SPECIAL EXTENDED REVIEW: SCALETRAINS MUSEUM QUALITY EMD SD45X!

[@MattKonsol]

Very nice review of the scale trains museum quality emd sd45x. The paint on it looks really crisp on it and it sounds really awesome! Scale trains did a nice job at this!

[@randallellison6421]

@MattKonsol yeah, so far it's ran great and the lighting and sound effects are amazing! The only things I think Scaletrains could improve on would be the warped railings (which honestly, that's an industry wide problem, not just confined to Scaletrains) and the cab light is REALLY bright, but I think that part can be fixed with a little CV tuning! Other than that, this thing is fantastic, thanks for watching!

[@Floyd-Robbins]

Randall you've got a great looking engine there. Thanks for showing us.

[@randallellison6421]

@@Floyd-Robbins Thanks, and no problem, Floyd!

[@HaroldAlexis-bb8sd]

Hi Randall I saw the Video short from Scale Trains over the Weekend. The details are amazing on this EMD SD 40 X Demonstrator locomotive. 👍

[@randallellison6421]

@HaroldAlexis-bb8sd yeah, saw the same short, but video really doesn't do this locomotive justice! Have gotten mine and held it, this thing is a beast!

[@MainTrack]

Another fantastic review, Randall! Looks and sounds like an awesome unit. I've always though that demonstrator scheme is pretty sharp. Makes me miss seeing those Oakway SD60s back in the 90s.

[@randallellison6421]

@MainTrack Thanks, Mike! Yeah, I grew up seeing those Oakway SD60s working BN unit coal trains. Darn shame they're not around anymore! But as they say, "nothing lasts forever", thanks for watching!

[@dkservice424]

Just got mine yesterday. I love it. Nice job on the review.

[@randallellison6421]

@dkservice424 awesome and thanks!

[@monsvillerailways5736]

Nice detail and sound, Randall. Very intetesting to see the extra detail when compared to other model. Enjoy running her. Happy modelling.

[@randallellison6421]

@@monsvillerailways5736 Yeah, this is definitely a nice model, and it does has a few unique features not found on the Rivet Counter locomotives! I am impressed with the smoothness of how it runs, especially at very low speed, definitely giving it an A+ in that department! Thanks for watching!

[@beedizzl1]

That is a stout looking machine. Mine gets in 2mrw and I’m going to just stare at it for the first 2hrs. Nice review you’ve put together for us. Thnx.

[@randallellison6421]

@beedizzl1 Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! We'll find out just how stout this model is for sure in a couple of weeks! The club display is coming up, and their HO layout is perfect for maxing out the pulling power of locomotives! Thanks for watching!

[@beedizzl1]

@@randallellison6421 Let us know! JlWII (sp) did a pull test on his doodad & said the results were equivalent to 65 cars. Thnx my Fren

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very cool, nice through review Randall! (Dave).

[@randallellison6421]

@StormySkyRailProductions Thanks, Dave! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@4everdc302]

Very nice, Randell. It's an EMD demonstrator I dont have.🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@randydobson1863]

Hi Randall & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Randall & Friends Randy

[@randallellison6421]

@@randydobson1863 Thanks, Randy!

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Neat locomotive; surprised it doesn't have smoke and fans running

[@randallellison6421]

@ivoryjohnson4662 Yeah, that's really all it's missing! But in a way, I'm kinda glad it doesn't have a smoke unit. This might sound odd to some people, but I feel having a smoke unit would have been a bit overkill for this model (same goes for their SDL39 as well). Plus, I've heard mixed reviews regarding BLI's smoke units in their diesels, so I'm glad Scaletrains didn't jump into the fray with their Museum Quality or even Rivet Counter lines just yet. We'll see what happens down the road as more locomotives get added to the Museum Quality line and, more importantly, how their N&W 611 (which, if I remember correctly, will be marketed under the "Fox Valley" line) performs, which will debut their newly designed smoke unit for the ex MTH tooled steam locomotives. That might give us a clue on the possibility of smoke being added to other models (Rivet Counter and/or Museum Quality lines) in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@bruinsfan9645]

I have a smoke unit on mine, Ive also drilled two holes in the fuel cell so I can fill the tank. Ive installed little electrical fans for the engine’s to cool efficiently, That also gave me a chance to build a hydraulic pump unit and tank to activate the hydraulics on the train.

