Some snap shots of my Sunset Rio Grande SD9's

Thanks for sharing! They did a fantastic job with these. 

Your welcome Santiago. Yes these are a home run for the winning team. 

Erik C Lindgren posted:

 

In their native habitat.. barely a mile from Leyden siding

No 3 rail in these at all.. no sir

some super detail work and a full weathering and these are Key quality. 

Ok now we have seen the real SD9, how about the 3rd rail ones.  Just kidding. Looks real good.

REALLY sharp looking!

So .... how does it run? Slow-speed. Do you use DC or DCC?

Thanks. Jim

Jim, 

I am producing an Un-Box Therapy video and will obtain some running shots this weekend. I suspect they will run equivalent to my latest Key Model FT's they seem to have the same drive design and with claims to ball bearings on all corners. Certainly steep competition for any brass import. 

Nice. Did they have side mounted single chime horns on any of the real ones? Or just Nathan M3's?

Cool pics Eric.  Makes one think about outdoor O scale layout.  Right now,  "think"  is the operative word as it only 20 degrees outside here in Missouri!

Erik

CB&Q Blackbirds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

I've broken them in today. They run excellently and for straight from the box I'm ecstatic. I am running dc.. all the lights are on.. etc but they are just marvelous 

Erik, Very nice!

Erik the They look good in the video.  

I know Scott reads these threads - it would be nice to know why Sunset chose a tank drive for O scale.    Seems like a backwards step.   And yes, I know some C&LS tank drives run flawlessly but it still seems like a backwards step in a scale where accuracy and fidelity really can shine.

I can see keeping the space inside the carbody open for electronics but this trades off one good for another evil.

Available interior space is one reason.  Key also uses tank drives for all it's diesels.  Key does it so they can put an entire interior in each unit.  Tank drives do disallow using the tank for a speaker and the shafts are visible but they do take up the least amount of space internally.  They are also simpler and easier to maintain than internal shaft drives.  Midwestern uses an internal drive with the shafts lowered to right along the chassis as a compromise but they make it very clear if you do any maintenance or disassembly, whatsoever, of the drive the warranty is void.

New to the forum .....first thread I saw and WOW are they nice units....my 1990's mth look bland in comparison!!!

Is the layout in the video a modular? Where is it located?

Dave

Don't get me wrong I'm not a big fan of tank drives either.  My personal preference would be the Magic Carpet type drives in the trucks.  But the available motor torque and the resultant gearing down is just a maintenance trap in the making for that alternative.  I actually swore off of tank drives until I had about my 5th gear tower disintegrate in an Overland model, with very few operating hours, that I accepted tank drives as a tradeoff to the expense of a good internal drive like Midwestern,  which OBTW are about $1K each (and worth it for what you get).  If someone made a decent Weaver style drive that consistently ran smoothly that might be an good alternative but I've not seen one available yet.

I really enjoy these models. Top shelf -- they run as well as any of my fleet of Key Model Imports pieces. 

Really nice modelling and photography!

BTW, the drawings (if that is the correct term) that you've done, of the Rio Grande F7 and the ALCO ..... beautiful!!!

Jim

Erik, careful flying your drone near those trees! LOL!

Great pictures Erik, you are a wonderful artist.  You capture the realism and provide a real sense of drama what ever the subject is. Your love of the hobby and photography shines through.  Thank you so much for your advise and help through the years of making these models come to life.

Don't let some bad apples spoil your fun.  Moderator, do your moderating so the forum is free of personal snipes and insults.  My mother always told me, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

I am looking forward to returning home to the Holidays with my family.  Many of us have a lot to be thankful for, and anyone vertical should feel the same. 

Happy Holiday's Everyone, even the "Bad Apples".

Scott Mann

sdmann posted:

Great pictures Erik, you are a wonderful artist.  You capture the realism and provide a real sense of drama what ever the subject is. Your love of the hobby and photography shines through. 

Happy Holiday's Everyone, even the "Bad Apples".

Scott Mann

I'll second both of those, Scott, and add my sincere thanks to both of you for your creative contributions to our hobby during 2016. 

The Colorado crossbucks (with striping on the posts) are a nice touch, Erik.  One of many, of course, but, to me, they define the location.

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