The catalog does not list much in the feature department for the ESS44 dummies, such as lighting, sounds, etc. Anybody operate one of these non-powered units? Standard couplers? Thanks.
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There are no electronic features at all: no lights, no sounds, and standard couplers. (MTH "unpowered" locomotives have some clever lighting features not mentioned in their catalogue. They were a nice suprise, but the American Flyer versions are devoid of any electronics.)
TOKELLY posted:There are no electronic features at all: no lights, no sounds, and standard couplers. (MTH "unpowered" locomotives have some clever lighting features not mentioned in their catalogue. They were a nice suprise, but the American Flyer versions are devoid of any electronics.)
Thank you for the fast info.....I would think lighted number boards at least would be needed. So there is room for a bit of home improvement in there.....
TOKELLY posted:There are no electronic features at all: no lights, no sounds, and standard couplers. (MTH "unpowered" locomotives have some clever lighting features not mentioned in their catalogue. They were a nice suprise, but the American Flyer versions are devoid of any electronics.)
I was disappointed to learn that there were no lights on the ES44 non-powered given the MSRP.
I agree with you on the MTH non-powered F3's. The A unit lighting is great.
The biggest issue with these later non powered diesels is the lack of pickup rollers on the trucks. The price of adding these just about makes it a better idea to buy the powered version maybe used...completely undoing the value of buying a non powered version.
The powered ES44's do not have pickup rollers either. The FlyerChief GP7's have very small pickup rollers for both rails on both trucks but some have reported issues with these hanging up on turnouts.
AmFlyer posted:The powered ES44's do not have pickup rollers either. The FlyerChief GP7's have very small pickup rollers for both rails on both trucks but some have reported issues with these hanging up on turnouts.
Thank heavens! The Flyerchief stuff is in the toy-like category for me (which I definitelt don't disparage and which has a place for me in my enjoyment of the hobby), so I don't mind my GP7 having pickup rollers while running under my Christmas tree, but this would have ruined the scale appearance intended for the ES44's (which I prefer).
I like Mark's suggestion for adding marker lights to the non-powered units. I hadn't considered this for my two, but perhaps I'll add that to my project list.
Its most prominent feature is that it sits there and looks pretty
Very informative Banjoflyer!