[@randallellison6421]

@@bruinsfan9645 nice!

[@vuurvrproductions4656]

that boxing is NICE.

[@randallellison6421]

@vuurvrproductions4656 yeah, Scaletrains really knows how to make a statement with these Museum Quality locomotives! Thanks for watching!

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

nice loco thanks the great vlog on channel keep up the great vlog thanks lee

[@randallellison6421]

@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204 Thanks, Lee, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@rickeyhall4254]

I have two Overland Brass Sd45x units. But I am buying to scale trains with different numbers.

[@dm6365dm]

nice review, was wondering how they were going to do the rear crosswalk lights, they just left them off ( yes 2 of them ),( the two horizontal dimples ) and no, you cant see through the radiators on the real ones.

[@randallellison6421]

@@dm6365dm ah, okay, good info, thanks for watching!

[@TobiasL1000]

Wait? A museum quality steam engine? Holy. Any rumors what it could be?

[@randallellison6421]

@TobiasL1000 Yeah, it's been in the works for a couple of years now. Unfortunately, we still don't know what this locomotive will be as of yet as Scaletrains is keeping that info pretty tight-lipped. We do know from past interviews Shane Wilson did on other channels that it will have a smoke unit and synchronized chuff, as well as innovative new features not currently found in HO steam locomotives (which we also do not know as of this writing what those could possibly be yet). While there are no rumors floating around, there have been many theories on various channels. One theory I had personally was it could be the Frisco 4-8-2 "Mountain" type, namely 1522, although that now seems unlikely as Broadway Limited Imports has announced plans to do those locomotives. Other theories have circled around various SP steam locomotives, Cotton Belt 819 was one I heard mentioned, Southern 'Crescent' 1401 was mentioned a couple of times, and the list goes on. The one thing we can say for sure is that this will very likely be a locomotive that has not been done in plastic and, especially, to this level of detail before. There's a lot riding on this project, and Scaletrains really wants to make a splash with it, but as to what it is, we won't know until it's officially unveiled, all we can do is guess and play the waiting game at this point! Thanks for watching!

[@TobiasL1000]

@@randallellison6421 there is an Interview In Front of a RR Club of the ScaleTrains CEO where he mentioned that the next steamer after the J-Class will be a Berkshire. Then they plan challenger, G4, Big boy and Allegheny. I don’t know in what order. But he didn’t mentioned any museum quality If you ask me they will bring cylinder steam. ESU has released some German steamers in h0 with this function. Also a frog detector like with the actual museum quality is very likely. Metalbody would also be awesome. I don’t like plastic for steamers. Personally I’m a fan of PRR and N&W. Especially the really big engines like a class a and Y6B. We don’t have these here in Europe. Anyway I’m looking forward to a museum quality steamer! Hopefully the price is affordable for me and they bring some rolling stock with it.

[@TobiasL1000]

@@randallellison6421 Shane Wilson gave the interview. Was a long one about 30-40mins. Couldn’t find the video so fast now

[@randallellison6421]

@TobiasL1000 Yes, those particular models you mentioned are from the ex MTH tooling and will be marketed under the Fox Valley line. MTH did make German and European models for the HO 3 rail market (I found this out from Anthony Dodge The Model Train Outsider), which was likely part of the acquisition by Scaletrains, however there's been no word from Scaletrains if they'll even bring those particular models to market, especially given that companies like Mearklin have a stranglehold on that market. While I did mention the future Museum Quality steam locomotive would be done in plastic, I think it's more likely it'll be diecast metal. If they do any rolling stock to go with the steam locomotive (or more accurately, the era it will represnt), it's likely those will be done in the Rivet Counter line.

[@randallellison6421]

@TobiasL1000 He also did an interview with Drew at NorDel ModelRR a couple of years ago where he talked about the MTH acquisition as well as the Museum Quality steam locomotive. Not sure if that's the one you were referring to, but Shane went in-depth with their future plans. Alot of what has delayed the release of the first of the ex MTH tooled steamers until now was they had to manufacture new side rods on top of fitting their motors and the ESU Loksound V5 decoders into these models. It's a little surprising the Berkshires will be the second steam locomotive announced from that tooling, it seemed like signs were pointing towards the GS-4 Daylight or Big Boy (the other 2 of the so-called "Big 3" steamers), but if it is the case that the Berkshire is the next locomotive announced, this is actually a good move by Scaletrains, as there really isn't a higher end model currently on the market at the present time (yes, there is Bachmann and BLI that have produced them in the past, but I've heard that reliability is a concern with those particular models), so Scaletrains could get a leg up on the competition there.

