Thanks Dan. As a person who has to spend money wisely because I don't have alot of extra cash for the hobby. I appreciate the time and effort you take to help us out with are decisions
Great review! I have all 3 sets of these (I think there are only 3) and other than the missing uncoupler levers, I am impressed with the detail. The cars look great overall and fit all brands of my containers well. Issues I have are how delicate the detail is, especially the hand rails and steps, and how light the cars are. There really isn't any way to add weight to these other than adding containers themselves. I like to run them with 53' containers on the top of the A, B, and D units but even with a 40' on the bottom and a 53' on top, they are slightly on the light side. Not sure if I should be measuring them as a consist or individually? All my coupler heights were correct so that may be "luck of the draw". I had the same issue with the cars not rolling super easy. I removed one of the trucks and after reaming it out with the Micro Mark truck tuner, found that the axle was now too sloppy. Some graphite may be the answer. Additionally, the trucks seemed to be made from a very low density plastic and were extremely flexible. If graphite doesn't solve the problem and drag proves to be an issue, I may use aftermarket trucks.
I prefer graphite to a reamer generally. The reamer will only help if the axle is too long for the truck. I haven't tried graphite with these cars. Athearn trucks usually roll better so I'm not sure what's up with these. For weight I usually measure the units as if they were individual cars. When adding weight to containers I like to put it in the bottom container so that the car doesn't end up top heavy. Thanks for watching!
Respect your review for me. The only problem i have with the car are the McHenry couplers. The only point for me to take off. I like this TTX container trailer. Well done. 🟡 👍
I always swap Kadees for the McHenry couplers. I've had too many issues with plastic couplers in the past. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this review Dan! I'm coming into my own as far as my growing collection of intermodal equipment. I'm more in tuned with Intermountain, Kato, Atlas, and walthers intermodal equipment for my personal take on specific details on their respective models. I do plan to give Athearn another chance.
I liked this review. The first run car I bought some years back when loaded with containers tipped over! Could you have loaded your review car to see what happened? Athearn were notified of my car problem, but did not respond. Please keep the videos coming.
In the future when I review any cars like this I'll include a section about using containers. Most well cars are too light, so I like to add weight to the containers. I usually only weight the bottom container so that the car doesn't end up top heavy. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the time period history , I'm not sure weather to go with these or 'Rail Runners' I model ATSF in Northern New Mexico during the BNSF transition period.
I think these cars have been in use since they were introduced, so it would depend on the paint scheme. You'd have to do some research to find out what paint scheme(s) were appropriate for your location and era. Thanks for watching!
Was glad to see another posting--thanks Dan!!! Want me to send you me new Kato SD40-2? Very disappointed with it; first run no ditch lights. Oh well I deviate. Keep em coming!
Dan I thought of one other test that you may have done on this car during the evaluation--how well do the containers fit inside the car. Just a thought. Thx. Will be waiting for the next edition!!!
Great review. I'm thinking about getting a couple of these. Can you (or anyone) tell me if they run well empty or are they too light? Mine will be running on 24" radius curves and occasionally on 22" radius but only slowly. Thanks
I think they're a little light to run empty, though it depends on a lot of factors, like your grades, curve radii, and how smooth your track is. If you're running slowly, as you said, you might be able to get away with it, though those curves are pretty sharp. Thanks for watching!
I have a couple of the Athearn HO scale SD70ACe models and they're very nice. Mine had bulbs instead of LEDs, which is a pet peeve of mine, so I changed them out. Athearn is starting to use LEDs in some of their diesels now, so hopefully that will change. Otherwise they're excellent models. I got mine without sound as I prefer LokSound instead of the Tsunami that Athearn usually uses. Thanks for watching!
A lot of road numbers of Athearn rolling stock, especially the old bluebox series are bogus. I found it out myself. I think it is best to take these models with a wink with regard to perfection. Although I have to say that for that price Athearn should have done better.
Thanks Dan. As a person who has to spend money wisely because I don't have alot of extra cash for the hobby. I appreciate the time and effort you take to help us out with are decisions
I try to include as much information as possible so that people can make informed decisions about products. Thanks for watching!
Your reviews are, I think, the best ones out there, Thanks very much....
