Product Review HO ScaleTrains GE Tier IV GEVo Locomotives

Product Review HO ScaleTrains GE Tier IV GEVo Locomotives - UP and BNSF

Рет қаралды 10,118

Жыл бұрын

Product Review HO ScaleTrains GE Tier IV GEVo Locomotives - Union Pacific and BNSF
This special product review features 3 locomotives! Two of the units belong to Dan, UP 2571 and BNSF 3804. These models were from a production run in 2017.
The last model, UP 2678, is borrowed, and was produced in 2020.
Dan compares the models and notes some changes that ScaleTrains has made to the Tier IV GEVo locomotives between the production runs.
General Electric's Tier IV GEVo is an evolution of earlier six-axle diesels dating back to the C44-9Ws and AC4400s of the 1990s. They were produced to comply with the EPA's stricter Tier IV emissions standards that went into effect in 2015.
The models represent locomotives that entered service in 2015 and 2016.
Both Union Pacific engines are ET44AH models. UP calls this type "C45AH".
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe unit is an ET44C4, a type unique to BNSF with only four powered axles (the center axle on each truck is an idler).
These powerful engines have AC traction and 4400 horsepower.
The models are no slouches, either, with plenty of pulling power for your HO scale model trains!
As usual, Dan evaluates each model’s packaging, prototype accuracy, paint & detail, and how well it operates and conforms to applicable standards.
If you're a fan of Union Pacific, BNSF, General Electric (or Wabtec), or just like big diesels, be sure to check out this review!
#modeltrains #scalemodels #train #scaletrains #gevo

Пікірлер: 77

@Scaletrains Жыл бұрын

We appreciate the green signal! Thanks for the review. -Drayton

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

You're welcome. Thanks for making great products, and for watching!

@davidallison976 Жыл бұрын

One thing you fail to describe, that Scaletrains locomotives seem to run at the same speed, and makes it easy to consist without speed matching. I have 5 that are closest enough to consist together. Great video, I do understand you can’t cover everything in the time allotted.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

That's an interesting observation. Since I haven't started on my layout yet, I can't really "road test" the models as I hope to do someday. In fairness, I'm not sure I would have noticed that particular trait as I speed match all my locomotives before putting them in service. That is a convenient thing, though. Thanks for sharing!

@j.mcq.8418 Жыл бұрын

I sort of think the out of gauge wheels deserve more of a deduction given the hassle of fixing it.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I suppose I could have taken 5 points for each axle. It was a lot of work to fix just because the tear down for this model is difficult. I was trying to do it without soldering, but it might be better to desolder the wires going to the trucks to make it easier to get them out. Thankfully this seems to be an anomaly. I rarely see gauge problems from ScaleTrains. Thanks for watching!

@randallellison6421 Жыл бұрын

Cool review Dan! I have Scaletrains Tier 4s from each of those eras too (BNSF 3911 arrived in 2018, NS 3664 in late 2019, and KCS 5003 arrived in 2021) all run flawlessly and are extremely efficient pullers, easily able to handle 50+ cars! To be more accurate on the prototype BNSF C4s, they were supposed to have the pulling power equivalent to a C44-9W or ES44DC, however, the crews I've talked to have said this is not the case. From what I've been told, the C4s have a habit of losing traction especially on wet rail, where as the standard ET44AC and ES44AC don't suffer as much from these issues and they are certainly no match performance wise against the SD70MAC and SD70ACe and it also doesn't help that BNSF puts these units on very heavy trains that the C4s aren't really designed for hauling as well!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing the info about the BNSF locomotives. I read a few different and sometimes conflicting stories about how the four axle AC power was supposed to work, which is why I phrased the statement I made the way I did. Maybe it makes sense as a cost cutting move. I didn't quite understand the logic otherwise, and I noticed that none of the other railroads seem to have adopted the idea. Thanks for watching!

@randallellison6421 Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi well, the C4 design is a bit odd, the extra cylinders on each of the trucks lifts the center axle to allow all the weight of the locomotive to be placed on the drive axles, which again, from the crews I've talked to about these locomotives, the design was alot better on paper than it was in real world conditions. It is interesting to watch them if you can catch one starting from a standing stop as you can see the mechanism at work then. That being said, those same crews have said the C4s are excellent at high speeds (55-70mph) and that they track extremely well, it's just at low speed on a stiff grade is where their weaknesses really show up!

