Product Review HO Athearn SD45T-2 SSW - SP Tunnel Motor!

[@GrandTrunkWestern85]

Always appreciate when you add the historical and present information on the models you review. Take Care Dan!

[@DanielCortopassi]

I like to add those details when I have reference material available. I'm glad you like it. Thanks for watching!

[@thomasdarwin6174]

I have several of the Athearn RTR 45 and 40T-2 models and they are good models for the price. The DCC and sound equipped versions are good too and easily upgradable with user decoders and speakers. I do wish Athearn would issue a Genesis version equal to their SP SDP45s which are excellent models in every way.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It would be nice to see a Genesis version of these, though I'm sure the price would go up accordingly. I'm happy to see that this newer version has more accurate detail than the older ones. I have several of those that need some work. I'm looking forward to running them on my future Donner layout. Thanks for watching!

[@watchtrainsnow1099]

I enjoyed the prototype information section.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I research all the reviews as best I can, though I have a little easier time with SP stuff since I've amassed quite a collection of reference material on SP over the years. I'm glad you liked that part. Thanks for watching!

[@debbiemilka2251]

I always appreciate your reviews Dan. Especially when you point out what improvements that can be made. How low does your score need to be to fail a review ? I've only seen the great and reasonably good. What was the lowest score you have ever issued ?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I think the lowest score I've had so far is a 65, which is still passable, but barely. 60 would be a D-. Anything less than that would be a fail and trigger a red signal. I have not had to do that yet. I do tend to buy models that I expect to be good, so hopefully we'll never get down that low. Thanks for watching!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Another great review. Athearn has always made a good product. Their RTR and Genesis lines have only got better over the years. I think I still have a stack of blue box locomotives in storage.

[@DanielCortopassi]

There are some gems in the RTR line that are nicely detailed and accurate. I still have three blue box projects that I can think of right now. It takes some work but some of them can be made into nice models. Thanks for watching!

[@themarkwiens]

Hey Dan, I never took that model out of the box, so no, the windows weren't glued in place. -5 points! Also, seeing the headlight wiring dangling in the cab was very distracting. Maybe that's to be expected from an RTR-level model from Athearn.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Okay, I wasn't sure about the windows. I try to be extra careful with your models because I don't want to break anything. Sometimes I wish Athearn would dump that "feature" because it seems like the windows always end up in odd positions. Without a cab interior, there's really no reason to have them open. I agree about the wires. I have a few Athearn RTR models with the same issue. I'll probably try to re-route them so that they don't show. Thanks so much for loaning me the models and for watching! I am still working my way through the last of them.

[@Vman7757]

Great. Thank you.

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@sernajrlouis]

That's a nice model

[@DanielCortopassi]

Yes, it is. Thanks for watching!

[@BrentNguyen46]

Dan, I’ve been an adamant viewer ever since you did the video of the Rapido F40PH NPCU and it’s always a pleasure to see every new video you produce ! One thing I was wondering is would you or Nichole consider doing a video explaining your tools of choice you use when working on your models or workbench ? The way you present your work with no B.S. and a full clean explanation is one of very few folks here on KZbin. Would love to see a video of your tools of your trade from the model railroading master himself !!!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Yes, we're considering doing a tools episode or two as part of the Model Railroading for Beginners series. Since we've started to run low on boxes for Box of the Month, we're thinking about substituting other shows for that one sometimes. Thanks for the suggestion and for being a regular watcher!

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi How many boxes did you have to start with? When I moved, I think I had 34 boxes (originally from reams of paper) full of trains. I've added quite a few since, but have been selling some too to offset the cost and minimize the growth of the collection.

[@DanielCortopassi]

@riogrande5761 Honestly I'm not sure. Probably at least 40 or more. I've been selling some stuff, too, as I've realized that I don't have infinite time, and I have way more than I need even for a large layout like I'm planning.

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi Ditto that! I need to get back to selling!

[@gacj2010]

So good to get so much Information from Daniel so easily ... What a great collection

[@DanielCortopassi]

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

[@lucgagnon5241]

Hi Dan. Thanks for another interesting review. Seems like Athearn hits the target in a better way with their cheap models. I don't like or buy long engines like this because of available space and tight curves but I got to admit that it's a fine model at the end. You should've been more severe about the couplers height to my point of view. Grill is not only an issue on SD's. I had the same problem on a MP15ac. They probably don't secure them correctly at the factory. Otherwise, you're right... They are improving !

[@DanielCortopassi]

It seems like it's always a bit of a challenge to bond etched metal parts to plastic. I've had issues with that trying to get aftermarket parts to stick well. Still, they should't be falling off in the box. I don't recall having this particular issue on any of my own Athearn tunnel motors, but I also haven't looked at some of them in a while. I would agree that long engines look better on broader curves. Thanks for watching!

[@lucgagnon5241]

@@DanielCortopassi Hi again Dan. I glued one on my MP15ac and had all kind of problems doing it properly. I used thin CA. It may be a bad idea but I thought that the more liquid is the glue, the less of a mess it's making. Those etched grills have so tiny openings. I had to be careful not having CA blocking when putting back in place. You're damn right, engines shouldn't come with broken parts. Especially grills. That's the price to pay for highly detailed engines.... made in China !

