Super. An incredible locomotive. I like all of the Union Pacific turbines, the Verandas, the coal turbine, and the double cab unit, but the 8,500 horsepower "Big Blow" is my favorite. My railroad, think Colorado & Southern meets Denver & Rio Grande Western, will probably never own a turbine, unless I find a deal, but it would be nice to watch one of these locomotives hauling a mile long freight train over the mountain passes and through the tunnels on my layout. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.
This is the absolute model to have if you’re looking to get a Turbine. I would absolutely to have a rendition of the Coal Turbine. The brass models that came out about a little over a year ago are astonishing. Sometimes ScaleTrains will have some decent prices on these. The Rivet Counter versions of these are great too and are at a more attractive price. I hope you get to have one of these one day. Thank you for watching!
I bit the bullet and bought the Rivet Counter version of the Big Blow from their first production run and I didn’t regret it. I can tell you that for some reason, the lead truck on the A unit seems to not being equally weighted by the model so in rare instances the lead axle will pick through a switch. I added some lead weight to improve the weight distribution and it works fine, no more derailments since. So if someone is selling you a used one, inquire about this and test run it through a section of curved track that has a couple switches since this is where mine and a friend at the club had issues. Some modelers are dumping their first run units for newer ones so don’t overpay friends, hope this helps someone. I think you’d agree with me that quality models like this one is similar to owning precious metals, these don’t seem to go down in value unless there’s major shift in the hobby. Kevin, San Antonio, TX.
Have you checked the wheels on the front truck with a gauge? Maybe they are out of gauge. I’ll keep an eye out if decide to buy second hand. Thank you for the info. I think this statement will help others in the future with purchases. I agree with you that these hold their value. Thank you for watching!
@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest Yes sir, the wheel gauge was the first thing I checked but then I ran the locomotive without any rolling stock attached to better isolate the issue and it was clear. Scale Trains does know about this issue and will repair any units that have this issue, that said, I’m not sure if they still will since it’s been 7 years since I got mine. It has something to do with how the truck assembly is balanced at the pivot point. Just keep the gears well lubricated and it’ll last nearly forever but NEVER use anything but silicone oil and grease.
I originally deleted what i was going to post but, i looked at somebody else's turbine and i had to say some thing. This guy had some quality control issues with his model. I just purchased two SDL39's and they had quality control issues as well. For the title Museum Quality and the price we've paid i was expecting better quality control standards. just like him i give and 8 out of 10.
I am aware of the difficulties that others have had with their models. I agree, we are paying a lot of money for these models and there probably shouldn’t be any issues, but it’s going to happen. It is what it is. Every manufacturer has their own issues. No manufacturer is perfect. With the SDL39s; it’s an easy fix and it’s not like the 4 MTH SD70ACes that I had to return multiple times due a short and bad motors or something that I wasn’t able to fix easily. Even when they were returned they were still not operating correctly. Even with all Athearn Genesis handrails that were wavy for years and the Genesis Tri-clops truck issues. It’s going to happen. It doesn’t matter how good the quality control is. The best thing that I can take from all this is that ScaleTrains provides great customer service. They quickly addressed the issue with the SDL39s and provided parts to fix the issue and provided customers free postage so that they could send the models back to correct the issue. That to me says a lot about the company and tells me that if I were to receive a faulty model, it won’t be an issue to get it corrected. I would like to add that I am fair when I review models and I don’t praise one manufacturer of the other. If there is an issue with the model, I will point is out and not overlook it. It just so happens that this particular model had no issue’s whatsoever, other than the sound that I mentioned, But if there were issues I would have pointed them out in the video.
Everybody has their own personal acceptance standard of "Quality". However, perfect quality can never be achieved in anything, even in the latest jet fighters and space vehicles. Mind you, with those vehicles you can pretty much hold the parts in your hands. In something like this, you'll probably need to use tweezers and a magnifying lens for the most part. But quality is in the eyes of the individual. Ask a worker/employee that assembles these models day in, day out, a question of quality and ask an individual who purchases one the same question and it will be two different answers. I think 8 out of 10 is a bit harsh. Maybe even a bit pompous. However, I can and do appreciate your opinion, but that's just me and I'm entitled to my opinion because I have been professionally taught that "Quality" goes far beyond a visual wavy handrail/ladder rung or a misaligned framing support bar. I think that, realistically and with all things considered, this model is a close 10 contender. Maybe even a 10 out of 11. It is a work of art, even with its few minor flaws.
ScaleTrains recommends that the model run on 22”. I’m my opinion do not think that it will run on anything under 22” due to all the detail underneath the chassis near the trucks and the truck detail.
