Great review DG! Athearn is really stepping up their game lately. It is great to see customer service is quick to address any issues. I just added 3 new Athearn locomotives to my fleet and 2 of them being Norfolk Southern!
Need to replace all those LED's with more scale, a lot brighter LED's, for sure. Locomotive head lights and ditch lights are extremely bright in real life. Nice looking models. Love the Conrail unit!!!
Thanks for the review DG. After watching your review I checked both of my NS units and indeed both are missing 3 out of 4 lift rings. Ditch lights need inproving.
Love your products reviews too! Any particular reason why you didn't considered the MicroEnginering #5 ladders switches? You can call me anything! Guy, moose, hey you, swabbie, but not late for dinner 😄😆. Take care, and stay safe.
Awesome review! Love these details on these. The ditchlights should be lit better for the price. Also, one of the missing lift rings was on one of the two magnets that hold the cab roof on the Conrail unit at 4:31. LOL. You should do a comparison between these and the Kato SD80MAC.
Won't be an issue on the SD70ACU as they'll have the same ditchlights as the SD90MAC ph.II, the GEVOs and the SD75i to name but a few. Personally I'm looking forward getting the CN Genesis 2.0 SD70M-2 that's been announced
In my opinion, I don't think I would run this on anything less than 21 inch. When dealing with min. radius, its not so much if the loco will navigate it, but what it's pulling. The coupler swing becomes the issue on smaller radius and results in the trailing cars derailing.
I saw them in person at Iron Horse Hobbies in late 2019 when an Athearn Rep was there to show them off. Personally I prefer the maroon painted EMD units.
I'm willing to patch the CR Units to NS, will it be available? Seems like the numberboard shields are stuck in and quite tough to work on! Thanks for the great review!
Impressive product review, the sd80mac from Athearn Genesis is a stunning model & it really separates itself in detail appearance and lighting setting functions apart from the KATO model sd80mac.
I think all of Athearn sd80mac missing 3 lift rings, I have 2 Conrail models, all of them the same as yours, missing 3 lift rings in the same location. Is this a production batch defect?
Lighting brightness is usually adjustable,so the numberboards may be able to be brighter.I don't think you mentioned the Brake function,which is a handy addition.You showed the DDE which not many make use of,which is a shame as Locos don't operate at the same Revs under different loads.Nice detailed review though.
hi deryk,great review as always. i model ns here in the uk, i respect your views a question: why do they still not place an engineer and conductor in todays highly detailed models? i have four atlas models and they are nicely detailed dash eights two are sound but they all have train crews,as has my sd40-2 made by broadway ltd, i cannot believe in this age of more detailing there is still no train crew aboard atherns bachmanns,and correct me if i am wrong mth and intermountain locomotives the review of these new releases with lift off roof surely cries out for a train crew? your thoughts please, take care, stay safe!!
I have 2 mac90s from athearns i have tried and has local train store to adjust cvs for a smoother start. out of the hole they jump, I saw when you starter it was a lot better. Did u play with the voltage cvs or athearns fix the start? Others say.thats how Tsunami 2 is!!! Or 2.0 is different (Also EMD90 missing1 ring) nice job
I've got a SD90MAC as well; have no issues with either the motor or the LED lighting - although I did adjust CVs 61, 62 and 64 to make the ground lights and numberboards brighter.
I bought a Conrail SD80MAC and the LED lighting are very very dim. Athearn needs to make improvements on those and get equipment that would brighten up those lights. Nice looking locomotive pretty accurate with the photos that I looked at on google.
Very nice model but, the "marginal" lighting issue will keep me away for now. Too much money to have dim lighting. I have pre ordered DDA 40X and Veranda due late next year. If these lighting issues continue I will cancel the order. I don't care to even have small lighting issues at this price. My old Veranda with incandescent was a great disappointment. Too many other manufacturers are getting good lighting on their models and Athearn needs to step up. Thanks for listening, Joe Grice
I have a video coming out tonight on improving some of the lighting. Also, I reviewed one of Athearn Genesis ES44AC and it had the best lighting I've ever received from a factory loco. I can't figure out why the inconsistency but it's a little frustrating for sure.
Great review DG! Athearn is really stepping up their game lately. It is great to see customer service is quick to address any issues. I just added 3 new Athearn locomotives to my fleet and 2 of them being Norfolk Southern!
