SP Baldwin AS616

[ssbobz]

Regarding the GP-18, I got it because I'm working on the Georgia Northeastern RR which has one, formerly NKP 701 and I might try cutting my repaint teeth on it.

It is based on the GP9 pack as is this AS616, and it also uses the Kuju folder. The sounds appear to be stock, the horn may have been changed, I'd have to check tonight to be sure. I don't know if it's a totally new geo or if it's a modified GP9 but there are enough differences to make it stand apart but I'm also not a skilled spotter or rivet counter. The quality is good, without advanced features and scripting found on some releases, but imho noticeably better than some early free repaints of Kuju stock.

I'll see about doing a review for it this weekend with pictures and such. I like the less common locos he's making available and we can all benefit if he gets more exposure and support.

[Overshoe]

Anybody know how you get delivery from them?

For PayPal, click the Comprar Agora button. Do the transaction just like you would from BritKits. You will get an e-mail with the download link from Carlos Augusto Nicolucci, just like you would from Dick Cowen. My last purchase I received the e-mail about 90 minutes after the PayPal transaction.

[buzz456]

Thanks Tom. Done and done.

[Ericmopar]

This is interesting. It was 3 years ago that someone requested a bunch of pictures of the AS616s, at the Western Pacific Railroad museum in Portola Ca when I mentioned I was going.
I took them and sent them a link, but never heard back after that.
They got detailed photos of the roof, hood, trucks and cabs. I kinda sneaked to the top to get pics.
I wonder if these could be the result of those pics, or it's just a coincidence.
I can't remember who I gave those pics to.

[ssbobz]

Okay, I had a few minutes to mess around.

- The couplers on the AS616 do not seem to work, "contact" is made before they actually touch and they do not engage visually or functionally. Perhaps someone can look into the files and find the error to notify the builder for a patch or create one if allowable.

- Both the AS616 and GP18 show the original UP paint from inside the cab, since I often use the outside views it's not a big deal for me personally.

- The AS616 looks to have the rigid frame cast truck mentioned earlier.

[BoostedFridge]

Hrm... despite those issues noted, I'm going to buy these. The AS-616 were the first diesels used on the Siskiyou line. Gotta have em!

[buzz456]

FYI they are aliased to the GP9 sound which of course is nowhere near right. However my extensive research brought me to the fact that the RF-16 was driven by the same prime mover the 608A. The RF-16 from DTM has a pretty nice sound set for this diesel engine so SHAZAM I now have the proper sound for this guy. Working on the other issues just because.

[buzz456]

Bob, Confirm for me what I'm seeing. The couplers function the one on the long hood just goes past where it should. The short hood one seems to work OK here.

[BoostedFridge]

FYI they are aliased to the GP9 sound which of course is nowhere near right. However my extensive research brought me to the fact that the RF-16 was driven by the same prime mover the 608A. The RF-16 from DTM has a pretty nice sound set for this diesel engine so SHAZAM I now have the proper sound for this guy. Working on the other issues just because.

Its a neat model. Not very high poly, and only one road number. The GP9 dependencies as mentioned above is a bit of a detractor. For the price I can't say its a great value, but thats just my opinion.
The physics do seem to be correct from the info I can find. My SP reference shows they were rated for 975 tons from Dunsmuir up to Black Butte, which is pretty close to what it maxed out on in game. Lots of torque at low RPM, so you definitely need to use your sander for starting on a grade.

If Buzz can make it sing like an RF-16 then it will be a big step in the right direction.

20170318141440_1.jpg

20170318141508_1.jpg

[ssbobz]

Bob, Confirm for me what I'm seeing. The couplers function the one on the long hood just goes past where it should. The short hood one seems to work OK here.

Sadly I didn't get to spend much time with it last night and I only tried the long hood coupler before I had to go. I had placed the GP18 on that side and they would not couple. The AS616 would behave physically as if it had impacted the short hood coupler on the GP18 but it was still visually separated and wouldn't engage. At low speeds it would push the 18 and at a higher speed it derailed. I'll test it more when I'm able to get back on the pc. Since it's the wife's birthday she has priority.

[buzz456]

I have it all coupling up now. Still not real happy with how far the coupler is sticking out on the short hood end but at least it's coupling . Still messing with it.

[buzz456]

OK anyone remember what's going on when everything looks OK then when you get a couple of feet away the couplers jump out (extend) to connect. Leaving quite a bit of drawbar showing?

[buzz456]

Screenshot_Marias Pass_48.41382--114.33038_12-30-37.jpg

[ssbobz]

I just did some testing with some RRmods and Marias Pass rolling stock. It did couple from both ends, on the long hood the coupler does pass too far into the next car before coupling as you mentioned, the short hood coupler is better but not ideal, both could use some adjustment to positioning. Fwiw, in addition to the RRmods couplers I have Britkits' installed as well so this could, I assume, be the result of not using the default GP9 models.

The AS616 and GP18 will not couple together from either end, that's what I experienced last night. Both will couple to the cars I tried today.

Something else I noticed with the cab. Using the F4 HUD it's set to run long hood forward however from inside the cab the view is of the short hood and the head out views are set on the long hood instead of the cab. It's almost as if the geo got turned 180 during the build.

Finally, when coupled, no grade, brakes off and throttle idle I had a noticeable creep that pulled my cut of loaded cars but it didn't happen when light, it seems to be related to the RRmods cars.

I'm still not unhappy with the purchase, I hope with some feedback we'll continue to see more of these uncommon assets and improved modeling.

[BoostedFridge]

Nice work Buzz! I'm fine with more drawbar showing than less.