Ron, thank you for this very in-depth review of our Rivet Counter and Operator N Scale DASH-9 locomotives! We are really happy to hear that you are pleased with the product and look forward to seeing more content from you in the future. -Drayton
Thanks Drayton. I really do like both locomotives, and I am most pleased with the improvement to the couplers. This new version works swimmingly. Thanks for commenting.
Ron, Masterfull side-by-side comparison. Here it comes..... HOWEVER, the test I would have like to see you do, or maybe you would consider for future $Worth videos is to set up your test consist, of somewhat equal rolling stock, on side-by-side main lines. Back both Locos on to the consist. As you would for a coupling Ops. Session. Then not only focus on the Locos forward momentum, but also the rolling stocks hesitation from a cold start. Great video, Jim
Interesting suggestion. I certainly agree about the coupling test. I should have done that. I didn't compare pulling just because they are identical drive trains and the video was getting long. I will take that into consideration though. Thanks.
I plan on getting as many HO Scale Trains locomotives as fit with what I am modeling. A major selling point for me is they offer the NS standard cab Dash 9, and they really are pretty much the same price as any other manufacturer. But it is good to know that the Operator series has only a little less detail. So unless you look closely you wouldn't really notice, that will be a cost saving for some.
Hi Ron, Ironically I just picked up a half a dozen of these absolutely beautiful Scale Train Loco's. I wished I would of known earlier about the Operators version as I would of only purchased the Rivet counter ones. For the $40.00 difference it seems really worth the difference. But I am super glad that you did this video as the Scale Trains Website doesn't explain the differences like you did. Thank you , keep up the great videos.
Hi Ron, Very nice video and good comparison with those locomotives. Just friendly remind you that the noise is from the mic. It happen when you touch the metal rail. Tam
Hey Ron, I enjoyed the video -except- I would recommend uploading at least 1080 if your wanting to review the visual quality of the products. 720 was as high as it shows on my page which is the minimum for seeing small scale detail. I enjoy your video's though, keep up the great work.
It looked like the rivet counter version had some assembly issues. The radiator grill looked warped, and the HVAC cabinet looked skewed. Im impressed with the Operator version in all honesty.
Hey Ron, I have quite a few of the scale trains rivet counter loco's but they all have the bad couplers. How can I find the newer versions to replace them with.
I don't know for sure, but I would contact scaletrains and see if they will send you the newer couplers to replace the old one. You can also replace them with MTL couplers if you like. I planning to do a video on this soon.
I have an update to the answer I offered to your question. I spoke to the folks at scaletrains about this issue this week. They informed me that repalcement couplers would be available at some point, but are not available yet. It is a matter of getting the separage coupler production worked into the schedule of the manufacturing plants. ETA unknown.
Nice comparison! N scale has been really improving the last couple of years. Seems like scale trains is continuing for locos and rolling stock what BLMA has started for railcars. I'm almost glad that most stuff from scale trains is too modern for me 🙃
So, your consensus is that the operator version is at least as good as the Kato locomotive, and at a slightly less price. That’s on par with what the industry as a whole is saying!
If you're going to buy something new, I definitely recommend scale trains. I model both ho and N scale, and nothing I have will even touch them. Neither in detail nor pull ability. Out of the box that is. I have some athearn blue box and ready to run engines that I have put about a pound of weight in. They'll out pull scale trains, but only because I really worked on them.
