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For what it's worth, the end steps were apparently different on SD7 units, than on the SD9 units. It is also pretty difficult to find accurate photos of SD7, and/or SD9 units with "original" steps, since the FRA mandated "side footboard" requirement of the 1970s. As a result of that FRA mandate, any and all SD and GP units HAD to have their side steps modified in order to comply with the FRA "side footboard" mandate.

DaveJfr0 posted:
Laidoffsick posted:

Plucking then off is real easy 

Yes, it surprisingly was too easy to take them off, but cleaning up the residue to the point of where it looks factory new may be tough for some of Scott's customers. I am lucky that these units were not considered brand new in my modeling era.  Does anyone know if Goo-gone takes off paint?

Two words: Scalecoat Paint. Goo gone might attack the paint. You might want to try 1000-1200grit wet/dry sandpaper (wet) on a coffee stirrer to gently sand off the residue, then touch up the paint if necessary. That's what I use to remove/change numbers on MTH locomotive shells. If I ("Mr 10-thumbs") can do it, anyone can.

Last edited by AGHRMatt

Well,  since I purchased 3 of these-2 B&LE SD9's and 1 DMIR SD9- all 3 rail models,   I may as well chime in with my observations on my particular models.  (your engine/engines may or may not have correct details to your particular roadname).   Overall,  mine are great looking models and I'm glad that I purchased them.   I'm not going to post pictures as Dave has already posted videos of both of his B&LE and DMIR  engines in operation.   I have not operated mine as of yet.   As far as the details-the biggest thing that I noticed immediately at the front of all my engines is the bracket for the bell mounted on the high,  short hood is completely wrong.   Every photo of every B&LE/DMIR high hood SD9 that I have looked at from the 1960's through the 2000's(including my own books) shows the bracket being welded/fabricated solid plates on both sides,  top,  and rear,  not the 2 arms sticking up with the bell hanging between them that came on my engines.   So I'm disappointed with that.   The other item,  which has already been mentioned in this thread,  is the number/positioning of the steps on the four corners of the engines.   On my particular model roadnames,   from many prototype photos,  there appears to be a step missing.   There should be 5 total steps on mine(counting the deck as the top step).   So,  on the models,   where there appears to be a large gap between the first and second step as has been mentioned earlier in this thread,  on my models,  another step should be added between the first 2 existing steps,  closing the gap and adding the missing step at the same time.   Again,  these are observations on the B&LE/DMIR models.   Anyone else who has these-what do you think?

Nick  

The discussion of engine/road-specific details made me thing of what happens to locomotives over their service lives -- they get modified/wrecked/repaired/upgraded. The reason I mention this is because if you look at an as-delivered photo of a locomotive and compare it to the last [known] photo before retirement/scrapping, they can appear completely different. Examples of things that happen include:

  • Relocation of bells
  • Relocation of horns
  • Rebuilds/upgrades that impact the exterior. Don't get me started on CF7's and SD45B's.
  • Addition/removal/relocation of lights (you find a lot of ATSF diesels with the headlights relocated from the top of the cab to the end of the short hood with a cover plate where the lights used to be)
  • Cab changes (there are a lot of GP7's/GP9s in service with chopped noses or outright replaced cabs). Look up the original "Beep" on a Santa Fe site.
  • Truck change-outs. Santa Fe had a C-30 that had a mixed pair of trucks.
  • Addition of roof-top AC units.

The changes aren't necessarily to a specific model, but may apply to a single locomotive during its lifetime.

As to color, lighting when the photo was taking, exposure, paint fading, dirt/weathering, etc. can influence what you see. Don't get me started on CNW Zito Yellow.

I think 3rd rail did a great job on the units and the fact they've even gone for road-specific details is a big plus. Even MTH has done that one some models like the GP38-2's, but nobody's perfect.

Looking at the step issue now. I will review it with our design team and see if we can make some castings of this step, or an etched plate to show the additional step on the models. Sorry guys. Had many people looking at these drawings and no one spotted it. There is always something.

