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Post by kcjones on Jul 12, 2024 22:46:41 GMT -8
Usually I'm not one to nitpick. Some errors I can live with. The Rapido B36-7 steps come to mind, but this is seriously wrong. I just opened my new Genesis SDP40F EMD 268, and I noticed two glaring mistakes. First is a bracket or box assembly missing just forward of the dynamic brake grills on both sides. Have no clue what it's purpose is for. Second is the worse. The two vertical grills in the back on both sides are missing. The HEP access doors are still there. It appears that Athearn just took an Amtrak unit and just slapped the EMD paint scheme on it. I could possibly let it slide if this was a regular RTR model, but this is Genesis. This ain't gonna fly. Back to the store it goes.
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Jul 13, 2024 1:08:43 GMT -8
Usually I'm not one to nitpick. Some errors I can live with. The Rapido B36-7 steps come to mind, but this is seriously wrong. I just opened my new Genesis SDP40F EMD 268, and I noticed two glaring mistakes. First is a bracket or box assembly missing just forward of the dynamic brake grills on both sides. Have no clue what it's purpose is for. Second is the worse. The two vertical grills in the back on both sides are missing. The HEP access doors are still there. It appears that Athearn just took an Amtrak unit and just slapped the EMD paint scheme on it. I could possibly let it slide if this was a regular RTR model, but this is Genesis. This ain't gonna fly. Back to the store it goes. Yep, the EMDX model is a stand-in at best. |
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Post by drolsen on Jul 13, 2024 5:14:12 GMT -8
Yeah, unfortunately that was clearly not a “screw up” but a deliberate decision to use the existing model as a stand-in for that paint scheme. There was just no way they were going to tool a separate shell for that unique scheme.
It’s bugged me for years that Athearn (including Genesis) and other manufacturers just paint over the classlights on EMDs that should have plugged or blanked out classlights for later paint schemes. But I know that’s a simple financial decision on their part that it’s not worth the investment. Manufacturers make lots of deliberate choices like that because they know most customers won’t care.
Dave
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Post by kcjones on Jul 13, 2024 8:15:39 GMT -8
I noticed something else missing. There is a roof shield over the rear as well. Reminds me of the snow shields that BN added to their C636’s. I would have no issues if it was a RTR model, but this is supposed to be a Genesis.
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Post by kcjones on Jul 13, 2024 9:04:44 GMT -8
Yeah, unfortunately that was clearly not a “screw up” but a deliberate decision to use the existing model as a stand-in for that paint scheme. There was just no way they were going to tool a separate shell for that unique scheme. It’s bugged me for years that Athearn (including Genesis) and other manufacturers just paint over the classlights on EMDs that should have plugged or blanked out classlights for later paint schemes. But I know that’s a simple financial decision on their part that it’s not worth the investment. Manufacturers make lots of deliberate choices like that because they know most customers won’t care. Dave Ah yes.. But they are tooling up a specific shell for the KCS SD50’s. They were the only ones that had the old style blower duct on them. They’re also doing the gyro light that was unique to the KCS SD50. Somebody didn’t do their homework or are being just plain lazy. |
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Post by 12bridge on Jul 13, 2024 10:23:50 GMT -8
Not trying to justify it, but this is defiantly a case of throwing the paint scheme on a base model.
I could not see them tooling that shell up for literally a one off engine, a short lived one at that that really did not leave LaGrange. I think thats a bit different then tooling a shell for a fleet of SD50's.
What they probably could have done was some extra detail parts that could have been added to atleast get it closer, like the extra intakes (which appear to just be SD40 internal grills), the access door and the shield. It also has Q fans.
I will probably draw these parts up for mine.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 13, 2024 11:32:39 GMT -8
This locomotive never left EMD?
HOW many people want a model of it? And why? What are you gonna do with it?
I cannot see Athearn selling very many of these models. If that's true, then maybe they'd lose money making a "good" model.
I do think they should have noted that the model they were selling wasn't an exact model. Being a "Genesis", and all.
Ed
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Jul 13, 2024 12:06:19 GMT -8
EMDX 268 was the first AC traction motor testbed unit. It definitely left the LaGrange campus. I'd say it's similar to a demonstrator unit, not to demonstrate a locomotive model, but moreso a new technology (AC traction motors). This locomotive was around in the mid 80's as a precursor to the SD60MAC demonstrator. It bounced around between a few railroads and probably made trips to the Pueblo test track too.
I thought about collecting demonstrator units at one point, but when you look at the sheer number of them available in HO, it becomes a huge undertaking. The ones I really want are GM90, 91, and 92. (Sd90mac). Athearn did them as EMDX units with the Electro-Motive star logo, but I would kill for the earlier GM versions. There's a market for demo units, as pretty much all of them have been offered at one point. EMDX 268 is a pretty rare one at that, so it's cool that Athearn thought to make it.
Sure, EMDX 268 is not a perfect model. However, being a one-off testbed unit that was probably modified over its lifetime, I wouldn't expect a lot of the details to be perfect. That's probably not feasible for a plastic model, even if it is Genesis. We are lucky that Athearn has even offered this model as an RTR unit, and also lucky that the detail discrepancies are minor and many can be reworked if desired.
