Product Review HO Athearn SD90MAC-H2 UP
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2020
- Athearn's HO scale EMD SD90MAC-H Phase 2 is the subject of this review. These massive 6000 HP diesel locomotives didn't last long on the Union Pacific, but are very interesting engines nonetheless. This highly detailed model train from Athearn features LED lighting, DCC, and sound! Dan evaluates the model's packaging, prototype accuracy, paint & detail, and how well it operates and conforms to applicable standards. If you like early 2000's UP motive power you won't want to miss this one!
- Jak na to + styl
The model is more reliable than the real thing
Yes, I certainly hope so! Thanks for watching!
Holy smokes! I think this is the first perfect score I've seen in one of your reviews. Pretty nice unit!
You could learn from this you have to be picky
@@YADNUM8967 I do what I feel like doing on my own channel. This is a hobby after all and it's also model trains. I've mentioned at least a dozen things in the last few reviews. Plenty specific enough for me. Dan has also been in this hobby far longer than I have so he has an eye for details and is a more demanding modeler.
@@jlwii2000 Holy smokes! You got butthurt fast. lol
@@YADNUM8967 whatever you say Joe.
@@jlwii2000 I like your reviews anyways.
Shocked. The SD90MAC are one of my favorite locomotives so it is great to see Athearn did a good job on this one. I have the Kato one and this is sure a major improvement in detail. I know there are others that have reviewed this locomotive that knocked it for the plastic couplers and plastic handrails. Thanks for the review. Looked great zoomed in.
My preference would be for metal couplers and handrails. I consider that a preference, though, so I haven't been taking points for it. If plastic handrails are excessively deformed, then I will deduct points. For sure, though, before I use this engine I'll be changing over to Kadees. Thanks for watching!
First time ever seeing a perfect review
It's happened a handful of times so far. It's always nice when it does. Thanks for watching!
Your reviews are very helpful with the purchasing process. Thanks.
I'm glad you like them. Thanks for watching!
Very impressive and attractive sd90mac h phase ll model from Athearn Genesis, it's a shame that the real locomotives had a brief service life of approximately 5 years in operation as these were some of EMD's ultimate powerhouse locomotives. Athearn has truly improved their locomotive features and details over the past 5 years from my personal view, this sd90mac h model is amazing and it's great to see that Athearn Genesis has produced the sd80/90 mac series models within recent years - Tom.
I'm glad you liked the review. This is a neat engine. I'm looking forward to running it when I get my layout going. Thanks for watching!
That's one helluva unit, and nice review, definitely agree with the score it got!
Thanks for watching!
A perfect score on this ATHEARN beauty! I've learned something as I watched & listened. What a short career for the prototype. But a longer one for our model. 🙂 Thanks for this review..
Athearn did a good job on this one. Thanks for watching!
Fun fact: This particular unit was sold to Cummins (presumably after all the leasings expired) as a testbed for the QSK95 engine (numbered CECX 1919). Afterwards, it was given to the Knoxville Locomotive Works (now numbered KLWX 1998), and as far as I'm aware it currently lives on the Yadkin Valley Railroad.
That's interesting. I've heard the real ones were pretty bad which is why UP ditched them so fast. I wasn't aware of the dispositions, but it's cool that at least one survived. Thanks for the info and for watching!
A lot did also get shipped overseas to Australia as well, hauling ore trains to this day.
Really like your reviews, I have had on my eye on that particular loco for a while, im definitely getting one now 👍
Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
Wow. That is one awesome locomotive. I model the 70's but would love to have one of these just to have it !!! Great review Dan.
It doesn't really fit into my early to mid 1990s era either, but I still like it. Thanks for watching!
Even if you don't have a layout this is a model worth collecting - a true brass beater
They did a nice job on this one. Thanks for watching!
This is my favorite biggest diesel loco, I've got several of these in different road names, including, 2 Conrails, 1 The Indiana Railroad, 3 CEFXS, and one was undecorated but I had it painted/detailed, to the original green/white to Burlington Northern., Great video, 😉😁👍
They're cool looking locomotives. I have one of the Kato UP SD9043ACs, too. I'm working on detailing it. Thanks for watching!