Scott Mann - China

In 3 Rail: If you have low speed jerky performance, try turning off the SPEED CONTROL.

[AUX1],[0], [AUX1], [0], [BRAKE] - 32 Step Speed Control
[AUX1],[0], [AUX1], [0], [BOOST] - 100 Step Speed Control
[AUX1], [0], [AUX1], [BRAKE], [7] ,[BRAKE]- Speed Control Turned OFF
[AUX1], [0], [AUX1], [BRAKE], [9] ,[BRAKE]- Speed Control Turned ON
For more information on Electric Railroad: www.electricrr.com

     Received my Milwaukee SD7 and CNW SD9 Monday and I think they're terrific.

     The step issue doesn't bother me, didn't even notice it, but I understand how others would feel differently,

     I did have trouble with one unit stuttering around and discovered the electrical wipers on the wheels were not making good contact.  A small tweak with needle nose pliers fixed it right up.

     Really like the sound of the horns and maybe someday will add tmcc to take advantage of the other sounds and maybe a better cruise function.

     All in all I think Scott and the crew did a great job.

                                                                                Dan

     Before I go, would putting in a battery do anything for conventional running?

Hot Water posted:
GG1 4877 posted:

Some crappy cell  shots of my Demo SD7. I'm thrilled with it.

tmp_30143-20161130_191304500904314

Well I'll be darned! I didn't realize you guys were going to produce BOTH road numbers of the EMD demonstrator units. I would have preferred the 991, as it was the "east coast" demo, while the first unit, the 990 went west. Guess I'll stick with the 990, that arrived two days ago.

Jack, I thought you knew?  If you want to do a trade, I'm not concerned on the number.  Just send me a note!

And.... on the SD9s the 2nd step is too high. That was a factory error, design and our revierers got it right. We will make new steps (the individual step that one can glue in). The step section on the pilot is part of the pilot, all soldered together. That's what I know. Scott - China
sdmann posted:
And.... on the SD9s the 2nd step is too high. That was a factory error, design and our revierers got it right. We will make new steps (the individual step that one can glue in). The step section on the pilot is part of the pilot, all soldered together. That's what I know. Scott - China

I was looking through the drawings to find one the same as built and they all looked correct to me.   What is strange is the exact same thing happened to Atlas on the GP60s.

Hot Water posted:
GG1 4877 posted:

Some crappy cell  shots of my Demo SD7. I'm thrilled with it.

tmp_30143-20161130_191304500904314

Well I'll be darned! I didn't realize you guys were going to produce BOTH road numbers of the EMD demonstrator units. I would have preferred the 991, as it was the "east coast" demo, while the first unit, the 990 went west. Guess I'll stick with the 990, that arrived two days ago.

Wwwhhhhhaaaaattttt!  I remember noting at the time that there would be 10 of each number.  To make it easier to make the minimum I hoped demo fans would order both numbers; like me .

suzukovich posted:
David Minarik posted:

Anybody have jerky low speed performance?

 

 

Funny thing. On a whim I oiled with Labelle the axles where they met the side frames. Ran for awhile. This morning  when started up, in 128/100  There was no jerking of the SP SD9/7 lash up at 1 Smph.  Still had slight issue in revers with the SD7 which is the trailing unit. Will oil it again and see what happens.

Last edited by suzukovich
rdunniii posted:
sdmann posted:
And.... on the SD9s the 2nd step is too high. That was a factory error, design and our revierers got it right. We will make new steps (the individual step that one can glue in). The step section on the pilot is part of the pilot, all soldered together. That's what I know. Scott - China

I was looking through the drawings to find one the same as built and they all looked correct to me.   What is strange is the exact same thing happened to Atlas on the GP60s.

What was the issue with the Atlas GP60 steps, I have a CSX 2rail version and have never picked up on a step problem, just curious.

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