ScaleTrains HO Scale ET44C4 DCC and Sound Review

This is a review of the ScaleTrains HO Scale ET44C4 2022 release.

[@Scaletrains]

Excellent video, JT! Thanks so much for the kind words. We really appreciate your business.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Thank you so much for watching my video and your compliment. It’s honestly so cool to be noticed by you all. I love your models and I can arguably say that they are about the best there is. I have preordered more GEVos in UP paint and I am eagerly anticipating the announcement for the Big Boy.

[@cactusrailfan31]

Amazing locomotive and review! I just hope ScaleTrains brings these back sometime soon so I can get one for myself.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Yeah they are great models. Maybe they might be released this year again.

[@michaelfedora5630]

I now have 6 devos and love them all they are absolutely beautiful trains and i may grab another Kansas city and combine the Cp logos on it now

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I have 6 too and I really do enjoy running them. I really want to grab some FerroMex and CP models. They look so good!

[@PowerlinePlanet109]

To be fair, I look forward to having one of those.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

They are great engines. Highly recommended. Thank you for watching!

[@AdaCountyRailfan]

Beautiful model!

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

It is very much so! Thank you for watching!

[@Chessie1985]

Beautiful engine and train Joe!!

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Thank you Jeff!

[@Chessie1985]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest You're welcome Joe!!

[@MrHunt916]

Nice one man. I got 1 myself BNSF 3722

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Thanks. They nice. These Gevos look good in BNSF paint.

[@TrainGuy97Train]

Great one JT 😀 I have the BNSF Dash 9 H1 paint scheme #970 From ScaleTrains, And a BNSF ES44C4 #6833 from the Castleton train collision in North Dakota, and a ES44AC CN 100 #3880 From Walthers

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

That’s cool! I just got a Dash 9 from ScaleTrains and I really am enjoying it. What do you think of the Walthers model?

[@TrainGuy97Train]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest really good

[@albertofranchi6408]

SUPER BEAUTIFUL MODEL

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

It’s is! Thank you for watching!

[@derekalexander4030]

Rest review JT. Scale Trains really doe a great job on their stuff. Unfortunately for me everything they have made so far is after 1953 which is what I plan to model. There is nothing I would like better than to get a Scale Trains UP Big Boy, what have you heard about that?

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Thank you! Hopefully with the MTH acquisition they will make some stuff from earlier eras. The only thing I have heard about the Big Boy is that it will be soon. Maybe now this year at the Amherst Show. As soon as I get that email I am going to preorder it.

[@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw]

Same prime mover as my old ES44?? Horn and all.. I also seek to think they are a little loud out of the box. Love them still(pay attention) Strong engines.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I would agree that they seem to be loud out of the box. These engines are probably my favorite that I have.

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

Scale trains has great models

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

They sure do! Thank you for watching.

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest welcome like your layout

[@bearzlla]

Looks like you have a bit of super elevation on the turns? Looks great! Any tips?

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I do have super elevation. I am using styrene pieces to super elevate the curves. I originally went with 0.060” at the highest point of elevation. It went really well and looked great until I got the BLI Big Boy, then things went south. I had a lot of trouble with the wheels jumping the track when the super elevation ended and went back to track level. I spent days trying to make it work and it just did not like like the super elevation at 0.060”. I think if I had a bigger layout and I was able to have broader curves and was able to bring the super elevation height down to track level at a slower rate I could have the height I had originally. I actually removed all of the styrene and started all over and used 0.040” styrene at the highest point of the super elevation. If you plan on only running 6-8 axle truck diesels then you you can run the 0.060” super elevation. If you have a small layout and plan on running large articulated steam locomotives, it might be a good idea to run a lower super elevation. There are a lot of videos on how to super elevate the curves on KZbin. Some people uses masking tape to put over the roadbed and build it up to the height you want. I don’t suggest using the tape because it can pull after awhile and make a mess. The way I did mine was at the middle of the curve I installed 2 inch pieces of 0.040” styrene. Then from the middle outwards where the curve comes to a straight I slowly lowered the super elevation to track level using styrene using sizes from 0.030”, 0.020” and 0.010”. You need to bring the super elevation down to track level slowly and make sure to stop the super elevation about 6 inches before the curve becomes straight. If you do not, you will have derailing issues. If you have anymore questions let me know.