Boa noite! Me explique, por gentileza, como se faz a redefinição do decodificador CV8 para 8 como você sugeriu acima. Explique como fazer passo a passo.
Boa tarde! O meu controle é um Zephyr e fiz tudo isso, acionei o número 8 e nada de sinal de vida, a locomotiva não responde, não liga, acredito que veio com defeito de fábrica. Uma pergunto: no Zephyr aparece 03 e não o número 3 isolado, será que é isso?
Isso é lamentável. Eu uso o endereço 03 e funciona bem. Você deverá ouvir algum tipo de som da unidade B ou luzes do tender se houver um problema com a unidade A. você pode tentar redefinir o decodificador com CV 8 definido para um valor de 8.
Boa noite! Moro no Brasil, comprei uma e chegou nessa sexta-feira, dia 05/07 . Tirei da caixa coloquei nos trilhos e não funcionou. Detalhe, o meu acelerador é um Zephyr Digitrax, será que a corrente do Zephyr é pouca para ligar esse locomotiva? Fiquei numa situação difícil, compra feita nos Estados Unidos na loja da Scale Trains pela internete e o produto não funciona. Alguém tem como explicar isso? Qual o acelerador que está sendo usado nesse vídeo? Qual a potência necessária para essa locomotiva Big Blow qualidade de museu? Alguém poderia me responder? Agradeço a ajuda. Escrevi em português é so traduzjr, pra quem não entende o português, pois sou péssimo em inglês.
Olá, também estou usando um Digitrax Zephyr. Você precisa pressionar o botão número 8 no teclado numérico para ligar o motor. se você não fizer isso, o motor não dará partida e funcionará. Por favor, escreva de volta para mim se tiver mais problemas.
Super. An incredible locomotive. I like all of the Union Pacific turbines, the Verandas, the coal turbine, and the double cab unit, but the 8,500 horsepower "Big Blow" is my favorite. My railroad, think Colorado & Southern meets Denver & Rio Grande Western, will probably never own a turbine, unless I find a deal, but it would be nice to watch one of these locomotives hauling a mile long freight train over the mountain passes and through the tunnels on my layout. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.
This is the absolute model to have if you’re looking to get a Turbine. I would absolutely to have a rendition of the Coal Turbine. The brass models that came out about a little over a year ago are astonishing. Sometimes ScaleTrains will have some decent prices on these. The Rivet Counter versions of these are great too and are at a more attractive price. I hope you get to have one of these one day. Thank you for watching!
By the way I’d love to see your layout as described it with mountains and tunnels!
Wow JT, those are beautiful. Congratulations. That turbine is so cool that the fan spins and it’s really loud, just like the real thing.
Thank you! I was pretty impressed with this model. Scale trains knows what they’re doing.
I bit the bullet and bought the Rivet Counter version of the Big Blow from their first production run and I didn’t regret it. I can tell you that for some reason, the lead truck on the A unit seems to not being equally weighted by the model so in rare instances the lead axle will pick through a switch. I added some lead weight to improve the weight distribution and it works fine, no more derailments since. So if someone is selling you a used one, inquire about this and test run it through a section of curved track that has a couple switches since this is where mine and a friend at the club had issues. Some modelers are dumping their first run units for newer ones so don’t overpay friends, hope this helps someone.
I think you’d agree with me that quality models like this one is similar to owning precious metals, these don’t seem to go down in value unless there’s major shift in the hobby.
Kevin, San Antonio, TX.
Have you checked the wheels on the front truck with a gauge? Maybe they are out of gauge. I’ll keep an eye out if decide to buy second hand. Thank you for the info. I think this statement will help others in the future with purchases. I agree with you that these hold their value. Thank you for watching!
@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest Yes sir, the wheel gauge was the first thing I checked but then I ran the locomotive without any rolling stock attached to better isolate the issue and it was clear. Scale Trains does know about this issue and will repair any units that have this issue, that said, I’m not sure if they still will since it’s been 7 years since I got mine. It has something to do with how the truck assembly is balanced at the pivot point. Just keep the gears well lubricated and it’ll last nearly forever but NEVER use anything but silicone oil and grease.
Great video, thanks for making it.
Thank you. I appreciate it!
Great model JT and looks cool on the layout. Hope all well.
Thank you Kevin!
I guess the reason Union Pacific stop using those is the same reason way large cargo ships don’t use them as well: bad fuel economy
That’s exactly true!
Awesome review Joe!!!!
Thank you Jeff!
@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest You're welcome Joe!!
