New InterMountain Cab Forwards Fiasco

[webmaster]

Tony is mad about poor quality of the new InterMountain Cab Forwards. His full take on this with a couple of telling pictures is here.

We'd love to know what do you think?

[paul_r]

I got mine about 2 weeks ago, and discovered exactly the same things, plus mine has a bind in the side rods on one side of one engine. Also, the sound in mine sorta sucks - especially when, at full throtle, to loco is going about 5 MPH pulling 16 Kadee cars up a 1% grade, ane the Tsunami is making a sound like a teakettle!

I sent IMR an email about it, but they haven't responded yet. It is a beautiful locomotive, but that's a lot of money to spend on a static display.
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Paul Rankin

[printmore1]

I have 2 AC-12 of the first issue. These have the problem of low speed because of gearing problem. I have been informed that IMR is offering replacement gears and drivers for DIY installation. Is this worthwhile and any comments re difficulty on new installation. Thanks and regards.
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Leonard Stern, Home of the Montreal Belt Line (CN/CP MTL) 1946 all steam and sound

[durango51]

[jmay]

Does anyone know if this applies to N-scale as well? I have two on reservation at $260.00 ea., but if they aren't any good then I don't want them no matter how pretty. Has this been a recurring problem with all Intermountain locos, or just the AC-12?

[onetrack101]

Hi all,

Before you tell me this is my own fault - I know that, but first thing on a Sunday morning it's an easy mistake if you're lazy!

I got my N Scale Intermountain AC-12 a month or so ago and fitted an MRC sound decoder that has with an 8-pin plug. It has worked ok but, for a loco at that price I wanted a better decoder so ordered one of the ESU Loksound decoders which arrived yesterday.

This morning was the first chance I got to fit it so I got myself set-up and got started.

The Loksound Micro comes with an NEM 6-pin plug, so that had to go and I didn't have a separate 8-pin plug but I did have the 8-pin dummy plug from the AC-12.

I sat down and carefully cut the copper tracks on the dummy plug, checked they were cut properly with a multimeter and then sat down to solder the wires.

Intermountain have very thoughtfully numbered the top of the dummy plug with all 8 pins numbered.

This is the point where I remind listeners that in N scale we don't get many locos with 8-pin sockets - in fact this was my first. Usually, I have to hardwire anything that isn't plug and play.

I went to the web, pulled down the NMRA RP on electrical interface and got the color codes for an 8-pin plug on page 2 of the RP and then sat down to solder the wires.

10 minutes later I was all wired up and ready to go.

I use a device called a SPROG II to do my programming from a computer - look it up, it's a great device and works very well with sound decoders, better than anything else I've tried.

The decoder buzzed at me each time I programmed a CV and seemed to read back ok (but the SPROG is current limited....)

I then transferred the AC-12 to the layout - FIZZ! POP!

20 minutes later and comparing the wiring on the MRC 8-pin plug to my newly wired Intermountain plug, it dawned on me - the Intermountain plug has pins 5-8 numbered in reverse.....

That will be a new decoder from Tony and a grumbling letter to Intermountain....

If the plug hadn't been numbered, I'd have read page 3 of the NMRA RP and seen the proper numbering for the pins but sadly I didn't....

I suppose it boils down to RTFM in the end...

Hope these words save someone else from the same mistake