regular handling by me. |
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Nov 21, 2014 21:30:31 GMT -8
Oh, I never said I expected them to look at every locomotive, and I didn't need the math illustration to know no manufacturer can realistically afford that (not even with brass, unfortunately--those importers never had the staff to look at each one).
However, spot checking a few might actually be a good idea.
In my experience, when there's a problem, it usually affects many units of a given run--and yes, other product runs, even other roadnames of the same model made at the same time (perhaps a different day of the week?) might actually be wonderful.
In all fairness to Athearn, I have experienced issues with other manufacturers' products--but not to quite the same degree. My 3 other returns to MBK were: a defective Rapido passenger car, a Walthers/Proto SD45 (bent frame and low front pilot practically dragging on the rails) which was promptly replaced with a gorgeous Proto GP30, and the infamous ExactRail Chessie covered hoppers in the very incorrect bright yellow paint (which I might not have caught save for folks on these forums, but quickly returned).
Maybe Atlas, Intermountain, etc. don't always offer the plethora of correct road specific details of Athearn, but I have far better fortune (receiving models that are generally acceptable in appearance) from them.
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Nov 21, 2014 23:35:28 GMT -8
Al, I think you'll be happy but not surprised either because of athearns history.
I bought my first genesis gp38-2 a few months back and was pleased.. Great runner over all with only a few places of glue residue which came off with a toothpic..then I bought a gp50 and this one was spotless but ... Yep and I take the blame the snow plow caught one of my turnouts and from impact I noticed I lost a mu reseptacle??? Weird..
I have leds made up as well and waiting for the day to do the upgrade but Leary of the factory ditch lights.. I like to see how you do yours.. If you don't mind.?
My son was 4 when he took interest in trains and after seeing how he took care of his Disney cars collection I never worried about him mishandling my trains. This kid got a new Disney car every time one came out or I actually found the really hard ones and he would just open them up take the card out look car over and put them in a display case. So he understood trains although not cars were fragile and treated them with not a mishap unlike his father lol..
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Nov 22, 2014 6:06:11 GMT -8
I have saved up some cash to get several GP40-2's coming soon, one of them will be sound unit so hopefully it will go well.
|
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Nov 22, 2014 7:40:52 GMT -8
Some kids actually are very good with handling trains. I was at 5...and the live steam guys trusted my 3 year old with $3000 engines, because they knew he would get up close to them in utter fascination, but never touch.
I only ever dropped and trashed one engine in my life, an Atlas Reading C424. All the rest were very minor cosmetic wreck damage...
|
|
|
|
Post by marknycfan on Nov 22, 2014 10:49:51 GMT -8
Do they look at every item that comes in? I'm guessing no. Think about it. If a typical run is 5000 units, and it takes a person here in the USA 5 minutes to take one out of the case, open the box, remove the packaging, look it over, put it on the track, run it back and forth, then put it back in the packaging, back in the box, than back in the case, that's 25,000 min. spent going over and testing each loco. That's 416+ hours of work, or over 10 weeks at 40 per for one person. Even at California minimum wage of $9.00, that's almost $3800 in labor. It's far cheaper (and faster) just to ship it, and then handle any customer problems if they crop up. And how many units get damaged by that QC person handling it? It's the risk we take demanding better detail. I guess I'm the luckiest modeler there is, I have never received a bad Genesis or RTR Athearn product. |
|
|
|
Post by bar on Nov 22, 2014 12:10:43 GMT -8
Maybe try silicone to glue then handrails, it is flexible. Used it to attach etched roofwalks.
Al, can I have the loco if you decide to take a chainsaw to it?
|
|
|
|
Post by MONSTERRAILROAD on Nov 22, 2014 12:33:06 GMT -8
Maybe try silicone to glue then handrails, it is flexible. Used it to attach etched roofwalks. Al, can I have the loco if you decide to take a chainsaw to it? LOL. Funny part is I decided I will likely do a quick review of it considering all the other issues in the past, and it got me thinking too, If it just turns out to be a mess, well DEWALT will be on stand-by. |
|
|
|
Post by wisconsincentral on Nov 22, 2014 12:48:28 GMT -8
I recently ordered two Athearn SD40T-2 DRGW from EngineHouse services. The hobby shop checked the engines for any parts missing or breakage. This was done before it was sent to me. Thank Engine House Services for doing Quality control. They are awesome.
Scott
WC Fan
|
|
|
|
Post by TBird1958 on Nov 22, 2014 13:06:47 GMT -8
I have saved up some cash to get several GP40-2's coming soon, one of them will be sound unit so hopefully it will go well.
I noticed last month that Athearn had shots of the actual models - they're sharp! Hopefully soon too. |
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Nov 22, 2014 13:51:35 GMT -8
And how many units get damaged by that QC person handling it? It's the risk we take demanding better detail. I guess I'm the luckiest modeler there is, I have never received a bad Genesis or RTR Athearn product. Noted. I personally am fine with something slightly less than Genesis detail (but more than Trainman) if the quality is there, but I must be in a minority. |
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Nov 22, 2014 17:26:24 GMT -8
The sound quality on these is top notch (no pun there).
I am not usually a sound guy, but I heard these at an open house and was impressed.
