I have been turned to the dark side by MMW

And right he is!  Hmmmmm!

Good for you! Oh the excitement!

Yeah, I got convinced he's going to pull it off and I've always had a thing for those SD45s they're no SD40-2s but this 3 railer will give it a try with a first class entrance. 

Ill let you guys know when he actually "Surpasses all models to date"

I don't know who Midwest Model Works is or anything about these SD45s but if it got you that pumped up it must be something cool! Congrats! 

You are probably about to find out . . .

Eric, my dad just told me he has pics of the first time the SP SD45s ran. I think those are already digitized. Appearantly he's sitting on 10000 pictures from the 1960s lots of them from out west

I can't wait to see my MMW N&W 1776 High-Nose SD-45!!!   I even sent the second payment in months ago supporting him.

I missed the deadline but he emailed the builder and got me in. I was only gonna get one but I always buy diesels in pairs 

Erik, which ines did you order?

Excellent!

Erik L.  which ones?  paalleezzz,  D&RGW, what else

I've got 3 reserved too, one NW bicentennial and 2 SP SDP45s.  All P48.   I really hope he gets the samples to show at the March Meet.  I will then happily give him the second payment (even when I'm trying very hard NOT to spend too much money).

He told me he's going to Korea to get his samples before the Chicago meet

Matt Makens posted:

He told me he's going to Korea to get his samples before the Chicago meet

Having worked on lots of SD45 units, back in the day, I'll be sure to check them out carefully.

Jack, I'm sure he'd value any input you have

Erik, are you leaving us all hanging, what did you order?

I love the smell of burning kerosene in the morning!

My only fear is the project is so ambitious it is not delivered. I hope this is not what happens..... but seen it happen in the hobby biz way to many times. 

I think it may be the drive system  that is made here.

Just checked out their site. Oil pumps? Dipsticks? Wow, quite the gearboxes there. An ambitious project, for sure. 

Erik at MMW has been building the very same drive that is on the site here in the US since around 2000. The bodies will be made in Korea by the same builder that builds a lot of the Models for George Kohs. That drive is not ambitions its already being made and comes with a lifetime warranty. If you guys are looking for information I can answer some questions but you can also email Midwest Model Works and Erik will respond to your emails and answer any questions you may have. That's what I did and now I'm getting a couple. But hey, I guess speculation and conjecture is much more fun than facts and truth just ask the "media". These models are getting built, that much I am sure of.

Congratulations on the voyage in to 2 rail, I'm sure you will love it.

We have a beautiful 2 rail layout at the club that I fully plan on utilizing for these beauties.

Heres the SP's SDP45's when they were bran new on the maiden voyage.

That drive will pull the 5 pound loco and a 5 pound brick at 1/2 a volt with smooth as silk operation. That flywheel is huge and those ball bearings must make all the difference. Incredible engineering and made in the USA!!!

Firewood posted:

Just checked out their site. Oil pumps? Dipsticks? Wow, quite the gearboxes there. An ambitious project, for sure. 

 

Yup, Erik has been making these drives for over a decade as upgrades and they go for $1K plus.  So for $2800 your getting a $1K drive system.  That in itself is a first for brass models.

Matt Makens posted:

I just pulled the trigger on a pair of Midwest Model Works SD45's.........s

Start saving your loose change from under the sofa cushions,

Erik, you still havent told us which ones you ordered.

MWB, I already shook out the sofa to get the change for something else

Hey Darth, do you already have a 2 rail layout?

MWB, I already shook out the sofa to get the change for something else

Guess you're reduced to knocking over Wa-wa's now...........

Naw, I just need to get a 5th job

I have a C&LWS C&O RSD-12 being repowered by MMW.  Can't wait until it is finished.

Larry

These locos also hold a special place in my heart.  When going to the university in San Luis Obispo, Ca in the early 1970s the Southern Pacific main line was literally right behind my apartment bedroom window (maybe 50 feet at most).  One direction went up to the infamous Cuesta grade so the engineers were putting the peddle to the metal as they went by.  Just incredible noise!!!  I used to escape school and go to the SP yards and spend more time than I should there.  The SD-45s were my favorite motive power and were awesome.   At that time the SP employees were very nice and let me wander around.  I suppose liability was not even a thought then.

I told you not to buy that DCS stuff... oh wait... 2 rail... that's not that dark...  go ahead then...

I saw the plans at the Indy O Scale show.  They're spectacular!

Welcome to the great world of 2R O SCALE!

You are not a jedi yet young Makens. You need a few of those Key Model Imports Warbonnets.

There is no try....do or do not!

now we have to convince Erik to put DCC /sound in those beutifull engines

Cor

yes i have a D&RGW on order, can't wait till it is on the move

LLKJR posted:

I have a C&LWS C&O RSD-12 being repowered by MMW.  Can't wait until it is finished.

 

Larry

I thought Henrys models were good running  drives, obviously not at the level of MMW but for straight imports still good, Correct me if I am wrong  but I do not believe the Key diesels had any better drive. 

Im trying to figure out how to get the LOKSound to run all those lights and the fans

hibar posted:

LLKJR posted:

I have a C&LWS C&O RSD-12 being repowered by MMW.  Can't wait until it is finished.

 

Larry

I thought Henrys models were good running  drives, obviously not at the level of MMW but for straight imports still good, Correct me if I am wrong  but I do not believe the Key diesels had any better drive. 

I bought two RSD-12's and sold one which ran great.  The one I kept had issues that I do not blame Henry for those issues.  Henry's stuff was/is great.

Larry

Matt,

Welcome to 2-rail. At this time, are you holding on to your 3-rail home layout & 3-rail models & just plan to run those 2-rail models at the Twin-City Museum or are you getting out of 3-rail? I ask because I might have read one of your posts a few years ago, when you were hesitant to switch to 2-rail because of the large number of 3-rail models you owned.

These are just my opinion.

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

Naveen, I have a special place in my heart for 3 rail and the layout and collection aren't going anywhere. I plan on running these at the museum.