Don't have their NW2, yet

I do have one of their upcoming SW7s on order.  I assume the drive is the same as their SW1200 drive, and that of the FM H10-44 before it, and those are very smooth runners.  Keep in mind I'm talking about the later drives with helical gears, not the models from 20-odd years ago.  Those weren't bad for their day, just not as quiet as today's version.

As for the Broadway sorta-NW2, just say no.

Scott Chatfield 

NW2 Phase V

On a whim, I purchased one of the current Walther's NW2 Phase V (Yellow - undecorated), as I've always had a love for the EMD NW/SW series locomotives. I modified the paint scheme to be like a Railserve locomotive and gave the model a number other than the default 3.

The model has pretty good detail, with separately applied hand rails, hood side hand rails, and grab irons on the fireman's side. No air hose detail or other high-end details that more expensive models have. Not bad for what would be considered an inexpensive DCC/Sound model these days. I forget who I purchased the model from, but the price was lower than the Walther's retail price.

The model comes with a LokSound 5 Essential Sound decoder, so there are some CV's that can't be changed. For example, there is no CV6 (mid-speed), only CV2 and CV5. Also, CV66 (Forward Trim) and CV95 (Reverse Trim) are set to 0 on this model and can't be changed.

The sound is pretty good and out of the box the model ran very smooth, but extremely slow; even on 28 speed steps (my preferred throttle settings). Since I have a switching layout, I program all my models (all LokSound except one) to run a scale 10 miles per hour at speed step 10, which gives me very good slow speed control.

Using my LokProgrammer, I saw that the decoder had a built-in speed curve setting that explained the very slow speed operation. I changed that to a straight line setting and then was able to set CV's 2 and 5 to get my desired speed settings.

My speed settings ended up being as follows: CV2=3 (Default), CV3=30, CV4=30 and CV5=50.

One thing I noticed, was that the typical LokSound F8 (Start up/Shut down) didn't work initially so I had to change a sound slot setting with the LokProgrammer to get that to work. Changed Function 8 to Sound Slot 1 and then it worked correctly.

You can change the horn settings in CV163 (Default = 0=Leslie A200  - 1=WabCo Single Chime - 2=Nathan M3 - and 3=Leslie S3L

Bell can be changed in CV164 - Default 0 = Bronze Bell - 1 = Steel Bell.

Overall sound volume can be adjusted with CV63 Prime Mover volume can be changed in CV259, Horn volume in CV275, and Bell volume in CV283. First set CV31=16 then CV32=1 to change those values.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with this model and it runs just great with no stalling at very slow speed through my turnouts.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the Walther's model also has the LokSound Drive Hold Feature (Function F9). which is nice.

Hope this helps.

Awesome, thanks much. You're

Awesome, thanks much. You're right about the price, I was looking at Tony's Trains ($0 charged for preorders until shipped) and their price is $145 for the DCC version vs Walthers $150 for the non-DCC version and $209 for the DCC. So I don't know if that's the best available, but it's good, and I've bought stuff from Tony's before, so I'll probably pre-order from them. 

Also thanks Scott for by implication saying the BLI model wasn't correct (somehow), that's good to know too.

Yeah, it's an inexpensive model, with plastic grilles, but I'm just glad I can find something to use as a switcher - I'm just building my fleet and have nothing so far. 

NW/SW Follow Up

EW;

The very first DCC/Sound model I ever purchased was a BLI NW2 (or maybe it was an SW7 - I forget and the model was sold off several years ago). Even had it custom painted for L&N.

I second what Scott says - BLI just say No! I spent hours trying to get my BLI model to notch up like a prototype and never did get it to work like what I remember on the prototype (I worked on the RR for about 35 years total L&N and 3 short lines). I have to say that the inexpensive Walther's model beats the BLI hands down!

I also remember when BLI announced their SW-1500 in L&N paint no less. Waited about 3 years for them to finally come out - purchased one and was more than a bit disappointed! Never heard an SW-1500 prime mover rev up after stopping and just like the NW2/SW7 could not get the notching sound the way I liked. Also, the model would derail if you looked at the wrong way! Only good thing I could say about that model was the paint scheme was correct! Managed to sell that one off too!

The Rapido models are way too expensive for this retired old man living on RR Retirement. I'm actually more into GP7/GP9/GP10's than anything else, although I have at least one Baldwin, one GE, and one ALCo in my collection. In my opinion, the LokSound decoders can't be beat - even the simple one in the Walther's model.

Pleased with my NW2

I am very pleased with my Walthers NW2. I purchased the undec version and then painted it up and decaled it for the Penn Central.  The model did not come with many details but at least my prototype did not have too many as it was a non-MU switcher, The handrails along the side are metal......as are the supplied grab irons. I purchased the non-sound version but added a Loksound 5 decoder and a Scale Sound Systems speaker. Very pleased on how it runs too. Only detail I added was the Sinclair antenna. Did use Kadee short shank couplers.

I have two NW2s , but have no

I have two NW2s , but have no idea what phase they are.

Tom, Looks very nice with the

Tom,

Looks very nice with the finishing touches. BTW, nice track work.

I just went to the Tonys

I just went to the Tonys Trains website to order one of these, but the only DCC-equipped SW or NW switchers listed are the BLI ones...[?]

oops

My bad, I was at trainworld, not tony's trains. I searched on "Walthers NW2" and got 34 hits.

But just now I went to tonystrains.com, searched for NW2 and found them, same price as trainworld, so they must have just been added. Or else?

Browser malfunction

My browser was acting weird, only showing the first 6 results.  Then I saw the the barely-visible words on the bottom that read "View all results" and that did the trick.

Pre-order placed, problem solved - thanks!

**UPDATE**

I found out the pre-order deadline was back in May, and the NYC model I tried to pre-order was no longer available.  So I had to substitute a DTSL unit - no problem, since I plan to repaint it for my private road anyway.

pre-order period expired

Oh, bummer.

I haven't pre-ordered yet, so I guess I'm too late and will have to take my chances next year at snagging one from stock. 

Loksound 5

Tom Haag;

I just purchased a new Rapido SW 1200 switcher with a Loksound 5 decoder.  I'm trying to function map several buttons to the same on my Digtrak UT 5.as my other switchers with Loksound Select 4 decoders.  I have set functions on the UT5 as follows.  F0-lights, F1-bell, F2-horn, F3-Drive hold, F4-nothing, F5-Coast, F6- Ind Brake, F7-Dimmer, F8-Sound on and off.  I have got everything to work except the coast function (F5). Can you help with getting the coast function to work like the Loksound 4 decoders?  I have a Lok Programmer. Thanks in advance.

Joe

Coast?

On my locomotives I assign F5 to what I consider Coast mode and I just assign Shift Mode 3 to that.  It just drops my locomotive down to idle as it coasts along.

Tom;   Thanks, that what I'm

Tom;  

Thanks, that what I'm looking for.  I use F5 also.  On the Loksound Select 4 it use the dynamic brake to take the engine to idle and not rev up for the dynamic brake.  I did not know how to set it with the new Loksound 5 decoders on the function mapping page of the Lok Programmer.  Would you have a screen shot of how you set that up for shift mode 3 and function mapping?  Thanks in advance.  Joe

Screen shot

Here is a screen shot of my function mapping for my NW2 8802. I set F5 to Shift Mode 3. Since this NW2 does not have dynamic brakes I set F4 also set to Shift Mode 3 so it idles if I it hit F4 instead of going to dynamic brake mode.

Loksound 5

Tom;

Thanks a million, I made the changes and it works great.  Thanks again.

Joe