Frisco Athearn SD40-2 Review

Last Saturday, Mike Peters (katyslug), Bob Wintle, Bob Hoover (friscofriend) and I saw the new Frisco Athearn SD40-2 up close. I can only speak for myself and was disappointed.

While the model packs lots of neat details like fan blades in the rooftop fans, superscale sized handrails, weathered grills, etc., there were three things I just couldn't get past.

The FRISCO lettering on the long hood was too bold. The unit number on the cab was too heavy. The number board lettering was too bold and not the right font. I noticed the same number board font was used in their new Rock Island SD40-2.

One more thing on the positive side, Bob Hoover brought an Atlas GP38AC shell to compare colors and, while a shade darker, I was ok with their version of mandarin ornage/chevy engine red.

Due to the lettering issues, I did not ask to put one on the test track to see how it runs. Maybe someone on the website can fill us in on that.

Unless I can get some glasses that will correct all that bad lettering, I am going to have to let these pass me by. Not sure if this can be fixed or not. I would be very interested to hear from others on their assessment of this model.

Too bad Athearn did not get with us to make this right.

Ship IT on the Frisco !

Rick

 

I didn't like them either. I just was disappointed in the color so much I had my mind made up in a matter of seconds. I also noticed that on both of the models I viewed the horns were damaged. I think they have a packaging issue. I will not be purchaseing any of these either.
Bob Wintle

 

Well, after hearing from you guys, I wont be buying one, I'll probably get the stewart U25B.

 

Regarding the U25Bs, I understand the delay is due to some retooling of the handrails for the Phase IV unit. If that is the case, we may have a winner with this one.

On the SD40-2's I have two Kato SD40-2s hidden away for Frisco paint and decals in the future. Looks like I am going to have to fire up the air compressor and airbrush.

Ship IT on the Frisco!

Rick

 

Well here it is. 955 arrived on the property today. For the price you will not find a better Frisco model. It runs good. I haven't installed a decoder so I don't know what that will do to the becon or the Mars light. As far as detail.. like I said it's probably best for the money as there are no SD40-2 out there. Like Rick said a Kato would be better but you have the major chicken wire issue to get past.
I have not painted the hand rails or weathered the unit. I believe these two aspects will go along way to helping the model resemble the real deal.
My two cents worth..I wouldn't pass it up. If for no other reason it's a rare Frisco unit (only ten) Athearn was thoughtfull enough to make one and it will disappear one day. Get it while you can, hate it now and love it later.
These pics are of a fresh from the factory model. A few hours and they will look much better.
If we don't support a manufacturers efforts we may be forgotten
There are more pics in my posting album pics

 

My two cents worth here is simple. Progress, albeit slowly is being made with Athearn. I worked with Athearn on getting the color right and personally feel they made significant progress. The locomotives on the shelf were sitting next to an earlier Athearn release (I believe a GP40) and one could definately see the difference. Athearn plastic in general is more glossy than other manufacturers and therefore light bounces off it more and makes the model look more toy like. I wish I would have taken my brass Overland caboose with me and put the locomotive up next to that. I believe a little weathering and an overspray of dullcote would go a long way on this model.
Rick is correct about the lettering issues he mentioned. I will look into addressing that with my contact at Athearn before the release of the GP15-1. He also failed to point out that the side handrails are solid orange (as seen in HWB's photos), but that's an easy fix. Also, they did correct an earlier error that I pointed out to them about not painting the top of the short hood orange. We did not put it on the test track, but HWB thankfully says it runs well.
On the positive side (someone correct me if I'm wrong here), I believe this to be the first production plastic locomotive that has the nose gyra-light already installed. It also had a very nice roof beacon in the proper location and the classification lights both front and rear were modeled. We didn't try it, but the shop owner said the side site glass had a sliding door.
In conclusion here is how I see this. The locomotive has an MSRP of $99.95. It has been reported by a group member to run well. The color is better than previous Athearn offerings, albeit still not perfect. The model has several Frisco specific detail already installed that make it look better. The average Frisco modeler could take this loco, snap off the shell, add a TCS decoder (the loco does have a harness) with its great light functions, install a bulb in the roof beacon and the nose gyra-light, fix the side handrails, do a little weathering and have a generally realistic looking Frisco model for under $200.00.