I originally deleted what i was going to post but, i looked at somebody else's turbine and i had to say some thing. This guy had some quality control issues with his model. I just purchased two SDL39's and they had quality control issues as well. For the title Museum Quality and the price we've paid i was expecting better quality control standards. just like him i give and 8 out of 10.
I am aware of the difficulties that others have had with their models. I agree, we are paying a lot of money for these models and there probably shouldn’t be any issues, but it’s going to happen. It is what it is. Every manufacturer has their own issues. No manufacturer is perfect. With the SDL39s; it’s an easy fix and it’s not like the 4 MTH SD70ACes that I had to return multiple times due a short and bad motors or something that I wasn’t able to fix easily. Even when they were returned they were still not operating correctly. Even with all Athearn Genesis handrails that were wavy for years and the Genesis Tri-clops truck issues. It’s going to happen. It doesn’t matter how good the quality control is. The best thing that I can take from all this is that ScaleTrains provides great customer service. They quickly addressed the issue with the SDL39s and provided parts to fix the issue and provided customers free postage so that they could send the models back to correct the issue. That to me says a lot about the company and tells me that if I were to receive a faulty model, it won’t be an issue to get it corrected. I would like to add that I am fair when I review models and I don’t praise one manufacturer of the other. If there is an issue with the model, I will point is out and not overlook it. It just so happens that this particular model had no issue’s whatsoever, other than the sound that I mentioned, But if there were issues I would have pointed them out in the video.
Everybody has their own personal acceptance standard of "Quality". However, perfect quality can never be achieved in anything, even in the latest jet fighters and space vehicles. Mind you, with those vehicles you can pretty much hold the parts in your hands. In something like this, you'll probably need to use tweezers and a magnifying lens for the most part. But quality is in the eyes of the individual. Ask a worker/employee that assembles these models day in, day out, a question of quality and ask an individual who purchases one the same question and it will be two different answers. I think 8 out of 10 is a bit harsh. Maybe even a bit pompous. However, I can and do appreciate your opinion, but that's just me and I'm entitled to my opinion because I have been professionally taught that "Quality" goes far beyond a visual wavy handrail/ladder rung or a misaligned framing support bar.
I think that, realistically and with all things considered, this model is a close 10 contender. Maybe even a 10 out of 11. It is a work of art, even with its few minor flaws.
@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest - A bit tinny in the sound may have something to do with hard surfaces in your layout and the walls surrounding it.
What is the minimum radius required for this engine. Will it make a curve with a 14" radius?
ScaleTrains recommends that the model run on 22”. I’m my opinion do not think that it will run on anything under 22” due to all the detail underneath the chassis near the trucks and the truck detail.
Boa noite! Me explique, por gentileza, como se faz a redefinição do decodificador CV8 para 8 como você sugeriu acima. Explique como fazer passo a passo.
Do the A+B unit share one decoder?
All three units have a separate decoder. Thanks for watching!
Boa tarde! O meu controle é um Zephyr e fiz tudo isso, acionei o número 8 e nada de sinal de vida, a locomotiva não responde, não liga, acredito que veio com defeito de fábrica. Uma pergunto: no Zephyr aparece 03 e não o número 3 isolado, será que é isso?
Isso é lamentável. Eu uso o endereço 03 e funciona bem. Você deverá ouvir algum tipo de som da unidade B ou luzes do tender se houver um problema com a unidade A. você pode tentar redefinir o decodificador com CV 8 definido para um valor de 8.
Boa noite! Moro no Brasil, comprei uma e chegou nessa sexta-feira, dia 05/07 . Tirei da caixa coloquei nos trilhos e não funcionou. Detalhe, o meu acelerador é um Zephyr Digitrax, será que a corrente do Zephyr é pouca para ligar esse locomotiva? Fiquei numa situação difícil, compra feita nos Estados Unidos na loja da Scale Trains pela internete e o produto não funciona. Alguém tem como explicar isso? Qual o acelerador que está sendo usado nesse vídeo? Qual a potência necessária para essa locomotiva Big Blow qualidade de museu? Alguém poderia me responder? Agradeço a ajuda. Escrevi em português é so traduzjr, pra quem não entende o português, pois sou péssimo em inglês.
Olá, também estou usando um Digitrax Zephyr. Você precisa pressionar o botão número 8 no teclado numérico para ligar o motor. se você não fizer isso, o motor não dará partida e funcionará. Por favor, escreva de volta para mim se tiver mais problemas.
Now I want one lol
Lol well you’re in luck. There are still some available on ScaleTrains.com or preorder for February 2023! You won’t regret it.
Uhh, please put the pencil away. You can use the other end of a model paint brush.
Uhh ok thanks
Who cares about the box