Help: Athearn or MTH

[AC4400]

BNSF has both. MTH didn't want to do both so they specifically chose the numbers with the cab headlight while Athearn did both versions.

Hmmmm. I see.
Well, it is still hard to make a decision.

 

[markdeimling]

@diburning, I used the minatronics SMD LED's, they are about a 1/8 inch square and are pre-wired. I used Details West lenses to fill the holes and made a styrene mount behind the nose to glue it to. I got the model and one of the ditch lights was burned out so that is why I did the minatronics lights, I did not feet like putting LED's in the ditch lights just out of pure laziness. I believe that I used a 220 ohm resister on the ditch lights and they are plenty bright.
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/member.php?u=5069

 

[Dollie's Dad]

Interesting discussion. I guess it really boils down to personal preference and/or brand loyalty. It's not too different than Ford vs. Chevvie, Canon vs. Nikon, boxers vs. briefs, PC vs. Mac, and so forth.

I did pull out my MTH SD70ACe last night and ran it a bit, and I must say, it runs beautifully. I wish these manufacturers would get together on key functions, but I understand the difficulty where different engines have different features. I see the arguments on both side, and might just pick up an Athearn ACe just to make a more informed decision on whether there really are tangible differences or not.

 

[AC4400]

I also heard that MTH's SD70M-2 models (NS, FEC) have rear ditch lights. Is that true?

 

[diburning]

Yes, the models do. The prototype NS SD70ACes (which someone will make at some point) have rear ditch lights as well.

 

[bigB]

The PS3 (the MTH's with DCS) have operating front and rear ditch lights. The DCC ready have operating front ditch lights and non-operating rear ditch lights.

 

[AC4400]

Thanks everybody! I finally got an MTH DCC ready SD70M-2 in FEC painting scheme. It is really nice. The details are not bad, particularly it has operating front ditch lights and dummy rear ditch lights! It runs smoothly, silently on the tracks.

I also want to try Athearn in the future.