Product Review ScaleTrains HO GP30 DRGW - Rio Grande Locomotive!
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- Product Review ScaleTrains HO GP30 DRGW - Rio Grande Locomotive!
EMD's GP30 diesel locomotives were built starting in the early 1960s. The GP30 had a four-axle B-B configuration and produced 2250 horsepower.
These general purpose locomotives were used by railroads throughout North America. A few GP30 locomotives are still in service today.
Denver & Rio Grande Western purchased a number of GP30 locomotives new from EMD. The model in this review, 3013, represents a unit delivered to the DRGW in 1963.
This model train runs well and is loaded with detail.
As usual, after the unboxing, Dan evaluates the model’s packaging, prototype accuracy, paint & detail, and how well it operates and conforms to applicable standards.
If you're a fan of the Rio Grande, Electro-Motive diesels, or just like trains in general, be sure to check out this review!
#train #modeltrains #scalemodels #scaletrains #gp30 - Jak na to + styl
Dan, Your reviews are SPOT ON!! You sir are a great review person. Objective. Not a slanted view either THANK YOU SIR!
I appreciate that. I'm glad you like the review format. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi Ever hear of D & G passenger trucks?
@@NormanSilver The name sounds vaguely familiar but I’ve never had any.
Look up D & G HO paasenger car trucks. Be prepared for a pleasant surprise. I have a '37 MHP Coast Daylight with them. The GS-2 pulls them with ease.
Hello Dan, at 4:35 the pipe coming out from under the frame is the drain for the engine compartment. When the automatic freeze plug drops the water into the engine compartment, it as well as other fluids drain out that tube
I was hoping someone would know. I have an old Proto 2000 Rio Grande GP30 that I'm planning to upgrade, and I'll have to add that part. Thanks so much for the info and for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi my pleasure, if you need a closeup picture of that hose let me know ;)
Very impressive and enjoyable product review, it is great that Scaletrains has finally produced a 4 axle emd diesel engine model. I may possibly consider purchasing one of these gp30 models in the future, I am considering between the UP, DRGW and C&NW road names ; from my personal observation from many review videos Scaletrains has produced a well detailed/ efficiently operating model of both the emd sd45 and gp30. This video was a treat to watch as always and the observation detail criticism is well appreciated- Tom.
They did a really nice job on this model, and on the SD45s, too. Most of the models they've been putting out lately are excellent. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!
Great review once again. Truly do enjoy your objective and quality videos. Thanks. More please!
I'm glad you liked the review. There will be more coming. I have a bit of a backlog of things to review right now. Thanks for watching!
Scale trains sure seems to be aptly named. Thank you for the review Daniel.
They've been making some really nice stuff lately. Thanks for watching!
Scaletrains do make very nice models.
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
Great review Dan!
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
outstanding review. Thanks for the detailed look at.--
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Picked up two of the DRGW units myself along with a CSX slug. Nice to finally see accurate models of these! Great video
I'm curious, does the CSX slug version lack prime mover noises? I'm sure they did a nice job on it. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi hi Dan, I actually got the DCC-ready copy of this one so I can’t say, but I assume it would lack the prime mover sounds because the Rapido F40 “cabbage” models have an ESU decoder and they lack the prime mover sound. -Matt
Well, the good news is the couplers came out correct height after changing out for KD158!!! My understanding is the fireman cab side was longer on the phase 2 GP30's to accommodate an extra seat on that side. As far as the rerailer, D&RGW used the "butterfly" style up until about 1979 or so and after that switched to the McCarty style as seen on this engine. My modeling period is 1977-1984 or so (late caboose era) and while these models are labeled by ScaleTrains as late 1988-1994, the details such as roof antenna, plow, nose signal light were changed over time. The D&RGW GP30 was originally delivered with Mars lights on the low nose, but Mars went out of business around 1977 so after that if the light failed, Rio Grande had to use Pyle Gyra lights instead so they were changed out in some GP30's.
I was happy about the couplers coming out right without having to do extra work like I normally do. Thanks for all the info. I found photos of the real thing, but I've learned that sometimes the stated date for a particular photo is incorrect. The 1988-1994 era is perfect for me. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi While not always true, we tend to gravitate to a period that impressed us such as teens and twenties. In my case, 70s and 80s in northern California and Colorado. Of course cabooses were the norm and even today, cabooseless trains look like something is missing, like a missing bookend. D&RGW removed cabooses from mainline trains in 1985. They did retain a few for special moves. Your period is essentially cabooseless, which does save you the effort of finding cabooses. But lucky for SP fans, Athearn Genesis has already offered a nice variety of bay windows as well as Centralia! More are on the way from Centralia via Intermountain very soon. Anyway, the ScaleTrains GP30 is perfect for your period. DRGW diesel did wander across Donner Pass in the 80s and 90s according to Rio Grande Diesels by Joseph Strapac. Cheers.
well two good things happened today, first my two GP30's turned up in the mail and second i stumbled apond your review (nice job by the way). what a great day. was just a little bit disappointed with the rerail frog hanging on this loco all my photos show different style on nearly all Grande locos. that would have been a 5 point deduction in my book. couplers not so much as i changed those anyway as matter of course then tested the hight. perfect. thanks again for a great review
I'm glad you got your models. I think I mentioned in the review that, at least on 3015, at different times photos I found show it with a different style of re-railing frog, with one like those on the model, or without anything on the bracket. Since this would be a removable item on the real engine, I didn't consider it necessarily incorrect. I'm pretty sure the more triangular style of re-railing frog sometimes seen on Rio Grande units is (or was) available as a detail part. Thanks for watching!
