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Post by WP 257 on Sept 26, 2014 17:51:07 GMT -8
The Bowser C-636's arrived this morning, and by the time I arrived in the late afternoon, they were very busy picking orders to be shipped. Don't ask me how many got out today, but it looks like a bunch will go out on Monday. Hopefully my photo attachments work here. I bought one Illinois Central unit, because since I was 7 I had always wanted to have one. I'll leave the product review to others. Attachments:
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 26, 2014 17:56:58 GMT -8
P.S. The horns are packed separately for the purchaser to install. Otherwise, this is what it looks like once you remove the two screws that securely attach the model to the clamshell. I did nothing else to it.
I didn't look at the other roadnames per se, but I think those who ordered SP&S in particular will be very pleased as from what I saw the painting looks to be really first rate.
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Post by alcoc430 on Sept 26, 2014 18:01:04 GMT -8
P.S. The horns are packed separately for the purchaser to install. Otherwise, this is what it looks like once you remove the two screws that securely attach the model to the clamshell. I did nothing else to it. I didn't look at the other roadnames per se, but I think those who ordered SP&S in particular will be very pleased as from what I saw the painting looks to be really first rate. See any conrail units? Thanks for posting the photos |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 26, 2014 18:03:00 GMT -8
I believe so, I just wasn't looking for them...was looking mainly for Mexican stuff (including Atlas C40-8's) that just came and went before I could even get there.
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Post by wmcbride on Sept 26, 2014 18:12:37 GMT -8
That's a sharp unit!
Do these have a cab interior? I thought I had an email from Bowser a few months ago that said they would have one but you can confirm it first-hand.
Bill McBride
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Post by alcoc430 on Sept 26, 2014 18:19:04 GMT -8
I believe so, I just wasn't looking for them...was looking mainly for Mexican stuff (including Atlas C40-8's) that just came and went before I could even get there. Thanks for quick response. It is also confirmed on Bowsers facebook. PC, BN, CR BLUE & black, SIXX, NYSW, MK Leasing, Delaware&Lackawanna, demo, and the two abovementioned units. YAHOOEDIT A question on facebook asked what roadnames were included and bowser answered with a link that I didn't realized was for the entire listing of C636s. Now I can't find that facebook question and bowser's response. So I guess Conrail is not included so which means what? January Delivery 2015 at Best? if they are getting made now. The same time as the Conrail Athearn SDP45 are due. |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 26, 2014 18:22:32 GMT -8
Windows are a bit shiny and the cab is rather dark inside--no light bleed as on some earlier releases. There appear to be some kind of partitions inside, but I can't see seats. Sorry not much help, and I'm not into disassembling this one to look, because if/when I do I usually damage something.
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Post by alcoc430 on Sept 26, 2014 18:27:02 GMT -8
I believe so, I just wasn't looking for them...was looking mainly for Mexican stuff (including Atlas C40-8's) that just came and went before I could even get there. Sorry to hear about the c40s but to help ease the pain athearn announced a run of MP15ACs in NdeM |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 26, 2014 18:36:04 GMT -8
Oh, that's ok...I can't possibly afford everything I want...had to choose between last handful of Mexican C-628's they still had and the IC C-636. M.B. Klein still has the C40-8's but I'm tapped out. May still call and layaway a Mexican C-628 first thing in the morning...
May pre-order Athearn NdeM 85' flat cars...
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Sept 26, 2014 21:55:09 GMT -8
Oh, that's ok...I can't possibly afford everything I want...had to choose between last handful of Mexican C-628's they still had and the IC C-636. M.B. Klein still has the C40-8's but I'm tapped out. May still call and layaway a Mexican C-628 first thing in the morning... May pre-order Athearn NdeM 85' flat cars... I've developed a passing interest in the Mexican roads since moving to the Southwest and have picked up the occasional diesel or rolling stock -- there are some really neat schemes, and of course NdeM did have the Baldwin Centipedes so I have a couple of them in the red/yellow/dark green. Also waiting for BLI to cough up the NdeM original scheme they've announced, but the run keeps getting postponed. I am sorry to see the Mexican roads become so consolidated. |
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Post by wmcbride on Sept 27, 2014 10:48:36 GMT -8
Windows are a bit shiny and the cab is rather dark inside--no light bleed as on some earlier releases. There appear to be some kind of partitions inside, but I can't see seats. Sorry not much help, and I'm not into disassembling this one to look, because if/when I do I usually damage something. Thanks. I often have the same problem and things never fit back together the same way. Ha! Bill McBride |
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Post by thb401 on Sept 27, 2014 10:56:49 GMT -8
Thanks for the pics NdeM.
