48/830 - The Model - My Observations
Received 3 this week, 2 sound, 1 non-sound.
General
The models look good, and arrived well protected in the usual cardboard box and plastic cradle insert. White boxes for sound versions, silver for non sound. Mostly intact but at least one (a friends) arrived in partly disassembled form.
DC versions are very quiet and very smooth runners.
Sand hoses (flexible plastic) are all over the place, on top of bogies, outside frames, behind steps. Will need to get a cattle dog, herd them up and get them properly yarded.
Sound (Noisy) and DCC Versions
Only using an MRC Black Box, but found some unusual operations.
The variety of cruise control and throttle selection functions cause some confusion. When is that function on or off? Couldn't tell easily. If left on, then the loco could not move on DC.
Engine notch settings did not seem to have much variation. When starting from standstill you can hear the engine speed/power increase, but there is not much variation once moving. Comments from others (actual former train crew) were engine only seemed to go to 4th notch and stay there.
Intriguing light function alteration using F7 and F9. Wow can play some games with the lighting variations!
Sound/DCC versions seemed to hunt/fight each other when MU'ing on DC. Difficult to stop without alternative shutdown/startups occurring.
Lots of momentum set. One needs to be patient on startup and plan well ahead for stops (unless you use F5).
Engine sounds too tinny (like a bucket of bolts) and volume set too high. Sounded much better with my finger over the radiator fan. Is this a cheap/poor speaker with too much engine volume? Could not find a volume reduction function. Is there one, especially for the engine sound, but not the horn?
I know, someone will say these should be run on a proper DCC system. This will happen sometime in the future.
Overall in my opinion 8/10.
Happy alcoing,
John