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Great review! I have all 3 sets of these (I think there are only 3) and other than the missing uncoupler levers, I am impressed with the detail. The cars look great overall and fit all brands of my containers well. Issues I have are how delicate the detail is, especially the hand rails and steps, and how light the cars are. There really isn't any way to add weight to these other than adding containers themselves. I like to run them with 53' containers on the top of the A, B, and D units but even with a 40' on the bottom and a 53' on top, they are slightly on the light side. Not sure if I should be measuring them as a consist or individually? All my coupler heights were correct so that may be "luck of the draw". I had the same issue with the cars not rolling super easy. I removed one of the trucks and after reaming it out with the Micro Mark truck tuner, found that the axle was now too sloppy. Some graphite may be the answer. Additionally, the trucks seemed to be made from a very low density plastic and were extremely flexible. If graphite doesn't solve the problem and drag proves to be an issue, I may use aftermarket trucks.
I prefer graphite to a reamer generally. The reamer will only help if the axle is too long for the truck. I haven't tried graphite with these cars. Athearn trucks usually roll better so I'm not sure what's up with these. For weight I usually measure the units as if they were individual cars. When adding weight to containers I like to put it in the bottom container so that the car doesn't end up top heavy. Thanks for watching!
Respect your review for me. The only problem i have with the car are the McHenry couplers. The only point for me to take off. I like this TTX container trailer. Well done.
🟡 👍
I always swap Kadees for the McHenry couplers. I've had too many issues with plastic couplers in the past. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this review Dan! I'm coming into my own as far as my growing collection of intermodal equipment. I'm more in tuned with Intermountain, Kato, Atlas, and walthers intermodal equipment for my personal take on specific details on their respective models. I do plan to give Athearn another chance.
I'm glad you find the reviews helpful. Thanks for watching!
I liked this review. The first run car I bought some years back when loaded with containers tipped over! Could you have loaded your review car to see what happened? Athearn were notified of my car problem, but did not respond. Please keep the videos coming.
In the future when I review any cars like this I'll include a section about using containers. Most well cars are too light, so I like to add weight to the containers. I usually only weight the bottom container so that the car doesn't end up top heavy. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the time period history , I'm not sure weather to go with these or 'Rail Runners' I model ATSF in Northern New Mexico during the BNSF transition period.
I think these cars have been in use since they were introduced, so it would depend on the paint scheme. You'd have to do some research to find out what paint scheme(s) were appropriate for your location and era. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review, Dan.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Was glad to see another posting--thanks Dan!!! Want me to send you me new Kato SD40-2? Very disappointed with it; first run no ditch lights. Oh well I deviate. Keep em coming!
I have several Kato SD40-2s. They're good running engines, though sometimes the details aren't as good as some other brands. Thanks for watching!
Dan I thought of one other test that you may have done on this car during the evaluation--how well do the containers fit inside the car. Just a thought. Thx. Will be waiting for the next edition!!!
Yes, I probably should have done that. Will make sure to do that next time I review any intermodal rolling stock. Thanks for the suggestion!
Very Nice Model! The only paint issue I have is the "Made in Oregon by Gunderson" Sticker Has a White Border Around it.
Good observation. Thanks for watching!
Another great review! Keep up the good work! ~Pedro
Thanks!
Great video like always
Thanks for watching!
Great review. I'm thinking about getting a couple of these. Can you (or anyone) tell me if they run well empty or are they too light? Mine will be running on 24" radius curves and occasionally on 22" radius but only slowly. Thanks
I think they're a little light to run empty, though it depends on a lot of factors, like your grades, curve radii, and how smooth your track is. If you're running slowly, as you said, you might be able to get away with it, though those curves are pretty sharp. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi Thanks for the reply. Hopefully someone will make one a bit heavier sometime and I hope you get around to reviewing it!
Any recommendations for getting Athearns SD70ACe? I already know radius for tracking but is there anything else I should know first?
I have a couple of the Athearn HO scale SD70ACe models and they're very nice. Mine had bulbs instead of LEDs, which is a pet peeve of mine, so I changed them out. Athearn is starting to use LEDs in some of their diesels now, so hopefully that will change. Otherwise they're excellent models. I got mine without sound as I prefer LokSound instead of the Tsunami that Athearn usually uses. Thanks for watching!
thanks for the review and honesty about this car
You're welcome, and thanks for watching!
Does athearn have a new rtr box?
Athearn changed the colors of the RTR boxes recently. Thanks for watching!
A lot of road numbers of Athearn rolling stock, especially the old bluebox series are bogus.
I found it out myself.
I think it is best to take these models with a wink with regard to perfection.
Although I have to say that for that price Athearn should have done better.
I'm not sure why they would use a bogus paint scheme and road number when this model is correct for other DTTX cars. Thanks for watching!
got mine for 130 on amazon
Cool. Thanks for watching!
0:00 That’s a poo ton of Model Trains.....😶😶😶😶😶😶😶😶
Yes, I've been at this a long time. Thanks for watching!