I will echo Uncle Ed's comments. I've also seen an SD70 up close and personal and obseverved it in operation. Operation is far from toylike. It's not you father's, grandfather's or great grandfather's American Flyer. The SD70 is definitely a new direction for Lionel/Flyer.
And remember, we still don't have a operating sample from MTH, but here's someting I found buried deep away, added to their initial announcement about SHS: -------------------------------------- "While some of the M.T.H. S Gauge parts may fit older S Helper items, in some cases modifications to the tools and molds may prevent M.T.H. S Gauge parts from properly fitting S Helper items. For example, an entirely new drive train will be developed for locomotives meaning that motors and trucks on M.T.H. S Gauge locomotives will likely not fit older S Helper locomotives." -------------------------------------- Our little 3/16" world is changing. Rich G(ajnak) --- In [email protected], "Edward Loizeaux" wrote: > > >> Looks like a step backwards to me, much like the twin motored O scale toy > train drives that O scale modelers hate? ....DaveBranum > > > > >> in O scale, the problem isn't the drive > as much as using the wrong gear ratio, so the 3R trains can still run > 150-200 > SMPH like the old Lionel trains did. All depends if you operate toy trains > or > scale model trains. > Butch Holtgrieve > > > > Gents.. > > > > I hate to disagree with a couple of train buddies, BUT the new AF locos by > Lionel will change your minds about vertical motors mounted directly onto a > truck. Lionel's newest creations, the Y-3 and SD70, both have two small > motors mounted directly to trucks. So how do they run? > > > > At the recent O SCALE WEST + S convention, both locos ran on my layout for > the layout visiting tourists. They both operated on DCC. I must say they > ran as well as any other loco S scale has seen to date. They started > smoothly, ran slowly, pulled a lot (heavy weight), and were quiet. Simply > put, I could not find fault with them. The Y-3 pulled about 40 plastic > hopper cars up a grade without breaking a sweat. I suspect another 40 cars > could have been added to the train without much difference. > > > > So why are my experiences so different from those of my buddies? Here are > some clues that may be helpful to others. > > > > 1. When running on DCC, add considerable momentum. With momentum, motor > performance is significantly improved and much smoother - especially at > startup. > > > > 2. Top speed can be limited by a CV setting. The decoder can be instructed > to control the top speed to something very realistic. Not a problem. > > > > 3. Gear ratios are slowly being improved. The first production run of the > U33C had a faster gear ration than the second production run. Lionel moves > slowly, but in the right direction. > > > > If you are even remotely interested in a steady stream of > SSL&S-converted-to-scale locomotives, you should investigate the products > coming from Lionel's factories. In just two short years, Lionel has > released three (count 'em!) newly-tooled locos from scratch - each of which > can either be purchased with scale wheels or converted to scale with some > effort. (Or contact Fred at SSL&S) I hope that MTH can do as well. That > would be super. > > > > To help with your investigation of Lionel locos, the S SIG will soon have > photos and video clips showing the Y-3 and SD70 locos in action. And, a > product review or two are in the works also. All this will be posted to the > S SIG web site when completed and released. > > > > Cheers... > > > > Ed Loizeaux > > Sscale.org > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