Wow, I was expecting these to be good, but for an athearn to get a perfect score on this review really is something special. I’m eagerly awaiting the SD80MAC’s and SD70ACU’s that are sure to follow. Keep up the great work Dan
They did a good job on this one. Thanks for watching!
Norfolk Southern bought close to 100 units from UP and Citi it traded rebuilt switchers, Trains 21 gives the history..Norfolk Southern calls the rebuilds SD70ACU numbered in the 7,000. This along with AC44c6m rebuilds allowed them to get a large number of AC traction locomotive at half the cost. Canadian Pacific is also rebuilding some of their SD90MACs
Great information! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to get one of those models one day! I have the UP 4141 from Athearn, and I love it! Amazing review! Please stay safe, and have a great day!
Thanks for watching!
Daniel Cortopassi you’re welcome!
Great review
Thanks so much!
Wow! Congrats Athearn!!!
They did a good job on this one. Thanks for watching!
Great review Dan! That's neat that this model got a perfect review score. The prototype didn't last long but it was interesting prototype nonetheless.
It was. Thanks for watching!
I've been drooling over these. I'll have to wait a while to get one, probably second hand off ebay eventually.
If you're patient enough you can usually find what you're looking for on eBay. I buy stuff there frequently. Thanks for watching!
This engine and the Rapido Trains Inc. RDC are the only pieces of ho scale equipment to receive a 100% score on your reviews Dan! Great job Athearn.
I think the RDC was on that other channel, but yes, it was a good model. So far besides this Athearn engine I've had one N scale locomotive get a perfect score on this channel. Thanks for watching!
Wow! A perfect score!
Thanks for watching!
As stated by others, great review Dan. I appreciate your "tell it like it really is" reviews. And just for the record I am aware of at least one other model that received a perfect score. The HO scale Athearn Gensis Santa Fe SDF40-2.
Oh sorry! The perfect score I mentioned was on the other channel.
I'm glad you like the reviews. When I mention perfect review scores, I'm only considering this channel. I've been considering doing some "retro" reviews of older models. I still have that SDF40-2 somewhere and I don't think I've done anything to it yet... hmm. Thanks for watching!
Thats good point about making sure you do your research when looking for engines.
I mentioned that because when I was researching this engine, I was briefly fooled by the UP SD70ACe with the same number. Both look very similar at first glance. Thanks for watching!
Very nice locomotive! Ironically, the running gag that has been going around some model railroading circles is that Athearn should have made a dummy version as well so they could be towed around dead like the real ones were, lol!
Haha... well, I guess someone could always remove the motor and gears. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi yeah you definitely could do that although buying a $300 locomotive and then yanking the driveline out of it probably wouldn't make a ton of sense though.
It looks like an excellent model, if I modeled in HO I'd definitely buy one. I did notice when the rear headlight came on there was some light leakage over the sand filler hatch.
I missed that. When I do my own lighting I make use of black paint inside the shell to prevent light leaks. It probably could be done to this unit as well. Thanks for watching!
This my favorite loco, as I've got 9 of these models, in different roadnames and still run GREAT, and they were not $280. 00 a piece, mines were $150.00 a piece bran new. Great topic 👍
This is a nice model. I'm glad you're enjoying yours. Thanks for watching!
That is an EPIC MODEL
That was that other channel, but yes, it is a good one. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi I wish Athearn would make more N scale Locomotives and cars
Fantastic review of this amazing engine! I saw one of these for sale at my local hobby shop, and was impressed by how accurate it is. Any chance you will review the N Scale ATSF C44-9W? I just got mine and really like it!
I have one of the new InterMountain N scale units on pre-order, so I'll be reviewing that in the future. I also have some of the older Kato units. Thanks for watching!
I have the same one and love it. I got mine for $269 here in the Bay Area, I wish they would have added roller bearing caps but the Gensis 2.0 is promising. It would have been nice if the new ES44's with the prime for grime could have been 2.0.
It's a nice engine. ScaleTrains is the only company I've seen so far doing rotating end caps on diesels. Maybe Athearn will follow suit eventually. Thanks for watching!
I love this model, if this is in N scale with yellow reflector. I would buy it
Maybe they'll do an N scale version at some point. Thanks for watching!