Need to replace all those LED's with more scale, a lot brighter LED's, for sure. Locomotive head lights and ditch lights are extremely bright in real life. Nice looking models. Love the Conrail unit!!!
Very impressive. The lighting package has really improved. This is one of those times I'm sad that I model the 1970'S !!! Great video.
As always your reviews are spot on. I bought this model and love it. Tsunami 2 is a great!
Great to hear! Thank you!
Another great review, athearn definitely been stepping up there game since scale trains came to town. Nice units and fantastic customer service.
Thank you very much Peter! Yeah, competition drives everthing.
Alvin Athearn would be very proud of the locomotives . 🚂
loooove the red marker lights, out of my fleet this is definitely one of my favorites. nice manifest at the end
Same here! Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the review DG. After watching your review I checked both of my NS units and indeed both are missing 3 out of 4 lift rings. Ditch lights need inproving.
Glad I could help!
Great review, I like the detail they placed on both engines!
Thank you very much!
Love your products reviews too! Any particular reason why you didn't considered the MicroEnginering #5 ladders switches?
You can call me anything! Guy, moose, hey you, swabbie, but not late for dinner 😄😆. Take care, and stay safe.
Thanks buddy! I didn't use them just because of a personal preference. I don't like to use less than #6 switches if I can help it.
Awesome review! Love these details on these. The ditchlights should be lit better for the price. Also, one of the missing lift rings was on one of the two magnets that hold the cab roof on the Conrail unit at 4:31. LOL. You should do a comparison between these and the Kato SD80MAC.
Haha, I saw the lift ring in the video after it went live. That's funny.
Great review those are some really nice locomotives until your next video stay safe and have a good day
Thanks, you too!
Great review as always, D. I've just never been a fan of any of the macs, 70 or the 80. Looking forward to your next video!
Thanks John!
Nice review Deryk, as always! Thanks for posting. - Brian
Thank you Brian!
These need to come with Loksound. Great informative video! Thanks
I like Loksound too.
Super beautiful models
Nice video but even better narration job, DG! I'll wait for the SD70ACU to arrive. Hopefully Athearn will have corrected the ditch light issues then.
Thanks! I also can't wait for the SD70ACU
Won't be an issue on the SD70ACU as they'll have the same ditchlights as the SD90MAC ph.II, the GEVOs and the SD75i to name but a few. Personally I'm looking forward getting the CN Genesis 2.0 SD70M-2 that's been announced
Impressive stuff man! You need a unit coal train for those things to haul around. Haha excellent review. Absolutely love the 80macs.
Yeah, that's what these beauties were used for!
The missing lift ring at 5:50 can actually be seen at 4:30, stuck to one of the magnets in the cab, somehow!
I see that now. Maybe that's one of the missing 3.
Great review. What would be the minimum radius curve you would run it on?
In my opinion, I don't think I would run this on anything less than 21 inch. When dealing with min. radius, its not so much if the loco will navigate it, but what it's pulling. The coupler swing becomes the issue on smaller radius and results in the trailing cars derailing.
@@DGModelworks Thanks. I am running Kato Unitrack with easements that transition into 21 5/8 at the tightest.
I'm doing to the non sound verison is having loksound V5 decoder installed
I saw them in person at Iron Horse Hobbies in late 2019 when an Athearn Rep was there to show them off. Personally I prefer the maroon painted EMD units.
I'm willing to patch the CR Units to NS, will it be available? Seems like the numberboard shields are stuck in and quite tough to work on! Thanks for the great review!
Thanks!
Excellent review video 👍😊🇬🇧🚂
Many thanks!
Impressive product review, the sd80mac from Athearn Genesis is a stunning model & it really separates itself in detail appearance and lighting setting functions apart from the KATO model sd80mac.
Thank you very much! There are definitely a difference between these and the Kato's.
I saw missing parts in the same place (missing life rings) on my SD80MAC. You’re right....... easy fix.
I convert all my Athearn locomotives and rolling stock with 148 Kadee Couplers
I think i saw lift ring stuck to cab roof magnet. MTH has see through radiator on the ACe i wish Athearns did too.
I see that now. Maybe that's one of the missing 3.
Great review how long did it take athearn to get you the replacement lift rings? My four units are missing a bunch
Thanks! It took a week.