They look great. Have a couple on pre order.
Looking foward to them!
Bill
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Post by markfj on Sept 27, 2014 13:43:50 GMT -8
P.S. The horns are packed separately for the purchaser to install. Otherwise, this is what it looks like once you remove the two screws that securely attach the model to the clamshell. I did nothing else to it. I didn't look at the other roadnames per se, but I think those who ordered SP&S in particular will be very pleased as from what I saw the painting looks to be really first rate. I recall reading that when the first batch of updated C-630s came out, many found the horns loose in the box either from rough handling during shipping or poor glue bonding at the factory. In fact, I just bought a NIB C-630 through and eBay auction that had the horn/bracket assembly loose in the box (and I’m pretty sure the unit wasn’t removed from the factory packaging). So the move to package horns separately might be a “fix” to that problem. Bowser really flooded the market with Alcos, so I’m going to wait my turn to buy one on the cheap. I’m sure there will be plenty around on eBay and in stock at the big online retailers that won’t sell quickly. That’s not a dig on Bowser in anyway; it’s just the reality that we’ve seen a lot of “new” locomotive announcements lately and there are only so many places one can spend their hobby dollars. Thanks, Mark |
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Sept 27, 2014 18:40:24 GMT -8
P.S. The horns are packed separately for the purchaser to install. Otherwise, this is what it looks like once you remove the two screws that securely attach the model to the clamshell. I did nothing else to it. I didn't look at the other roadnames per se, but I think those who ordered SP&S in particular will be very pleased as from what I saw the painting looks to be really first rate. See any conrail units? Thanks for posting the photos |
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Post by carrman on Sept 27, 2014 19:08:17 GMT -8
The Bowser C-636's arrived this morning, and by the time I arrived in the late afternoon, they were very busy picking orders to be shipped. Don't ask me how many got out today, but it looks like a bunch will go out on Monday. Hopefully my photo attachments work here. I bought one Illinois Central unit, because since I was 7 I had always wanted to have one. I'll leave the product review to others. If you don't mind my asking, how'd you get yours so quick? Dave |
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Post by Spikre on Sept 28, 2014 16:55:09 GMT -8
 Dave, just a guess,but think that NdeM actually went to Bowser Friday. a benefit of living somewhere in central Pennsylvania. can also recall the Pennsy license plate slogan , " You Have a Friend in Pennsylvania". today they need one that says "Come to Pennsylvania and see Live Alcos" !! Spikre 
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 28, 2014 16:58:21 GMT -8
Dave--
The Bowser website said they were on the water, and I knew they were coming soon (were due before the end of the month of September depending upon how much time it took to actually clear U.S. Customs--which is always the wild card). I telephoned a friend on Thursday and was told the C-636's were "due to arrive" the next morning--but of course with shipping one can never say for sure with 100% certainty.
So I planned to leave work early on Friday afternoon and arrive there by 4 pm, since I prefer to shop in person when possible.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Sept 28, 2014 17:38:20 GMT -8
I buy a fair bit from TTH, but living in the same state get dinged with tax. So I wind up going out of state. 7% Sales tax adds up in a hurry. I expect everything everywhere will be taxed eventually. Maybe 5-10 years out. Hurts the local guys, buy local when I can. This really is kinda a mess  |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 28, 2014 17:40:54 GMT -8
Spikre--I have indeed seen the live big Alco/MLW's, here in PA, too. They are hard to catch up with on a train, as there are not that many trains on any given day, and sometimes they run during evening hours. The best time is to show up at Steamtown at sunrise, as the mu'd lashups of Alcos will be there idling before they leave for the day. Once they leave, you don't know where they are going for sure, and for homeland security reasons they absolutely will not tell you any information at all.
Tip: To get up close and personal, to be able to photograph just about anything short of climbing on a real live Alco, show up at Steamtown itself. They may be parked right next to the passenger platform, idling away.
