I love Athearn's SD70ACe's. I've got 7 of them already with more to come. I really dig the design and the beefy radiator section. A question for you Dan, I know you like ESU Loksound, but what kind of decoder/board combination do you use? I've really taken a liking to the TCS Motherboards with a ESU Loksound 21-pin decoder myself.
Athena is slowly switching over to LED's. The 60E's and the upcoming run of 70ACe's should have them. However most models they are making are still going to use bulbs as they are too far along to change them to LED's. I've also been told that Athern is switching to ESU for most of their future models.
Knowing Dan, he will remove the circuit board and all bulbs in this model. He will then replace all the light bulbs with LEDs and hard wire one of ESU's LokSound decoders then program it so that all the lighting effects he added are independently controllable, including flashing ditch lights because that is prototypical for NS.
I'm getting this in dcc for my layout.
I believe those are spare knuckle HOLDERS on the back, not spare knuckles.
Seen that engine pulling a 100 +/- baretable solo a week ago. You are right LED light and even metal McHenry couplers would be great.
Love that cheap ass looking coupler in front.
Great review Dan and John, I like the details on the model
Thanks!
Great review!
Great video like always
Dan do you have any videos on how to properly use a microtrains height gauge for n scale?
Look for this month's episode of MR101 "All About Standards For Beginners."
Very nice model. Athearn will change the lighting soon. The new SD60 will have full LED lighting.
It seems like they might finally be migrating to LEDs which is great news!
I love Athearn's SD70ACe's. I've got 7 of them already with more to come. I really dig the design and the beefy radiator section.
A question for you Dan, I know you like ESU Loksound, but what kind of decoder/board combination do you use? I've really taken a liking to the TCS Motherboards with a ESU Loksound 21-pin decoder myself.
EMD= Epic Mega DOPE
Nice
Excited for the athearn genesis UP 1943?
Nice!
It almost looks like the coupler was bent down somewhat.
Yes. That's straight out of the box with no modification at all, so not sure what was going on there.
Athena is slowly switching over to LED's. The 60E's and the upcoming run of 70ACe's should have them. However most models they are making are still going to use bulbs as they are too far along to change them to LED's. I've also been told that Athern is switching to ESU for most of their future models.
LEDs and ESU are both significant upgrades! Go Athearn!
Installing lights for the cab interior shouldn’t be too difficult despite that the wires for the front lights are in the way.
Knowing Dan, he will remove the circuit board and all bulbs in this model. He will then replace all the light bulbs with LEDs and hard wire one of ESU's LokSound decoders then program it so that all the lighting effects he added are independently controllable, including flashing ditch lights because that is prototypical for NS.
Why do you have more coupler height issues than all other reviewers on the net combined?
I would love to know who else checks coupler height properly and shows the viewer the result.