MTH Amtrak AEM-7 ?

Good afternoon Michael:

I have both releases, plus the Atlas models.  The 2016 improvements are more detail, a beautiful shell, LED lights / strobes, and the PS3 board.  The sound and functions on this unit are fabulous.  It's the coolest model I've ever owned.

The downsides are small and forgivable in my eyes:  the blue is a little too dark a shade, the 'Amtrak' decal on the nose isn't quite the right font, and the unit number on the sides is too thin.  I likely will fix them with my own decals in time.

Overall, a generally excellent model, and an easy choice over the old Atlas model unless you are a 'rivet counter'.  I run them off overhead wire.  See posts here and here for details on how they run and a search for some decal improvements.  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.  Also look for some new videos this week of the unit in action.

I have the 2009 model, it's a pretty good engine, I am happy with the operation and appearance.  I haven't seen the new PS/3 model.

No comment on the "old" version but I have the latest version and have been quite pleased with it. Lots of "light action". Sounds good, runs great!

SJC posted:

No comment on the "old" version but I have the latest version and have been quite pleased with it. Lots of "light action". Sounds good, runs great!

The LEDs make all the difference.  Those strobes look exactly like the real thing, and that odd pattern of flashing is perfectly duplicated.

As I said when I got this, right around Christmas time....."you can have a seizure from all the flashing lights!" (strobes, ditch lights, etc)

I actually considered putting epileptic disclaimers in my videos!

I love all those details.  I forgot to mention that when you crank one of these up beyond 50sMPH, they start to 'scream' like electrics do at speed, which is another fantastic detail.  It seems to me whoever designed the new model had an affinity for AEM7s; it shows in the level of thought and detail put forth.

Also of note is pantographs are painted a 'CN' sort of orange, (which isn't right), and they are not automatic.  The paint is easily stripped and replaced with conductive black if you are so inclined.  As far as auto-pans, I'm perfectly happy with manual operation given the grief I've had lately with the automatic pantographs on the MTH TRAXX.  It is an extremely cool feature, but the mechanism is not the best design and subject to issues if used enough.  It would have been a detriment on the new AEM7.

I received the new version of this last month.  IMO the paint and finish are not as good as the 2009 version.  So I decided to keep my 2009 instead.  

John, I have a few of your model.  PS-2 with a 3V board is still my favorite.  They all run from the catenary.  The pans are good and track the wire very well.

I have one of the 2009 versions, didn't see the need to upgrade.

I bought this one at York in Oct 2016 for $120.00...it was cheap so I figured I would buy it because when my younger brother was the engine house foreman at Sunnyside Yard I visited him in there 1994,and he let me pull 909 (and a couple others) onto the pit. It was a fun night until the FRA guy dropped by then I had to get lost...The NY Rangers also won the Stanley cup that night I remember ! The ride home on the train that night was crazy !

So very nice!    Thanks to all for the photos.   I seem to recall that the MTH AEM7's require a particularly wide curves?  Is that right? 

RadioRon posted:

So very nice!    Thanks to all for the photos.   I seem to recall that the MTH AEM7's require a particularly wide curves?  Is that right? 

Mine (latest production purchased Christmas 2016) is an 042 minimum - and they mean it! 

It doesn't even really "like" the 042 curves but it will begrudgingly go around them. 

My older version goes through 031 with zero issues...