Had i known that the incorrect prime mover sounds were used, I'd have ordered DCC ready and put Loksound 5 in.
I just got my athearn ns sd80mac and it's missing the lift rings well.
Yeah, that's a bummer. I think most probably went out like that.
Anyone know if they actually recorded a 20 cylinder 710 for the tsunami 2? Or did they use the 16 cylinder recording again?
These units so cool buddy deryk I like them a lot
I think all of Athearn sd80mac missing 3 lift rings, I have 2 Conrail models, all of them the same as yours, missing 3 lift rings in the same location. Is this a production batch defect?
Seems it was common among the 80macs
Lighting brightness is usually adjustable,so the numberboards may be able to be brighter.I don't think you mentioned the Brake function,which is a handy addition.You showed the DDE which not many make use of,which is a shame as Locos don't operate at the same Revs under different loads.Nice detailed review though.
Thanks. BTW I do have a follow up video on the lighting. th-cam.com/video/MHYSXUkzLqo/w-d-xo.html
@@DGModelworks Very good.Not many go in depth on the mechanisms and tuning of CVs.
Review editing and the model look great! Just wish they would find a fix for the poor lighting in newer top shelf releases.
Thanks, yeah I can agree with that. The lighting was amazing on their ES44AC's
You can adjust the CV's to increase or decrease the brightness
th-cam.com/video/MHYSXUkzLqo/w-d-xo.html
hi deryk,great review as always. i model ns here in the uk, i respect your views a question: why do they still not place an engineer and conductor in todays highly detailed models? i have four atlas models and they are nicely detailed dash eights two are sound but they all have train crews,as has my sd40-2 made by broadway ltd, i cannot believe in this age of more detailing there is still no train crew aboard atherns bachmanns,and correct me if i am wrong mth and intermountain locomotives the review of these new releases with lift off roof surely cries out for a train crew? your thoughts please, take care, stay safe!!
That's a good question. I don't know the answer to that.
big blues for the win
I agree!
I have 2 mac90s from athearns i have tried and has local train store to adjust cvs for a smoother start. out of the hole they jump, I saw when you starter it was a lot better. Did u play with the voltage cvs or athearns fix the start? Others say.thats how Tsunami 2 is!!! Or 2.0 is different (Also EMD90 missing1 ring) nice job
Nice job on video
I didn't change any motor cv's. It moved like that from the factory.
I've got a SD90MAC as well; have no issues with either the motor or the LED lighting - although I did adjust CVs 61, 62 and 64 to make the ground lights and numberboards brighter.
Is the sd90mac larger than the sd80mac?
Same length of that's what you are asking.
I bought a Conrail SD80MAC and the LED lighting are very very dim. Athearn needs to make improvements on those and get equipment that would brighten up those lights. Nice looking locomotive pretty accurate with the photos that I looked at on google.
Thanks check this out, it helps some with the lighting on factory sound equipped models.th-cam.com/video/MHYSXUkzLqo/w-d-xo.html
Great video!
Thanks!
@@DGModelworks No Problem bud
The new Athearn Genesis 2.0 Models are the Benchmark in my opinion.
#1. Woo hoo!
LOL
HELLO DERYK ITS IS RANDY AND ATHEARN GENESIS 2.0 EMD SD80MAC -TSUNAMI COOL THANKS FREINDS RANDY AND MY TRAIN IS MONCTON GORDON YARD THANKS DERYK
Very nice model but, the "marginal" lighting issue will keep me away for now. Too much money to have dim lighting. I have pre ordered DDA 40X and Veranda due late next year. If these lighting issues continue I will cancel the order. I don't care to even have small lighting issues at this price. My old Veranda with incandescent was a great disappointment. Too many other manufacturers are getting good lighting on their models and Athearn needs to step up.
Thanks for listening,
Joe Grice
I have a video coming out tonight on improving some of the lighting. Also, I reviewed one of Athearn Genesis ES44AC and it had the best lighting I've ever received from a factory loco. I can't figure out why the inconsistency but it's a little frustrating for sure.
Paint jobs were not impressive. A lot of white paint over spray. Was the conrail body painted blue or was it blue plastic?
I'm pretty sure its blue painted on blue plastic.
That's a 16-710 sound. Not 20-710
Yep.