Hello again folks, welcome to another set of reviews.
Today we have a trio of models, with quite a variety.
Without further ado, let's get started!
Our first subject up for review today is from Athearn, this time an EMD SD40-2.
General SD40-2 History: The SD40-2 has a long, long history, so I'll just give the highlights here. Designed and built by General Motor's Electro Motive Division as part of their SD, or "Special Duty", lineup, from 1972 to 1989, with 3,982 built, the SD40-2 was equipped with an EMD 16-645E3 prime mover, putting out 3.000 HP to two 3 axle trucks. An update to the preceding SD40, the -2 had updated electronics and various other upgrades. It was produced in response to GE's U30C and ALCO's C630, both of which weren't particularly successful, thus the SD40-2 became one of EMD's most popular models, with legendary dependability, and garnering orders from a huge number of railroads, some of who, in turn, ordered huge numbers of them (BN ordered the most, 835!). Still a common sight on railroads of North America today, from the huge Class 1s, to small short-lines, they've mostly been taken off mainline/high-priority trains, but still continue to earn their keep, over 30 years after the last one rolled out of the factory!
Specific Model Prototype History: The Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific ordered 10 SD40-2s, without dynamic brakes (this is important here). CRIP 4790 here was the "Class Unit", or the first unit of the order, built in December of 1973. This model represents it as it appeared upon delivery, though after Rock Island went bankrupt in 1980, it moved on, and has since been Illinois Central Gulf ICG 6040, EMDX 6040, and at last report was working for North Shore Mining as NSM 655.
Info on the box.
Broadside.
And a bag of detail parts (which I personally don't attach, but still appreciate).
And a close up of the only issue I found - a cover over where the dynamic brakes would be (access to DCC here, nice design) that isn't molded quite right. Note the center is flush, but the ends are not - not overly noticeable, but still there.
Now, my opinion -
Good: Looks almost perfect, heavy and (*mostly) sturdy, operates just perfectly, and the DCC and sounds are spot on.
Bad: *flimsy handrails (common with Athearn), dynamic brake cover molding issue.
Overall Build Quality
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paint & Lettering
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fine Details
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ease of Operation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sounds
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall, it's a typically great Athearn model. I personally recommend it - looks good, operates great, and sounds good, too.
Moving on, some British stock, specifically GBRF (Great Britain Railfreight) MJA bogie boxes from Dapol.
A bit of an issue out of the box - a loose axle, but once reinstalled, it hasn't come out again.
And my first encounter with this coupling style...
Which fits in the normal coupler pockets...
From what I understand, this coupler style is normally used in models of freight and passenger cars where it's a long consist of the same or similar car/coach, which are rarely uncoupled, and give a more realistic look. Which it does. I was skeptical at first, but it works fine, and looks nice.
Good: Rolls free and smooth, details/paint/lettering are all great, and they handle in a train perfectly.
Bad: Nothing
If you're looking for modern British freight, I highly recommend these, and honestly, I only got this single 2 pack, but I'd imagine they'd look great in a solid consist.
And lastly today, something fairly different - a Walthers International Workstar.
I got this partly to see what HO scale vehicles were like, and specifically it fits with my work-in-progress scrapyard.
Good: Paint and details are very nice, and the model is accurate to the prototype.
Bad: The frame is flimsy plastic. Now, this is a *model*, not a toy, so the flimsiness is excusable in my opinion, as long as it holds together, which it has. But be aware that it wouldn't take much to snap the frame.
Well, that's it for today, thanks for looking, and if you have any questions, drop them in the comments.
On the MJA bogie boxes - I haven’t ever seen that type coupler either - are they plastic (pliable)?