[@rickeyhall4254]

70,8" The same length as a Sdp45, sd45t-2, sd40t-2.

[@randallellison6421]

@rickeyhall4254 good info, thanks for watching!

[@raymondleggs5508]

Almost looks like a Croatian railway's paint scheme.

[@randallellison6421]

@raymondleggs5508 while I don't know much about that Railroad, just from images I just Googled, it certainly has that flavor to it! Either way, I love the EMD demonstrator schemes from the 1960s all the way up to the 90s, they're such brightly colored and classy schemes, and Scaletrains really nailed it! Thanks for watching!

[@brianbenson1973]

Very cool Randall! 👍

[@randallellison6421]

@brianbenson1973 Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@DynamicDuo795]

SD45's are 3600HP, not 4000 or 4200.

[@randallellison6421]

@DynamicDuo795 Yes, the standard SD45s were rated at 3600hp. The SD45X, however, was rated at 4200hp, which is why I stated that in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@hobbeekid]

Don’t know why they would call them “museum quality” since none of them exist anymore 😅

[@randallellison6421]

@hobbeekid it is rather unfortunate that not a single prototype of the seven built was preserved, especially since one made it past the year 2000! That being said, "Extinct Locomotive Line" just doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well as "Museum Quality" does, lol! Thanks for watching!

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

It’s certainly an interesting and well-done model. The gadgetry is very cool-especially the lighting, but the handrails are not straight, square and plumb and the appearance of the model suffers from that. There’s too much lag time between the sound of the engine revving up and movement of the locomotive but I don’t know if that puzzle can be solved. A good review isn’t so much about pointing out details on a model as it is about showing us what it can do and how does it do it. Pointing out details on a model and calling it a review is like reading a lecture from a powerpoint presentation. It’s just torture. What I want to know is what is your opinion of it? Be brave and tell us what’s good and what’s bad and don’t tell me that this is any kind of “museum” quality model because it’s not. You could be like Model Railroader and give any free sample you get a five-star review because you want to be nice. Or you could be brave and tell it like it is from a critics point-of-view. Honest manufacturers will look for honest feedback. That’s what a real review is.

[@randallellison6421]

@douglasskaalrud6865 Well, I'm sorry my review doesn't meet your expectations. Not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, but I do this as a fun pastime, not as a job! When it comes to scoring models, I leave that up to guys like Dan Cortapassi when it comes to things like that, they are far more versed in those areas than I am. These reviews I do, are really more of a hybrid of a review and what my good friend Anthony Dodge The Model Train Outsider likes to call a "First Impressions" video. Also, all that stuff you mentioned about the lag between the engine rpms and locomotive movement can be fixed with a little CV tuning. The main things I care about when looking at a model and testing it is if the sound quality is good (meaning there's no crackling in the speakers, the sound level is good, that kind of stuff), all the lights work, and that it runs smoothly, which so far, it's passed with flying colors in those departments, well find out how good it can pull here in just under a couple of weeks when it heads to the club display! I could bash it for all the things you mention (although I do agree to some extent about the warped handrails, but thats an issue that plagues most manufacturers locomotives, not just Scaletrains), but then I'd ripping it for things I know little to nothing about, which again, that's where guys like Dan Cortapassi comes in, who has way more knowledge than me on that subject! So yes, I don't review models as harshly as some people would like, but it saves me from possibly giving out bad info, not to mention, there's that good ole "luck of the draw" thing, where what you see wrong on this model, may not be affecting the ones other people have, so I take that into affect as well! Hope this helps explain my thought process when reviewing stuff, thanks for watching!

[@larrybaughman618]

🤠👋🚂🗯

[@randallellison6421]

@@larrybaughman618 thanks for watching!

[@scrashnet]

PLEASE, stop using DIGITAL ZOOM!!!

[@randallellison6421]

@@scrashnet The only reason I do this is so people can see the details better, thanks for watching!