Review of Walthers Mainline SW7/NW2
Jan 21, 2022 18:03:45 GMT -8
Christian, csxt8400, and 2 more like this
Post by edwardsutorik on Jan 21, 2022 18:03:45 GMT -8
My shop dropped the ball on getting me one of these that I pre-ordered. I finally realized they weren't going to come through, and I found one at Yankee Dabbler for $150 plus shipping.
I am soundly roundly impressed.
Walthers is selling a very good model of an as-delivered switcher. No road details. So far, anyway, whoever has been picking the various paint schemes has been quite good at choosing ones that were box-stock at the time.
Now, this isn't EXACTLY true on my UP one. The detailing DOES match the prototype, as delivered, which would be from 1950 to maybe 1955 or so. But the model has aluminum trucks and the non-D.S. road number. That stuff happened AFTER 1955. IF you want the model exactly right, you'll have to paint the trucks grey and do the D. S. road number. Then I think you've got it. Or you can detail the model for "later", which includes a modified rear handrail and frequently number boards. Or accept what you got.
While the UP ones are not quite right, I think others will be. As I said, as-delivered is how they come from Walthers, as far as detailing.
For another example, Walthers is going to do a GN NW2. And, of course, there will be no additional detailing. But it looks to be in the as delivered scheme (GREAT NORTHERN in "Roman" rather than Empire Builder). That one I think will be correct.
Anyway, that's the detailing, paint and lettering variations discussion.
The model itself is great. I found no misalignment or sloppy assembly. The grabs on the side of the hood are wire, not cast plastic. And they managed not to forget the top one, on the roof, as others have done. For twice the price.
The grills aren't see-through. Would'a been nice, but it's OK with me. If I feel brave, I might put a black wash on these and hope it works.
There's a cab interior, but like most or all HO switcher interiors, the floor is raised to clear the drive. a lot, actually. You kinda don't notice though. Especially if you forget to think about it.
The air tanks are full round and have some piping. I do so dislike "half air tanks".
They left off the road initials and number on the front. Weird, and unfortunate. It's on the back of the cab, though. The UP colors look right. The lettering that's there is great.
The teeny number boards in the headlights are illuminated when that particular headlight is lit. Both boards should be lit all the time, or not at all. The boards are "recessed" a bit, I guess so the piece can be slid in from inside. As soon as I figure out how and if, I will have BOTH headlights on all the time, and dim. This will cure the board lighting problem.
The sound is very good. Running is fantastic. GREAT slow speed. Step 1 and you can barely see the wheels turn. This one may be my new best-running champ--fighting it out with the Atlas S-2. It runs MUCH better than my Rapido SW1200, even though they have the same Loksound decoder.
It IS too light. It weighs 8 1/8 oz. The Rapido SW1200 weighs 10 1/2 oz, and the Atlas S-2 weighs 10 1/8 oz. My to do list for this one is figuring out if I can add some weight. ANY weight. The other bad-thing-that-needs-work is the coupler height, one of which is a full 1/16" too low. Yowsah! The other one is, uh, better. Deck height is close to correct, being about .01" too high. And lowering it will only make coupler height worse.
Easy to say now, since I haven't taken it apart to see, but I think those two 'worst" things can be fixed. I still have to decide if I'm going to squint at the paint and lettering error or fix it, and have a 1950-1955 version. Which wouldn't be a bad thing for me.
These models appear to be the most cost effective switcher you're going to see. I'm quite happy with this one. I've ordered a GN one, and intend to get any others Walthers does that fit my needs.
Ed
I am soundly roundly impressed.
Walthers is selling a very good model of an as-delivered switcher. No road details. So far, anyway, whoever has been picking the various paint schemes has been quite good at choosing ones that were box-stock at the time.
Now, this isn't EXACTLY true on my UP one. The detailing DOES match the prototype, as delivered, which would be from 1950 to maybe 1955 or so. But the model has aluminum trucks and the non-D.S. road number. That stuff happened AFTER 1955. IF you want the model exactly right, you'll have to paint the trucks grey and do the D. S. road number. Then I think you've got it. Or you can detail the model for "later", which includes a modified rear handrail and frequently number boards. Or accept what you got.
While the UP ones are not quite right, I think others will be. As I said, as-delivered is how they come from Walthers, as far as detailing.
For another example, Walthers is going to do a GN NW2. And, of course, there will be no additional detailing. But it looks to be in the as delivered scheme (GREAT NORTHERN in "Roman" rather than Empire Builder). That one I think will be correct.
Anyway, that's the detailing, paint and lettering variations discussion.
The model itself is great. I found no misalignment or sloppy assembly. The grabs on the side of the hood are wire, not cast plastic. And they managed not to forget the top one, on the roof, as others have done. For twice the price.
The grills aren't see-through. Would'a been nice, but it's OK with me. If I feel brave, I might put a black wash on these and hope it works.
There's a cab interior, but like most or all HO switcher interiors, the floor is raised to clear the drive. a lot, actually. You kinda don't notice though. Especially if you forget to think about it.
The air tanks are full round and have some piping. I do so dislike "half air tanks".
They left off the road initials and number on the front. Weird, and unfortunate. It's on the back of the cab, though. The UP colors look right. The lettering that's there is great.
The teeny number boards in the headlights are illuminated when that particular headlight is lit. Both boards should be lit all the time, or not at all. The boards are "recessed" a bit, I guess so the piece can be slid in from inside. As soon as I figure out how and if, I will have BOTH headlights on all the time, and dim. This will cure the board lighting problem.
The sound is very good. Running is fantastic. GREAT slow speed. Step 1 and you can barely see the wheels turn. This one may be my new best-running champ--fighting it out with the Atlas S-2. It runs MUCH better than my Rapido SW1200, even though they have the same Loksound decoder.
It IS too light. It weighs 8 1/8 oz. The Rapido SW1200 weighs 10 1/2 oz, and the Atlas S-2 weighs 10 1/8 oz. My to do list for this one is figuring out if I can add some weight. ANY weight. The other bad-thing-that-needs-work is the coupler height, one of which is a full 1/16" too low. Yowsah! The other one is, uh, better. Deck height is close to correct, being about .01" too high. And lowering it will only make coupler height worse.
Easy to say now, since I haven't taken it apart to see, but I think those two 'worst" things can be fixed. I still have to decide if I'm going to squint at the paint and lettering error or fix it, and have a 1950-1955 version. Which wouldn't be a bad thing for me.
These models appear to be the most cost effective switcher you're going to see. I'm quite happy with this one. I've ordered a GN one, and intend to get any others Walthers does that fit my needs.
Ed