Thanks a lot for the review! May I ask what are the recent UP locomotives model? (not sure if you say it in the video, have some language barrier).
It's an SD90MAC-H phase 2. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi My bad, sorry, did not put it right. You were saying that EMD SD90MAC-H Phase 2 was retired from UP services in 2006, so I'm curious, what are UP current modern locomotives that are in service right now in 2020?
I used Loksound and the ground lights are a separate function, and just sounds better.
I will be doing the same thing eventually. I prefer ESU decoders. Thanks for watching!
Dan have you ever considered performing your detailing services for customer locomotives? Would be very interested
Unfortunately I can't do that because I already have too many demands on my time. I appreciate that you think so much of my skills, though! Thanks for watching!
o cool i got 1 to in up 8559 it look's so cool
Cool. Thanks for watching!
Please ATHEARN. PLEASE MAKE US SOME IN DUMMY MODELS. I'VE BEEN WANTING THE DUMMY MODELS OF THESE UNITS EVERY SINCE THE REAL ONES APPEARED. IF ONLY THEY WOULD MAKE THESE IN DUMMY MODELS. AND MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE FOR US WHO ARE ON A TIGHT BUDGET,TO BE ABLE TO BUY THEM. HOW ABOUT IT, ATHEARN?
Dummy units don't seem to be a thing anymore, do they? They had them back in the blue box era, but then they kind of went away. I remember when Rapido did their F40PH models and brought out the "cabbage" versions, they said that they powered them because deleting the motor would have only saved a few dollars. I wonder if Athearn has the same reasoning. Thanks for watching!
Its like they took a SD70ACe, slapped the letter paint scheme on it and made it longer
There are a lot of similarities in shape between the SD90MAC-H2 and the SD70ACe. At a glance it's hard to tell them apart. It gets even more confusing because UP reused some of the SD90 numbers on later SD70ACe locomotives, so if you search on the internet for a particular number, you can end up looking at the wrong engine. That really threw me for a little while when I was researching this model. Thanks for watching!
It came a long way from Blue Box don't you think
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
Two details I didn't find correct. 1. Truck sideframes are incorrect, the shocks should be covering the bearings leaving the bearings not visable. 2 The windshield wipers should have two arms for each wiper blade. But that only counts for 100% dead on accuracy, nothing major
Good catches! I missed those. Thanks for watching!
Wonder if a 710 would have worked better for it
I'm not sure. It seems like both EMD and GE's attempts to produce really high horsepower prime movers didn't work out, at least not at the time. It's a cool looking model, though. Thanks for watching!
Great Review, but, Plastic couplers?????????
I agree that it would be better with Kadees, but Athearn seems to use McHenry's on everything. I consider plastic vs. metal couplers a preference so I don't take points off for it. Thanks for watching!
No epic model status?
That was a previous life. On this channel the model gets a perfect score star. Thanks for watching!
Yehzchea-Boat!
Thanks for watching!
I would’ve thought Union Pacific used these engines on their business trains, as they have the h, as in head end power. It would have been wiser if emd used a different designation for h if it doesn’t stand for head end power.
The reason why it has an H in the designation is because of the type of Engine it has in it. The SD90MAC-H and the SD90MAC-H2 (The Model in the Video) have a V16 265H 6000HP engine. That's why they call the other variant a SD9043MAC it has a V16 710G3B 4300HP engine block.
I think Kyle Murphy answered this one pretty well. Thanks for watching!
TheNw1218 UP stopped using these SD90mac-H locos because of issues with the prime mover which caused them to be not as reliable as the UP's working ethos demands. In the end they were removed from service and either sold on or scrapped.
Plastic couplers on something that expensive should be a deduction
I dislike plastic couplers, too. I haven't been taking points off for that because I've considered it a preference rather than a standard. It is something to consider, though. Thanks for watching!
Both of the coupler heights would be off if it wasn't an Athearn model. Again. Dude.
I took another look at this review and both of the couplers are correct. This one was done before I started being more careful about shooting the coupler test directly from the side. In this review the far railhead is visible, meaning that the camera angle is slightly elevated. I do not give any preference to Athearn. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi the angle of the camera doesn't hide coupler sag on both ends. C'mon dude.
Okay, you know best. I was there doing the review, but what do I know?