One more tidbit of information, this concerning Rick's comment about the handrails on the Stewart U25b. Stewart has a very unrealistic way of mounting their handrails as they stick into the top of he walkway vs. being atached to the side. Anyone who has an older Stewart model knows what I mean. The company rep pointed this out to me at the OKC Train Show and said at the time they would have liked to have been able to correct this but it would have added about $15.00 to the retail price of the locomotive. I told him that I felt the change was well worth the extra cost and most would be glad to pay it. The locomotive was due to be released this summer and has been delayed. The description says the locomotive will have a new die cast frame and new handrails so as to Rick's comment, that came from me telling him that I thought maybe the delay was due to changing the mounting of the handrails. At this point it is pure conjecture on my part.

Bob Hoover
FriscoFriend

 

I will have to lean toward Howard and Bob. It an't perfect, but then, neither is life. I give those of you who have not seen the model a comparison to the real McCoy. The "Frisco" is too thick, and the cab numbers are a little thick as well. Not sure that I can see what Rick is talking about with the number boards- they look pretty close to me.

Nice reviews all.

PS: Howard, where are the windscreen wipers?

 

Sherrel makes a good point about the photos. I would only point out two things.

One, the numbers on the numberboards that I saw in Wichita were as tall as the numberboards. The prototype numbers are shorter and there is a black space (1 maybe 2 inches) above and below the bottom and top of the numberboard.

Second, the numbers were more of a translucent white and not a bold white. On the model I saw the numbers were leaning toward a gray color instead of white. It is interesting that the photo shows a whiter number.

All in all the cab and long hood lettering left me wanting. If I can figure out a way to get better lettering on the cab and hood, I would consider the Athearn SD40-2. Stay tuned for that. The numberboards could be fixed easy enough along with the orange handrails. I will even overlook the strange color of orange on the stanchions.

Maybe I am a picky guy but we have been spoiled by Atlas and Genesis for some time now. Sure wished the Athearn people would have asked for input. I will now turn my scare hobby budget towards buying decoders for my late 1970s sessions. Already have three units on line.

RULE 1: It's your layout, do what you think is best. (I like Rule 1)

Ship IT on the Frisco!

Rick

 

As Denozo on NCIS would say, " Shutting up boss".

I like RULE 1.

 

IT may be. According to Athearn it's 88"

 

This may just be the picture but the White on the model looks a little on the creamy side. And finally some one else watches NCIS. I freakin' love that show. Our band director got the idea to smack the trumpets on the back of the head from Gibbs. Too bad I model the 1950's It really isn't that bad of a model Oh well!!!
Ship it on the Frisco!!!

Murphy Millican

 

Add two more avid fans of the show to the list, myself and katyslug.
Bob Wintle

 

If my memory serves me correctly, the white on the nose of the model is white. This abberation was probably due to HWB's lighting. It goes to point out that colors can change dramatically under different lighting conditions.

Bob Hoover
FriscoFriend

 

The model did have 5-chime horns, 3 forward/2 reverse but I'm not sure whether they were Leslie's or Nathan's As Bob Wintle pointed out earlier, the were loose and bent.

Bob Hoover
FriscoFriend

 

I got these two at Toy Train Heaven. Here are some shots after a trip to Consolidated Shops and road time.
My lighting isn't good in the layout room so I compensate with exposure time. The white is white in good lighting and the red orange is to dark.

 

That looks different now. Does anyone know if the stewart u25b will have the roof beacon and gyro lights installed and working? BTW, how do you paint the handrails white without painting the vertical ones? I mean the point were they intersect.