@1610nsb Жыл бұрын

Dan, your review format is simply the best on you tube !!! Always look forward to them Thanks 👍👍👍🚂🚂🚂

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I appreciate that! Thanks so much!

@jamtuazon5216 Жыл бұрын

I love your reviews! Despite being harsh in some places I believe that is totally fair given the price per unit. I just bought a ScaleTrains SD40T-2 under the southern Pacific scheme thanks to your review! And it looks amazing! Can’t wait to see more reviews!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you like the review format. ScaleTrains units usually score pretty well. Thanks for watching!

@johnoneill5661 Жыл бұрын

I have several of these models and I love them

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

ScaleTrains has done a great job with these. I like them, too. Thanks for watching!

@mgr_video_productions Жыл бұрын

Nice review! I have a UP ET44AH from Intermountain. One of my favorites locos in my collection.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I have a couple of the InterMountain units as well. I am planning to review those soon. Thanks for watching!

@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS Жыл бұрын

Very nice models !!!!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

They are. Thanks for watching!

@SwindellSteamWorks Жыл бұрын

Another solid review. I actually like seeing "group" reviews. By far the best one was the SD45R group review as that allowed viewers to see the differences first hand between each model. If you happen to have InterMountain's rendition of the UP Tier 4, it'd be cool to see a comparison overview; which one made the better Tier 4?

@hoscalerailfan Жыл бұрын

Jlwii2000 already did a comparison, but what Dan decides to do for content is his choice.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I do have a couple InterMountain units, one UP and one CN, so I am thinking of reviewing those and then maybe doing a comparison review. I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching!

@dave3156 Жыл бұрын

Great review Dan--really nice locomotives! Thanks for including the fix for the BNSF wheel out of spec problem. Agree it could have been made easier to work on! Thanks!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked the review. Thankfully wheel gauge issues are much less common than coupler height issues with ScaleTrains, so hopefully I won't need to do this again anytime soon. Thanks for watching!

@jacobpfeifertrains1998 Жыл бұрын

Ive been in Tehachapi since May 1st. It's truely a great place to railfan. Many good spots from Bakersfield to Mojave to watch trains. Both junctions on either end where BNSF enters are great spots. Scaletrains is one of my favorite manufacturers along with Walthers

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I love railfanning in the Tehachapi area. I've visited several times. There's so many good places to catch trains, and they are often going slow enough that you can chase them. Thanks for watching!

@epacm50 Жыл бұрын

Great and honest review Dan!!! Scaletrains made some commendable improvements over the past five years. I still prefer my Kadee Couplers on these units. I wish you could do another head to head match up on the Scaletrains and the current Intermountain Tier 4's. That was great stuff!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked the review. I have two InterMountain units that are a few years old. I am thinking to review those and then maybe do a comparison. I definitely prefer Kadees also. Thanks for watching!

@jhoodfysh Жыл бұрын

Very nice review Daniel.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

@gacj2010 Жыл бұрын

This was great...love the locos

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

@SGTGhost Жыл бұрын

nice, looking good

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks so much for watching!

@shipbuilding1000 Жыл бұрын

Out of gauge wheels. Sad face. I’ve bought a ton of stuff from ScaleTrains and haven’t gotten any like that so far that I know of…but two of my recent Genesis SD60Ms did come with gauge issues. GEVO’s are a bit modern for me, but I look forward to the upcoming ScaleTrains AC4400’s in SP colors. Keep up the great content!

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I rarely see gauge problems from ScaleTrains, and the other two models in the review were fine in that regard, so I'd say it's pretty unusual. I didn't get any of the recent Genesis SD60Ms. I heard they had some issues. I have several of the SP AC4400s on pre-order from ScaleTrains, so I'll review those when they arrive. Thanks for watching!

