New Sunset SD7/9 ....Yeah!

Thank you.  I just ordered a UP 3-rail SD-7.  After the ToT I want more 3rd Rail diesels.  

That's going to be a great model, but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend that kind of money for that or any other diesel. We'll see if I can resist temptation. Maybe if my ads on the Buy/Sell board work out...

I think of it as, if not a bargain, a dang good price.  It does have an ABS body, and at first that put me off a bit, but I trust 3rd rail to provide its usual detail, etc.  For that o get a scale, accurate, detailed model with cruise, sound, smoke, and all-wheel drive, etc. So I rate it as somewhere north of Legacy - all the features and Vison-like detailing.  And if it runs half as well as the ToT's loco, it is a jewel.   

Just to say...the "China drive' (really? Same drive philosophy as on Lionel PW diesels;

why not "Jersey drive"?) is just fine.

 

I have a 3rd Rail GE Dash-9 with the much-lauded single-motor/driveshaft/universal

mechanism. While in the process of painting/testing the loco, the drive failed (shaft/u-joint).

Lost interest in the project; sits in a box; brass ship ballast. Wish it HAD been a 'China".

I've reserved a 3rd Rail R-2 NYC electric; here's hoping. If I could just buy the body shell...

Thanks for the heads-up about the announcement, Jaygee. To be honest, the price is a little high for my liking, but I might have to look into reserving a Union Pacific SD7 or either a Chicago & North Western SD9 or the Southern Pacific "Black Widow" SD9. This will be my first 3rd Rail locomotive in my roster if I do make the reservation. 

Don't forget, if you would like another paint scheme, such as the SP Bloody Nose or Tiger Stripes, send Scott an email with your request. If he gets enough requests for the paint scheme, it's always a possibility to produce them. Such as the F7 Yellow Bonnets Those were not on the original order form.

I would like to see the EMD demo model for the SD7.

My experience is that those drives are pretty easy to fix, so it might be worth diving into that project.  

Any decent RC hobby shop cab fix you up with various sizes of U-joints.  I can't wait to see my PRR 8588 SD7 (ES15a)  slugging it out with Madison Hill at about .003 SMPH, with that big 567BC mill wound out in notch eight!   EMD forever !

I'm believing for photo-etch safety tread walkways and no zinc- shrink truck sideframes!

Also like to see rubber (insulation matl.)  air hoses  and MU cables on the pilot ends.  And how about six, tiny, scale D47 traction motors with 65:12 gear sets on each axle, working interior cab gauge lights, a fully functional crank hand brake on the long hood......ohhhhhh never mind !

Those of you that keep requesting EMD Demonstrator models, now is your chance to get the fantastic looking Red & Maroon, SD7 Demonstrator #990. Sunset/3rd Rail/GGD requires at least 20 reservation/orders to produce the Demonstrator model, so lets get behind this stunning model!

 

I have pulled-out the original EMD Styling & Painting drawing for this, and will be furnishing a digital scanned copy to Scott Mann at the Chicago O-Scale March Meet.

Got excited initially when I noticed that they're also offering it in Espee, but unfortunately it looks like they're only offering it in Black Widow (would prefer the bloody nose paint scheme).

 

Oh well.

i'm sure you can get one in Daylight, John!   

Not a problem, as Scott will offer whatever he receives 20 reservations for. The SP would have had three different paint schemes, i.e. as delivered SD7 ('Switcher' Tiger Stripes), SD9 as delivered Black Widow, and later "Bloody Nose" styling.

 

Think 20 of each!

"And if it runs half as well as the ToT's loco, it is a jewel."

 

and yet...yours is on a shelf.  what a waste!  

I will NOT support THAT!!!!

 

LOL, aside from the fact that unlike Lionel, Scott at 3rd Rail would never compromise his company's standards by selling railroads short including the SP by using inappropriately applied paint schemes like that, I'd leave that to those prototypically deranged and challenged heretics/heathens like Brian, Hancock52 and everyone else who jumped onboard that diabolical bandwagon. 

 

Neither would Scott.  He actually has class. 

I hope that in addition to roadname-specific details, that Scott will also make sure to model the railing stanchions that are specific to the SD7 (cast metal "T" bar type) and the SD9 (sheet steel) respectively.  Historically in O gauge the manufacturers tended to just use one design (the sheet steel) for both versions which while accurate for the SD/GP9 and later prototypes, isn't accurate for the GP7 & SD7.  It may be subtle, but it is noticeable nonetheless and is one of the quick identifying features to tell the difference between the two prototypes.