General Electric ES44ac 2 rail (MTH)

@Curtis1983 posted:

We would have it made if prototype railroad manufacturers actually made models for our hobby.

I recently bought an MTH 2 rail ES44ac, premier version.

My ES44ac is the BNSF 25th anniversary edition/paint scheme. I like the looks of this locomotive and must share my critique of it.

I would like to have a Lionel version of the ES44ac because I like the look of Lionel's trucks better than MTH. Comparing the trucks to the prototype, Lionel has better detail than MTH. I will do a 2 rail conversion of the Lionel ES44ac but it can only be done with the non-powered version.

MTH ES44ac 2 rail (good & bad)

Good:

1. Weight, This diesel is nearly as heavy as the prototype. It will kill any insect it runs over on the layout. If you have a weak or sore back, be careful and pick this up with both hands.
2. The body details are very good.
3. All lettering is clear, crisp and easy to read. Paint is crisp and neat. Compared to the prototype, the number of viscosity stripes is the same. The number and position of grills under the radiator is the same as the prototype. The upper radiator grills are see through. Air intake grills behind the cab are see through. The style of the handrails (GE style) is the same as the prototype. Everything is separately applied.

Grab Irons, Antennae, Horn (mine is crooked), coupler lift bars on both ends, real metal chains above couplers on walkways, Air hoses, snow plow on front (screwed on from underside).

1. Kadee couplers are easy to install. Screws are provided in box. The rear of the Kadee coupler box must be filed flat to make clearance for the truck swing.
2. The radiator section is attached by magnet. Inside the radiator there are controls for the smoke unit, DCC/DCS, 2 rail/3 rail switch.

BAD:

1. MTH for some reason didn't put the notch in the fuel tank on their O scale ES44's as they have done on their HO scale ES44s.
2. As mentioned above, the GE high adhesion truck detail isn't as prototypical as the Lionel version.
3. The multiple unit cable is not included.
4. Coupler height is off. The rear coupler is higher than the front.

I only wish that BNSF had placed on some of the SD70ACes.

Dick

But the handrail stanchions should be flat U shape shouldn't they? 

@Jason Dickie posted:

But the handrail stanchions should be flat U shape shouldn't they?

I don't think so. Here's a photo of the 6017 prototype. I do see where two of the MTH stanchions behind the engineer should extend below the walkway under the air intake grills.

I've found that some MTH engines need a shim to drop the coupler. I suspect that's due in part to small inconsistencies in the chassis stamping.

I've shaved the coupler boxes, but I've also found that the #743 short box/short shank coupler has sufficient swing to work well, even on the minimum curves. Mine made it through the hidden "O-72" Gargraves curve on the club layout which is 36" radius at the centerline (won't work with FasTrack O-72).

Like "CBQer", I too wish BNSF had repainted one of their SD70ACe's to Heritage. I have to live with my ATSF "Isle of Denial" unit. The major roads missed a big opportunity by repainting large fleets of acquired locomotives. Adding a simple tag line "Part of the [insert roar name] system" somewhere on the long hood would have saved time and renumbering. Just sayin'.

Please explain what is meant by "viscosity stripes."

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

Please explain what is meant by "viscosity stripes."

Viscosity stripes is a fancy term for reflective stripes. Railroads started adding these stripes to the sides of locomotives and freight cars for better night time visibility when light is shined upon them.

@Curtis1983 posted:

Viscosity stripes is a fancy term for reflective stripes. Railroads started adding these stripes to the sides of locomotives and freight cars for better night time visibility when light is shined upon them.

I thought they were called conspicuity stripes. When I hear the word viscosity, I think of Castrol GTX...

https://youtu.be/5MltG_OwaTI

Great review good details thanks for sharing. It is a sharp looking engine very well detailed.

I really like the MTH 2 rail engines I have vast fleet of mostly MTH both 2 and 3 rail. I find over any other brands the MTH are very reliable have a great variety of sounds and features can be run with DCS or DCC. They pull very well and have very good power pickup. Many of the other brands of 2 rail trains I have, need work to improve the power pickup.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I thought they were called conspicuity stripes. When I hear the word viscosity, I think of Castrol GTX...

https://youtu.be/5MltG_OwaTI

Actually you may be right. I admit to getting confused about terminology. I mix up antibiotic with antibacterial.

The first thing I see when I take the styrofoam lid off is all those incorrect handrail stanchions, what I can only describe as priest's hat cross-section .

I wonder if MTH looked at the real thing or just expected their toolmaker to get it right.  My old MTH U-boat has the same problem. I think it's to save tooling and assembly costs.  It's not like the real thing: 

http://rrpicturearchives.net/s...ture.aspx?id=2954732

Athearn got it right in HO, Atlas got it right on the Dash-8s.  Shallow, squared-off U.

Jason

@Jason Dickie posted:

The first thing I see when I take the styrofoam lid off is all those incorrect handrail stanchions, what I can only describe as priest's hat cross-section .

I wonder if MTH looked at the real thing or just expected their toolmaker to get it right.  My old MTH U-boat has the same problem. I think it's to save tooling and assembly costs.  It's not like the real thing:

http://rrpicturearchives.net/s...ture.aspx?id=2954732

Athearn got it right in HO, Atlas got it right on the Dash-8s.  Shallow, squared-off U.

Jason

I do see discrepencies with the MTH handrails compaired to the prototype.

What bothers me is O scale manufacturers too often take the "one size fits all" approach to save money.