$205 is a healthy discount off MSRP.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigb6flyer on Nov 22, 2014 20:40:53 GMT -8
I've been impressed with the last several Athearn Genesis SD70ACes I've gotten. The details seem way less fragile and stay on the model than on their first run. They are very nice looking and running models.
Brad
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Nov 22, 2014 21:27:17 GMT -8
The GP50 and GP38-2 sound seems much improved over previous Genesis offerings. I still think the Tsunami horns are inferior to what Loksound offers.
The recent Genesis SD70M-2 I purchased has very nice sounds. Even the horn was a bit better.
Bill McBride
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Nov 23, 2014 6:40:31 GMT -8
I don't have multiple brands of sounds right now, but I've read that QSI had superior horns and not so good engine sounds, but the opposite has been reported to be true of Tsunami. Hopefully I'll be able to compare fairly soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Nov 23, 2014 7:46:38 GMT -8
I don't have multiple brands of sounds right now, but I've read that QSI had superior horns and not so good engine sounds, but the opposite has been reported to be true of Tsunami. Hopefully I'll be able to compare fairly soon. I don't have any QSI sound that's newer than two years and I always thought it horrid. The engine sounds like some kind of vacuum cleaner/auxiliary power turbine that just whines more loudly as it "revs" up. I also thought their horns were weak/thin sounding. It doesn't help that most manufacturers use less than quality speakers (Intermountain ES44's (at least the original run -- don't own any new ones; Genesis GP9's (Genesis GP50s and GP38-2s were a lot better). For a time I thought the poor horn sounds in Tsunami (save the F7's) were the result of the speaker. But even using a baffled, hi-bass speaker they still sounded thin. The best diesel sound right now, across the board, IMO, is loksound. Bill McBride |
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Nov 23, 2014 7:48:26 GMT -8
Hope they get the color right... I'm still miffed about the color of the LV units from last year. I was too and I'm not a color fascist but it just looked really weird even given the wide disparity of LV "red." I sent mine back for a refund and bought a Bowser C430. Bill McBride |
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Nov 23, 2014 7:48:29 GMT -8
How has the prime mover sounds proved? Tsunami hasn't made a new sound file in decades???
Or are we talking about improved speakers and sound outup ?
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Nov 23, 2014 8:47:04 GMT -8
The QSI I have are more than two years old - Two Atlas sound GP40-2's and a F7AB set from Proto 2000. Since cost is a major factor for me, I've generally gotten silent HO diesels except for the above - I haven't installed any sound to silent diesels yet. I am planning on getting a Genesis GP40-2 with sound so that will be my first in a few years. If/when Athearn offers the new SP SD40, I may try one of those with sound too.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Nov 23, 2014 9:05:01 GMT -8
All I know is the Athearn Geep's I heard sounded very good.
Far better than the old QSI Dustbuster noise.
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Nov 23, 2014 13:33:01 GMT -8
How has the prime mover sounds proved? Tsunami hasn't made a new sound file in decades??? Or are we talking about improved speakers and sound outup ? They've done something with the notching, at least on my recent SD70M-2. The engine actually revs up as the engine moves as opposed to my earlier SD70ACe's which didn't. It may be different programming of the sound and, perhaps, better speakers/speaker arrangement/baffling. I think the Tsunami 567 sounds are very good in Genesis models as long as you use that old-school horn. Any 3-chime horns just sound thin to me. I have taken to buying non-sound Genesis units and adding LokSound Select Direct sound boards to them. It comes out about the same price (mom-sound units $99-$109 + Loksound at $79 plus a speaker at about $10) but the sound seems better. Bill McBride |
|
|
|
Post by MONSTERRAILROAD on Nov 23, 2014 15:31:51 GMT -8
I really like Tsunami sound a lot but I have heard Loksound decoders and I really really like their sounds. They are both great decoders and the best one really is like comparing the better truck, Chevy vs. Ford. BMW vs Mercedes. Which one is better? BMW of course!! But that is just my opinion. Both sound decoders are great and ONLY GETTING BETTER YEAR AFTER YEAR!!
|
|
|
|
Post by bigblow69 on Nov 23, 2014 17:12:44 GMT -8
Can't say whether I prefer the sound produced by Tsunami FDL or EMD, both sound pretty good to me. I must have 30 Tsunami equipped loco's. I have two Atlas QSI's which sound horrid. They will be gutted and Tsunamized. I have one Lok sound possibly a few more with the Bowser SD40-2 once released. I usually mute them anyway as the become tiring on the ears at full bore.
I do have a question for all out there that are engineers. I have my Tsunami's programmed that when I hit dynamic brakes the engine will wind down to idle and eventually the dynamic braking will turn on(AC4400's Gevo's and EMD's). Is this correct? Someone told me GE's stay at full throttle.
|
|
What do you guys think about them? I already KNOW what to expect with the handrails, trust me. I had two Athearn Genesis SP & UP MP15AC models that handrails broke off and bent on both so I was mad! I broke down one and kept the parts and GAVE AWAY the other. They both did not have sound so I did not pay $200 a piece, I paid about $120. Adarius just handled both of them often and every damn detail came off and in short time they got lost. SO I removed the motor, board, trucks on the SP unit and kept them for other projects and the Union Pacific MP15AC I just gave away to some young Model Railroader that wanted it when he saw it at a train show. I told him it had handrail and a few lost detail issues and gave it to him. 