The D-L railroad itself has a strict no trespassing policy, and at all times the Alcos at Steamtown are in direct view of the D-L tower. You have to stay off their property. However, since Steamtown itself is a National Park, the D-L people cannot stop you from getting up close and personal on a passenger platform with their Alcos (I still wouldn't advise actually touching them). Also, the admission is free, at least outside...
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Post by carrman on Sept 28, 2014 18:05:23 GMT -8
Dave-- The Bowser website said they were on the water, and I knew they were coming soon (were due before the end of the month of September depending upon how much time it took to actually clear U.S. Customs--which is always the wild card). I telephoned a friend on Thursday and was told the C-636's were "due to arrive" the next morning--but of course with shipping one can never say for sure with 100% certainty. So I planned to leave work early on Friday afternoon and arrive there by 4 pm, since I prefer to shop in person when possible. Makes sense, I'm on the west coast and my local supplier was wondering since his distributors hadn't seen them yet. Thank you. Dave |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 28, 2014 18:12:10 GMT -8
Oh, lol, that was why I said it looks as if a whole bunch will actually go out on Monday. There were a lot of orders picked and awaiting packaging for shipping when I was there. I suspected someone would ask...
They may not be the "prettiest" Alco's ever, but the huge size makes these monsters very impressive on the layout, and I wish I could buy more.
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Post by bnsf971 on Sept 29, 2014 5:01:54 GMT -8
John, have you run your C636 yet? I, for one, would like to know if the gutless motor syndrome has been addressed.
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 29, 2014 9:33:37 GMT -8
There are multiple reasons why I'm not qualified to do a product review here. One being I'm too close to people that work for the company so anything I say could be biased, even though I tend to buy more Atlas diesels myself.
It does have some gear noise out of the box; the gear noise diminishes as you run it in. The engine feels heavily weighted.
I can factually say that the SD40-2 samples Bowser has received already have a new motor in them. I don't know what motor is in the C-636, and neither did my friend (I had asked).
It should be reviewed by someone more impartial than me. YMMV.
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Post by lvrr325 on Sept 29, 2014 10:23:27 GMT -8
Do the Penn Central use the same artwork as the C430s, with the not quite correct lettering?
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 29, 2014 10:52:08 GMT -8
Withers Publishing, in their Alco Century Series Volume 2 book, which I recently borrowed back from the friend I traded it to, clearly states the C-636's were delivered with PC "mating worms" heralds that were unique to that model only. The corners are almost completely squared off.
Beyond that, I have no idea. Sorry not much help.
I don't live in the area and am not privy to the final artwork, though they do contact the historical societies for help.
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Post by thb401 on Sept 29, 2014 11:54:03 GMT -8
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Post by alcors32 on Sept 29, 2014 12:11:06 GMT -8
Does anyone know if the back of the cab on the IC units were painted orange- the sample model had it white. Thanks, Gary |
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Post by icrr3067 on Sept 29, 2014 13:22:58 GMT -8
Does anyone know if the back of the cab on the IC units were painted orange- the sample model had it white. Thanks, Gary Bowser did say that they were going to change it and make it all orange. Don't have one yet to verify if they did make the change. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 14:19:28 GMT -8
While these look very nice, I see a flaw on these. They sit too high on the trucks. There's waay too much space between the truck and the side sill of the loco. Just compare the pic of the BN/SP&S 4363 prototype to the PC 6339 model and you can see the difference, and it's not the angle that the pic was taken at, either. It's very noticable. This will end up being a problem. If you can lower it than the coupler height will be wrong. Boy, manufacturors sure know how to make our day!
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Post by bigblow69 on Sept 29, 2014 15:47:16 GMT -8
While these look very nice, I see a flaw on these. They sit too high on the trucks. There's waay too much space between the truck and the side sill of the loco. Just compare the pic of the BN/SP&S 4363 prototype to the PC 6339 model and you can see the difference, and it's not the angle that the pic was taken at, either. It's very noticable. This will end up being a problem. If you can lower it than the coupler height will be wrong. Boy, manufacturors sure know how to make our day! I agree. I realize compromises must be made but this gap is way too noticeable. |
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