[@DanielCortopassi]

@lucgagnon5241 I have trouble controlling where the thin CA goes sometimes. I often prefer the thicker type, applied with a small piece of wire so that I don't use too much.

[@lucgagnon5241]

@@DanielCortopassi Hi Dan. Thanks for your kindness of answer my mails. Hope to see another review soon. I've definitely learned from you since I'm watching them. We're both in the hobby for long. Long enough to see it has completely changed lately. There is incredible stuff putted on the market for the past 10 years or so. Doesn't mean It's done correctly but boy as we say in french : they push very far on details ! Regards

[@shipbuilding1000]

With the numerous runs Athearn has produced since 2004, it’s odd that they’ve never made the 6700-6800 class rebuilds. Did those have altered battery box doors like the SD45R? Great video….

[@DanielCortopassi]

Yes, the SD45T-2Rs had the GRIP louvered battery box doors. They also had EMD style latches installed on the radiator fan access panels in the rear. The oscillating lights on the cab were removed, but at least some of the engines kept the emergency lights in the nose for a while. I am hoping that Athearn will do an undecorated version in the next run. I'd like to get one and detail it as one of the rebuilt units. Thanks for watching!

[@shipbuilding1000]

@@DanielCortopassi thanks. Good to know. Of course the detail differences didn’t stop Athearn from producing the SD45R’s using railpower shells, but the most noticeable flaw on those was the missing “used to be” L-windshield. I learned about the battery doors from one of your videos. The ScaleTrains SD45R is far superior obviously I was glad to see those made

[@josecarlospereiramachado2016]

Parabéns pelas suas considerações. Meu inglês para ouvir não e bom, mas vale apena ouvir, repito varias vezes para entender. Obrigado pelo seu Trabalho.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the video. I appreciate you watching it multiple times. Thanks so much!

[@traindad77]

What's your thoughts on the newer speed lettering versions with high ditch lights mounted in the middle of the walkway?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I don't have any recent Athearn tunnel motors like that. I do have some with ditch lights, but those were the older ones with bulbs, and I redid everything with my own LEDs. In fact if I recall I had to give them the 90s treatment myself, so the ditch lights are aftermarket castings. I think the Athearn RTR tunnel motors are pretty nice models in general. Thanks for watching!

[@SPSteve]

Great review, Dan. I've convinced myself that I have to buy the premium locomotives, but I should reconsider that since this RTR model would most likely be fine for my layout. Do you know if the DCC RTR versions have lighting features similar to the Genesis models?

[@DanielCortopassi]

Many of the Athearn RTR models, both engines and rolling stock, have pretty good detail. Some are better than others, but the tunnel motors are pretty good. To my knowledge there is no difference between the DCC & sound equipped RTR models vs. DCC ready, other than the presence of the decoder and speaker. I'm pretty sure they use the same shell and chassis for both. So I would expect that even with the DCC version, you'd still need to make some modifications if you wanted to light up the emergency light or number boards, or add ground lights, since the model doesn't have those. To be fair, a lot of Genesis models don't have lit number boards, either, though I think that's changing with the Genesis 2.0 series. Thanks for watching!

[@SPSteve]

@@DanielCortopassi I'd love to see a side by side comparison of the RTR and Genesis if you ever have an opportunity to do that. Thanks again for an excellent review.

[@riogrande5761]

These are pretty nice considering they are from the RTR line. Being a fan of the SP from growing up seeing the SP tunnel motors crossing the causeway between Davis and Sacrament, I've always been a big fan.of them. I have D&RGW SD40T-2's and I tried removing the front coupler to remove the shell and I could not get it to budge. I tried gently forcing it but it still would not come out. What would you suggest?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm assuming you're talking about the whole draft gear box. Sometimes they get stuck on the frame on some models, even with the screw removed. Once in a while I need to pry it off. It's a difficult area to access, but if you can get a tiny flat bladed screwdriver under one end of the box, you might be able to gently pry it loose that way. If that isn't feasible then maybe take some needle nosed pliers and grip both sides of the box and try gently twisting it back and forth. Thanks for watching and good luck!

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi I'm guessing some adhesive is holding the couple box fast. I have 3 that I was trying to remove the couplers to get the shell off and all 3 were the same. Couldn't budge the whole draft gear box. I didn't go crazy because I didn't want to damage anything.

[@TerryWallace-h7g]

WHY CANT ATHEARN MAKE THESE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT THE DCCREADY AND NO SOUND DECODERS IN THEM? IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ATHEARN TO MAKE THEM WITHOUT ALL THIS STUFF IN THEM? IM TRYING TO GET THEM, WITHOUT THE SOUND AND THE DCC READY MECHANISM IN THEM.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm not in the model manufacturing business, so this is just my guess, but I would imagine that it's more economical for Athearn and other companies to use the same chassis for both DCC and DCC ready versions. The DCC and Sound versions then just need a decoder and speaker added. There aren't many models being made that aren't DCC ready anymore. I would imagine that the light board with a DCC plug is a very cheap part, so I don't think getting rid of it would really save much. Just my two cents. Thanks for watching!

[@TrainWork]

👍😁OperateOnOperator

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!