How can Lionel improve or restore the fun factor in diesels. With all the neat sounds and actions in the latest Legacy and Vision steam engines, what can be done with diesels?
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If you pull too heavy a load you blow the turbo charger,then the 4 built in smoke units would all blow out smoke.
Customize the crew talk. Other than that, I can't think of anything
STEAM = external combustion
DIESEL = infernal combustion
IMO,not much, Lionels diesels are equally as exciting as the prototype. Lionel steamers are as equally more exciting as the prototype. I get chills when I see any of the surviving steamers running by blowing the whistle...........an SD-90 rolling through the crossing.......yawn.
Originally Posted by KevinB:
If you pull too heavy a load you blow the turbo charger,then the 4 built in smoke units would all blow out smoke.
I get the same effect with one smoke unit on my SD80
I have a few suggestions in terms of the E8 units (MTH).
1. The engine should have 2 smoke units or atleast exhaust smoke out both exhausts on each A unit.
2. All A and B units should have the smoke units + sound. It looks stupid when you have an ABBA set and the B units do not smoke or make any sound.
3. Each unit has 2 diesel engines in real life. Why don't the sound files represent 2 diesel engines? My DDA40X starts up one diesel and drives. Is the other out of service?
4. Its frustrating for the money paid that these companies cannot invest a few more $$$.
5. Deliver the locomotives on time
6. /Ranting
I would like to see the Ground Light on/off option for diesels.
Also those Cab light bulbs should be done away with and cab interiors lighted by Control stands with glowing guages!
Oh, I don’t know . . .
I had nothing but MTH diesel and steam locomotives until a few months ago, and then bought a Conrail NS Heritage Legacy SD70ACe diesel because I liked its color scheme. Because of it, I added Legacy to my MTH DCS layout, and I think it is great, and that Legacy SD70ACe is at the top of my favorite engines. I now have five Legacy diesels, three steamers (soon four) and one TMCC steamer; a three-truck Shay.
Granted, I really like the Legacy steam locomotives, particularly my Vision Challenger, but I am very pleased with the diesels as well. I like the quillable horns, the ditch lights, the ground lights, the various sound effects such as when reversing, decelerating quickly, etc.
I am really happy with the Lionel Legacy diesel locomotives, and also the MTH, BTW.
Alex
See my layout under construction here:
Find a way to make the smoke black. Especially for ALCOs!
There is nothing like watching a modern diesel weather it be model or prototype running with a full load. My favs are the AC6000's, ES44AC and even dash 8's and can't forget the SD70ACe. Steam engines to me are just boring to watch. Watch and collect what you like, one is not better then the other.
On a switcher...have the engineer stick his head out the window and turn it to the direction the train is moving.