[@bearzlla]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest thanks for the awesome detailed input! Gives me a good starting point to start experimenting.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

@@bearzlla You’re welcome. I’m always willing to help some how.

[@michaelfedora5630]

Please do some ferrowmax engines

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I will pick some up in the near future.

[@TobiasL1000]

Will ScaleTrains make some SD40s for UP/NS soon? Does anybody have some information about that?

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

It doesn’t look like they will be producing any this run that is due in early 2024. It’s possible after this run is in stock they will produce them since they haven’t been produced in a couple years.

[@shadowofbrazil]

I dont understand why we dont hear the Whoop sound on ESU. My GE scaletrain engines dont do it. and they do it. i hear it all the time working on the railroad.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I was disappointed not to hear it either when I first received these models. I had done a little research with some inconclusive information. Some say that the newer GE units such as the ES and ET series locomotives do not have the compressors that produce the all so familiar “whoop” sounds. I’m not sure what’s true, but I wish it would make that sound.

[@shadowofbrazil]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest Well the thing is, even the dash-9s and ES44s that scaletrains make also dont have the Whoop sound. but i can promise you in real life they do. I bought the PRR HU from SXT. And i have actually been on the real unit and heard it start up as I'm a conductor for NS. IDK why ESU don't use the Whoop sound. Because they clearly remove it from the sound file. Or it is turned down real low where you can't hear it. Which is odd. It very loud in person.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

@@shadowofbrazil Hmm that’s interesting. Its strange that ESU would omit something like that, especially when many people love that sound. Do Athearn GEVos with the Tsunami decoders make the sound?

[@shadowofbrazil]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest They do. At start up and when you kick on the compressor. Be interesting if ESU excludes them because of Athearn.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

@@shadowofbrazil Seems as though ESU likes to be unique in some ways. You could be right.

[@GraysonandJoey]

I’m looking to purchase a few metras with dcc and sound. I just got a ho scale track will the sound automatically turn on or do I have to purchase anything else? Please and thanks

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

What brand is the locomotive model?

[@GraysonandJoey]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest Metra Chicago Athearn HO RTR F59PHI METX #405 ATH64629 HO Locomotives

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

Also what are you using to control the locomotives? A DC power pack or a DCC system?

[@stevetodd478]

No ground lights, not on Santa Fe or BNSF locomotives. Not all sounds are loaded on these models, must be downloaded onto decoder from SXT to access.

[@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw]

THANK YOU STEVE! Yiur like the only other dude that seem to notice this. There is a vid you can get .402 leds and add them to ST. I just cut the little cones out of cardboard. I'm sure you can wire them straight to the aux7. But they will be on all the time with track power on Cheers William

[@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw]

What is SXT?

[@stevetodd478]

@@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw Scale Trains acronym, in railroad speak.

[@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw]

@@stevetodd478 duh, I get like Homer Simpson where I know, but I still ask to "dou" later.😆

[@stevetodd478]

@@FirstnameLastname-tp4zw ✅😎

[@alabamarailfanningproducti139]

what is the green thing on the table called?

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

That is a self healing cutting mat. Very nice for cutting stuff with exacto blades.

[@alabamarailfanningproducti139]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest Thanks! i have really needed it for my models cutting and for gluing because theres alot of glue stains on my container yard table.

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

@@alabamarailfanningproducti139 a good idea to do is to use a sheet of wax paper and tape down to the cutting mat. Then glue on top of the wax paper so that you don’t ruin your nice cutting mat. I’ve ruined a couple.

[@alabamarailfanningproducti139]

@@modelrailroadingthesouthwest oh ok. Thanks for telling me that.

[@waynenephew4515]

Y u using gloves for the interview

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

I don’t like fingerprints on my models so I use gloves to protect them.