I saw Shane Wilson at the train show in Denver. I asked him to consider doing a 2900 class 4-8-4 at&sf.
Great suggestion! I'm sure they'd do an awesome version of that. Thanks for watching!
Viva Denver and Rio Grande & Western! Nice model.
It is nice. I like it a lot. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi You're welcome Dan.
Excellent informative review 👍😁😁🚂🇬🇧
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
I'm going to buy some of them.
They're nice models. Thanks for watching!
I got a pair of CNW units in this run, my first purchase from ScaleTrains. The only thing that I noticed with mine is that the rear headlight bleeds light through the rearmost radiator dan.
Mine does that too. I didn't notice it until after I'd finished the review. Some black tape or a thin piece of plastic under the fans inside the shell might help that. Thanks for watching!
Nice
Thanks for watching!
Nice review as usual. I think your substantive style of review provides a lot of information for viewers, thanks. I bought a UP model as well and I really like it. I have just finished all of my momentum, volume, and lighting Cv setting up and it runs, sounds and looks great. I really do wish ESU would add an equalizer because I think this sound file could be incredible sounding with some minor tweaking…although I think I remember early EMD turbo units having quite the shrill sound.
I'm glad you liked the review. It sounds like the UP version is pretty nice, too. I still have to tweak the CVs and do all the programming setup on mine. Thanks for watching!
Great review, Dan. Beautiful model, the GP30 is my favorite locomotive. I'm hoping Scale Trains will come out with SP and/or SSW versions soon. I do like the DRGW stuff though.
Considering that they did relatively few roadnames this time, I wouldn't be surprised if they did another run with different ones. Even though I mostly model SP, the GP30s are a little old for my era. Thankfully Rio Grande still had theirs in the 90s! Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi I would expect another run as well. I think Santa Fe had over 100 GP30's and they weren't in the first run. I'm modeling the 60's and 70's so the SP GP30's will fit right in. Interesting that the General Motors automotive division had a hand in designing the appearance of the GP30.
I got 3014. I found a few minor issues with my locomotive. The drop step on the front of my locomotive seemed crooked when it the raised position looking at it straight on. Also from the photos I found of my locomotive the nose light had a orange casing not black. I also read that the DRGW had some locomotives where the nose light could be switched from flashing to steady. From what I gathered the GP30 were originally equipped with such nose lights.
Sorry to hear you had issues with your model. I'm surprised that ScaleTrains got the color of the nose light wrong. That would have been a deduction if I'd reviewed that model. I had not heard of the nose light having dual modes like that. Interesting. Thanks for the info and for watching!
I'm here for the coupler height comparison. 😂
I'm glad you like that part. Thanks for watching!
Very cool locomotive Dan! I'm waiting for run 2 which will most likely have the BNSF version (GP39E) in it!
That would be cool. For a while I'd been thinking of kitbashing one of the BN units. I might have to take a look at those if and when they do that version. Thanks for watching!
Great review as usual Dan! Let's hope that ScaleTrains releases some classic 4 axle switchers following this excellent one. I had a question on when you use #158 whisker couplers vs. #5. I would think that the separate copper coupler spring on #5's could make a slight difference in height if needed, otherwise use the #158 ? regards, NS.
You might have a point, but I haven't tried that. Usually I use the 158s because they tend to work better in non-Kadee draft gear boxes. I've had trouble at times with the spring action with the 58s and other older style Kadees. I haven't done a comparison between the two types to see how much height difference there is. Thanks for watching!
I have DRGW 3023 in transit right now, hopefully mine is just as perfect as your example! Great Review!
My name is Uncle Ariel Ethan Mermaid.
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I'm glad you liked the review. I hope your model is great, too! Thanks for watching!
Nice locomotive and review. Think the penalty on couplers is a bit harsh--max at 5 points IMO. Thx Dan!
I'm glad you liked the review, regardless of the coupler height result. Thanks for watching!
If they offer it in C&O, I won't be able to part with my money fast enough!
That would be cool. They had a relatively limited number of road names this time around, so I'm hoping they'll do more in the future. I'm happy to have the Rio Grande unit. Thanks for watching!
What cradle do you use? Looks like it’s shaped in such a way that it wouldn’t crush handrails or sunshades. Been looking for something like that.
They're by Steadi Rest. I have a couple in HO and a couple N versions too. They don't crush sunshades, but you still have to be careful because the foam can snag the sunshades and bend them when pulling the model out. I try to remember to spread the sides a little to keep that from happening. I got them at a local hobby shop. Thanks for watching!
Dan, this is a phenomenal looking model. Scale trains did a really good job with it. Since you're replacing the couplers with Kaydee whisker couplers any way...losing 10 points for coupler height issues really is not a problem, lol Thanks Dan.
It is really nice. If I gave extra credit, I would be tempted to refund a few points for having the Kadees come out exactly right without having to do any work. Thanks for watching!
That looks like a nicely detailed and good running loco. Is it my device, or is that horn sound a bit pathetic?
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I bought this model and I got to say that the sound is not as good as some of my other scale trains.
Volume for things like that can usually be adjusted independently by setting CVs. Surprising that it's so quiet out of the box, but hardly a big deal.
OMG the couplers at half a millimeter too high. It really isn't a credible review when you take off 10% of the score for trivialities that. That's well within specs of what you'd see on the prototype.
My rationale for being super strict about coupler height comes from experience, and watching half of my train roll back down a hill because of unwanted uncoupling. I did a program on fixing coupler height a while back on the channel that explains it in detail. I even made a (hopefully funny) cartoon. Thanks for watching!