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Post by lvrr325 on Jul 13, 2024 13:51:33 GMT -8
One wonders why they can't make a blank plug for the class light issue. Unless the ring is molded into the shell and they're keeping it on units which had nothing at all there.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 13, 2024 15:07:04 GMT -8
One wonders why they can't make a blank plug for the class light issue. Unless the ring is molded into the shell and they're keeping it on units which had nothing at all there. That won't work for when they're completely removed and bondo-ed over. It's going to depend on just what variation of "removing" you're trying to recreate. Ed |
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Post by kcjones on Jul 13, 2024 19:15:59 GMT -8
Not trying to justify it, but this is defiantly a case of throwing the paint scheme on a base model. I could not see them tooling that shell up for literally a one off engine, a short lived one at that that really did not leave LaGrange. I think thats a bit different then tooling a shell for a fleet of SD50's. What they probably could have done was some extra detail parts that could have been added to atleast get it closer, like the extra intakes (which appear to just be SD40 internal grills), the access door and the shield. It also has Q fans. I will probably draw these parts up for mine. Is that an access door in front of the dynamic grill? From the photos on the web, I can’t tell what they are. Look more like a bracket of some kind. |
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Post by gevohogger on Jul 15, 2024 8:17:09 GMT -8
EMDX 268 was the first AC traction motor testbed unit. It definitely left the LaGrange campus. I'm just going to make sure I'm not modelling the days where it left La Grange. There, problem solved and money saved. |
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Post by jonklein611 on Jul 15, 2024 9:27:38 GMT -8
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Post by tony on Jul 16, 2024 19:17:10 GMT -8
Isn't "Genesis" the code name at the Horizon Helicopter Company that means - Generate More Revenues ?
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Post by snootie3257 on Jul 17, 2024 4:43:25 GMT -8
Unless I’ve missed it, I’ve never heard anyone mention the DDA40X fans on the Genesis model. They have been wrong from day one. They have 9 blade dynamic fans and 10 blade radiator fans. This is just the opposite of what they should be. The only photo I can find that you can see the fan blades of a centennial is in the book “Centennials in Action” by George Cockle. On page 22 is a picture of 6900 that you can see there are 9 blade radiator fans, not 10 blade. I can also count 8 blades of the dynamic fan but can see there is plenty of space for the 2 blades I can’t see. Using Cannon fans as a guide, this would make sense me as that was common practice on locomotives EMD was building at that time. If I’m wrong I’d like to see pictures.
Steve
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Post by sd80mac on Jul 17, 2024 6:11:27 GMT -8
Unless I’ve missed it, I’ve never heard anyone mention the DDA40X fans on the Genesis model. They have been wrong from day one. They have 9 blade dynamic fans and 10 blade radiator fans. This is just the opposite of what they should be. The only photo I can find that you can see the fan blades of a centennial is in the book “Centennials in Action” by George Cockle. On page 22 is a picture of 6900 that you can see there are 9 blade radiator fans, not 10 blade. I can also count 8 blades of the dynamic fan but can see there is plenty of space for the 2 blades I can’t see. Using Cannon fans as a guide, this would make sense me as that was common practice on locomotives EMD was building at that time. If I’m wrong I’d like to see pictures. Steve With how often railroads swapped fans out between units, might it be possible that the above is true for 6900 only? |
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Post by snootie3257 on Jul 17, 2024 9:29:16 GMT -8
Unless I’ve missed it, I’ve never heard anyone mention the DDA40X fans on the Genesis model. They have been wrong from day one. They have 9 blade dynamic fans and 10 blade radiator fans. This is just the opposite of what they should be. The only photo I can find that you can see the fan blades of a centennial is in the book “Centennials in Action” by George Cockle. On page 22 is a picture of 6900 that you can see there are 9 blade radiator fans, not 10 blade. I can also count 8 blades of the dynamic fan but can see there is plenty of space for the 2 blades I can’t see. Using Cannon fans as a guide, this would make sense me as that was common practice on locomotives EMD was building at that time. If I’m wrong I’d like to see pictures. Steve With how often railroads swapped fans out between units, might it be possible that the above is true for 6900 only? Again, using Cannon fans as a guide, there were NO 9 blade dynamic brake fans and NO 10 blade radiator fans. What other open top fan replacement would that have been? Steve |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 17, 2024 11:54:10 GMT -8
Unless I’ve missed it, I’ve never heard anyone mention the DDA40X fans on the Genesis model. They have been wrong from day one. They have 9 blade dynamic fans and 10 blade radiator fans. This is just the opposite of what they should be. The only photo I can find that you can see the fan blades of a centennial is in the book “Centennials in Action” by George Cockle. On page 22 is a picture of 6900 that you can see there are 9 blade radiator fans, not 10 blade. I can also count 8 blades of the dynamic fan but can see there is plenty of space for the 2 blades I can’t see. Using Cannon fans as a guide, this would make sense me as that was common practice on locomotives EMD was building at that time. If I’m wrong I’d like to see pictures. Steve With how often railroads swapped fans out between units, might it be possible that the above is true for 6900 only? EMD radiator fans are AC and dynamic fans are DC, so it's not likely one would be swapped for the other. |
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