@shipbuilding1000 Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi Bearing caps falling off were the widespread issue with the 3-window SD60Ms from Athearn. They did issue a kit to fix that problem but they charged for it, which probably resulted in some sour grapes online. A lot of dealer provided the fox kit to customers without a charge

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info on the SD60Ms!

@FlashJonesTrains Жыл бұрын

Hey great video with lots of info. May I ask what type of video editor you used?

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked the review. I use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit. Thanks for watching!

@stevenikitas8170 Жыл бұрын

The photo-etched grills are fantastic, but the yellow on 2678 is way too faded.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

ScaleTrains does seem to have some issues getting the UP yellow to look right to my eye. I have several of their UP offerings, and I think they're all a slightly different color. To be fair, the UP units I've seen out in the real world vary somewhat, depending on how weatherbeaten they are. Thanks for watching!

@Trainmaster909 Жыл бұрын

I’d love to send you some cool models to review if you are interested. I have a bunch of brass locomotives that are on my workbench backlog that you can look at before I put DCC in them.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

That's a very kind offer. I am interested but I will tell you the same thing I told Mark, that it may take me some time to get to the reviews. Mark loaned me a box of trains toward the beginning of this year and I've done maybe half of them so far. He's mostly storing his trains right now anyway, but I would hate to be in a situation where I'm holding up someone from doing something with a model they want to use. If you're still interested we can talk about it, and thanks very much either way!

@Trainmaster909 Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi Sorry for the late response (KZfaq never notified me), but I am definitely interested. My locomotives rarely get run outside of shows so missing it for a month or two isn’t that big of a deal.

@dalejones3532 Жыл бұрын

Hay Dan what do you think about the UP"S new color they have now .

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I haven't seen one of the new UP paint jobs in person yet. I'm not that crazy about the ones I've seen in photos. Thanks for watching!

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

Is it possible to do out and back on 4x8 sheet

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I'm assuming you mean HO scale. If you want an out and back, maybe something with a small yard and a line that runs around to a reverse loop, so the train comes back to the yard, yes you can. It might be a little crowded on a 4x8 and would require fairly sharp curves, but it could be done. You could also do an oval with a reverse connection that could function like an out and back, but still allow for continuous running. I've seen a number of 4x8 plans like that. There are track planning books, and a lot of plans on the internet, too, which you could use for inspiration. Thanks for watching!

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

Is it better to get cars with metal wheels or plastic ??

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I use metal wheels on all my trains. My experience with plastic wheels is that they are more likely to accumulate a tire of dirt and crud. As they roll around, they spread that crud over the rails, making for poor electrical contact. Metal wheels don't do this nearly as much. They also sound nicer to me. Thanks for watching!

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi Thanks on the wheel advice I’m changing my plastic to metal soon

@MrHunt916 Жыл бұрын

I don’t understand why these “premium” models don’t have wore formed hand rails. Plastic hand rails never stay true and square. I would gladly accept the price increase for metal hand rails.

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I agree completely. Rapido has started using wire handrails, albeit with plastic stanchions, on some models. I made my own handrails for some of my models out of brass wire and stanchions and they are so much more durable. Thanks for watching!

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

Dan how do I get a N scale box car to you I got it by mistake and just would like to see someone put it to good use. And not sit in my garage let me know when you can thanks in advance

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

That's so nice of you to offer. If you email me I can give you a mailing address. dac at dacort dot com. Thanks so much!

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi that e mail comes up not found

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

Hmm... not sure why. It's correct (other than using "at" and "dot"). Not sure what's going on there.

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

@@DanielCortopassi hit my email up

@NYandAtlantic Жыл бұрын

It should be there on Tuesday hope you enjoy it

@thomasharroun8068 Жыл бұрын

A very small percentage of those who buy this locomotive will ever take it appart

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

Probably true. I like to show how to disassemble the model for people who might have bought the DCC ready version and want to know how to open it up to install a decoder. Thanks for watching!

@TobiasL1000 Жыл бұрын

They are so cheap in America….compare this here in Europe with Roco or Märklin….

@DanielCortopassi Жыл бұрын

I don't have much experience with European models, other than a couple Marklin Z steam engines I got to convert them to Nn3. They seem very well made. Thanks for watching!